Patience wasn’t a virtue I possessed.
Three months. That was all the time I could afford to gift my Slim when it came to our wedding. Not that she was aware of this issue, but I was a man on a motherfucking mission. In a week she’d be Mrs. Chester Greene even if I had to: lie, cheat, and tie her ass up in order to get us hitched.
Plans had already begun to form in my head. Simple and warm—soft and with lace, I wanted to see my girl walk down a deserted beach toward me with a smile on her face.
Intimate, and with only our family and friends by our side to celebrate our love.
No hassle or fuss.
Something without the added stress a normal wedding would entail.
“She’s going to kill you, brother dear,” Heather spoke from behind me, her tone tinged with amusement. “You’re crazy for taking this risk…Ari’s scary when pissed. Woman has the evil ice glare down to a work of art. Slick tongue too.” She giggled, and I may have shuddered just a tiny bit.
If there was something that I’d learned over the past few months, it was that my girl could hold a grudge. Vindictive little thing sold me out to her father when I all but demanded that we elope. He was pissed, and me, I was left with trying to make amends once more.
Cost me a pretty penny to search out the right kind of an apology gift too.
Because how does one say I am sorry for trying to steal your daughter without making a grand gesture after?
I had to track down an old-school Chevy Impala from Cuba in mint condition to appease his mind. Once it was delivered, I was his favorite person and was even invited to go with him and Gramps to see the city’s baseball team play at their new stadium.
That family was insane on a good day, but when it came to sports, they took the cake.
Nutcases. Aggressive. Over the top.
They held private sky boxes at each arena no matter what sport. If you represented the 305, they loved you.
“Shut it.” I might have grumbled that, and it served to make her to laugh harder. Head thrown back and arm holding her stomach, my sister let it all out. “Zip it or get out, kid. I’m busy, and have no qualms when it comes to tossing you out on your ass.”
When had the little shit placed herself behind me? Fuck that—when had she entered my home without the alarm alerting me of a door opening?
Lord knows that thing goes off each time a small breeze crosses its path.
“Can I watch?”
“Watch what? This isn’t a sideshow.” Cutting my eyes toward hers, I glared while she just stood there in all her annoying glory. With two hands placed over the back of my couch, she leaned over my shoulder to study the screen of my computer. Pursed her lips when she saw my choices. Meddlesome shrew. “Arianna, like any woman, would want to have an input on her special day.”
“I know what she wants even if she isn’t aware of it yet.” Yeah, I was being stubborn, but fuck her if she thought for one second that making sense would change my mind.
Sister or not, it wouldn’t happen. I knew her. Heather was more interested in helping me plan an elaborate shindig, which I had no desire in being a part of.
Pulling on the ends of my hair, she tsked at its length. “It’ll be your funeral.”
“Quick, fun, and sexy. That’s what we want.” Swatting her hand away, I looked back at the screen in front of me and clicked on the button to make reservations. This particular resort held a few options for me to choose from. The main one: complete and utter privacy at two of their island keys. “No fuss and lots of booze. I want her day stress free. For her to enjoy herself without having a million and one decisions weighing her down.”
“And that’s a beautiful thought in theory, but—”
“But nothing, sis.” Setting my computer aside, I closed the top and patted the seat beside me for her to sit. Once she parked it, I pulled her into a tight hug. “All my pretty girl will have to do is show up and say I do.”
“And her parents?” Poor girl was grasping at straws here, but I wasn’t interested in what she was trying to sell. Nope. The fluff she loved would have to wait until she found some poor fucker to marry her.
“Love me.”
“You suck.” About time she realized that there was no use in arguing with me.
Still, I didn’t trust her.
“I’m not going to answer that.”
“Please?” Heather begged a final time.
Shaking my head, I pulled back and looked at her. “Everything else will be taken care of by me with Slim in mind. Nothing more or less.”
“Is he still going on about his ‘surprise’?” Cris sidled up behind my sister, placed his hand on her shoulder, and gave it a light squeeze.
His fingers lingered on her bare skin. This was not a greeting, but more of a caress.
The fuck?
“Slim’s not going to go for it.” Her eyes snapped to his, and I didn’t miss the hidden look they shared. “Please, for the love of all things holy, please make this Neanderthal understand that.”
Enough of this shit. “Something you two want to tell me?” Not that I cared if they liked each other or not. Cris was a good man and would treat her right.
Because if he didn’t, I’d run him over with my car multiple times. No shame in it either.
Friend or not, she was my baby sister, and I protected mine.
“No.” they answered in unison, and I raised a brow.
“Try again.”
“It’s not what you think?” Heather wrung her hands in her lap, fingers twitching, while I tried hard not to laugh at the idiotic move. I looked over at Cris, and he didn’t look any better—no, fucker looked nervous.
“Explain.” Eyes set on his, I waited for an explanation. For their pussyfooting to cease.
“I like her,” he blurted out and winced. This was too easy. If anything, it helped pull their attention away from my pending nuptials.
Waving a hand in the air, I urged him on. “Man up and answer the question. What’s going on with you and my sister?”
“I asked her to be my girl.” Not what I expected, but then again, he was the more serious one of the group. “She hasn’t answered, but I am wearing her down. Little by little until she says yes, and then, I’ll put all my knowledge from Dr.—”
“I’m going to stop you right there...” with a hand up, I shook my head “...no one listens to that asshole on TV. He doesn’t know shit. No one falls for that crap.”
“And are you going to sit here and give me pointers?”
“Are you two seriously discussing me as if I’m not here?” Heather hissed out indignantly. “What the hell?”
“Fall for what?” my girl asked, coming to stop beside me on the couch. Thank fuck I’d closed the laptop. Everything would’ve been screwed had she seen my surprise. Once again, my attention had been pulled away from what was important: planning.
Setting things in motion.
Heather’s interruption had almost gotten me caught. Everything—my surprise—would’ve been ruined.
This had been premeditated on her behalf in order to get her way. The gleam in her eyes told me as much.
Meddlesome bitch. Love her, but Jesus...
“Cris wants to date her and is looking for my approval.” They laughed at my idiocy, while Slim raised a brow.
Woman knew me well.
Jade eyes scrutinized my face, looking for a sign of weakness. That I was lying.
A bead of sweat rolled down the back of my neck, but I didn’t so much as blink. Nope. Not this time.
I had her game.
“Is that all?” Taking the two remaining steps, Arianna stood between my parted legs and bent at the waist. Her breasts were now at eye level. Fuck. Must remain strong.
“Yeah.” I was too focused on her perky tits to say much else. Slowly, the tips hardened against her sports bra. Lower, I traveled the plains of her body, down the center of her chest and toward her bare, glistening abs.
She’d been down in the gym.
By herself.
Sweaty and beautiful.
“So do I have your blessing to wear her down?” Dear Lord, why are they still here?
Without taking my eyes off God’s gift to me, I snapped my fingers at them. “Cris, take Heather with you and disappear.” Again laughter filled the room, and this time, it was my girl’s. “Now.”
“Are you sure, Cheesy? Is that all you were discussing?” Closer, she placed her lips at the shell of my ear and exhaled. A low little whine that had me seconds away from begging her to kiss the head of my dick. “We can play the confessional game if you like.”
Minx.
Ari knew just what to say to turn this man into a horny beast.
“You’re playing with fire, sweetheart. Quit pushing.”
“It’s like we aren’t even here to them,” Heather mumbled under her breath while Cris laughed. He was used to this. Us.
Had lived it for three months while on the road. My boys understood. Shit, between Rick rekindling his relationship and Tex figuring out his hot mess, they all left me alone to enjoy Slim.
“I’ll even throw on the naughty schoolgirl outfit you love...pig tails and all.” Jesus. That twinkle in her eye set me off, and I had her tossed over my shoulder on her next breath.
“Put me down, Cheesy!” There was no real anger in her yelp. No, there was this unhidden tinge of lust that caused my cock to jerk hard inside the confines of my jeans.
“Fuck and no.” My hand came down hard on her fleshy ass twice, and then soothed the sting with the tip of my fingers. Her spandex-clad hips gyrated—arched into my touch—while I faced the two unwelcomed guest that had decided to watch the live-action show.
“Get out.”
Heather smirked at me. “But what about the planning of—”
“I will hurt you if you finish that sentence. Hit you where it hurts.” I’d never lay a hand on her, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t play dirty. “How much do you love that car I just bought you?”
“You wouldn’t!” she gasped, hand clutching at her chest as if in pain.
“Try me.” Our stare-off only lasted as long as it took for my Slim to pinch my side. It hurt. “The fuck, babe?”
“Quit arguing and take me upstairs.” If she were upright, I’m sure she’d have my cock in her hands and leading me away. “I leave tomorrow and plan on walking funny all the way to my gate.”
“You heard the lady...” narrowing my eyes, I flipped them off and made my way toward the stairs “...get the fuck out or be prepared to listen to my girl’s screams.”
“All right, we are out!” Heather gagged and rushed out of the room with a chuckling Cris close behind. We still had a lot to talk about—they needed to explain that shit to me—but for now my focus was on the soon-to-be Mrs. Greene and her pleasure.
“How funny do you want—”
“Make me hurt oh so good.” Fuck me.