Letting Go of Us (Anchored Hearts Vol. 3) (23 page)

“
Me, too,
Blackbird.”

~<>~<>~<>~

The wedding day was finally
upon us. I couldn’t believe how fast that week and a half went, but
I didn’t have time to think about it either. The ceremony was going
to be at four, with pictures following and then dinner. Fireworks
would begin just after ten and James and I had made sure to secure
the staff, DJ included, to remain late into the night. They’d be
well compensated and we planned on partying all night. We all
deserved a party of epic proportions and that’s what we’d
planned.

I was headed to Jane’s room
at The Benedict, awaiting the elevator to open in the lobby. The
doors opened and I was greeted by James. He smiled brightly and
whisked me into the elevator. He didn’t even say hello before his
lips were cemented to mine. The past week had been the easiest to
restrain ourselves, simply because I’d been so busy.

As I savored his mouth on
mine I realized it was no ordinary kiss. It was fevered, but not
rushed; desperate, but not sloppy; and I became lost in him. With
his hands in my hair and mine gripping his waist, he pressed me up
against the elevator wall and I could feel every pulsing inch of
him against me. I pushed back, and he let me, and then his back was
up against the elevator wall. Smirking that ‘I dare you’ smile at
me, he awaited my next move.

I ran my hands down his
arms, starting at his biceps and down until our fingers entwined.
Raising his arms up, I let go and told him not to move. I was sure
he was holding back a laugh as I took the lead. Burying my face in
his neck, I bit and sucked at the exposed flesh. His hair was
pulled back neat and was still damp from his morning shower. His
cologne traveled through me and the result was my muddled head and
wet panties. Sighing and sagging against him, my hands tugged his
shirt out of his pants, desperate to feel his skin against mine. He
was always so warm. My hands ran over the ripples of his abdomen
before moving to the muscles of his back.

“
Come back to the
penthouse with me.” His deep baritone sent a thrill through
me.

I wanted nothing more. Our
twenty-eight days were almost up and he’d been more than strong
during that time, me the weak one. Now it was my turn to be
strong.

“
I can’t.”

Groaning, “You can.” His
arms dropped and pulled me closer as he sucked on my ear. “I can’t
manage another three days without you. It’s been too long.” My eyes
closed, I listened to his words as my body felt weightless against
his. “Blackbird…”

Stammering, “James, we, we
can’t, it’s only three more days.” He worked his mouth harder
against my skin, “Oh, you have to stop that. You know how hard it
is for me to say no to you.”

The elevator chimed and we
were on the floor for the penthouse. How had he managed that?
Before I could object, he was pulling me after him, toward his
door. He swiped the key card and opened the door, slamming me up
against it once it was closed and we were inside.

“
James, Jane is waiting
for me.”

“
She can wait.” He growled
as he lifted my legs to circle his waist.

It was only three days. He
removed his suit jacket as I pulled his tie loose. Buttons hit the
floor as I yanked open his shirt. He snarled at me, and without
removing his shirt he crushed his lips to mine as my nails raked
down his chest leaving red lines in their wake.

“
You owe me.” Pulling
back, he looked at me, lost at my meaning. “Poker. When do I get to
tie you up?”

He smiled and simply said,
“Soon.”

Loosening his hold on me,
my feet hit the floor as he pulled my t-shirt over my head. Slowly,
his fingertips trailed over the mounds of my breasts where the lace
of my bra met my skin. My chest was contracting as my eyes found
his. I nodded my head once, knowing the question his eyes were
asking.

“
Cassidy, if you cross
this line with me it’s done. There’s no going back. I won’t go
back.”

I nodded my consent and
h
e tugged my yoga pants down and cupped my
bare cheeks with his hands. His thumb slid into the back of the
thong before he ripped them from my body.

“
Stop destroying my
underwear collection you brute.”

“
You know I’ll just buy
you more.” His nose was buried against my short strip of curls,
“I’ve missed your scent. You smell so good. Only one thing is
better.” Pulling my leg aside, his tongue licked at my seam, “You
taste like heaven.”

I couldn’t suppress the
moan that fell from my lips and then my phone started
ringing.
Shit!
“James, I have to go.”

Kissing up my belly he
begged, “Make them wait. Please.” He was back at his full height,
hovering above me as his fingers released the front clasp of my
bra. His eyes were engrossed on my breasts as he massaged one and
lowered his head to consume the other. His free hand massaged my
hip, working to the back of my thigh.

“
Hurry up.” He groaned
against my breast before releasing it and standing. I watched as he
pulled a condom out of his wallet and dropped his pants. Commando!
My eyes looked to his cock and back to his eyes as I said,
“Shocking. Hoping to get lucky, Mr. Benedict?”

“
A guy can hope.” My hand
found his length as his eyes closed and he hissed a breath.
“Cassidy…”

He grew even harder in my
hand as I kissed his chest. I heard the foil packet rip open as he
gently pushed my hands aside. Once he was sheathed his fingers
grazed across my lips. It was embarrassing how wet I was for him;
you could hear his fingers slide in and out of me.

“
James…make me
remember.”

Without word, wrapping my
legs around him, he pushed me back up against the door. He waited
for me to look at him before he began the slow torture of sliding
into me. My legs were already trembling when he pulled out and
finally pushed in to his full length. My womb clenched as a rush of
love flooded me. My eyes began to water as I tried to pull him
closer to me.

“
Baby, did I hurt
you?”

“
No. I forgot how good you
feel. It feels so good, please don’t stop.”

He smiled before he kissed
me. My fingers tangled in his hair as I worked some strands loose.
My hips rocked in rhythm to his, grinding against him to gain the
most contact. His shirt clung to his shoulders as my hands cleaved
to them. He pulled me away from the door and walked us to a dining
chair.

Slowly, he sat down as his
tongue explored my mouth. His hands held my shoulders as he pushed
me back. The angle had me gasping as he slid out and back in again.
My head dropped back as I let him manipulate my body. One hand
gripped my hair is it hung down my back, longer than normal from
months of neglect. His other hand moved to my hip as he demanded I
touch myself, coming before him.

“
Do it,
Cassidy.”

My fingers began to circle
my clit as I sought out my orgasm. The flutters started as he
continued his assault on me. I leaned back a little further as he
tightened his hold on my hair, loving how he felt so deep inside
me.

“
James!”

“
I got you. I’m never
letting go.”

I gazed to him and I used
his words for the first time, crying out, “Always, only, and
forever
you.”

The smile overtook his face
as he pulled me to him and whispered against my lips, “You and me.
No one else.”

I felt the tear roll down
my cheek and I knew he saw it, too. “You’re mine and I’m
yours.”

Then it was his turn to use
my words, “Only you.”

He leaned me back again as
we rode each other into a frenzy. I could feel his own pace
quickening as my fingers worked my clit feverishly. Wanting to see
his face, I picked my head up and he easily released my hair and
brought my mouth down to his. Both his hands held me tight as I
started moaning louder.

“
I’m going to come, James.
Don’t stop.”

My body tensed and went
limp all at once against him. I couldn’t stop squirming and he
bellowed out his own release as I ground my hips onto his. His
fingers moved to the back of my thighs, each touch causing me to
quiver even more. We were both suffering from new born giraffe
syndrome—what we’d jokingly named it months prior—and needed time
to recover our legs.

We were rudely interrupted
as my cell started ringing again. “Shit!” He was panting into my
neck as I snuggled up closer to him. “I have to go.”

“
I know.”

I was pulling my clothes
back on as he watched me. “Sorry about the shirt.”

Shrugging his shoulders he
replied, “I have more.” The tension was in the air, but in a good
way. “You’re nervous. Why?”

“
It’s, I just…”

He sauntered over to me and
pushed my hair behind my ears. “I want you. I’ll move my stuff back
in today. It’s up to you.”

I wanted nothing more, but
I was worried about Dr. Pratt. “Maybe we should wait till Monday. I
just want to get this wedding over with and then you’ll have my
full attention.”

Smiling, “Understood. You
should get going before they call a search party.” I nodded and
picked up my purse and headed toward the door. “I hate you,
Blackbird.”

Blushing, I smiled brightly
and turned to him. “I hate you too, JB3.” He winked at me as I
walked out the door.

I headed back to the
elevator, checking my phone. I had missed calls from Lena, Jane and
Mrs. Whitford. I made it to Jane’s room just as my phone began
ringing again. The door was slightly ajar as I made my way
inside.

“
There you are! We were
beginning to worry.”

“
Sorry, I was caught up,
err, traffic was a wreck.”

Jane looked at me and knew
I was lying. She walked over, hugged me and whispered, “He’s
written all over you.”

I asked, “What do you
mean?”

“
He’s all over you. I can
see it, like in your aura, your vibe, and I can smell his cologne.
It’s about time you two got your shit in order. Please tell me this
nonsense with you two is over?”

Smiling, with emotion in my
voice, I mumbled, “I think so. I love him so much.”

“
I know you do. The
feeling’s mutual.”

The morning and afternoon
flew by as we got ready. Lisa, Bev, Jane and I had our hair and
makeup done in the bridal suite as the photographer and
videographer fluttered around us. When it was close to time, I made
my exit. I had to make sure Lena had everything handled and I
needed to check on Cal. Jane looked amazing in her dress and I’d
meet her in the bridal room before the ceremony, before I took my
place with Cal at the altar.

I found all the guys
downstairs wandering the terrace overlooking the garden where the
ceremony would take place. I walked through the reception hall and
spotted Lena. Everything seemed to be in place. The room was a sea
of green, light yellow and white. It was beautiful.

“
Cassidy, you look
amazing! The cake was just delivered and everything else is all
set.”

I let out a big breath,
“Excellent. You’ve really pulled this off. I couldn’t have done it
without you.”

“
It’s no biggie. I was
glad to help and I love my job.”

“
Ok. I’m going to go check
on the guys. The guests are starting to arrive. I’ll see you
soon.”

I made my way back out to
the terrace as guests were being asked to take their seats. I
spotted my Dad, my uncles and some cousins and made my way over. I
was bombarded with questions of where my own husband was and did my
best to explain that he was with the bride. If I started trying to
explain it all I’d just end up with diarrhea of the
mouth.

I managed to snag Cal and
pull him to a private corner. He tugged on his collar as I noticed
the sweat beading on his forehead. Was he hot, anxious or both? I
smiled at him and asked if he was ok.

“
Me? I’m great. Just ready
for it to be over. You know me. I’m not a suit and tie
guy.”

“
I know, but you look
great. Remember to breathe. You may faint when you see Jane.” I
looked around and Lena nodded that it was time. “Ok. I’m going to
go make sure Jane’s all ready and I’ll be back.”

“
Ok.”

I knocked on the bridal
dressing room door and James opened it and smiled at me. He stepped
out and closed the door as he kissed my cheek.

“
I can smell you on me and
vice versa.”

Giggling, I smacked his
arm. “Knock it off. You can not.”

“
I can.”

Rolling my eyes I inquired,
“Is she ready?”

“
Yup. You can go in. I
just wanted to give her and her parents a minute.”

I tapped the door gently as
I opened it. Bev was holding back tears and Jane’s father looked
like the proudest man alive.

“
Sorry to interrupt.” Jane
beamed at me as I continued, “They’re ready when you
are.”