Couldn't Ask for More, page 26
She released a weak, broken sob. “You’re not…helping me…stop crying, Bryan.”
He crooked his index finger beneath her chin. “Alexis, please forgive me, baby. Marry me. Let me spend the rest of my days making it up to you.”
Another sob left her throat as she vigorously nodded her head, reaching up to lace her arms around his neck.
Pulling her body close to his, he crushed his lips to hers and kissed her as if no one else were around.
Chapter 25
Alexis couldn’t figure out how Bryan managed to kiss her so thoroughly while carrying her in his arms and nudging open the front door of his house. As they moved inside and he kicked the door shut behind them, she found she didn’t care about the how. All that mattered was the growing warmth of desire radiating through her body and the sense of safety she felt being in his arms. So she kept her eyes closed, content to enjoy his lips pressed against hers and the weightless feeling of his strong arms supporting her weight.
She opened her eyes when she came to rest against something soft. A quick glance around revealed they were in his bedroom, and he’d placed her atop the comforter on his bed. He eased away from her, leaving her seated on the edge of the bed.
His eyes glittered with passion as he looked at her. “You look so beautiful in that dress.”
She smiled, recalling how reluctant she’d been to wear it in the first place. “I’m glad you like it.”
“I’m going to be very careful removing it.” He grasped her hands, tugged her gently into a standing position.
“Why?”
Placing a few torrid kisses along the bare line of her shoulder, he whispered in her ear, “Because I want you to wear this dress on our wedding day.”
Her insides dissolved like sugar crystals in a cup of hot coffee.
He followed his words with more hot kisses, against the side of her throat, her collarbone, and the tops of her breasts. Her head dropped back, her knees going weak. His strong arms supported her, keeping her from toppling over as he continued his wicked ministrations.
His large hands began to glide over the dress and over the bare skin of her arms. Then he moved his touch behind her, grasping the zipper pull and dragging it down ever so slowly. All the while, he continued to place his soft kisses along her upper body. True to his word, when the halves of the dress fell open, he eased it down her hips. She stepped out of the dress, and he moved away from her long enough to drape it carefully over a chair on the other side of the room.
Returning moments later, he grazed his palms over the tops of her breasts, above the line of her strapless bra. He kissed and caressed her out of the bra, tossing it aside as he flicked his tongue over the taut buds of her nipples. Soon, the rising sensations became too much, and she fell back against the edge of his big bed.
He followed her, continued to lavish her breasts with his ardent attentions. Her back arched against the searing pleasure as he sucked her nipples. When he rolled the tight dark tips between his thumbs and forefingers, his name fell from her lips on a strangled moan.
She felt him lift her hips, whisk away her panties. When he started to undress, she centered herself on the bed and propped herself with her elbows behind her. With appreciative eyes, she watched him strip away his sport coat and the shirt and undershirt he wore beneath it. He knelt briefly to remove his shoes and socks, then stood to take off his slacks. By the time he hooked his thumbs beneath the waistband of his boxers, she was near drooling.
Moments later, he took the boxers off and kicked them away. Seeing his dick standing high and thick in the shadows, she licked her lips. Logically, she knew it hadn’t been that long since they’d last made love, but now, it seemed as though it had been an eternity. Her core quivered with the anticipation of his arrival.
She watched him go to his bedside table, where he retrieved a condom. After he’d covered his erection, he rejoined her on the bed.
She welcomed him as the mattress sank beneath their combined weight, wrapping her arms around his strong shoulders and pulling him down to her kiss. Their lips met, crushing together as their tongues mated with all the shared passion they had for one another. The heavy weight of his arousal pressed against her damp heat as he settled himself between her thighs.
A heartbeat later, he rocked his hips forward, entering her. The feel of his girth filling her, opening her to his passion, drew a long moan from her lips.
Once he settled in at maximum depth, he stilled. Looking down into her eyes, he whispered, “Forever, Lex.”
She nodded, her vision of his handsome face swimming as the tears filled her eyes again. “Forever.”
He began to move then, building a steady rhythm of slow, deep strokes that set her body and soul on fire. Each time he rocked his strong hips, he pushed her closer and closer to madness. She lifted her legs, clamping them around his waist and holding on to him with every ounce of strength she possessed.
Unable to keep quiet, she gave herself over to the sensations he created, letting the moans and soft cries fall from her lips unchecked. He made his own sounds, low, rumbling groans that indicated he shared in the immense, blinding pleasure. Fire, hot and searing, sparked from his body moving within hers and spread through her as if she were dry brush. Her toes curled, her hips rising off the bed to meet his thrusts. She clung to his body as he moved above her like bliss incarnate, driving her toward the edge of sanity.
And as orgasm rippled through her, she cried out his name, the sound muffled as she turned her face into his strong shoulder. As she tried to recover her wits, she heard him roar above her, felt his muscles tighten as he met his own completion.
Soon, only their breathing broke the silence of the semidarkened room. He rolled onto his side, and she shifted to face him. He wrapped his arms around her, and she settled in, her body still aglow with the orgasmic joy he’d gifted her.
“I love you,” she whispered against his chest.
“I love you, Lex.” He gave her a gentle squeeze.
She wanted to say more, but before she could open her mouth again, sleep descended on her and carried her away.
* * *
Bryan awakened later in the night to the sound of someone pounding at his door. As his eyes popped open, he groaned. Pounding on the door late at night rarely meant anything good, but he knew he’d have to answer it before the person woke Alexis. Her soft snores indicated how deeply she slept, and he didn’t want her disturbed by whoever was on his porch.
The minute he separated from her warm curves, he knew he would be rushing to get back to her. Easing away from her, he slipped out of bed and pulled on his boxers and a pair of sweatpants. Not bothering with a shirt, he left the room, shutting the door behind him. Then he trudged barefoot over the carpeted floor to his front door.
Swinging open the door, he was ready to smack whoever stood there.
Maxwell’s face came into view under the yellow glow of the porch light. He was still wearing the dark suit he’d worn to the event, and he didn’t look pleased. “I know my sister’s here, jackass. How could you spirit her away like that, before her family even got a chance to talk to her?”
Bryan placed his finger over his lips, then stepped out onto the porch. Making sure to leave the door unlocked, he pulled it shut behind him. “Dude, chill. Yes, she’s here, and she’s asleep, so lower your fucking voice.”
Maxwell tilted his head to the side, glared at him.
Bryan glared right back. “If you’re gonna show up on my porch cursing this late at night, you should know that I’m gonna match you, foul for foul.”
Folding his arms over his chest, Maxwell scoffed. “You know, I should kick your ass right here. Lex told me what happened on Monday.”
“Fine. But since she’s here with me now, doesn’t that tell you that we’ve patched things up?”
Leaning his back against the porch railing, Maxwell sighed. “Listen, B. You’re one of my closest friends, and I love you like a brother. But I told you from the gate that I didn’t like the idea of you with my baby sister.”
Bryan tried to keep his tone level, because he understood where his friend was coming from. “You know I feel the same way about you, Max. But your sister is a grown woman. You can’t police her decisions like this.”
“I’m not trying to run her life, but I’m not going to back down from protecting her, either.” His eyes communicated his immense love for his sister.
Bryan sat down in one of his resin porch chairs. “Look, I respect how much you love Lex. I love her, too. You have to believe me when I say I’m not out to hurt her.”
Maxwell shrugged. “Technically, you already have. I mean, look how this thing between you two started, with this farce of an engagement. How can you expect me to trust what you say now, when I know this all began with a lie?”
Bryan settled back in the chair, tenting his fingers in front of him. “I don’t know any other way to respond to that, so I’m just going to spit the truth. I love her, Maxwell. This is the realest thing I’ve ever felt in my life. Now, I’ve asked her to marry me, for real, and she’s said yes.”
Anger flashed in Maxwell’s eyes. “Again with this? When are you two going to quit?”
“Never, if I have anything to say about it. We’re in love, Max. This shit is legit, so you’re going to have to get with the program.”
Shaking his head again, Maxwell sighed. “I guess so, man. But you need to know right now that if she ever comes to me crying again because of something you did—”
Bryan raised his hand, stopping his friend in midsentence. “Max, if I ever do anything to hurt her again, you are welcome to kick my ass up and down Capital Boulevard until you get tired.”
That seemed to satisfy Maxwell, because his expression softened, and he visibly relaxed. “Shake on it.”
Bryan extended his hand, shaking hands with his friend. “Now that we’ve settled that, I’d like to get back to my fiancée, if you don’t mind.”
Maxwell chuckled. “I guess that’s all right. Just remember our agreement.”
Bryan stood, extended his closed fist. “Later, Max.”
Maxwell matched his stance and bumped fists with him. “Yeah, whatever.”
Maxwell stepped off the porch and strolled away. Bryan opened the door and slipped inside the house, eager to return to his bed, and his love.
Epilogue
“Is it zipped?” Alexis craned her neck, attempting to look over her shoulder at the back of her dress.
“Yes, it’s zipped. Stop trying to look back here before you hurt yourself.” Kelsey released her grip on the zipper pull, stepped back. “Now take a look in the mirror, Lex.”
Turning forward again, Alexis took in her reflection in the full-length mirror. The Smoke dress did indeed look gorgeous on her, and unlike the first time she’d put it on, she didn’t feel nervous or hesitant in the least. Adjusting the pearl-and-diamond necklace hanging above the sweetheart neckline, she smiled.
Kelsey, who stood behind her, lifted the matching pearl-and-diamond-encrusted headband and placed it in Alexis’s hair. “There. I’d say you’re ready.”
Turning around to hug her sister, Alexis had to agree.
Sydney approached then, handed Alexis her bouquet of crystal brooches. “You look gorgeous, girl.”
“Thanks.”
“How do I look?” Sydney twirled around, giving her the three-hundred-and-sixty-degree picture of her lavender cocktail dress.
Alexis laughed. “You look just like Kelsey.” She gestured to her sister’s matching dress.
Sydney pursed her lips.
Laughing again, Alexis blew her a kiss. “What I mean is you both look great.”
Later, Sydney and Kelsey escorted Alexis out of the VIP box at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium. The cool February air hit Alexis’s bared skin right away, but the glow of love kept her warm. Sydney held up the hem of Alexis’s gown as they carefully made their way down the bleachers toward the field. At the bottom rung, Humphrey Devers awaited. The girls walked ahead, taking their positions as Humphrey came to Alexis’s side.
Offering his arm to his daughter, he asked, “Are you ready to do this?”
She nodded, looping her arm with his and blinking away the happy tears gathering in her eyes. “Yes, Daddy. I am.”
As the hired band played “The Nearness of You,” Alexis walked with her father onto the grassy field. There, on the fifty-yard line, stood Bryan. Joined by a friend of his who was a justice of the peace and all four of his fraternity line brothers, Bryan looked incredibly dapper in his black suit, white shirt, and silver tie.
Her eyes met his, and she smiled, knowing that every step she took over the soft, winter-brown grass was another step toward her destiny.
When she reached Bryan, her father stepped back, and she looked up into his eyes.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
And when Bryan took her hand in his, she felt her heart expand with the joy of this day and of the life they would build, together.
After the ceremony, Alexis was standing alone in the reception hall when she felt a light tap on her shoulder. She’d come to the punch table to spend a quiet moment taking it all in, and she assumed Bryan had come to find her.
Turning around, she smiled up into her brother’s face. “What’s up, Maxie?”
“Congrats, Mrs. James.” He leaned down and gave her a hug.
“Thanks, bro.” She returned his embrace. “What is it? You tapped me for a reason, I’m guessing.”
“You’re right. I just wanted to apologize, you know, for giving you such a hard time about getting involved with B.”
Her brow cocked. “You already apologized. And I forgive you, Maxie. I know you can’t help yourself when it comes to protecting your sisters.” She loved her brother, and even though he got on her last nerve sometimes, it would never change her affection.
He shifted his weight. “I did a little something to make it up to you. So I want you and B to enjoy your two-week honeymoon.”
Confusion made Alexis frown. “Maxie, what are you talking about? We only booked a week in the Maldives.”
He smiled. “I know. But with a little help from Sydney, I paid for a second week. Consider it my wedding gift.” He winked. “So, like I said, enjoy yourself.” And before Alexis could recover from her shock, her brother strolled away, fading into the crowd of friends and family enjoying the reception.
Bryan sidled over, taking her into his arms. “What’s that look on your face?”
Still amazed, Alexis told him about Maxwell’s gift.
Bryan smiled. “Wow. That was really cool of Max. I’ll be sure to thank him when we get back.” Leaning down, he placed a kiss on her forehead. “I can’t wait to get you alone, Mrs. James.”
Smiling up at him, she laid her hand against his cheek. “Don’t worry, baby. You won’t have to wait much longer.”
And within the hour, Mr. and Mrs. Bryan James were dashing out of the reception hall in a shower of bubbles and confetti. They were going to have a glorious life together, and Alexis couldn’t wait to get started.
About the Author
Like any good Southern belle, Kianna Alexander wears many hats: loving wife, doting mama, advice-dispensing sister, and gabbing girlfriend. She’s a voracious reader, an amateur seamstress, and an occasional painter in oils. Chocolate, American history, sweet tea, and Idris Elba are a few of her favorite things. A native of the Tar Heel State, Kianna still lives there with her husband, two kids, and a collection of well-loved vintage ’80s Barbie dolls.
For more about Kianna and her books, visit her website at authorkiannaalexander.com or sign up for her newsletter at authorkiannaalexander.com/sign-up.
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