Chapter 14

"How did you know it was my favorite?"

Beckett laughs. " You always have one in hand."

"I do not."

"Baby, you always have one when you're sitting by the pool. The night we went to the drive-in, you brought one with you, and you've mentioned iced mochas several times. It's your favorite."

Threading my arms around his neck, with the drink in hand, I place a soft kiss on his juicy lips, surrounded by his closely trimmed beard. "Thank you."

His hands rest on the curvature of my waist, with the pads of his fingers pressing into me. "Anything for you, but I have work to do today. Need to take the tow truck to pick up a vehicle in the country."

"Okay, I was hoping you would come to the house for a late-night swim. My parents will be in Louisville for the governor's fundraiser."

He kisses me again. "I thought you were meeting with the planner?"

"We are, but we'll be back by late afternoon, so Mama can get ready. I'm sorry we can't get married at the beach. It's my parents' dream for me to have a big wedding."

"But is it yours?"

I shrug. All little girls dream of a Cinderella wedding marching down the aisle to her Prince Charming, but now, the thought of hundreds of people staring at me feels wrong. "Maybe I can talk them into a big engagement party instead and still marry at the beach."

"I'd love that, if that's what you want."

"You're having a big wedding. I can't invite some people and not others."

"Daddy, I will have the wedding I want to have. If you don't like it, you don't have to pay for it. Beckett said his parents have friends with Airbnbs close so that family can stay nearby. It'll be cheap. And we can spend the money on a huge engagement party. That's what your friends care about anyway."

He spins, blowing out a harsh breath. "Damn, Beckett Landry."

I hug my father from the back. "I love you, Daddy."

My father's demeanor softens as he shifts his attention to me. "You still need a wedding planner, and I want you to have the most exquisite dress befitting my little girl, not something off the rack."

"Thank you. Thank you." I pepper his cheek with kisses.

He continues, "This way, we won't have to rush to organize everything within three weeks. We can have the engagement party in a couple of weeks, followed by the wedding about a month or so later, if that's what you still desire."

I playfully roll my eyes at him before slapping his arm.

For the next two weeks. I find it hard to spend time with Beckett. While he joins for the occasional midnight swim, our lunch and dinner dates have been few and far between. It's not his fault, though. Mama has kept me occupied with visits to various restaurants and catering companies to finalize the menu for the engagement party. On a positive note, Vanessa has generously offered their wedding venue for the engagement celebration. Despite Daddy's attempt to offer to pay the usual rental fee, Beckett has refused, emphasizing, "We're family."

Although Vanessa doesn't normally manage the event venue, she has called me every day with suggestions. We've become close while preparing for the engagement party, and I feel like I finally have a sister. Mama loves her too, and the more she tells Daddy stories about Beckett, Beau, and Vanessa, he seems to soften, almost happy that I actually love Beckett.

Mama has prepared for tonight. Everything I need has been transported to the cabin where Beckett and I will stay tonight on the grounds. The doorbell rings, and I race to open it. My man's medium-length hair is messy just as I like it. He picks me up and wraps me in a hug.

"God, I've missed you," he says in a strained tone like he can't wait to have me on my knees.

"Does absence make the heart grow fonder?"

He whispers, "It definitely makes my dick ache, but my heart can't love you more than it already does."

I snicker like a schoolgirl hearing the truth in his voice. "We're leaving. We'll see you at the party."

"Remember to arrive at a quarter until nine."

"We'll be fashionably late as told." I run over to her. "I love you, Mama."

Her eyes fill with tears. "I can't believe my baby is getting married. Love you, sweetie."

Beckett whisks me off on his motorcycle, and when we reach the Bridal House at the venue, he opens the door to flowers everywhere, a candy charcuterie board, and an iced mocha.

"All the colors are gorgeous. You surprise me every day."

He walks me backward with his blue eyes darkening and presses me against the wall. "I have another surprise."

I feel his arousal pressing against my stomach, pulsating with desire. "I adore surprises," I playfully remark with a wink.

He effortlessly lifts me, transporting me upstairs. Using his boot, he nudges the bedroom door open, and we exchange a passionate, all-encompassing kiss.

The bed is covered in flower petals but not roses. It's a rainbow of colors and types. Everything from huge stargazer lilies to delicate pansy petals.

He lays me on the bed, takes off my white tennis shoes, brings my signature t-shirt dress above my head, and discards it on the floor. He bends down, kissing from my neck to my navel. Then places a lily on my center.

"Four days is too long, baby."

Lucky for me, Beckett is great at water sex. On a midnight swim, he fucked me in the pool. And when we both admitted it was a first for us, I swear I could feel his heartbeat in his lips.

I shake my head in agreement. "Too long." His hands are roaming quickly over my body. "Wait, I want to be skin to skin."

Beckett swiftly pulls his long-sleeved t-shirt over his head, prompting me to hurriedly unbuckle his belt as he stands, shedding his jeans. His physique is slender, yet each abdominal muscle is as defined as the words in a dictionary.

Our movements are initially erratic, a result of not seeing each other for the past four days. Gradually, we move into passionate lovemaking, exploring each other‘s bodies with care and sensuality. He thrusts inside me with a ghost of a smile and as my back arches, he takes my nipple into his mouth. Teasing my hardened peaked with his teeth.

I wrap my legs around his back and lift my hips. Our skin slaps together. Our bodies covered in thin layer of sweat that looks like dew on the countryside. He kneads my breasts with his hands as I lose control. "Mooooore," I choke out and on command, he pinches, pulls, and presses on my bundle of nerves.

Nothing prepares me for the eruption inside my body. Hot lava licks at my core as my legs squeeze his waist. "I'm…. I'm."

"Enjoy it. Talk dirty. Scream my name or bite my arm."

"Beckett," I scream. "I… I… love you. Come inside me. Please come inside me."

His hip movements slow. "I've been waiting to stake my claim. This is mine. If we make a baby, you're both mine. Forever, Tessa."

My world shatters into prisms of light when I have another orgasm as he slides in and out watching our bodies join together. His body tenses and the muscles in his ass are hard as rocks. I feel his dick twitch inside me as he lets out a string of expletives.

Beckett's body pulses as he lets out a deep guttural growl and drops his head into my neck as the last bit of cum fills my channel.

"Who knew a country club girl would be the best sex of my life?"

"Me. I feel so free with you."

"Baby, there's so much I need to tell you."

"We have plenty of time."

He falls on his back and the mattress dips. I roll on top of him, letting his fingers graze my back as I push up on my hands, losing myself in his piercing blue eyes.

His phone rings, and it's not either of our ringtones. His body tenses against mine while the music of Walking on Sunshine plays throughout the room. I look over the bed where his jeans lay in a pile with his phone sticking out an inch from the pocket.

His grip tightens as he draws our mouths together. "Did you change your ringtone?"

His gaze flits about… searching for something.

"Yeah, cause I'm walking on sunshine being the lucky man who gets to marry you."

As he kisses me, my stomach churns and twists in knots—Beckett just lied—to me.