Forever the Boss: Billionaire Romance ~ Hot and Steamy (Managing the Bosses Series Book 10) (15 page)

Erica didn’t win the women’s tournament. They started a day prior to men, but seemed to get just as much coverage as the men’s did.

Mark was a little disappointed, but the fact that the tournament had gone well took the edge off it, and Erica didn’t seem to mind at all, so he tried not to let it get to him. In fact, she moved from tournament mode to wedding mode in about three seconds, and since then she hadn’t stopped moving for more than five minutes at a time.

The pavilions and grandstands for the tournament had all been taken down, and the visiting golfers had departed. Club employees had cleaned up the trash left behind. Things were quiet again for the most part. Mark wouldn’t have minded having a little time to enjoy it, but there wasn’t any. He was beginning to wonder if the decision to go straight from the tournament to the wedding had really been a good idea after all.

Jamie was constantly out at the club to help, and on her days off Christine could usually be found doing the same thing. Between the three of them and the wedding planner, Mark would have thought they didn’t really need his help, but Erica kept asking him questions he wasn’t sure he knew the answer to. Finally, in desperation, he’d retreated to his office to do paperwork, which seemed to have actually convinced them that he wasn’t going to be involved with planning the rest of the wedding decorations.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to get married. Of course he did. He had a beautiful, intelligent woman who could play a mean game of golf, and for the moment she was happy to be with him. He was going to lock that down before she changed her mind.
But marriage and weddings are two very different things
, he thought, looking out over the course from his office window. And one of those things was not something he knew how to put together.

Of course, his first marriage hadn’t exactly been perfect, but Paula wasn’t Erica.

Mark sighed, and filled in another line of the form that he’d been going over for almost an hour. Erica wasn’t Paula, and this time it was going to be very different because he was going to do everything in his power to make the woman he loved happy.

Which probably meant he should be out there helping her with the wedding prep instead of hiding in his office. Mark sighed again, and went out to see what the women were up to.

***

“Thank you,” Erica said, and Mark turned to look at her, eyebrows lifted.

“For what?”

“For coming out and helping us,” she said, dropping her shoes by the door and moving further into the room so she could wrap her arms around him. “I wasn’t sure you were going to at first, but then you did and it really means a lot that you were willing to kind of step out of your comfort zone and do that.”

“Oh.” Mark held her close, feeling a little bit pleased with himself. He’d picked the right option. “I just figured that if I’m going to do everything I can to make you happy, it includes helping with the wedding set-up, even if it’s not my favorite thing.”

“Everything you can to make me happy, huh?” Erica looked up at him with a smile. “That sounds promising.”

“For the rest of your life,” Mark said, and there wasn’t a bit of teasing in his voice. “I want to be the best thing that ever happened to you, because you’re absolutely the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Erica leaned up on her toes and kissed him at that, and Mark was more than happy to return the gesture, wrapping his arms closer around her waist to press her body hard against his.

“Has anyone ever told you,” she said when she drew back, breathing a little faster, “that you’re kind of a big softy under all those macho-man looks?”

Mark laughed. “Oh, absolutely.”

“Well, I like it.” She leaned in and kissed him again.

“That’s lucky. Because otherwise I’d be in trouble.”

Mark let himself sink into the kiss, feeling the heat of her body against his own. Damn, he loved her. They broke apart again, and Mark wondered if having sex so soon before the wedding was considered not okay. He was pretty sure Erica wouldn’t be against the idea.

“You know,” she said, as though she’d read his mind, “it’s not the night before the wedding yet.”

“No,” Mark agreed, laughing in his voice. “I was actually just thinking about that. And how much I’d really like to take you to bed right now.”

“See, I was thinking about how much I’d like to reward you for being such a good fiancé and helping out with the wedding plans.”

“Well, I didn’t do it for a reward, but I’m not going to say no to one.”

She grinned. “I didn’t think you would.”

Mark's stomach clenched in pleasant anticipation.

Her hand closed around his and she led him to the bed, only pulling away to scramble out of her clothes while he followed her example, then she tumbled him back onto the pillows and settled down between his legs. But she didn’t take him into her mouth, just looked at him, and Mark looked back at her breathlessly.

“Would you do something other than torture me?”

She laughed, but she leaned forward and licked him all the same. He let his head fall back against the pillow, his eyelids falling half closed. One of his hands tangled in the sheets, the other stroked through her hair while she licked again.

“Better?” she paused to ask.

“Better if you would get to work,” Mark answered, voice coming out rough and low in his throat.

She laughed. “Talk to me like that and maybe you won't get anything at all, Mr. Reid.”

He shut up.

Seemingly satisfied, Erica leaned in close again, her breath washing warm over his skin. Mark shuddered. She licked him again, long and slow, and laughed at the groan that caught behind his teeth. The vibration of it shocked sparks through him. His hand tightened in her hair.

Taking that as a cue, she opened her mouth and slid down, warm and wet. Mark’s spine arched. Another inch, and then two. She pulled back until just the head was in her mouth, teasing with her tongue, and he began to be sure that it was payback for the way he’d teased her the night before.

“Fuck, woman. Come on.”

Again, she laughed, but she slid all the way down when she took him in again, and the slow, teasing stimulation picked up pace. It wasn’t going to take him long like this. With her mouth around him, the only pleasure he had to think about was his own, and he chased it selfishly, letting himself just enjoy her talented tongue.

Up and down. Her hair fell across his thighs, soft and cool against his heated skin, and slid tickling over them. On the next slide down, she took him even deeper. The knuckles of the hand buried in the blankets ached with the strength of his grip. Again, and he moaned.

He wanted to drag it out, to enjoy it for as long as he could, but he wasn’t going to last. She was taking him nearly to the hilt, swallowing around him. Noises of obvious enjoyment vibrated through his core.

She was stretching him to the breaking point.

“Going to come,” he warned finally, gasping the words.

Erica pulled off, and Mark growled but she just smiled sweetly up at him. “Not so fast, babe. Just because you deserve a reward doesn’t mean I’m not going to get to feel you where I want you.”

“Oh really?” Mark teased, despite the ache in his cock.

“Really,” she shot back. “Now come on.”

Mark rolled over so that he was on top of her, and she arched up into him as one of his hands moved down, fingers teasing through the curls on her mound. He brushed a fingertip against her clit. Her hips rocked into the touch, but he didn’t give her the pressure she wanted, just kept up the teasing touch until she moaned.

Mark dropped a kiss into the valley between her breasts, then took a nipple into his mouth, licking it. Nipped at it gently. She writhed and moaned, hips rocking into his hand. He liked how desperate she was for it already, how needy. Revenge was sweet, but he knew he wasn’t going to be able to last long. Not after the way she’d worked him with her mouth.

“Fuck me,” she gasped. “Come on, Mark. Please. I want you inside me.”

With one last flick of his tongue against her nipple, Mark sat back. Erica’s eyes, half closed, opened again. Her fingers curled and uncurled against his back.

“You want it?” he asked. “You sure, babe?”

“Yes,” she growled, and he laughed.

His hands caught her around the hips, pulling her up so that she rested half in his lap, and then he pressed inside her. She tossed her head back against the blankets with a little scream.

“Like that?”

She didn’t answer except to moan.

Mark pulled back, then dragged her up to meet the next thrust. And the next. Damn, she felt good.

He shifted, then, further back, and let her legs fall to either side of his thighs, leaning down over her instead. His hands slid up her arms to catch her wrists and pull them open so that one was on either side of her head, and he threaded his fingers through hers, holding them in place as he began moving again. This was faster, harder, making both of them groan.

“Yes,” she hissed, breathless. “Yes. Fuck me harder.”

It was a request he didn’t bother teasing about. His hips rocked, filling her up before he slid back and pressed in again. He let his head drop forward so that it rested against her collarbones, and teased at her skin with lips and teeth.

“How close, babe?”

His voice sounded as wrecked as hers was.

“Close. Mark. Fuck.”

He let his eyes slide shut, and moved inside her.

An instant later she was shuddering under him, and he followed her. Pleasure exploded through his body, tingling into his limbs and whiting out the world.

“I don’t know if my legs will ever work again,” Erica said after a long moment.

Mark opened his eyes, lifting his head enough that he could look at her. Bliss was written across her face. Her eyes were still closed, a small smile curling the corners of her lips.

“That’s exactly what I want to hear,” he said, rolling up onto his elbow so he could lean down and kiss her. She arched up into it, and their tongues met, slow and languid, playing together for a long minute before Mark rolled back onto the bed. Erica shifted over to curl against his side.

“I can’t believe we’re getting married in less than a week,” she said softly.

“No. I can’t either, honestly. But I’m glad.”

Erica looked up at him. “You are, right? Really?”

He hated to see that flash of insecurity in her eyes, and pulled her closer, kissing her until it disappeared. “I am,” he said. “Really.”

And he was. In fact, he’d thought more than once that he wouldn’t have minded skipping out and just marrying her without all the fuss. But the big beautiful wedding was what she wanted, and he was going to give it to her.

He could wait a few more days to have her take his name and his ring. They would have their entire lives, after all.

The day of the wedding dawned clear and bright and perfect, exactly the kind of day Jamie had hoped Mark and Erica would get, and she couldn’t contain the excitement that bubbled through her. She was just so happy for both of them. So glad they’d found each other and that they would have the same happiness she and Alex had. Both of them completely deserved it.

Alex watched her obvious excitement with an indulgent smile.

“I take it you’re happy?” he said as she pulled on the clothes she would wear until she changed into her dress at the club.

“I’m so happy,” Jamie said, pausing in her mad rush to give him a kiss. “I’m happy for Mark, and for Erica. And even though it isn’t technically their day, I’m happy for Christine and Paul, too.” She smiled up at him. “Our family is growing, and I’m glad.”

“They’re lucky to have someone like you in it,” Alex said, his arms tightening around her. “Someone who really cares about them. All of us are.”

“We’re lucky to have each other,” Jamie said, stealing one more kiss before she darted off to get the rest of the things she needed.

The wedding wasn’t until two, but Jamie had been asked to be in Erica’s wedding party, along with Christine and one of Erica’s golf friends, which meant she was going to have to arrive early. Alex was, of course, Mark’s best man, but he didn’t have quite so much to do to get ready, and so he and her father would come later with the twins. She grabbed her purse and, with a goodbye for her husband, headed out the door.

***

By the time Alex arrived, Jamie was dressed for the wedding in the sleek blue dress Erica had chosen for her bridesmaids. She had been worried that it was going to be something horrifically ugly, but she actually liked the way the blue satin hugged her curves. It was simple enough not to look overstated, but elegant enough with the up-do she’d corralled her hair into that she looked like she belonged at a wedding. She smoothed her hands over the fabric again in the mirror, and then went to make sure everything was going well with the groom’s party.

Mark was standing in the middle of a group of laughing men, among them Alex and Jamie’s father. His other two groomsmen, Paul and one of the managers from the club, were there, too, and thankfully both of them were dressed. Jamie really didn’t want to have to chase them around, making them get ready.

Alex turned, and his eyes widened.

Jamie felt her cheeks heat. “That good?”

He crossed the room in two strides and pulled her into his arms, bending her back into a deep kiss while the men behind him whistled and hooted. “You look amazing, baby,” he said when he’d pulled back, an unapologetic grin on his face. “I really don’t know how I’m going to keep my hands off you, to be honest.”

Jamie swatted at his shoulder. “You’re going to keep your hands off me because today is your brother’s wedding day.”

As she flounced off again she heard him laughing behind her, and hid a smile. She would have to thank Erica for her choice of dress.

Speaking of dress choices, Jamie thought as she returned to the bride’s room, Erica’s wedding gown was amazing. The long white dress fit close to her upper body, flaring out just enough at the hips to give her a little bit of an extra curve there. She was actually a little jealous of the strapless sweetheart neckline. A dress like that on her wouldn’t have been very family-friendly, but on Erica it looked absolutely stunning. Christine, in her own blue bridesmaid dress, looked happier than Jamie had seen her in a long time, her cheeks pink and her eyes bright. The other woman, whose name was Danielle, was as slim as Erica, with shockingly dark hair. She was going to stand out in a bridal party full of blondes, something Jamie didn’t actually think she’d mind.

“You ready?” she asked as she stepped forward, helping Erica adjust the veil she was fiddling with.

Erica gave her a slightly nervous smile in the mirror. “I think so. Now that we’re close I feel a little like my stomach is full of birds, but I can’t even express how excited I am to finally be marrying Mark.”

“I think that’s a completely normal feeling,” Jamie said. “Those butterflies. I had them, too.”

“It’s just a happy bride thing,” Christina added, stepping up on Erica’s other side.

Erica grinned at them both, suffused with the happy glow of a bride on her wedding day, and outside they heard the voices of the guests settle down, and then the first strains of the music. They took their places, and as the men came to join them Jamie took her first steps out into the sunlight on Alex’s arm.

It was a beautiful wedding.

Erica practically floated down the aisle with her father, and Jamie couldn’t help the smile that broke out on her face as Mark turned to see his bride, his face lighting up at the sight of her. They were going to be so happy, she thought, watching them take each other’s hands, oblivious to the rest of the guests, their eyes locked together and their whole bodies leaning in toward one another. This was what she had wanted for Mark from the moment she met him and realized how bad his relationship with Paula was, this happiness. She exchanged glances with Alex, who had a half-hidden smile on his own face, obviously happy for his little brother.

Mark and Erica turned toward the priest and spoke their vows, promising to love and cherish, and Jamie remembered her own wedding. The way she had felt as Alex looked at her with those startling blue eyes, swearing to love her and no one else, forever. Her heart clenched in her chest. More than two years together, and they were still as happy and in love as they had been from day one. As happy, Jamie was sure, as they would always be. There was nothing in the world that would ever change the way she felt about the man she had married.

She caught his eye again, across the space between them, and let him see the love in her own face. The need and desire and hunger for him that she constantly felt. In his expression she saw the answering want, and looked forward a little more to the end of the wedding and home, falling into their bed together with the twins safe and sleeping down the hall.

“I now pronounce you man and wife,” the priest said, and Jamie turned back to Erica and Mark. “You may kiss the bride.”

Mark surged forward and kissed Erica, hard and long, and the guests cheered. When they broke apart, they were both smiling so wide Jamie thought they might injure themselves.

“I present to you,” the officiant said. “Mr. and Mrs. Mark Reid.”

They went down the aisle hand in hand to the sound of applause.

***

“Five years ago,” Alex said, standing up beside Jamie and looking out over the people waiting for his speech. “I wasn’t speaking to my brother. We fought as children, and we fought when I was older, and I left my family behind, thinking it was the best thing to do for all of us. Thanks to my beautiful wife, Jamie, I learned there were better options. We rebuilt our relationship. It wasn’t always easy, but I am standing here now because it was more than worth it.

“Mark’s a good man. One of the best men. And I can’t express how happy it makes me to see him so happy, standing here with this beautiful, amazing woman who will make sure to keep him in line.” He smiled at the couple, who were leaning close into each other’s sides, and laughter went up in the crowd. Erica gave him a thumbs up. “Congratulations to my little brother, Mark. May he and Erica always know the same love and happiness that I’ve been lucky enough to find in Jamie.”

He sat back down as the guests cheered, and Jamie leaned across the gap between their chairs to kiss him.

“I love you,” she said. “So much.”

“And I love you,” he answered.

When she looked up, Paul was standing, the microphone in his hand.

“I haven’t known Erica for long,” he said. “And I haven’t known Mark for that much longer. But I know that he’s the kind of person I look up to, and she’s the kind of woman I would definitely listen to.” Laughter bubbled up and he paused just long enough to let it pass. “So I wish them both a wonderful marriage. And, while I have the mic—” He glanced at Mark, who nodded. “Not to hijack anyone’s special day, but I just want to say that they’re lucky. And I’m lucky, too. Because I have a beautiful, wonderful woman at my side as well.” He reached out and caught Christine’s hand, pulling her to her feet. “And we may not be walking down the aisle today, but I can’t wait to see where life takes us.”

Christine’s eyes were wide, filling rapidly with tears, and for an instant Paul looked like he’d done something wrong, but then she threw her arms and pressed close against him, kissing him in front of everyone. There were more cheers, and Jamie added her voice to them, clapping as Christine stepped back pink-cheeked and breathless and took her seat again, her fingers wound through Paul’s.

Jamie couldn’t have imagined a more beautiful day. Or a more perfect wedding. Down at the parents’ table, her father and Erica’s parents were feeding the twins, who were giggling and clapping along with everyone else. The sun was shining, and a gentle breeze washed over them.

Jamie leaned in close to Alex. “I’m pregnant,” she said, voice just loud enough to be heard above the din of conversation.

Alex turned to look at her, startled. “You’re what?” He cleared his throat. “I mean, you’re sure?”

“Absolutely sure,” Jamie said. “Six weeks along. And—” She grinned, “it’s not twins.”

“You’re pregnant!” Alex laughed, and then he was pulling her into his arms despite the fact that they were sitting in front of an entire wedding and kissing her again, his arms wrapped tight around her waist. Jamie thought she heard cheering, but she wasn’t really paying attention to anything but the man who held her.

When they finally pulled back, she wasn’t sure she was going to be able to wait until they got home after all. There had to be a closet around here somewhere…

“Jamie!” Erica said. “I didn’t mean to, but I overheard. A baby? Congratulations!”

“I can’t wait for another niece or nephew,” Mark said on her other side, grinning at her.

“It’s wonderful news,” Christine said.

Jamie smiled. It was wonderful news. Everything, in fact, was wonderful. “Thank you. I’m sure that he, or she, can’t wait to meet you all.”

The conversation went back to other things, and music started to play for dancing. Erica and Mark stood, gliding onto the floor for their first dance together as the sun began to set and all the paper lanterns above the seating area came on. They moved beautifully together.

Other couples started filtering in, and Jamie stood, pulling Alex with her as Paul and Christine followed suit. He swept her into his arms, and they moved across the grassy space, the world fading away around them just the way it had from the moment they met.

“This,” Jamie said, “this is exactly what I wanted.” She looked up into blue eyes. “I love you.”

“This is exactly what everyone hopes to have,” Alex said, brushing a lock of hair back from her face. “You and I were just lucky enough to get it.”

The band played on, and he held her close.

“I love you, too, Jamie Reid,” he said. “And I always will. Forever, my darling.”

Forever sounded pretty good to her.

THE END