Rough Water (Songbird #7) Read online

  He looked down at his pointy brown shoes, tapping the heels together and admitting, “I can’t believe how nervous I am.”

  I frowned. “Neither can I. It’s normally y-you who has your shit t-together.”

  “It’s my wedding day, man. Gimme a break.”

  My smile was broad, no doubt showing off the dimple on my left cheek. “It’s Jane. Forget about everything else and focus on that one fact.”

  Blake’s chest puffed out at my words, his eyes flickering with a spark of joy I knew only too well. “Will you go and check on her for me?”

  “What? Now?”

  “Yeah, you take the car and I’ll bring the bike in a few. Just pop your head in and see how she’s doing. If she’s as nervous as me, she’ll appreciate a check-in.”

  “Sarah and the girls are with her, man. S-she’s gonna be f-fine.”

  “I know. I just…” Blake shrugged. “Do you mind?”

  I had to hesitate. As best man, I kind of felt like it was my duty to stay with my brother and make sure he got to the church on time. Breaking with tradition, Blake and Jane had only opted for a small wedding party. I was the only groomsmen. Was it really right to leave my brother on such a crucial day in his life?

  But Sarah was at the church. She’d be with Jane, helping her get ready. I’d been forced to spend the night without her, and I was already aching. I’d be able to see her for a few minutes before the service, maybe steal a kiss or two.

  So, in spite of the fact it was kind of selfish, I patted my brother on the arm and smiled. “Of course I don’t mind.”

  Blake threw me the keys, and after a quick selfie to cement the moment, I headed out to the car, my shiny shoes scuffing on the uneven concrete. I stopped to give them a quick rub. Sarah had spent hours perfecting the look of this wedding; I wasn’t going to let her down with marks on my shoes.

  Spending the night without her had been awful. Not only were we in separate beds, but separate hotels as well. Jane had wanted a girly night painting her nails and stuff, and Blake and I did the boys’ night out. We’d gone to a local pub with Jane’s dad and ours, played darts, listened to an indie rock band, and gotten back to our room by eleven. It was hardly wild, but it’d been exactly what Blake was after. Getting married had brought out a maturity in him I’d never seen before. He was taking the commitment seriously and vowed to be the best husband he could to Jane. Which meant no crazy antics the night before the wedding.

  I told him he’d never be as good a husband as I was going to be to Sarah.

  He slapped his glass down and grinned. “Bring it on, buddy.”

  It was a good challenge to give each other, and I couldn’t wait to live up to my end of it.

  Chapter Three

  Sarah

  Jane giggled as I fluffed around with her hair. She looked radiant in the autumn dress I’d designed. The colorful leaves matched her red hair, the tones making her pale, Irish complexion rosy. I swept her long bangs to the side, pinning them back before reaching for the veil.

  “I feel so beautiful.” Her mild English accent had grown stronger with her return home. She’d been living in the United States for several years, but she’d spent most of her childhood in England. They moved to the States when her father’s job at the American Embassy came to an end, so the poor girl had been made to transfer countries and high schools at the age of fifteen.

  I stood back from her, patting her shoulders with a smirk. “That’s because you are beautiful.”

  “Not normally this beautiful.”

  “Blake’s going to go crazy when he sees you.”

  Jane let out a nervous giggle, her pinky finger trembling as she wiped it below her eye. I had to admit that my friend had been a bit of stress-bucket leading up to her big day. She was no bridezilla, but she found it really hard to step back. Thankfully, she was my best friend and I adored her, so it wasn’t hard having her hover over each and every aspect. She’d liked most of my ideas, which helped. But the last few days, she’d been borderline cray-cray. The girl needed to get the day over with so she could relax. I was glad they decided to take their honeymoon straight after the wedding. Like us, they’d planned a two-week affair that would have them fully rejuvenated before returning to work.

  Fitting the veil in place, I walked behind her so I could adjust it properly. The cream tulle was light, and framed her face perfectly. I tweaked the edge then stepped back and assessed her in the mirror.

  “You look so pwetty, Geowjana.” Florence, the little flower girl, tipped back in her ballet slippers, sounding adorable as she tried to pronounce Jane’s full name—Georjana. I grinned at the way her strawberry-blonde ringlets bounced when she danced over to us.

  Standing beside her towering cousin, she looked in the mirror and giggled, swishing from side to side in her adorable empire line dress with the autumn leaves sprinkling down the skirt. It was easy to see she felt like a princess.

  “You both look amazing.” I shook my head with a dreamy smile, picturing Blake’s gaze as his future bride walked down the aisle toward him. The day was going to be magical. Not quite as magical as mine, of course. I internally giggled at the thought, my body aching for a taste of my husband. The previous night without him had been horrible. I was surprised by just how much I missed him. Having spent the past two weeks doing everything with him, it was a cold shock to endure a night alone.

  I couldn’t wait until after the reception, when I could take him back to our room and rip all his clothes off. A hot blush burned my cheeks. I shifted behind Jane’s tall body so she couldn’t see me in the mirror. Thankfully, she was engrossed in an animated discussion with Florence, so both of them were oblivious that my mind was racing with images of Justin’s naked body thrusting against mine. The thoughts were so tantalizing and strong I could feel heat pooling between my legs. I had to question the chances of me lasting until after the reception. Maybe I could pull him into a darkened room while everyone was dancing…you know, a little quickie to get us in the mood for the rest of our night.

  I wasn’t usually a sex fiend, but Justin brought out the naughty in me. Any time, any place with that man.

  A light knock on the door had me biting my grin and reining in my thoughts.

  “Come in,” I called while Jane leaned toward the mirror to quadruple-check her makeup.

  The door creaked open, and I glanced back in time to see Justin’s gorgeous face. My heart skipped then took off running when he smiled at me.

  “What are you doing here?” Jane squeaked. “Is everything okay?”

  Justin chuckled. “Everything’s fine. B-Blake just wanted me to come and check on his bride.”

  She let out a swooning sigh and patted her chest. “I love that man.”

  I giggled and stepped back, adjusting the veil one last time. I lifted it high then let it drop. The fabric floated down then nestled into place, just the way I designed it to.

  Florence started up again about how beautiful Jane looked. I caught Justin’s eye and grinned when he mouthed, “You’re gorgeous.”

  I flashed him a look that hopefully gave away how hot I was. He picked up on it immediately, because his forehead dipped while his eyes sparked with hunger. I brushed my tongue over my lower lip, following it with a light scraping of my teeth.

  The heat in Justin’s gaze intensified.

  “I’ll be back in a sec.” I patted Jane’s shoulder. She was too distracted giggling with her little cousin to notice me slipping out of the room.

  As soon as the door was shut, Justin pulled me into his arms, kissing me like we’d been apart for months. I swirled my tongue around his, gripping the back of his neck and pressing my body against him.

  “Come on,” I whispered against his lips, before tugging his wrist and hustling us to the room at the end of the hallway. I’d found the dimly lit office the day before when I was decorating the church. It was sparsely furnished with one wooden desk and a round-backed chair that looked uncomfortable to sit
in. Against the wall was a rickety bookshelf with volumes of hardback books that could no doubt bore me to tears.

  I glanced away from the dusty manuals and slipped off my underwear. Justin’s eyes bulged, but he didn’t protest as I hiked up my silk dress and perched my bare butt on the edge of the desk. I made sure the fabric was well clear before spreading my legs and tugging Justin toward me. He crushed his mouth to mine as I started unbuttoning his pants.

  “I missed you,” he murmured between kisses. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you last night.”

  I guided his hand between my thighs as he ran his tongue down my neck. The urgency firing between us was insane.

  He pushed his fingers inside me, igniting rockets of pleasure. I was so hot for him already it wouldn’t take much for me to come. “You’re already wet,” he puffed against my mouth.

  “You’re already hard,” I countered with a giggle, pulling down his pants and wrapping my fingers around his erection.

  He groaned into my mouth and I giggled again, squeezing a little harder and sliding my finger over his moist head. He felt so damn good.

  “I need you inside me,” I whispered.

  Tucking his hand beneath my knee, he lifted my leg and positioned himself at my entrance. He made me wait a whole beat before sliding into me. I couldn’t hold back my lusty cry but he captured it with his hot mouth, lashing his tongue against mine as he thrust into me.

  The passion between us was scorching and had an animalistic quality that couldn’t be quenched fast enough.

  I clenched his erection, drawing him in. I couldn’t get enough of his power. He drove into me, and I had to bite my lips together to stop myself from crying out again. People would be filling the church already. Getting busted spread eagle on a minister’s office desk with my husband’s pants around his ankles would not go down well. I could just imagine my father-in-law’s reaction.

  A nervous giggle rose inside me, but Justin’s thrusting cut it short. He was hitting all the right spots, making it impossible not to whimper just a little.

  I clung to his shoulders, puffing against his jacket as he pumped hard and fast. My head fell back and I bit my lower lip as Justin dragged my butt even closer. I leaned back on the desk, bracing myself on shaky arms while he picked up the pace. I let out a mewling cry as the pressure inside me mounted like a rumbling volcano. He gripped my ass and drove even harder until a heated explosion rocketed through both of us. I couldn’t hold back my cry. Justin pressed his hand over my mouth, laughing as he pulled me back against him. His arms were quivering a little, and as I laid my head against his chest, I could hear his thundering heartbeat.

  My heart matched his. I’m sure it had never raced so fast before. Justin looked down at me with glazed eyes, a slow, drunken smile tugging at his lips.

  “That was hot,” I puffed. “We have to do that again. The risk of getting caught totally does it for me.”

  His eyes gleamed with promise, and I couldn’t help a giddy titter.

  He claimed my mouth, slow and easy, before pulling away from me. I felt the loss keenly, but knowing I’d get it again in a few hours helped soften the blow. Justin helped me clean up, even kneeling on the floor and holding out my underwear so I could step back into it. He pulled my panties into place then trailed his fingers down my thighs, his smile wicked and playful.

  I bit my lip then whispered, “You keep looking at me like that, and I won’t be able to resist an immediate second round.”

  He cleared his throat, a bright blush warming his cheeks as he stood tall and arranged my layers of silky fabric. All evidence of our tryst was hopefully hidden away as we walked out of the room with innocent expressions. Okay, maybe not so innocent. It was kind of hard to hide our smiles.

  We stopped outside Jane’s dressing room and kissed one more time. Justin blessed me with another dreamy smile then whispered, “I’ll see you soon.”

  He brushed his lips across my nose then sauntered away. I watched him until he’d disappeared around the corner, then floated into Jane’s dressing room. This would be the second time in two weeks that I’d be walking down the aisle toward him. It looked like I’d be in for another day of constant smiles and loved-up insides. Weddings were the best.

  Chapter Four

  Justin

  I walked back out to the main entrance of the stone church. It was impossible not to step with a slight bounce. My wife was freaking hot. I loved her passion, her energy, the fire she could light within me. I was certain we’d never be able to get enough of each other. Making love to Sarah was like nothing else on this planet. Being married to her topped everything.

  I didn’t even bother hiding my grin when I stopped to look down the aisle. We’d spent the day before decorating it with orange and yellow roses, plus these lilies—calla something or other. They looked amazing. Bringing Sarah’s vision to life was inspiring. To say I was proud of my wife’s creative talent was an understatement. The woman was an artistic genius. She’d turned the little stone chapel into a magical realm with fairy lights, frost cloth, and vines. Combined with the splash of autumn colors and the aromatic scent of roses, the place was enchanting.

  Watching Sarah walk down the aisle in her silky dress was going to be nothing but a pleasure. I scanned the pews, noting a few familiar faces before turning to look out the open double doors. People were walking down the pathway, dressed in their finery. Age was reflected in fashion choices, from the chic party dresses and stiletto heels to the muted pastel outfits and hats with flowers in them. Plucking out my phone, I snapped a few quick shots then took a twenty-second video, scanning over the decorated archway then back outside. The footage would be great for the wedding montage video I was making Blake and Jane. That was my thing. I loved putting together short clips to music. Still shots and live footage would be intermingled to create a four-minute piece of magic. I absolutely loved sitting at my computer and putting them together…and I loved people’s reactions even more. They made for perfect gifts.

  I tucked my phone away as Dad appeared. He was in his standard wedding tux, looking stately and every bit the college professor he was. My insides kicked with instant warning like they always did. I didn’t know what it was about the guy, but he put me on edge without even trying. We’d never said as much to each other, but it was obvious Blake was his favorite and I was the one who never quite cut it.

  “H-hey, Dad.” I smiled.

  “What are you doing here?” His dark eyebrows met in the middle when he frowned at me.

  I cleared my throat and smoothed down my brown jacket. “Blake asked me t-to come early and ch-check in on J-J-J…” I gave up. He knew who I was talking about.

  Dad tried to hide his disappointment behind a smile. My stutter had always bothered him. Ironically, I stuttered more around him than anyone.

  He patted me on the shoulder with a closed-mouth smile. “My two boys. After today, you’ll both be married men. You and Blake chose well.”

  I nodded, appreciating the compliment.

  “He sh-should be here any minute. He’s…” My voice stopped for a second, like it sometimes did. Imagine a fist blocking your windpipe while your brain struggles to punch out the word. It was like that. I closed my eyes and pictured myself talking to Sarah. “He’s coming on the bike.” The words eased out my mouth like running water.

  “Okay, son. Why don’t you go say hi to your mother then find your place upfront. I’ll keep an eye out for him.”

  Unwilling to risk stuttering again, I bobbed my head and set off down the aisle. Mom greeted me with a kiss and told me I looked handsome. I then rehashed the same conversation I’d just had with Dad before Mom patted me on the cheek and sent me up the two steps to wait for my brother.

  I had to admit what an honor it was to be the only groomsman. Blake was one of those guys with hundreds of friends. Everyone was Blake’s buddy, but he reserved the best friend role for me. Jane didn’t want a large wedding, especially with having it overseas
, so the couple opted for just me and Sarah to accompany them. Suited me just fine.

  Checking my watch, I noted the time. There was only ten minutes until the ceremony started. It surprised me that Blake hadn’t turned up already. We’d been raised to be on time…and it was his wedding. The guy must have been more nervous than I thought.

  Resting my hand on top of my watch, I tapped the glass with my finger and tried to look casual while I waited. People continued to filter into the church. I smiled at the various guests, recognizing most of them from the engagement party. The small chapel was abuzz with the quiet murmur of excited guests as they marveled and pointed at the stunning decor. If my chest puffed with any more pride, my shirt would pop open.

  I couldn’t wait for Sarah to walk down the aisle toward me again. Seeing her do that on our wedding day nearly had me in tears. I managed to keep up my calm exterior, but my insides had been a wreck…and soon it would be Blake’s turn.

  A grin pushed at my cheeks as I imagined watching my brother go through it all. I was so stoked to be a part of it.

  Movement at the back of the church caught my eye. I craned my neck, expecting to see Blake sauntering down the aisle with a confident, relaxed smile in place. But it was just my dad chatting with some guests. I checked my watch again and frowned.

  Since when was a groom late to his wedding? Usually it was some bridal emergency, but I’d checked in on Jane and she was ready. Shit, I should have called to let him know. I got distracted with Sarah…and then Dad. I pulled out my phone and called Blake.

  No one answered.

  My gut probably should have started clenching at that point, but the idea of something bad happening to my brother on his wedding day was so left field that it hadn’t even occurred to me.

  I figured he was probably taking a minute to gather himself. If he didn’t show up in ten minutes, I’d take the car to collect him.