I’m usually not much of a party person.
Throughout my teen years and college I avoided clubs and sororities like the plague. Staying at home beneath the covers with some tea and a good book was much more preferable than jumping around in the sweaty dark with a bunch of drunken strangers.
But my surprise marriage ceremony with Ace is special.
It’s me, my husband, my daughter, and our closest friends in one of my favorite places in the world.
There’s good food, the jukebox plays nothing but hits, and it certainly doesn’t hurt that over half of the people present are world-class musicians.
Ace’s Vagabond bandmates even bring out some acoustic instruments from their cars for an unplugged jam session in the diner.
Sophie seems like she’s having the time of her life.
Her laughter is a delight. It rings out every time she hears a particular tune or rhythm she likes.
As an experiment, Ace and Eric play a discordant tune—one without flow and rhythm. Sophie frowns, her face scrunching up with displeasure.
“Looks like there might be another musician in the family,” Eric jokes.
Grady brings out a small bongo set from the van and hands it to Sophie, and she happily bangs away until she falls asleep.
“I’m so honored that you invited me,” Declan says. He’s managed to escape Grady and Kieran for the moment. “I’m with some esteemed company here. World-famous rockstars and a supermodel?”
I smile as I look around the diner.
Now that he mentions it, I suppose I do keep some pretty extraordinary company.
“Come on, Declan. You aren’t exactly a nobody either. A superstar chef with restaurants all around the world isn’t something to be scoffed at.”
He smiles at me, still a little tipsy. I place a hand on his shoulder.
“Besides,” I continue. “You’re a dear friend of mine. That’s way more important.”
“I’m happy for you Laney,” he says. “I really am.”
I pull him in for a hug.
“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you.”
And it’s true. Declan was here for me when Ace couldn’t be. I’ll be forever grateful.
Addie taps Declan on the shoulder. She gestures behind her to where the Vagabond boys are playing some kind of drinking game.
“You’re being summoned,” she tells him.
Declan straightens his back and slicks back his hair.
“Duty calls,” he says valiantly.
I roll my eyes at him as he gets up to leave.
Addie takes his place.
“Married, huh?”
I laugh.
“I know. Crazy, isn’t it?”
“Well, a wedding isn’t really complete until the bride and groom have had their wedding night.” She wiggles her eyebrows lewdly.
“Ew, do I really have to be talking about this with you?” I ask.
Addie is always more open about her sexuality than I am.
“La la la la la,” I sing, trying to block her out.
She laughs softly, trying not to disturb the sleeping Sophie in her carrier beside us.
The past few months have been filled with sleepless nights and mountains of diapers. I’m pretty sure I can change Sophie half asleep.
In fact, I’ve probably done just that countless times.
“Let me and Eric take Sophie for the night,” Addie says. “You and Ace should have some time alone together. Besides…”
My sister leans in to whisper in my ear, a conspiratorial grin on her face.
“I’m going to need some practice taking care of a baby.” She places a hand over her stomach.
My eyes widen.
“You don’t mean…”
“Mm-hmm,” she nods, her face aglow. “But I haven’t told Eric yet. I will tonight.”
I give her a tight hug.
“Congratulations!” I whisper yell. She grins at me, but she won’t let us stray far from the topic at hand.
“Go enjoy your wedding night,” she insists.
I look over at my hunk of a husband, noticing the shine of his blue eyes and how the thin fabric of his shirt barely contains the rippling muscles beneath.
I practically kick open the bedroom door, stumbling over to our bed as Laney’s legs wrap around my waist, her fingers tangling in my hair.
My lips are on hers, our tongues wrestling for dominance. I trip over the edge of the bed and we crash into the sheets, our bodies desperate to press further into each other.
Clothes fly off hurriedly and scatter around the room.
We’ve had sex countless times before, but this time feels different. I’m eager to rediscover my wife.
Find all of her secret and most sensitive parts…
We lock lips again, and I feel the softness of her body rub against me. Her hands move gently down my chest and over my abs until her fingers brush the tip of my cock.
I groan as she massages the tip.
But I’m not going to sit back and let her do all the work.
I rub my fingers gently over her clit, enjoying the sweet moans that escape her lips. I slip a finger inside of her, her folds slick with lust.
She’s ready.
And so am I.
I position my manhood in front of her entrance. Even before I enter, I can feel her heat wash over the length of my cock, and I shiver with pleasure.
We lock eyes, lost in the throes of passion.
“I love you,” she says.
“I love you too.”
And I plunge myself into her.
I cry out in ecstasy as Ace fills me up.
I feel him throb inside of me, and I tighten in response. Waves of pleasure roll through my body.
He begins to thrust and my hips rock back and forth with him. My fingers claw along the taut muscles in his back as he quickens his pace.
He’s pounding into me now, and I bite his shoulder to try and stop myself from screaming.
It doesn’t help.
“Fuck! Ace!” I cry.
He grunts, deep and guttural in my ear, and the sound just turns me on more.
“I’m gonna cum,” he groans.
I wrap my legs around his waist, pinning him even closer to me. My spine curves upward as I arch my back, eager to feel even more of him on my skin.
“Give it to me,” I gasp, the air heavy with our lust. “Fill me up, Ace!”
He fires his cock deep inside me, and I feel him cum, erupting like a volcano. His hot lava burns at my core, spreading along my veins to the rest of my body.
I convulse around him as I cum, our cries mixing together as we find sweet release.
He collapses on top of me. The only sound in the room is our thundering heartbeats and the ragged rhythm of our breaths. I close my eyes, comfortable underneath his weight.
“Wow,” I murmur into his skin.
He chuckles, his entire body trembling on top of me.
“Did you enjoy that, Mrs. Flanagan?”
The name sends butterflies fluttering through my stomach.
“I did. But…”
“But?”
I flip us over so that I’m on top. I toss my hair over one shoulder as I trace my hands across his muscular chest. I bite my lip, devouring him with my eyes. I feel like a goddess.
“I don’t think I’m satisfied yet,” I purr.
His big, powerful hands wander up my thighs, coming to rest around my waist.
“We have the entire night,” he says. “The entire night and the rest of forever.”
“How was she?” I ask Eric as he hands me a sleeping Sophie inside of her baby carrier.
“I didn’t get a wink of sleep,” he says. “Are babies supposed to be nocturnal?”
Sophie looks like an angel when she’s asleep. Funny how babies can suddenly turn into wailing banshees in the middle of the night.
“Get used to it,” I tell him. “Laney told me that you’ve got a tiny terror coming your way soon as well.”
“Yup.” He grins.
“How do you feel?”
“Terrified.”
“Sounds about right.”
We share a laugh.
“Rockstars turned dads,” I ponder. “Who the hell would’ve thought?”
“Speaking of rockstars,” Eric says, suddenly turning serious. “We’ve got to go to Newland Beach to finish the new album. Vince bought us as much time as he could, but the label forced his hand. We’re leaving in a few days.”
My thoughts immediately turn to Laney and Sophie. We’ve just started to get into the swing of things here in Chicago.
Will Laney be okay taking care of Sophie alone while I finish this album?
“I’ll go let Laney know,” I say.
Eric nods as he yawns.
“I’m gonna go catch some shut-eye.”
As I leave Eric’s house, my phone starts buzzing with texts.
