Braxton

I love this Heather. She didn’t turn into a girly girl overnight. You never know when the black boots will come out, but she has her own style, somewhere in between. I can see it makes her happy.

I thought about having her dress up for me, like the last time we were here, but this is a fresh start. We get to be someone different, this time around. I want to make new memories.

I walk out to join her, placing my hands on the railing on either side of her. Her body instantly melts into mine. I kiss her shoulder, then nuzzle her neck.

“I’ve made a decision, I have my birthday wish,” I croon in her ear, as I sway us.

“Is that right? What would you like?” She purrs.

“Marry me,” I kiss her temple.

Heather turns in my arms, looking up at me. “I already said yes,” she knits her brows.

“I’m talking about tonight. Marry me, tonight,” I tug her against me.

Heather gives me a mischievous smile. “I already told you we can try the cuffs,” she looks up at me through her lashes.

I groan, my cock swelling against her belly. She has no idea. I plan to cuff her, blindfolds her, and eat her pussy until she sings like a soprano.

“I’m still waiting for you to tell me how much you liked me spanking you, before I fucked you this morning,” I croon.

I chuckle, when her eyes fill with lust. “I’m still trying to find a way to be naughty so you can do it again. I think we need to try it once more, before I decide,” she says silkily.

I squeeze her ass. “Spankings aren’t just for naughty girls. If you like it that much I can reward you,” I rasp, slapping her ass for good measure.

Heather yelps, causing me to throw my head back in a laugh. I love the little pout on her lips, while she looks up at me. I bend to nip her sexy mouth.

“Back to my birthday wish,” I say against her lips.

“Your mother will kill us,” Heather frowns.

“Let me worry about mom,” I grin.

I can see her thinking. Her eyes drop to my chest. “Brax, I broke his heart once already. Dad wants to give me away. I can’t take that from him,” she says sadly.

Telling Rob what happened to Heather, nearly killed me. To watch a man I respect like my own father breakdown and cry. I think my own father walked out to shed some tears of his own.

Rob was so angry that we never told him. His words still ring in my ears. ‘I expected more from you two.’ When Heather sat with him to give him the details on why she never did, he softened. I still don’t know what she told him. I’ll wait until the day she’s ready to tell me.

My heart still bleeds for them both. It will take time for those wounds to heal. I understand her reservations.

“So, if it weren’t for your dad, we could do this?” I ask, not doing well at hiding the hope in my voice.

She shrugs. “Yeah, I guess so. I’m over the dress thing. I don’t want a big wedding. Every time I think if it, it gives me a headache. Toby was relentless, when planning the wedding for Kamara. I think that burned me out,” Heather laughs.

“Okay, so for tonight, let’s do the Miami vice thing. Dress up in the pant suit I bought you and I have a matching outfit. We can stroll the strip and spend up Wyatt’s money,” I croon.

Heather’s laugh lights up her face. “We can do that,” she says with warmth in her eyes. “Brax, I’ll marry you any day my dad can walk me down the aisle,” she promises.

“I’m holding you to that promise,” I say, before taking her lips in a kiss.

* * *

Heather

I look down at my finger. I’ve been wearing my ring for everyone to see. I know we shocked a lot of people, but most seemed to have seen through us.

I think Lucy took the news the hardest. Yeah, I cut her some slack for jumping in front of a bullet for me and Brax. She’s fine now, back to running her oil company and she’s even been dating.

I don’t think we’ll ever be as close as we once were. I appreciate what she went to Ernest’s house to try to do. I just will never be able to have the same trust I once had with her. I’m trying, after a long talk, I understand where she was coming from, but it’s not going to be that easy for me.

I think Amanda has a crush on Brax. My mother, her guilt has eaten at her. She’s slowly getting back on her feet. The two of them have been living in my old apartment. Dad has helped them out a lot financially.

My Dad. He is such a big softy. My father has never held me tighter, than the day I sat him down and told him what I’ve been hiding for years. I love Brax for trying to do it for me, but Dad needed to hear it from me.

“Baby,” Brax calls through the suite. I roll my eyes and smile into the mirror. “Come on.”

I cover my mouth to stifle my laugh. He sounds like a big kid. I was excited, when he said he wanted to come back to Vegas for his twenty-fifth birthday. I want to make more memories here. I have fond ones from before.

I walk out into the common area and come to a halt. Our suite that once only held the two of us, now is full of smiling faces. The entire Black family and my family are lined up all up around an altar. That altar wasn’t there an hour ago, when Braxton drew me a bath. He gave me headphones, a glass of wine, and told me to relax. Now I know why.

Even Amanda and my mother are here. My chest expands when I see Uncle Ronan and the O’Brien clan. These are the few people I was able to put on our guest list, before I started to second guess a big wedding.

I lock eyes with Brax and he’s looking back at me with a huge grin. He has on a grey suit that’s hugging his body, making him look like a GQ model. The top three buttons of his crisp white shirt are open, showing off his tanned skin.

“Heard you wouldn’t do this without me,” my father’s voice pulls my attention to my right.

I can see the tears in his eyes. I wrap my arms around my daddy and hug him tight. I don’t care how hard he has been on himself. He’s always been a great dad.

“I sure wouldn’t,” I whisper, giving a tight squeeze.

I turn to look at everyone and my heart fills with so much love. My eyes land back on the man I fell in love with. I give him a mischievous smile.

“Well, let’s rob me a crib,” I chirp.

Brax’s mouth falls open, then he glares at me. I can’t help throwing my head back in laughter, as everyone else laughs along with me. I blow Brax a kiss and his eyes light up. For the first time in a long time, I get a glimpse of my little six year old friend, as he gives me a little boyish smile.

“I love you,” I mouth.

“I love you more, now come here,” he mouths back.

I don’t even think it’s possible for him to, but I lock my arms around my dad’s and go to Brax.