Twelve

 

CARA

 

The sunlight shines bright through the curtains and I groan. I just want to sleep in for once, now that I don’t have to get up for class.

Rolling over, I reach my hand out to snuggle up against Lucas, and I’m met with a cold spot.

What the fuck?

That hasn’t ever happened since I’ve been sleeping in his bed. Even though he says it’s ours, I don’t agree. We battle back and forth about if I’m moved in or just staying until things are figured out. He says one and I say the other. Part me of knows I’m pretty much living with him, but I’m not ready to give in out loud just yet.

Each time we argue, it ends up in hot, angry sex.

With me screaming that I’m living with him.

But I still haven’t canceled my lease with my apartment complex. And part of the reason for that is I’m still waiting to see if he’s going to end up leaving me like my parents and Maddox.

The smell of bacon and coffee reaches my nose and my stomach growls.

I can’t help the smile that starts to form at knowing he's learned just how to make sure my mornings start happily . . . coffee and bacon.

Quickly, I rush through my morning routine, pausing for just a moment to put on one of his t-shirts, and make my way to the dining room.

The sight before me has me stopping in my tracks as I take in everything he’s done.

The banner that’s hanging on the wall reads: Congratulations, Cara. I’m so proud of you for accomplishing your dreams and getting your degree.

Balloons of all colors dangle from the ceiling and the table is covered in all my favorite breakfast foods with a huge bouquet of white roses finishing off the festivities in the center of the whole set up.

Arms wrap around me from behind and I lean into him as tears begin to fall down my face.

“Congrats, mia. I hope you don’t mind spending the day celebrating your amazing accomplishment. I plan to spoil you, so you know just how proud I am of you,” he whispers into my ear and then gently kisses my neck. “Come, college grad, let’s eat. We have a full schedule ahead of us.”

As he guides me to the table I decide that after today, I’d be stupid not to move in with him. I’ll be canceling my lease the moment I have a second to myself.

 

 

Glancing around Saphyre’s again for the tenth time since we got here, I’m shocked Lucas was able to get us reservations for tonight. This is one of the hardest places to get into and I begin to wonder just how many favors he had to call in to get us a table. As we ate dinner, I couldn’t help but continue to stew over what he did to pull this off.

Or better yet, how much money did he have to fork over?

He may have a lot of money, but that doesn’t mean shit to me since I have a lot of it myself. So if he thought this would impress me, it doesn’t.

“Your desert will be out momentarily. Is there anything else I can get for you while you wait?” our waiter asks as he takes away our dinner plates.

“Dessert? I’m so full, I don’t know if I’m going to have room for anything else,” I reply. “That was fantastic. Please give my compliments to the chef. I’ve never ate anything so delicious in my life.”

“I’ll change that when we get home tonight,” Lucas states with a smirk and I turn red hoping that nobody heard him. The cough-chuckle the waiter and the table next to us gives lets me know his innuendo wasn’t as quiet as I would’ve liked. “Thank you, Scott. More wine would be appreciated. Something that goes with our special dessert.”

Scott’s smile widens and his eyes flare with delight as he nods at Lucas.

“Special? Lucas, what did you do to get us in this place? I mean, let’s be honest, this place is owned by the Owen Walker. Who just happens to be, might I add, the most kickass chef in our nation. You have to request reservations at least six months in advance. And since we’ve only been together for about two months now, there’s no way in hell you didn’t do something. Especially since they made a special dessert for us. So, fess up, what crazy ass thing did you do to get reservations for tonight?”

“Mia, I didn’t do anything crazy to get us into this place,” he chuckles. “What exactly did you think I did to get a reservation? You think I killed someone?”

“Don’t be stupid,” I turn red again. “Nothing that drastic crossed my mind. I just thought maybe you promised someone new sex toys for life. Or possibly instructional how-to videos made by us to go along with said toys, so they’d know how to use them properly.”

The man next to us must have heard me. Just as Lucas starts a booming laugh, he spits out the water he’s drinking then begins to cough while laughing with Lucas.

“Shit,” I groan. “I didn’t mean to say that as loud as I did.”

“Your girl is already causing a problem in my restaurant, Lucas,” a male voice says to my right.

My eyes flick up and there standing right next to our table holding two places with covers over them, is the one and only, Owen Walker.

“Holy shit, fangirling commencing now,” I whisper and just stare, not caring that the last part of that was supposed to stay in my head.

Completely ignoring Scott, he sets down our fresh glasses of wine that Lucas ordered a moment ago, I’m completely enamored by the man in front of me.

“And no, he didn’t promise me any of that, but it sounds interesting and I’ll be more than happy to accept. My wife would get a lot of enjoyment out of an offer like that,” he softly says and then smiles at me.

“Stop looking at my woman and look at your own, Owen,” Lucas barks, snapping me out of my fangirl moment at meeting someone famous. “And depending on how tonight pans out, I might just give you the offer excluding the instructional videos part of it.”

“I see,” Owen responds with a laugh then places our plates in front of us. “Thank you for the dinner compliment, Cara. My chef, Andy, hopes you enjoy your dessert she made especially for you. If you excuse me, I need to go and find my wife and tell her of our good fortune that is hopefully coming our way.” He winks at me before turning toward Lucas. “Good luck.”

“What does he mean good luck? Good luck for what? What did you do, Lucas Anthony Fisher?” I hiss at him, narrowing my eyes after Owen walks away.

“Mia, breathe,” he says gently as he grabs my hands. “Rhys is also his financial advisor. I just asked if there’s a way we could get a reservation for tonight, so I could make sure your day was special. Now, I’m going to run to the bathroom really quick. But please don’t look under that dome. I want to see your face when you see what she made you.”

He stands and gives me a quick peck. Once he turns the corner, I look back down toward the covered plate.

That fucker knows I love surprises, and the urge to peek is eating away at me. I quickly glance toward the bathroom to see if he’s headed back. When there's no sign of him, I glance back down again, biting my lip. My hand hovers over the lid as I pause.

Just a small peek. I can act surprised when he gets back.

Slowly, I pull the lid off and it clatters to the ground when my hands cover my mouth trying to cover up the gasp that’s leaving my lips.

In the center is, what I assume to be, my favorite dessert—white chocolate raspberry cheesecake—and along the edge of the plate is a red sauce—which again I assume is raspberry puree—that spells out the words: Mia, will you marry me? Lucas—with an arrow pointing toward my right. My gaze follows the instructions and my throat tightens as tears begin to sting the back of my eyes at the sight in front of me.

Lucas.

Kneeling.

Holding a ring.

“Cara Elizabeth Johnson, I gave you four weeks to graduate before I was going to make you mine. It’s the agreement we had. So, put me out of my misery and finally agree to call me your fiancé like I call you mine,” his dark brown eyes search mine as he pleads with me.

This isn’t actually what I imagined when I thought about Lucas and him asking me to marry him. No, this isn’t it at all. It is more. So much more that I can’t control the tears that start to slide down my face as I whisper out my answer praying that he will hear it.

“Yes.”

Before I can blink, he places the most amazing ring I’ve ever seen in my life on my finger. He draws me up into his arms and kisses me with so much passion that I get lost in the fog enveloping me.

The clapping and whistling slowly being to filter into my mind as he ends the kiss.

“You taste like my fiancée,” he tells me then pecks my lips again.

Flashbacks from one of our first conversations, when he said very similar words storm through my mind.

“Is this going to become a thing? You needing to taste me after each major change in our life?” He chuckles then nods, and warmth spreads through my body at the idea of having something that is just ours.

Something that nobody I know does.

“Well then, I guess I better ask the question and put you out of your misery,” Leaning back in, I place my lips against his and continue. “And that tastes like what?”

The smile that he gives me let’s me know that he is happy with the fact that I’m going to continue the game. That he understands the happiness I feel at doing something as silly as answering the exact same way I did the last time.”

“Mine, Cara. It tastes like mine.” He places a gently peck on my lips. “I love you, mia.”

My heart skips a beat at hearing it from his lips for the first time.

“I love you too, Lucas,” my reply is instant.

“Congratulations on not only graduating college, but also on your engagement,” a Tinkerbell-like voice floats over to us from my left.

“Thank you.”

“When is the wedding? I hope we’re invited,” Owen asks as he wraps his arm around the woman. “My wife, Sienna and I would love to offer our restaurant for the reception. I’m assuming it won’t be long before you’re married, if you’re anything like Rhys and I were.”

Movement from behind Owen and Sienna catches my attention and I zero in on two men of Mexican descent staring right at me with sneers on their faces. The hair on my neck starts to stand at attention as they give me the universal sign of watching me before they turn and walk away.

“Three weeks. This is our official invitation. Also, I’d love to take you up on that offer as long as you allow me to pay something in return for having it on such a short notice,” Lucas replies, snapping my attention back toward the conversation.

I’ll have to tell Lucas later about the men.

“Nonsense, this will be our wedding gift,” Sienna insists with a kind smile, making me relax and smile back in return. “Now, let’s leave these two alone.”

“Congratulations to you both. Your dinner is on the house. Lucas, I’ll be coming to collect on my new toys soon,” Owen says with a wink.

As I retake my seat, Lucas's answer about the time frame hits me.

Three weeks.

“I figured you'd have me running down the alter the moment after I said yes. I’m grateful you're willing to give me three weeks to plan my wedding, but what gives?”

“As much as I want to do just that, I have another surprise for you. But it won’t be ready until then, and it needs to be here for the wedding,” he explains before his lips meet mine again. “Now, let’s eat our dessert, which is your favorite, so I can have my favorite when we leave here and get home.”

The promise that’s shining bright in his eyes has me squeezing my thighs tightly together.

“What if I want something that tastes better than my meal did?” I whisper seductively as I lean forward toward him, making sure my cleavage pops out a bit more in the little black dress I’m wearing.

His hand slowly raises in the air and waves someone over. His eyes dilate as he fully takes in my meaning.

“Scott, we’ll need this to go in the next two minutes. Tell Owen thanks again for everything,” he instructs our waiter, never taking his eyes off mine.

The sexy smirk that followed that statement has me growing wetter.

“Mia, you don’t know what you just started.”

“You're right, I probably don’t. But I can’t wait find out.”

 

Three weeks later . . .

 

For the fifth time in an hour, I glance back out at the clouds in the sky, while I wait for Macy to return with the bouquet we left downstairs.

It’s my wedding day, and I should be filled with so much happiness since I’m marrying the love of my life. Not feeling like two thirds of me is missing.

The pain slowly spreads across my chest and I hold in my breath to stop the tears from coming yet again at what’s missing from my day.

My parents and my brother.

Today is the day they were supposed to be here with me. To help me get ready to become one with Lucas. Instead, my parents are, hopefully, watching me from above while my brother . . . is somewhere he can’t be reached.

I’ve tried for three weeks now to get ahold of him. But all my emails, text and attempted phone calls have went unanswered. Which isn’t surprising since he’s currently deployed. I still hate that he doesn’t even know his twin is getting married.

My mind begins to play scenes in my head of what my day would look like if they were here.

My mom helping me into my dress.

My brother getting ready with Lucas since he’d be one of his groomsmen.

My dad in tears when he sees me for the first time in my wedding gown. Not wanting to believe that his little girl grew up.

Hearing his voice call out, “Her mother, brother and I do,” when the preacher asks who was giving me away.

But they aren’t.

More pain spreads as I glance down at the picture of the three of them in my hand. My eyes focus on Maddox and I wish he was here, so he could give me away since Daddy . . .

The tears I held back all day begin to flow down my face, I give up and allow the cry to come out in full force. Even the thought that I’m going to have to fix my makeup doesn’t stop the ugly cry from happening. Sometimes, we just need to release the pain that’s inside us. And this is definitely one of those times.

After a few moments, I take a deep breath, gathering myself the best I can. Sitting in front of the vanity that the church room Macy and I got ready in has, I begin to recover the mess my face turned into.

My gaze settles on the box that was waiting for me today, and I can’t help but giggle at what was inside.

Mrs. thong novelty underwear.

I didn’t hesitate to put them on under my dress knowing that Lucas was wearing the matching Mr. silk boxers. And nobody will know but us. Well, and Macy, since I had to explain about the first time I met Lucas and what he was buying. But the other guests won’t know.

There wasn’t much we had to do in order to get married today. Besides the tux, dress, flowers, and dinner we just had to invite people. Since neither of us had any family here, which in all honestly, I’m glad he has nothing to do with his at a time like this. If he did and they were here, I don’t know if I’d be able to make it through today without Maddox at least being here.

Of course, Rhys and Macy are our groomsman and bridesmaid, along with being our witnesses. We ended up inviting only four other couples to join us today. A few I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting yet, but I look forward to during the dinner. They all seem like amazing people.

There’s a knock on the door, and I quickly double check my reflection making sure I fixed everything, hoping to cover up the fact that I was crying. Other than red rim eyes, it's not noticeable.

I quickly walk toward the door and open it expecting it to be Macy with her arms full.

“Oh, my God,” I shriek before throwing myself at the person standing in front of me. “Are you real?” I ask, not believing my eyes.

“Yes, I’m real, munchkin,” Maddox chuckles as he catches me, hugging me close. “You didn’t think I’d miss my baby sister getting married, did you? It’s my job to make sure your man shows up at that alter so you can marry him. Even if that means I do it at gun point. I have it waiting downstairs, so I can carry it as I escort you down the aisle.”

“Maddox Jacob Johnson, you better not have a gun at my wedding,” I throw my hands on my hips. “Please tell me you didn’t point a gun at Lucas.”

“Hey, calm down,” he murmurs letting me go and holding up his hands in a surrender gesture. “I promise the hole isn’t even noticeable after you see it the first time. He shouldn’t have said he wasn’t marrying you. I wouldn’t have had to take such drastic measures to keep my munchkin happy.”

“You better not have, Mad Max,” I warn, and then hug him again, harder. “I’m so glad you’re here. How did you find out?”

“Your man,” he states then pushes me gently back into the room. “Fix your face and I’ll explain. He got ahold of me the day before he proposed and asked my permission. After we had a long talk, he asked me when I could get here. He said there was no way he’d get married without me being here. That he knew how much it would mean to not only you, but me too.” My eyes begin to fill again.

This is the surprise Lucas had been referring to, why he wanted to wait these three weeks. The lengths he'd gone to in order to ensure this day was perfect for me warm my heart and reinforce that marrying him is the best decision I've ever made.

“He might have also demanded I tell my command not to make it too long. He wasn’t waiting a few more months for us to get back so he can marry you.” I burst out laughing, I can see Lucas saying exactly that.

“I told him I could put in leave and be here in three weeks. Once I got my leave signed off by the command, which took me four hours of walking it up the chain, I was granted leave and booked my tickets. By the way, they said congrats and they look forward to meeting your husband soon. He agreed to meet the crew since one of our port stops is actually the same place your honeymoon is.”

“Where is that at again?” I try my hardest to sound as causal as I can, in hopes that he tells me, since Lucas refuses to let it be known where he’s taking me.

“Maddox don’t fall for it. She’s just pissed that everyone, but her, knows the surprise,” Macy rats me out as she walks in, and Maddox cracks up laughing knowing she called me out on my shit. “I was told now that your brother is here to get your sexy ass downstairs. He’s tired of waiting.”

Taking the bouquet of white and soft blue roses from her, I giggle, and nod toward the door.

“You sure you want this, munchkin? This is supposed to be the time I tell you that there’s a car outside and we can make a run for it if you want to,” my brother whispers as we follow Macy down the steps toward the double doors at the bottom that enters the sanctuary.

“Not a chance in hell am I leaving without getting married, Maddox,” I whisper back then lean up and kiss his cheek. “But thanks for being my getaway partner if I did need it. Thanks for giving me away today. I love you, Mad Max.”

Macy slips between the doors, making sure nobody can see me just yet.

“I love you too, munchkin. And I’ll always be your getaway partner. You might be getting married today, but that doesn’t mean this is the end of us. You’re my sister, my wombmate, and I’m always going to be here for you,” he says before kissing my cheek and placing the veil over my face.

The wedding march begins to play and I blink back tears, smiling brightly at my twin. As the doors open, I turn my head and glance down the aisle landing on the one person I love more than Maddox.

The blinding smile he gives me has my heart skipping a beat, as I walk toward him, arm in arm with my brother.

Everything in me at this moment tells me this is the right choice. No matter the doubts I had previously, or the unconventional way we got our start, our love is what makes us an invincible team.

A team and a life I will always put first; no matter what.

He's shown me that he won't ever leave me. That yes death is every part of life, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from loving people while they are here on earth.

His gaze takes in my dress for the first time and when his eyes land back on mine, I slightly trip at the desire I see shining back at me.

Jesus, this man makes me wet.

Just as we make it to the alter, Maddox chokes, and the guests start giggling and laughing. Lucas’s grin turns into a full-blown smirk, confusing me as to what just happened.

“Good to know, mia. But let’s not let everyone know what I do to you. Especially in church no less,” Lucas murmurs into my ear as he reaches for my hand.

“I said that out loud, didn’t I?” I groan my cheeks feeling like someone lit them on fire.

“Who gives this woman away?” the preacher interrupts, and I’m grateful that he’s pretending like I didn’t just make a fool of myself.

“Our parents and I do,” Maddox says, and I can’t help the tear that falls from my eyes as he leans over, giving me one last kiss on the cheek before passing my hand over to Lucas.

The moment my eyes meet his when we turn to each other, I get lost.

Seeing the love reflected in every part of him, I can’t help but think about how much I love him and just how lucky I am to be his. I wonder about our children, if they’ll take after him or me. Who will the act like when they get older? Will they ever be able to find the love their dad and I found?

Lucas leans down and the preacher's voice rings loud in my ears.

“You may kiss the bride.”

“Wait . . . I missed the whole thing. Can we get married over again? I was thinking of our babies and just went through the motions, and I really don’t want to not remember my wedding day,” I blurt out causing him to stop just before his lips meet mine.

“Not a chance in hell, mia. We’ll watch the video if you want to know exactly what you promised me in your vows,” Lucas growls as the guests and the preacher laugh at my outburst. “Now, I’m going to kiss my bride. I need to know what she tastes like.”

His lips crush against mine and I immediately melt into the fog that I love being in with him.

“What does it taste like?” I ask as soon as the kiss ends.

“Mine, Cara. It tastes like mine,” he replies before kissing me even deeper than just a moment ago.

As the clapping and whistling gets louder the longer we kiss, one thought comes to my mind . . . if this is the type of kiss I get as his wife, I wonder what it will be like when I get pregnant.