“I found a new roomie.” Jules bursts into the office and smiles at me.
“It’s been two months. ‘Bout damn time.” I laugh when she wiggles her eyebrows at me. “What am I missing?”
“It’s a hot guy!” she squeals and I laugh.
“Oh my God.” I stand and head to grab my coat. Tonight’s our engagement party at the West House and I can’t wait to see my parents again. They left on January first after an awesome visit for the holidays and I haven’t seen them since. Sometimes it’s hard living this far from them. I’m just lucky that Ford’s family is as amazing as mine. We’re pretty lucky, really.
“Yes, oh my God. And this morning he was walking out of the shower in only a towel and I swear his dick was hanging way low.” Her eyes are wide and I can’t help but laugh.
“This isn’t going to end well, Jules. You know this, right?” I smirk at her as I walk to the front door with her on my heels.
“It’s going to end with a whole bunch of awesome orgasms. Hopefully.” She flips the ‘open’ sign to ‘closed’ and her eyes brighten. “He’s coming tonight. By the way.”
“I’m excited to meet him. Just be careful, okay?” I give her a quick hug when Ford pulls up to the front of the building.
“Not everyone has Prince Fucking Charming to sweep them away.” She waves at Ford and I laugh.
“I went through a dozen rats to get my prince, Jules. You’ll find yours.”
“I’ll see you tonight, babe,” she says, then heads back inside and locks the front door.
“You look beautiful,” Ford says as I fall into his delicious leather seats.
“I’m covered in flour and icing.” I pull the mirror down and shudder when I see my reflection. “God, what a day. I need a shower.”
“Me too.” He smirks over at me and I laugh.
“You’re a horn dog.” I take his hand in mine but before he can respond both our phones start ringing at the same time. His caller ID on the car says it’s his brother and mine says it’s Reagan.
“Weird,” he mutters, then answers. “Helloooooo,” he sings, smiling over at me.
“Dude, is Mackenzie with you?” Lincoln blurts.
“I’m here, what’s up?”
Ford glances at me and his earlier relaxed features now are laced with worry.
“Have you guys turned on the news yet tonight?”
“We’re driving home. So no. Stop beating around the bush, man. What the fuck’s going on?” Ford’s hand is tight around mine and as we pull into the driveway Lincoln sighs.
“They found Eric’s body in the back seat of his car this morning just on the outskirts of town. Apparent suicide…” He trails off and my eyes go wide. I look over at Ford whose eyebrows are pulled together and his jaw tight.
“Eric’s dead?” I whisper, not feeling near as sad as I probably should. I don’t feel happy, but I’m definitely not sad he’s gone. Does that make me a bad person?
“Yeah.” Lincoln clears his throat. “Anyway…that was all I wanted. I didn’t want you two blindsided by that tonight at the party.”
“Thanks for letting us know,” Ford says, then ends the call and shifts in his seat, killing the engine. His eyes meet mine and he shakes his head slightly. “I…I’m a terrible person because the first thing that went through me was relief. Relief that we don’t have to worry about him anymore.”
“You’re not a terrible person, Ford,” I whisper, giving his hand a squeeze. “Eric had way too many demons he wasn’t willing to deal with, apparently. I’m just happy me and you are safe.” I push my lips to his knuckles. “Can we please go inside and stop talking about someone who doesn’t matter anymore to us?” I raise an eyebrow and he smirks.
“Race ya,” he blurts, then bolts out of the car and up to the front door. I laugh, following him, and by the time I make it inside and lock the door behind me the shower’s already running. I strip off my clothes, layer by layer, and step into the oversized shower he just finished installing for us a couple week ago. He loves showering together and I can’t say I hate it either.
“Wash my back?” I ask, holding out the loofah for him. He takes it then slowly cleans my back, but when he reaches my ass he drops the loofah and lets his hands do the work. His lips press against the base of my neck and I moan into his touch when his fingers slip between my legs.
“We don’t have a lot of time,” he whispers, his hands roaming my backside.
“We can make it quick.” I spin and he pushes me against the shower wall, his lips slamming into mine. He lifts me by my ass and in one movement pushes into me. I gasp and grip his shoulders as he starts pumping into me. His lips push against mine and I dart my tongue out, sliding between his lips and kissing him deep. Each thrust brings a new sensation burning through my body. The hot water rippling down us runs over my nipples just adding to the torture and when he dips his head and takes one between his teeth I moan, arching into him.
“I fucking love this,” he grunts, speeding up. Every thrust hits deeper than the last and the angle has me spiraling towards orgasm within minutes.
“Fuck, Ford,” I pant. “Oh God don’t stop!” He pumps into me, then braces one arm on the wall while the other grips my ass, holding me up. I shift so one foot’s barely on the shower floor and the new angle sets me off. “Oh fuck!”
“Come for me,” he growls, fucking me harder and harder. The noises coming out of this man do me in, and when I come my screams echo throughout the entire house I’m sure. “Ah shit!” He slams his lips into mine as his release fills me. “Holy fuck, Mack,” he pants, his lips still on mine. I giggle and clench my muscles a bit while he’s still inside me, making him laugh and pull out before more torture is had. “You’re a fuckin’ tease, babe.”
I bite my lip then dart up on my toes and press my lips to his. “I love you, Ford West.”
“I love you, too, Mackenzie Mueller.”
“Almost Mackenzie West.” I grin. “Later this year!”
“Yeah, yeah.” He grumbles then hands me the shampoo after I finish getting my hair wet. “Could be sooner than later, you know.”
“No it can’t. We’re going to do this big. We both deserve it.”
“You deserve everything, Mackenzie. And I hope to be able to give it to you.” He taps my nose and we swap places so I can clean and shave while he rinses himself off. I always thought showering with someone else would be awkward, but it’s too easy with Ford. And in his words, ‘it saves on the water bill.’ I never really believed him, but I let him think that.
By the time we’re walking into our party I’m ready for bed already. I love parties like this, but it’s been a long day and after that good of an orgasm I just want to sleep. I tried napping on the bed but something about being late to our own party had Ford on edge and ready to get out of the house on time.
“You guys really did a number on this place,” I say in awe, walking into the banquet hall. “I’ve been in this place hundreds of times in the past setting up for events, but I’ve never seen it quite this elegantly beautiful.” Somehow, Ford and his team managed to turn the West House hall from a pretty banquet hall with historic essence into an elegant looking ballroom. Gold and glitter lacing the details of almost every table adorned with twinkling lights and crisp linens. The centerpieces are to die for and the spread of food smells amazing.
“It’s not every day a West gets married.” He smiles and when his sister walks up, he nudges her. “Anyway, this will probably be the final West wedding so we gotta go big.”
“Hey now! Don’t count me out just yet. Who knows, maybe the next one will be the first same sex wedding West House has ever seen.” She grins and Ford busts out a laugh.
“Please. My sister’s not a lesbian.” He eyes her when she shrugs. “Oh my God, Reag are you?” His eyes are wide and his mouth open and if I didn’t know better, I’d be buying it too. I know, though, there’s no way in hell she is. She’s too addicted to bad boys to get herself into a relationship with a girl. Reagan smirks, then pauses before busting out a loud laugh.
“Hell no! God, big bro, you really don’t know me, do you!?” She laughs and the look on Ford’s surprised face is priceless.
“I mean… Lesbians are cool and all. I just…” His mouth starts flapping and Reagan slugs him. “Reag, I jerk off to lesbian porn. I just had horrible thoughts of my own sister and I think I’m going to go throw up now.” He walks away and I can’t stop laughing.
“Oh my God that’s priceless.” I laugh.
“He’s a dork.” She rolls her eyes.
“He loves you.” I smile as I watch him make a beeline for outside. Let the man get some fresh air.
“It’s not easy growing up with two older brothers,” she says, grabbing a glass of wine off a water passing by. “They definitely made it hard to date. Hell, they still make it hard.”
“I’m sure,” I say. “They’re just looking out for you though.”
“Yeah…” She trails off. “Sometimes I think moving away from here would maybe give me a better shot at finding my happy ever after. It feels like Springfield’s all picked over.” She makes a face.
“You’d move away from your family?” I take a drink and watch her as she stares at the floor for a moment before shrugging.
“Just a thought. I’d probably never do it.” She finishes her glass of wine and shakes the empty glass. “Time for more!” She wiggles her eyebrows as she walks away and I can only hope she was joking about that. Ford and Lincoln would be devastated if she moved. And let’s not talk about how poorly her parents would take it.
The evening goes by without incident. I met Jules’ new roommate and I have to say she’s not stretching the truth at all when she talked about how hot he was. I’m not sure where she found him, but I’m almost jealous. Not too jealous, however, because lying here in bed with my fiancé, wrapped in his embrace, I know this is the only place for me.
“Your parents talked about moving up here tonight,” he murmurs, his hand drawing lazy circles on my bare shoulder.
“I’ve heard that a lot lately. I wonder if they’d ever do it.” I push up on my elbow and rest my chin on his chest, looking into those beautiful eyes that hooked me on day one. “They really like you.”
“I really like them. And they got along with my parents pretty well.” He smirks. “Once we start poppin’ babies out it’d sure be nice to have more hands around to help out.”
I smile at him and press my lips to his chest then take a deep breath and push away the pain of what Eric did to us. He tried to ruin us. He tried to ruin me. All because he ruined his own life.
I feel bad for his ex-wife and his kids. They’ll forever be haunted by what he did to their lives, but I know deep down they’re better off without him. We all are.
“You really want kids, don’t you?” I smirk and let my hand trail down his abdomen.
“I really want a lot of kids. And I really want to start trying like, yesterday.” He groans the minute I wrap my hand around his hardening dick and chuckles. “Didn’t the doctor say we had to wait what? Six months? Until we can try again?”
“Yeah, but we can start practicing now.” I smirk and straddle him, taking my time to memorize every beautiful feature on this broken man. My broken man. “I’m proud of you, Ford,” I whisper, trailing my fingertips around his pecs.
“And that’s because?” His eyes are hooded with lust and his hands resting on my thighs give them a gentle squeeze.
“I came to you at rock bottom.” I smile. “You’re not at rock bottom anymore.”
“That’s all you, babe,” he whispers, pushing his hips up to meet my core.
“We did it together.” I bite my lip and reach between us, lining him up with my pussy and when I slide down, he groans out and his hands tighten on my thighs.
“We fucking did,” he grunts and his eyes lock on mine as I start to rock back and forth. “I love you, Mackenzie.”
“I love you, Ford.”
The past six months have flown by. I never thought time could move so fast, but it did and here we are, waiting inside Gram’s house for the music to start so I can walk down the pathway to my future husband.
Two years ago this type of life wasn’t even on my radar. I thought Eric and I would move back to Florida eventually and have a luxurious lifestyle, just the two of us, forever and always. But here I am, marrying a completely different man, a man I wanted nothing to do with two years ago, and trying to start our family as soon as we can, living in a modest city that’s full of family values and traditions and no yacht’s in sight. And you know what? I’ve honestly never been happier.
“Everything looks perfect,” my mom says, nervously adjusting the flower on my dad’s suit one more time.
“Mom. I’m sure everything’s perfect.” I smile and Jules nudges me.
“You ready for this? I got the car ready to go if you want to run.” She grins while motioning to the back of the house and I laugh.
“I’m really doing this,” I whisper, unable to take the smile off my face.
“You’re really doing this, babe.” She hugs me. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks.” I turn and face my dad when I hear our music start. “You ready?”
He’s already in tears and I can’t look at him as he walks me down the path and through the small gathering of friends and family we invited. Neither of us wanted a big, lavish wedding. Something small is much more meaningful to the both of us. Plus, I really don’t have that many people to invite so there was no need for it to be that big.
When my dad hands me off I give him a tight hug, pushing back the ball in my throat threatening to force the tears out. I’ve never seen my dad cry and I think it even shocked Ford who’s speechless as he takes my hand. We both watch my dad walk back to his seat, blotchy faced and shiny cheeks, and I take a deep breath.
“You’re so fucking gorgeous, Mack,” Ford leans in and whispers, making me blush because something as innocent as a whisper makes my lady parts tingle for this man.
“You don’t look too bad yourself, bud,” I say, trying to laugh off the nerves. But seriously, the dark grey suits the boys are wearing paired with the hot pink accents go nicely with our light pink dresses. Ford’s got Lincoln and Carter standing up for him, which is by far the cutest group of groomsmen I’ve ever seen, and they’re all three standing there with wide smiles on their faces. Walking with me is Jules and Reagan, who over the last few months has become a super close friend. I feel bad for her. She wants love just like the rest of us, but she’s been so unlucky I think she’s pretty much counted this type of happy ending out of the picture for her.
The evening flies by. The reception at the West House is even more lavish than the engagement party was. The alcohol is flowing and not once do I even see Ford’s eyes glance towards a glass. He’s amazed me with how well he’s able to stay away from it, which scares me sometimes because I know relapse can happen, but I really hope he’s in the clear. He seems to be having less and less nightmares and his stress level has lowered immensely in the last few months. We party until we’re the last two on the dance floor and before I know it, Ford’s carrying me into the house after the limo dropped us off at home.
“You didn’t have to do that!” I laugh when he puts my feet on the floor finally. He pauses, his eyes filled with emotion, and smiles wide.
“You’ve made me so fucking happy, Mackenzie.” He takes my face in his hands and presses his lips to mine. “You’ll never know what you mean to me, but I promise to try to show you each and every day. And if I ever stop showing you, I give you full permission to kick me in the balls.”
I laugh and slap him lightly in the arm.
“You’re ridiculous,” I whisper, biting my lip.
“You know what’s ridiculous?” He blurts, his hands trailing the back of my dress. “How the fuck did you get into this thing?” He backs away, shaking his head. “There’s no fucking zipper. I can’t just pull it over your head?” I shake my head, giggling. “I’m getting the fucking scissors. I need to fuck you like, ten minutes ago, and I can’t even get the fucking dress off you.”
I bust out laughing when he storms out of the room and the minute he’s out of eye-shot I find the hidden zipper that was sewn into the side of the dress and tug it down. Immediately, the dress pools at my feet and when he returns to the room, scissors in hand, all I’m wearing is my wedding night lingerie, picked specifically for him.
“Holy shit,” he mutters, dropping the scissors and taking the strides it takes to get to me. “Holy fuck you’re perfect.”
I squeal in laughter when he picks me up and carries me to the bedroom. Our bedroom.
I’m happy I gave Ford a second chance, because had I not, I never would have known what it means to be this in love with someone.