Three Weddings And Forever (Wedding Season Series) Read online

  “Doesn’t everyone?” Talia muttered.

  “Well, he is handsome,” Barb said. “I think he’s a bit of a playboy. Easy on the eyes, though.” A slight smile crosses her face. “Anyway, that’s it. Finish up, honey, and I’ll be waiting for you outside. Girls, you have ten minutes,” she said to us and marched away.

  “Don’t get any crazy ideas,” Cara said to me. “You know how he is,” her voice carried a note of warning.

  “What are you talking about?” I ask.

  “You dancing with him for most of the reception at my wedding,” Leslie said easily.

  “Now is when you want to bring this up?” I ask.

  “Well, I haven’t seen you since then. Not that you two didn’t look great dancing, and it was nice to see Chase and his ho look like shit next to you,” Leslie said. “But Bash?”

  “We all know what he is,” Talia said, standing up. “So does Mallory.”

  “He was being nice,” I said. “He saw how Chase was acting and said no one deserved to deal with such a dick.” Or something like that.

  Talia, Leslie, and Cara all sighed. “He’s really very nice,” Cara said.

  “Yeah, as long as you just want sex and fun,” Leslie said.

  “Which is perfect for a rebound,” Talia said, squeezing my arm. “We’re just being old ladies. You’re a big girl. You know the deal.” She walked away.

  “Just be careful,” Leslie said.

  “Oh, I always am,” I said, doubly glad that I’d gotten ready on my own. I didn’t need any commentary about my hot new undies.

  And with that, our conversation turned to getting Cara out the door and ready to go. Time to think about Sebastian later.

  Sebastian

  Cara’s mom came in to the room where we were all getting ready. She didn’t even knock, just walked in. Good thing we were all dressed. She patted Brock on the cheek and scanned the room. Her eyes stopped on me. “Sebastian Colton!”

  “Yes, ma’am?” Cara’s mom was the kind of woman you always said ‘yes, ma’am,’ to.

  “You’re walking with Mallory Simmons. You know who she is?”

  Do I? I’ve had like a week’s worth of fantasy dreams about her since Mark’s wedding. “I do.”

  She nodded. “Good. I’m going to go tell her. Finish up and get going. It’s almost time.” She breezed out.

  “That woman scares me,” Mark said.

  “Try being her son-in-law,” Brock said. “Move your asses. I don’t want to hear it from her if we’re late.”

  The wedding ceremony was in a gazebo out on the lawns of the hotel, and it was gorgeous as far as I could tell. I was excited to be paired up with Mallory. I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her. I made friends with her on social media, and read through her page like a creeper, but I didn’t do anything more than that. I hoped this time around, we’d move things forward. There was something there. I wanted to hang out with her, see what it was.

  Then everything would go on as normal, and we’d spend time together until one or both of us was ready to move on. And I wouldn’t be waking up with a hard on every morning and the sound of Mallory’s breathy voice in my ear. I found that I was excited to see her.

  We made it down to the corridor where everyone was lining up. I saw Mallory walking down with Cara, who probably looked great, but I didn’t have eyes for anyone but Mallory. She was beautiful. She looked nervous, which was odd. Why would she be nervous?

  I tried not to stare as she helped Cara get the dress situated, and then she came to stand next to me. “Hey,” she said. There was a pinkish color in her cheeks that was quite simply… charming.

  What the hell? I didn’t use that kind of language to describe women. They were hot, fuckable, funny… not charming. What was going on?

  “Hey yourself. That’s a good color on you,” I said, nodding at her dress.

  “Thanks. You ready?” Her voice came out breathy.

  “I am always ready,” I said, letting my own voice drop.

  Her gaze flew up to mine, and her cheeks got pinker. Ah ha. She wasn’t indifferent. I tucked her arm in mine. It felt good. Right. I was excited to be next to her, with her.

  Barb opened the doors and hissed at the couples in front of us.

  “Pay attention,” I whispered, leaning down so I could breathe in her ear. Two birds with one stone, and all that. “She’ll have our asses if we screw up.”

  Mallory laughed, but didn’t respond because it was our turn, and we walked forward together. Hopefully the same way we’d be walking out of here tonight—together, headed for one of our rooms and no sleep.

  I couldn’t stop the grin that spread across my face.

  Mallory

  The feel of him next to me was enough to make me sweat in my bridesmaid’s dress. The way he’d smiled, spoken—he was obviously up for some alone time later tonight as well. My heart—and other parts—thrilled at the thought.

  Tonight was going to be awesome. I tried not to stare at him across from me through the service. Cara and Brock were adorable, and I wanted to pay attention to them, but my gaze kept sliding over to where Sebastian stood, hands crossed in front of him, his face somber. Then his eyes met mine, and he winked.

  God. Just… God.

  After the vows had been exchanged, and Sebastian took my arm to leave the gazebo, he whispered, “You want to dance with me again?”

  “Kept you on your toes, didn’t I?” I asked smugly.

  “You surely did. I’d like you to do it again,” he said, the suggestive tone still in his voice. “My gran would be proud.”

  “Your gran?” I asked. The sexy mood was broken.

  He nodded, bending his head down and creating a sense of intimacy between us. “She taught me to dance and play the piano. She said that’s what well-rounded gentlemen all knew how to do.”

  “Your gran sounds amazing.”

  “She was,” his tone was wistful. “She’d be delighted I had a partner who was just as good.”

  “It was all my mom’s fault,” I said.

  Sebastian laughed. Then we were pulled into the picture taking mill and there was no time to talk. Dinner was more of the same. But after they’d cut the cake, Sebastian turned to me. “You going to dance with me again?”

  “Absolutely,” I said, giving him my hand, loving the thrill of his skin next to mine.

  We spent the next hour dancing, earning a lot of praise from those around us. Those around us who weren’t my besties, I noticed. My besties were suspiciously quiet. It made me nervous, and I grabbed champagne every time the waiters came around with a tray. Finally, I told Sebastian I had to sit down. I was tired, and woozy. But I was ready to yank his clothes off and devour him, because being close to him during dancing was teasingly close, but not close enough.

  “You want to get out of here?” His eyes were serious and hot with need as they met mine.

  “Yes,” I said.

  He took my hand and led me from the ballroom.

  “Your room or mine?” He wrapped his arms around my waist and murmured into my hair.

  “Four twenty-six,” I said.

  “Four twenty-six it is,” Sebastian said.

  As we stepped onto the elevator, he pressed the button with one hand, and then pulled me to him, wrapping his arms around me and leaning down to kiss me. “I’ve been wanting to kiss you all night,” he said.

  I twined my arms around his neck, welcoming his kiss. His tongue plunged into my mouth, hot and demanding. I loved it. It was everything I remembered, and more. Because I’d had plenty of champagne, I felt like I was floating along in a cloud.

  A cloud of hot, hard male body that promised sex. The thought made me giggle.

  As the elevator door slid open, we walked together out of it, still kissing. I draped myself across him, and Sebastian kind of carried me. Which was a good thing, as my feet weren’t working all that well.

  I fumbled to get my key card out of my pocket—thank God Cara got
our dresses with pockets—and managed to get the door open.

  “Finally,” I said, throwing my arms around Sebastian again. He half-carried me in and set me down on the closest bed.

  I fell back, wanting to give my eyes just a little rest. Just for a minute.

  Sebastian

  I looked down at Mallory. How had I missed that she’d been drinking so much? She was passed out, for the count, it looked like.

  Damn it. Damn it all to hell.

  Whatever had stopped her before wasn’t there tonight, but I didn’t sleep with women who were not all in, and totally cognizant. I thought she was all in, but cognizant she was not. I sighed. Looked like it would be another wedding with me and my hand in the shower. I sighed again.

  Mallory stirred. “Come here,” she said slowly, holding out a hand. At the same time, she kicked off her shoes. “Don’t go,” her voice faded.

  “You’re tired,” I said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Mallory sat up; her eyes almost wide. “No! You can’t go… no! Got the lacy,” her voice trailed off, her eyes blinking. Without speaking again, she stood up, taking a moment to get her balance, and shrugged off her dress.

  Holy shit. She was wearing a light-colored bra and panties. It looked white in the dark of the room with only the moon coming in through the window. She was gorgeous, and all I wanted to do was to lean down and suck at her nipples through that bra until she begged me to take it off, and slowly peel off the panties, while tasting every glorious inch of her.

  Jesus. My cock strained against my pants.

  “I need to go,” I said.

  “No,” Mallory said. “Stay. Stay with me.” She fell back onto the bed, taking me with her.

  Sweet fuck. I was on top of her, my cock fitting perfectly against her pussy, and her mouth parted as she gazed up at me. I could feel her breasts against my chest, begging for my touch. Everything about Mallory was welcoming. She was warm and basically naked under me—where I’d been imagining her for weeks.

  This was Hell, and I was paying for anything sinful I’d ever done.

  “I need to go,” I said again.

  Her arms came around me, and she pulled my head down to hers. I kissed her, feeling her moving under me, and wondered how the hell to get out of this.

  Like I did everything else. Carefully, nicely. I took her arms from around my neck and then pushed myself off her. “Get some sleep, Mallory. I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said. And tomorrow night, if I could manage it.

  “No,” she said quietly, reaching for me.

  I took her hand, kissed it, and got the hell out of there before my control broke.

  Two for two in the losing streak with her.

  Damn it all to hell.

  Mallory

  I woke up holding my hand over my eyes. When I moved it—slowly—and the light hit me, I closed my eyes tightly and waited for the pain to pass.

  I didn’t drink that much, but champagne went to my head, made me tired, and gave me the hangover to end them all. I looked around. My dress was on the floor, as were my shoes.

  Sebastian was nowhere to be found.

  What had happened? I’d come back here with him, I knew that. Carefully, I thought back to the night before. I’d been giggling when he kissed me as we got to my room and—Oh, my God. My hand flew to my mouth in horror.

  Which exposed my champagne head to the light, and I gripped it to keep it from falling into the abyss. Why did I drink champagne again?

  I’d been tipsy, and he’d turned me down. He turned me down. Oh, my God. I stripped in front of him, pulled him onto me—and he turned me down.

  Why had he turned me down? We were kissing, and all the signs were there. Oh, no. It was after I took off my dress.

  He didn’t want me.

  Tears welled in my eyes. He’d decided not to sleep with me after he saw what I looked like without all the fancy dressing. What the hell?

  It was Chase all over again. I was plain, vanilla, boring. Pam, the hussy, was exciting and exotic and all the other shit I wasn’t.

  I let my head fall to the side, away from the window. The tears flowed freely now. It wasn’t just Chase. It was me. And I’d been so stupid! To think that someone like Sebastian would be interested—but he had been! I frowned.

  What the hell had happened?

  Today was when Cara and Brock planned to leave for their honeymoon. They’d asked us all to come to breakfast before they left, just them and their friends and immediate family. I decided that I loved Cara to death, but this would be too painful. Whatever had happened, I’d put myself out there, and Sebastian had turned me down. I’d be all right, I’d get over it, but rejection from the last two guys I’d opened myself up to was a bit much to deal with at the moment.

  I needed to go home. I wasn’t up to facing him. I just wasn’t.

  I got up and packed my things, ignoring my aching head. I tossed my pretty lacy undies into a pile with the dress to be dealt with later and hurried to the shower. Then I texted Cara, letting her know that I had to leave early.

  When I got out of the shower, Cara had texted me back three times. I reassured her all was well, and that work had sent me some stuff that had to be addressed immediately.

  With a sigh, I left. The weekend was over. Back to real life.

  I felt my eyes well. Everything would go back to normal. Eventually, even my heart.

  Sebastian

  I made sure to look good before heading out to breakfast. Mallory would be all there today, and we could talk. I’d lain in bed seeing her in front of me, glowing in the moonlight as she took off her dress, and my cock jumped at the thought.

  This was totally new for me. I didn’t put this much effort into my relationships, such as they were. They just happened. But I liked Mallory, and I wanted to see where things went. I wanted to see if the spark was real. If it was sustained.

  When I got to the restaurant, I saw Brock and Cara sitting together. They were alone. Brock saw me and waved me over.

  “I wasn’t sure if you two still wanted your one-on-one time,” I teased.

  Cara smiled and looked at her phone.

  “You all right?” I asked.

  She looked up, smiling. “Just disappointed. Mal had to go home early this morning.”

  My stomach dropped. “She did?”

  Something in my voice must have caught Cara’s attention, because she glared up at me. “Why? Do you know something about this?”

  I held up my hands. “No! I walked her to her room last night and made sure she got to bed.”

  “Did she need help?”

  “I think she was tired,” I said, not wanting to give anything away.

  “Oh, no. Did she drink champagne?” Cara groaned.

  “I think so. Why?”

  “She and champagne get along great at night, but it gets her all kinds of tipsy and miserable in the morning,” Cara said. “And now she’s got to get home.”

  “Thanks for getting her back to her room,” Brock said. “Have breakfast with us.”

  With that, even though Cara looked at me intently a few times, the conversation around Mallory was over. But I was disappointed. And for the first time in forever, I felt unsure.

  Had she left because of me? Had I done something wrong? I didn’t think so, but she’d run out of here. For all the talk about work, I knew an excuse when I heard one.

  Cara was far too observant, and suspicious. I put on my best face, laughing and teasing them, and then helped Brock bring down their luggage.

  Then I went back to my room, packed my shit, and went home. This weekend hadn’t gone how I’d hoped it would, in any way. The drive seemed longer than normal, and my brain wouldn’t shut off.

  I kept seeing Mallory in the moonlight.

  Mallory

  I stalked social media for the next two days, and sure enough pictures from Cara’s wedding came up, and there was me and Sebastian dancing. We looked happy. I looked a little tipsy.

>   Great.

  But he didn’t look like he was pity dancing. He’d spent the entire reception with me.

  On the third day after I’d fled home, Talia called me.

  “Hey,” she said.

  “What’s up? You almost ready to get married?” I asked. Her wedding was in less than two weeks.

  “Yes, and I wanted to talk to you.”

  “About what?”

  “Are you and Sebastian okay?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You left early from Cara’s, and she said he was all weird that morning.”

  “Weird how?”

  “I don’t know. Just weird.”

  “You talked to her on her honeymoon about this?” I asked, my voice dry.

  “No, I did not. I was at breakfast with her that morning. You know, like you were supposed to be. How was the work emergency?” she asked.

  “Still in crisis, although not as bad,” I said without missing a beat.

  “Okay. Sure,” Talia said. “But you two are okay?”

  “Of course, we are. We’re friends, and he’s an excellent dancer,” I said, hoping I sounded calm. I thought I did. “Is he my partner?”

  “No,” Talia said.

  My heart fell even as I was relieved. I didn’t know if I could handle his polite teasing and pretend intimacy. He had a way of making you feel like you were the only person in the room, the one person he wanted to be next to at that very moment. It was intense, and flattering, and hot.

  And since he’d turned me down, I didn’t want to have to pretend. Things were fine, or rather, they would be. But less pretending on my part would be great.

  “Let me assure you that all is well with me and anyone in your bridal party,” I said.

  “Chase will be there,” Talia said.

  “I thought he would be. He and Mark are friends.”

  “I tried to get him uninvited, but it was too late by then,” Talia’s voice was full of regret.

  “I’ll stay away from him.”

  “He’s in Siberia at the reception. Like, the back of the room. In fact, I put him at a table with other people I’m not fond of,” she added.