Bethany got home around four and decided on a quick nap before everyone was scheduled to arrive for dinner. She wasn't much in the mood for company after seeing Jake bruised and laid up in the hospital, but they had advertisements to review and final plans for the wedding trip to make. Lying in the comfort of her bed, she finally gave herself over to the need for rest and slipped into the welcoming arms of darkness.

"Yeah. I didn't mean to fall asleep, or maybe I did. What time is it?" She curled up farther and snuggled back against him.

"It's almost seven."

"Seven? Shit." She pulled from him and slid off the side of the bed. "I need to get ready. I was hoping to take a shower."

"There is no reason to hurry, baby. Just get ready and come out when you can. We're just putting out snacks to hold us over until dinner is ready."

Bethany pulled her shirt over her head quickly and slipped out of her slacks, walking toward her closet as she spoke over her shoulder. "Is everyone already here?"

Damon moved into the closet behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and leaning down to kiss her shoulder. "Yeah, but they can wait."

She swatted at him playfully. "You had me earlier today. Don't make us late and have this Erica chick thinking I have no respect for other people's time."

"She's not going to think that. She's a bitch at the office, but when you get her alone, she's just like the rest of us."

"Get her alone?" Bethany turned and slid her arms around his waist as her lip turned up in a smirk. "Have you had her alone a lot?"

"That you're jealous is almost cute." He leaned down and brushed his lips past hers as he ran his hands down her back to cup her butt. "I want more of you. Let's fuck first and then join them later."

She laughed and pushed him back softly. "Love how you avoided the getting Erica alone question."

He popped her butt and walked out of the closet, messing with himself from what she could tell. It was nice to know that she could turn him on without even trying.

"There is nothing to talk about. She's nothing but a business partner to me. She has a thing for Matt, which I think I mentioned."

"A thing?" Bethany called out as she tugged a cream-colored blouse from a hanger and pulled it over her head. She slipped into a nicer pair of jeans and left her feet bare. Her mother must have been shopping on Kent's dime by the look of a few new things hanging in her closet.

"Yeah. She's a creative-type person, remember? Matthew is too. I think she would move in quickly if he even remotely showed interest in her."

"He's not interested?"

"Nope. He's scared to death of her."

"Why?" Bethany walked out as Damon bit his lip and shook his head.

"Not sure. Ask him." He moved toward her and wrapped his arms back around her. "Fuck woman, you turn me on no matter what you're wearing."

"That's because you know what's beneath my clothes and that it all belongs to you."

"Damn straight." He slid his hand into her hair, his fingers pressing gently to the base of her head as he tilted her face toward him. "I'm looking forward to this trip. It's been a long time since I've wanted to go somewhere. It's lonely going without someone to share it with."

"I find it hard to believe someone as gorgeous as you would have to do anything alone."

"It's not about looks, Beth. It's about trusting someone enough to let them into your world."

"Are you letting me in?"

"I'm not sure I have any other option but to."

She lifted up and pressed her lips to his, tilting her head to the side and opening her mouth as his tongue slid against hers. She groaned and tightened her arms around him as she sucked at his offering, something deep inside of her waking up. She wanted to drop to her knees in front of him, to feel his hands tighten in her hair, to taste his pleasure on her tongue. She broke the kiss, breathing a little harder thanks to the depravity of her thoughts.

His eyes sparkled with desire. It took her breath away.

"What are you thinking, you bad girl?"

"I was thinking how badly I want to lick your balls, suck your cock ... press my face against the most intimate parts of you and let the scent that belongs only to you etch across my senses." She leaned up and kissed him softly as he stared deadpan at her. "Just a desire that keeps haunting me."

"We should explore this." He reached for her as she turned and ran to the door. A soft yelp left her as he charged after her. "Beth ... Now. Now!"

Bethany slowed just before walking into the kitchen, heat burning her cheeks from her forward response. A smile lifted her lips, leaving her feeling fulfilled, happy. Her mother turned as she stood with Erica, Matt, and Kent.

"There you are. We were starting to worry." Her mother smiled.

Matt walked toward her and pulled her into a big bear hug as Damon rounded the corner and moved to open a bottle of wine. "There's Sleeping Beauty. Damon and Dad working you too hard at the office?"

"They are slave drivers." Bethany laughed and walked toward the large platter of crudité. She picked up a carrot and dipped it in the creamy ranch sauce as Erica responded.

"Man, I remember when I started working for these two years ago. I took more naps than I care to remember." She smiled, and Bethany returned the gesture. "I would honestly go home feeling like my brain was bruised."

"That's because you're creative, and they aren't. Like trying to teach calculus to Michelangelo." Matt joined in and moved to take the bottle of wine from Damon. "Give me that. Check on the steaks."

"Are you guys cooking tonight?" Bethany asked, looking at Damon.

"We are. Be very scared. Dad gave everyone the night off. He does that from time to time. It's healthy for them and us." Damon nodded toward Kent, who had remained quiet until then.

"Yeah ... That's great. Let's talk about the trip. The planner in me is crawling up the walls. I know we have the hotels and airlines booked, but are you guys wanting to have the ceremony at night on the beach or during the day in the hotel or what?"

"Let's get the platter and wine and go out on the porch and talk. I'll turn on the fans and bring the booze. You guys get the food." Damon nodded toward them, winking at Bethany.

She grabbed the veggie tray and followed behind him, her eyes moving across his back and rear. The dark blue shirt he wore looked good on him, and his slacks hugged the beautiful swell of his ass. He was beyond gorgeous. Why he would waste his time with someone like her was still a mystery. His response in the bedroom about wanting to trust someone left her lost in thought. He was letting her in, of that she was sure. He didn't have a choice from what he had said. Did that mean that he loved her too? Had to. Then why not tell her?

"I called the hotel last week, and the ceremony is on Saturday afternoon at five or so. It's when the sun is setting, so they will set everything up and have us in the hotel about an hour before sunset. As it begins, they'll usher us out there," Matt spoke up, moving back to hold the door for everyone.

"You're so good, Matt," Erica responded as she moved just behind Bethany.

"I try." Matt walked toward Bethany and reached for the tray as everyone started to set up the table, his cheeks colored pink. "Give me that, Sis."

"She's cute," Bethany whispered and motioned toward Erica.

"She's scary as fuck." He laughed, his voice nothing more than a whisper as well.

"You and I are talking more about this in Jamaica."

"Yeah, well, Dad invited her to come with us."

Bethany turned toward everyone, a little surprised by Matt's words. "Who all is going with us to Jamaica?"

"All of us here." Kent smiled and pulled Bethany's mother in for a side hug, leaning down and kissing the top of her hair.

"Oh, nice. Erica, you're coming with us? I wasn't sure Dad could convince you." Damon moved toward Bethany, stopping just beside her.

"It was Matt who convinced me. You know, I've been after him to come and join me at the firm. We thought this would be a good time to go over his portfolio and for me to liquor him up enough to get him to say yes." Erica smiled, shifting her eyes toward Matt. Bethany glanced at her almost stepbrother as he shrugged bashfully.

"I'll watch the steaks." He walked toward the grill as everyone chuckled. Matt was so different from Kent and Damon, and yet was every bit as handsome and attention grabbing. Bethany looked forward to getting him alone on the trip to find out more about the situation between him and Erica. The beginning of something was there, but what she didn't know.

"Well, before we get further into the night ... I have an announcement to make." Damon spoke up, and everyone turned toward him. Butterflies began to move in Bethany's stomach at the authority in his voice. He glanced at her and winked, confusing her a bit, but she was too intrigued by him to be concerned with it.

"I know this might not go over well, but I don't care. You guys know me, and the one thing I hate is secrets or lies." He paused, and everyone's expression softened. Bethany let her eyes move around the crowd as she crossed her arms over her chest.

What was he doing?

Damon moved toward Bethany, pulling her into a side hug and smiling down at her before looking toward his father and her mother. "I know the two of you have found something special in each other, and I'm thrilled. My father deserves a good woman, and I have no doubt that he's found the best one for him. We will be a family at the end of this weekend, but I need to be very transparent with both of you, and with you, Matt. Bethany and I have been seeing each other for the last little while, and I'm in love with her. I haven't ever been in love before, and I know this is a bit of an off situation, but I'm asking you, as my family, to accept it. If you're not willing to, then count me out of whatever the future holds."

Damon looked down at Bethany as she choked on both fear and pride that he would step up in front of their family and claim her as his. "I'm not willing to choose a future that she's not my better half in."

He turned back to look at his father. "Do you understand?"