DECEMBER TWENTY-FOURTH, FOUR O’CLOCK PM
All of the girls and Marilyn’s mother were huddled into the back room of the banquet hall. The room had a single table and chair as well as a full-length mirror. There was a single window allowing light into the room. One by one, each of them checked their hair, their make-up and of course, their dresses. The bridesmaid’s dresses were long royal blue gowns. The décolleté accentuated the ladies pale skin. Made up of lace, each dress had a satin bow that came to tie at the back where the dress dipped even lower than the front. The gowns swept the floor as they sashayed around the tiny room.
“Do you have everything – old, new, borrowed, blue?” Amber fretted to Marilyn.
“Amb, yes, I have this necklace, thanks to you,” Marilyn twirled the blue sapphire that was astoundingly similar to the Hope Diamond on her fingers. “So that is new. And my panties,” she swung her dress up for the girls to see, “blue,” she smirked.
The women all laughed, “Blake is going to love those, I’m telling ya.” Gabriella stated proudly.
“Please. If he even pays attention as he rips them off.”
“Okay, I don’t want to hear that.” Marilyn’s mother said.
The girls all laughed again.
“What’s old and what’s borrowed?” Brandi asked.
“Old is my perfume, of course! I’ve been wearing it since the-”
“Tenth grade!” Amber cut her off, and rolled her eyes.
Marilyn stuck her tongue out at her, “And borrowed is my mother’s diamond earrings. Right, ma? I’m covered. I’m nervous. Is it time? Should we grab our bouquets? How’s my dress look? Has anyone seen Blake? He is here, right?”
“Wow. Deep breaths, please.”
“He’s here, Gage said he is beyond ready.”
“And your dress is simply stunning. Turn around and look.”
Marilyn turned toward the mirror and the ladies all admired her dress. Strapless, with intricate detailing made up of beads all throughout the bust going around to the back. Aside from the beads, the dress was made up of tulle with a wide hemline making the dress look very Cinderella-y. The top layer of tulle was decorated with lace embroidery, making an ordinary dress extraordinary. Marilyn’s brown hair was pinned up by a bridal barrette she had found at a flea market. Her stylist, Adeline from Rumors On Main, purposely left ringlets down surrounding her face, giving Marilyn a messy yet well-kept look.
“You look beautiful,” her mother told her.
“Thank you! Don’t make me cry. We all look amazing, look at you guys. You look fabulous.”
They got interrupted from their girl moment by a knock on the door. They fell into silence.
“Who is it?” Amber asked.
“It’s me. Are you guys ready? It’s time.”
Amber opened the door slightly, not allowing Gage to peek at her or into the room. Oh fuck, he looked hot as hell. She had never, ever seen him in a tuxedo until now and he looked way too sexy. Too sexy for his own good. She had given him a haircut yesterday evening before they had gone to bed and now it added another layer of hotness to his already hot get-up. Tuxedo pants and jacket and the standard black bow tie and white shirt. She had never seen anything tastier. How could something so standard make her panties so wet? Could she slip out of here for three minutes and have her way with him before the ceremony started?
“Earth to Amber. Did you hear me?”
“What? No, what did you say?”
“Too busy thinking about getting into my chones aren’t you?” he whispered.
“What are chones?”
“My underwear, of course.”
Amber rolled her eyes, “Of course not.”
“Whatever, Reina. Time to roll,” he tapped his watch impatiently.
“Okay, see you in a few.” She shut the door and abruptly leaned up against it, fanning herself. “God, I love that man.”
“We know. Is it time?”
“Yes, let’s go. Grab your flowers. Mother of the bride goes first so you can go sit down.”
“Okay. Give me a kiss, honey. I love you. You look wonderful. In just a few short moments you are going to be Mrs. Marilyn Monroe Bryant,” she squeezed her hand. “My little girl, all grown up.”
“Okay mom, I can’t mess up my make-up. See you out there.”
~
Standing at the door waiting to enter the ballroom, the ladies got their first real glimpse of the men in their suits. Brandi was paired up with Marilyn’s brother James and they waited momentarily while the ushers opened the French doors. They began their stroll down the aisle. Gabriella was up next with Gage and it was all Amber could do to not relinquish her duties as Maid of Honor just so she could walk down the aisle with him. Amber had the pleasure of walking down with Blake’s brother, Blaze. The new boy in town, and if Amber wasn’t madly in love with Gage Alexander, CEO, she would be getting comfy and cozy with this eye-catching man. Of course, he looked like Blake, but there were definite differences in his looks and his personality.
She grabbed onto his arm and they made their way toward the altar, the ushers closing the door behind them. Her gaze locked onto Gage’s and she held his eye until she had to take her side with the other bridesmaids. She watched Blake, wanting to see his reaction the moment he saw Marilyn. The Bridal Chorus began to play and everyone stood up, turning to watch for Marilyn.
Amber blinked back the tears in her eyes as the doors slowly began to open and Blake stood frozen in place. Her tears fell as Blake’s mouth went from a small smile to a full-on grin. Standing proudly on her father’s arm, Marilyn shined like a princess. Amber watched her as they slowly made their way down the aisle. Marilyn couldn’t take her eyes off Blake the entire walk. She finally reached the altar and the music stopped. Marilyn’s hands were shaking as she handed her bouquet to Amber. She released a visible breath and turned to Blake.
“You are so beautiful, I can’t wait,” and he kissed her.
The attendees laughed and clapped and a few of them hooted and hollered. Amber looked across at Gage, who was watching her, but she was unable to read his expression. She tilted her head and smiled, hoping her eyes were telling him all the things that were in her heart.
“Marilyn, do you take Blake to be your husband...” Amber tuned out the sound of the pastor’s voice and watched Blake and Marilyn’s faces. They were so much in love. She couldn’t be happier for her friend. She deserved happiness. Almost every guy Marilyn had fallen for had ended up breaking her heart until she had met Blake. Whom Marilyn swore she was in love with at first sight. But Amber knew they had their ups and downs, too. She knew there was a point in Marilyn’s and Blake’s relationship where Marilyn wasn’t sure if he could or if he would commit to her. And now, here they were.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Blake Bryant? Blake, you may now kiss your bride...again.”
Marilyn let out a yelp and wrapped her arms around Blake’s neck and kissed him fervently. The attendees cheered once again and clapped for the newlyweds.
Later that evening at the reception, Gage came up behind Amber, “Sneak into that back room with me.” He pressed himself in to her backside.
“Right now? We need to watch them have their first dance.”
“No, come on. I promise to be quick,” his chuckle close to her ear made her shiver. He tugged her along, making her follow his lead. He led her to the same room the women had been in earlier. Immediately closing the door, he began nibbling her ear, her neck, trailing down her dress to her open neckline. A minimal amount of her breast peeked out within the neckline and Gage stopped there, nuzzling and sucking. He slipped his finger beneath the sheer fabric and pinched her nipple.
“I love when you don’t wear a bra.”
“I don’t know how you are ever going to get under this dress.”
“As hard as I am right now, nothing is going to stop me, Reina.”
He sat her up against the lone table and stood in front of her. “Unbuckle my belt. Take it out.”
He was breathing hard. “Why are you so worked up? You’ve been in my bed, in my home, for two months already. You’re acting like this is our first time.”
“Watching you walk down that aisle was...eye-opening. I want you; I want you now more than anything in this world. Let me be inside of you.”
Amber scrambled to help him pull up her dress and take off her panties. She spread her legs open wide, “I’m all yours, Gage.”
She had no clue what she was doing to him. He was in love with her. He had fallen hard and fast. This was the only way he knew how to release those feelings. He entered her fully in one deep thrust, taking her by surprise. He pumped into her tightness, not holding anything back. Her fingernails dug into his suit jacket and he continued his pursuit, giving and giving until finally she pulsated around his rigid shaft, pushing him over the edge into blissful agony.
He savored the feel of himself buried deep within her, trying to catch his breath. Since the shooting, he had been sleeping with Amber in her own bed every single night. Where one night, after they had gotten done making love, she whispered to him that she was in love with him. She was such a chicken shit – she thought he was asleep! And she hadn’t told him since.
Watching Marilyn and Blake getting married today sent him into a tailspin. The shit he’d dealt with from Brian and Echo and how they died much too young made him realize how short life could be. He took a good look at how long he had been avoiding relationships because of his ex-wife. Man, he had wasted a lot of time. He had wasted time not finding love, not experiencing happiness with another woman’s soft, supple body in his arms at night. He had been a fool.
Then there was Amber – she called it fate that they had met again and he had given her a bad time about her idiosyncrasies: Horoscopes, Mother Nature, Fate, Karma, and her meditation techniques. Watching her walk down the aisle today in a sea of royal blue squeezed his heart like a vise grip. It had been fate that had brought them back into each other’s orbit after years of being apart. He believed in fate because of her. The jury was still out on how much he believed in the whole Astrology thing, but since it made her happy he was willing to play along.
“I love you, Amber. I love you more than I thought I could ever love someone again. Your persistent-pain-in-the-ass antics did me well. You’ve made me believe that I’m worthy of someone’s love again. I-” he pressed his forehead into hers, “I don’t know what else to say except thank you.”
“Oh Gage, you are welcome. Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you for showing me the man I knew you were and for believing in me when I couldn’t believe in myself. You already know I love you, don’t you? I can’t believe you love me. Out of all the women in the world, you love me!”
“Only you, Reina. Only you.”