We boarded the ferry and headed back to the resort in silence. When we were outside our rooms, he unlocked his door, and I followed him inside. He collapsed on his bed and put his hands over his face.
I glided over and sat down next to him. “You’re not crazy. It looked rather intimate of your father, the way he talked to the girl.”
He groaned. “I know. I hate that you had to see that.”
I pressed a kiss to the tip of his nose. “I’m here, Luca. For all of it. Good and bad. But for the record, I would have been pissed if I was you.”
His jaw tightened before he grasped the back of my hair and brought my lips to his. His lips were rough against mine. It wasn’t slow and tender like the night on the beach but steamy, demanding. “Magnolia,” he whispered my full name, prolonging each syllable as if to savor it.
My lips curved into a smile, and my heart fluttered at the sincerity in his voice. I clasped my hands on each of his cheeks. Never had my name ever sounded so fucking perfect.
As his lips moved in harmony against mine, the world gave way. His hand rested below my ear, his thumb rubbed my cheek as our breaths mingled. I pulled him closer until there was no space left between us. His heart beat against my chest, and I knew I needed to feel him closer.
“Clothes, off,” I breathed. Our hands fumbled with each other’s clothes as they were torn off and thrown on the floor. Without the barrier of the clothing, we were able to get even closer.
As he thrust inside, I let out an uncontrollable moan. This wasn’t just sex anymore, it was something deeper. With that realization, I was writhing in pleasure as an orgasm hit me. The side of his thighs were pressed against mine, and I surrendered completely to the notion of love. I sensed every movement. As he came, electricity sparked between us like a magnetic field.
Did he feel it too, the immense swelling of love that blossomed between the two of us?
Day Five
5 PM - 8 PM - Rehearsal Dinner
Mags went to her room to get ready for the rehearsal dinner tonight. Weirdly enough, my chest ached when she left, even though she was only a door away. I wasn’t sure what I felt, but I didn’t want to lose her that was for damn sure. That alone scared me shitless.
I stood in front of the mirror and fixed the collar on my shirt. We had a dress code of semi-formal, and I dressed in a light blue button-up with dress slacks. My hair was unruly from the lack of a haircut. It grew fast and back home I had to get it cut every week to stay in regulation with work. I forked a hand through the black strands to tame it.
A few minutes later, I’d deemed myself presentable and knocked on Mags’ door. I sucked in a sharp breath as I let my gaze wander from her bouncy blonde hair that hit just above her elbows to her long, smooth legs. A floor-length black dress with a slit up to her thigh clung to her body and outlined the curves of her breasts. Smokey black eyeshadow made her green eyes look like they were glowing. She was a fucking goddess, and I wanted to worship her for as long as she’d allow.
“You look so good,” she said with a broad smile.
My lips curved up at the corners. “And you look perfect as always.”
She slipped her arm through mine as the door closed behind her. “Ready for the rehearsal dinner?”
The warmth of her beside me made my heart race. “As ready as I’ll ever be. I’m excited about Asher and Faith.”
“Oh, I know it.” She snickered. “Those two were such a mess a couple of years ago.”
Asher and Faith made the same stupid mistake. They’d slept together before Asher and I left for college, and when we left neither of the two reached out. They went for seven years with me as the middleman between the two. Asher took a job at Faith’s elementary, and the rest was history. I didn’t really believe in love until them. I wasn’t sure if I could ever be a part of something so special, but with Mags maybe I could.
We walked into a dark, dimly lit room with a sign on the door that indicated the rehearsal dinner was to be hosted here. It was a grand space, to say the least. A huge mahogany table took up most of the ample space the room offered. It was bare, teasing the guests to ruin the varnished shine with grimy fingerprints. Two tall, silver candle holders sat in the center, holding smooth rose-colored candles.
Mags’ eyes scanned the room, and a smile appeared on her face as she noticed Eve sitting down in one of the velvet chairs. She pulled me with her, and we took our designated seats beside Eve.
“This is beautiful.” Eve motioned around the room.
Mags nodded. “It is, but also looks hella expensive.”
“I’m sure Uncle Joseph could afford it.” I shrugged as the man himself entered the room with both of my parents. A shiver ran through me as I saw how carefree my father looked. I turned my gaze toward the girls.
“That’s for sure.” Eve sighed.
We sat in comfortable silence as the guests started to pile in. Faith and Asher arrived and mingled with the family they hadn’t seen yet. Jamie and John took seats next to us while people started sitting down by their name cards. Asher’s side of the family arrived last, consisting of his parents and an uncle I had met once before. While the guests were getting situated at the table, the staff brought out drinks and food to place in front of us.
Joseph stood up and clinked a spoon against his wine glass. “Thank you all for coming. As you know, my daughter and her fiancé are getting married tomorrow.” He paused, staring at Faith and Asher with a brilliant smile. “I couldn’t be happier with the man she chose to become her husband.”
“Aw, Dad!” Faith’s eyes teared up as she leaned her head against Asher’s shoulder.
