Rhythm of Us: Book 2 Of The Fated Hearts Series (22 page)

“ . . .thoughtful,” Chase completed when Gram couldn’t finish. “I love him so much and this means so much to me,” he said, running his finger over the silky fabric.

Gram turned to me and swapped out my square too. “You look so much happier since the last time we talked, Xavier.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed my cheek.

“I am happier, Gram. Much happier.”

“How’s Ben?” The woman never stopped meddling and I feared she would only get worse since Chase found his dream man.

“He’s been out of town on business these last few days, but he’ll be here for the ceremony and reception.” Bats - not butterflies - took flight in the pit of my stomach at the realization that I would not only be seeing Ben, but dancing with him too. I recognized that my answer did nothing to dissuade Gram, so I wasn’t surprised by the words that came out of her mouth next.

“So, are you dating or just screwing?” At least she had the decency to use a cleaner verb in church.

“Gram,” Chase admonished before I could answer. “Leave Xavier alone. You’ll scare him back to LA before Ben can make an honest man out of him.”

Gram looked at me with wide eyes, as if she was actually considering that she was the reason why I left for LA. That notion couldn’t be further from the truth and I needed to debunk it right then and there. “I did go to LA because of you, but not for the reasons that Chase jokingly implied. I was only able to leave because you taught me to be courageous and follow my dreams. If not for you, I wouldn’t be able to share my exciting news. I wasn’t going to tell you this today, because I wanted this day to be all about Chase.” They looked at me with hopeful smiles. “One of my original soundtracks was chosen for a new cable show that comes out in the fall. Ben’s brother, Bevan, helped me finalize the contract this week.” I took Gram’s hands in mine and directed my next words at her. “It wouldn’t have come true without your unwavering love and support.”

Gram gave a muffled little sob as she laid her head against my chest. “That is so exciting, Xavier. How long were you going to keep this amazing news to yourself?”

“I was going to wait until the newlyweds got back from their lovefest,” I answered honestly. Gram lightly cuffed me upside my head. “Ouch.”

“We’re your family and we want to know the minute something good happens to you so we can celebrate,” Gram admonished. “You know how I love to throw parties. We’ll have a big barbeque when the boys get back from their fuckfest,” Gram said, then covered her mouth when she realized where she was and why. “Sorry.”

There was a knock at the door and Gray’s brother, Preston, poked his head inside. “Pastor Simms asked me to find out if you’re ready?”

“I’ve never been more ready for anything,” Chase said.

“I’ll let her know. Xavier, you and I need to take our places at the front of the church.”

I gave Chase and Gram one last hug and then followed Preston down the hall until we reached a side door that would allow us to walk in front of the church and take up our places on both sides of Pastor Simms at the altar. I looked around the church and appreciated the subtle decorations and small crowd that had gathered. Chase and Gray decided to keep their special day intimate by only inviting close friends and relatives.

The hair on the back of my neck stood up and my skin suddenly felt too tight. I sensed an intense gaze aimed at me. I focused my eyes in that direction and found Ben’s eyes locked on me. The smile that lit up his face warmed me from the inside out. Ben shot me a wink and those bats started to circle in my stomach again. The connection between us suddenly felt different, more intense; as if something cosmically shifted, whether we wanted it to or not.

Soft music began to play, pulling my focus to the back of the church where we waited for Gray and Chase to appear. The doors opened and everyone rose to their feet as the two men crossed the threshold, their hands entwined as tightly as their hearts, and began walking down the aisle toward the altar.

I knew that I was still a work in progress and would be for the rest of my life; addictions didn’t just disappear, they were managed and controlled. I also believed that I had found a man in Ben who understood and related to my struggles. I felt myself getting stronger every day, and with that strength came belief that I did deserve happiness in my life. My eyes met Ben’s once more briefly before the ceremony began. I couldn’t be certain that Ben was the man I’d spend the rest of my life with, but I knew he was the man I wanted to take a chance on.

I KNEW THAT
something had changed between Xavier and I the minute our eyes connected in the church. To be honest, I knew something was different even when I was on the road. Xavier initiated contact with me through text on more than one occasion. I wasn’t ashamed to admit how happy it made me feel, especially after the uncertain way we parted at Bottoms Up after my softball game.

My breath caught in my throat when he and Preston stepped through the door and got into position at the altar. The first thing I noticed – beside how fucking amazing he looked in a tux – was that he got his haircut. Gone was the messy rocker look, but at least Xavier left his hair long enough for me to yank if he ever decided to use his pierced tongue on my cock.

I started to feel ashamed at the direction my thoughts took in a church, but Xavier chose that exact moment to look into my eyes and all my good intentions went out the window. The sunlight streaming through the stained glass windows landed on the altar, bathing it in a kaleidoscope of rainbow light suitable for the special occasion. Xavier’s eyes looked like glowing ambers in the sunlight. I couldn’t look away from him and it appeared that he was equally enthralled with me. It was if the world disappeared and only the two of us remained. We stayed connected until the music began to play and the grooms made their way down the aisle.

I had attended plenty of weddings in my life, but none that I enjoyed as much as Chase and Gray’s. I had almost expected them to recite their own vows, but they both wanted the traditional words spoken and repeated to one another. I didn’t consider myself an overly emotional man, but listening to them commit themselves to one another was a touching experience. The tenderness between them was like nothing I had witnessed before. At one point, Gray lovingly reached over and wiped a stray tear from Chase’s face. Gray’s voice broke during his vow recital and Chase squeezed his hands to give him strength to continue. I was struck anew by how much I wanted that for my future. Thanks to the recent Supreme Court ruling, same sex couples would be allowed to marry and be recognized in all 50 states. It was something extra to be thankful for as I sat in the pew.

Ellie sniffled beside me and I reached over and held her hand. She smiled up at me with watery eyes before she leaned toward me. I lowered my head so she could whisper in my ear so not to disturb the ceremony. “Don’t think I missed the moment shared between you and my brother. He was so locked on you that he didn’t see me smile and wave at him. Please don’t hurt him.” Ellie punctuated her plea with a soft kiss on my cheek.

“I think you should start worrying about
me
getting hurt,” I whispered back. Ellie raised a questioning brow and I simply nodded in return. It was the candid truth and something I’d known from the very start; Xavier Cruz may never belong to me.

I waited for Xavier outside the church by his car once the ceremony was over and I hugged and congratulated the grooms. I was feeling a little shaken by the pull I felt between us in the church and I didn’t want to wait until midway through the reception to speak to him.

“Waiting for me?” Xavier’s smile told me that he wanted it to be the case.

“None other.” My fingers itched to run through his shortened hair before I wrapped my hand around his nape and pulled him into the kiss. That crazy imagination of mine kicked in, displaying the HD image for me in my mind. I could almost taste him on my tongue and breathe his masculine smell into my lungs. It only took a few seconds for my body to react to both my vision and his nearness. “This kind of feels like a scene from the 80s movie
Sixteen Candles
,” I said with a smile.

“Do you have a pair of my briefs with you?” Xavier smiled mischievously as he played along.

“Do you make a habit of leaving your briefs around town?”

“At least I wear them.” Xavier raked his eyes up and down my body, lingering on my crotch. “I noticed that on at least one occasion you were commando beneath your pants. I admit to being curious if that is a common occurrence with you.” His hot eyes returned to my dick and I could feel the beginning of an erection emerging beneath his stare.

“I go commando most of the time, but never to work or any other time I wear dress pants. They don’t conceal much,” I said and gestured to the effect he had on me.

The temperature outside just ratcheted up by about ten degrees due to the sexual tension between us. It was obvious as hell that we both wanted to take the physical part of this thing we had going a step, or ten, further. The physical aspect was definitely not the reason we circled each other like wary animals. No, I was in unchartered territory of wanting more from a man than just sex. Xavier had barely escaped an abusive relationship and I was completely out of line by even hoping he would consider giving me more.

Xavier looked around the parking lot to see if anyone was paying us any attention. I did the same and realized that most of the wedding party had already left for reception and there were only a few stragglers left behind. Xavier stepped into me, taking me by complete surprise. I felt the heat from the sun-warmed metal of his car through the back of my clothes while the heat emanating off his body nearly burned the front of my body.

“Come home with me after the reception. I want to feel you inside me, Ben.” Xavier’s warm breath blew across the sensitive flesh of my ear and my knees nearly buckled. There was no way I could resist him.

“Wouldn’t you rather come back to my house instead of your sister’s?” I turned my head so that my lips were close to his. I slid just the tip of my tongue out and teased the corner of his luscious mouth. He’d removed the lip ring for the ceremony and I missed it.

“I’m house and cat sitting for Mr. and Mr. Wright. There’s a big, comfy guest bed with our name all over it. What do you say?”

“How long do we need to stay at the reception?” I asked, there was no attempt at hiding my enthusiasm.

“At least until their first dance as a married couple. It would be really poor taste for me to skip out before I serenade them like I promised.” Xavier rubbed his nose along mine and I breathed him in, committing this moment to memory; it felt like so much more than just lust to me.

“That would definitely be poor taste.” I whispered the words against his lips before I closed the gap and pressed our mouths together. I just needed a tiny taste of him if I had to wait hours before I could finally claim his body. I kept the kiss light with only a playful tease of tongue before I broke the kiss. “You taste delicious.” I practically purred the words against his lips.

A soft hum escaped Xavier’s lips. His eyes opened slowly and I read his naked desire – or desire to be naked – in their depths. It was the first time that he ever let his vulnerability show and I silently vowed to never break his trust, because it was so preciously given. I would be what he needed me to be whenever he needed it, and hope that I didn’t get ripped to bloody shreds in the process. “Ride with me to the reception?”

I smiled broadly while shaking my head. “We’d never make it there in one piece. I’m calling a timeout while I get myself under control.”

“Good call.” Xavier stepped back slowly and I missed the weight of his body pressed against mine at once. He shot me a wink and walked around to the driver’s side of his car. “See you on the dance floor,” he said before he climbed into his car and fired up the engine.

I stepped away from the car and stood there watching him drive away like the lovesick fool I feared I was becoming. Then I remembered his parting words and walked to my car with dread. I really did have two left feet and could only hope that Xavier was suave enough to make up for my clumsiness.