Happily Ever Never (3 page)

Major took my arm and folded it inside of his. “I had to pick up my date. Everyone this is Bailey. Bailey, this is everyone.”

I looked at him curiously. “Everyone?”

With the most pleading grimace he gave his attention to only me. “My family. This is our restaurant. Since I couldn’t wait for another night to take you out, I had to combine the two.”

My mouth dropped. We were having dinner with his family, and when I explain that word I mean
huge
family. There were at least twenty sets of eyes all staring at us. This was our first date – one of so many that would come after. I don’t know why I was okay with it, or how I could look at each of those strangers and feel welcomed, but I had.

Just thinking back to that first date put a huge smile on my face. I peered around the large room filled with his family members that we had a meal with once a week. His parents, Tony Sr. and Vicki, both stared in our direction, while the rest of his giant family followed suit.

“Did you hear me, bella?” He’d called me that since the night of our first date when I asked him to speak Italian. Major sat across from me with a box opened displaying a huge diamond ring. “I just asked you to marry me. I’ve spent the past two years falling in love with you. My family loves you. I want you to be my wife. I want to have children with you. We can vacation in Sicily. I’ll give you anything you could ever want, just say yes. Say you’ll love me forever. Say you’ll be my better half. Let me give you a beautiful future.”

Warm tears flooded down my cheeks. I knew my makeup was a mess, because I could feel some of it burning my eyes. I felt like I’d waited two years for this proposal. It was perfect, genuine, and the beginning of the rest of our lives together. Of course I’d love him forever. He’d never have to ask that. This man, this perfect man was everything to me. “Yes. Yes,” I repeated. “I’d love to be your wife.”

The room filled with cheering, whistles and celebration as I turned to look at the family I would soon be able to call my own. We were officially engaged, and I’d never been happier. The man of my dreams swooped me up into his arms and placed tender kisses over my lips he’d memorized so many times before.

Chapter 3

When life becomes chaotic it is necessary to stop and smell the roses, even if it is only for a second.

“Babe,” I said while perusing through my disarray of a closet. “Have you seen my white slip?”

Major was in bed shirtless, reclined by pillows while watching a basketball game. I could hear him typing on his laptop, attempting to get all of his work finished before we flew out to Sicily for our upcoming nuptials. He seemed at ease about the whole ordeal, while I was losing my grip on everything. “No. Maybe you should think about throwing some of your old things away. You’re the only woman I’ve ever known who still has clothes from grade school.”

In my defense they weren’t that old. Yes, I still had my formal dresses from high school. They were mementos. “We leave tomorrow. What am I going to do if I can’t find it?”

“Go without it,” he announced from the bed.

I stuck my head out of the walk-in closet. Since moving in with him two months after we started dating, I’d accumulated so much clothing that he’d moved his things into the guest room to allow me more space. I wasn’t a clothes hoarder; at least I didn’t think so. “Seriously. Can you pause that and help me?”

He popped a chip into his mouth and snickered. I hated when he ate in bed. Sometimes I wondered if he did it to get under my skin. Major loved to annoy me until we ended up naked, forgetting why we were wrestling around in the first place. Our sex life was healthy, and since we were about to wed, I’d gone off the pill in hopes of getting pregnant as soon as possible.

Major closed his laptop and stuck the bag of chips on his nightstand. He climbed out of bed and looked underneath it. When he pulled out my slip I gasped; remembering why it had been kicked underneath. “I recall you being in hurry to take it off the last time you wore it.”

I sauntered toward him, breaking the distance between us and taking the fabric into my hands. “You gave me no choice. You’d just gotten out of the shower. Beads of water were running down your chest. I didn’t want to get my clothes wet when I licked them off,” I reminded him.

“I remember.” He backed me up until the mattress stopped us. I was fully aware where this was leading, and with my stress levels at a high, I knew I wouldn’t turn him down. “How about you sit that slip down so we can get to making a baby?”

As the sheer fabric left my hand I became lost in the moment. Major lifted me up to sit on the bed. He pulled my legs up and tugged gently on my pajama shorts and panties, taking them off my feet at the same time. He then wrapped my legs around his waist. I leaned up on my elbows and removed one of his oversized T-shirts I liked to sleep in. Now bare and exposed, I lifted my arms above my head and rested them on the bed. Major stared down at my body he’d memorized long ago. Eagerness was in his eyes, but I knew he wouldn’t rush it – he never did. My man was always patient to be sure every single moment of our love making was just as good as the first time. While my legs remained situated at his hips, I felt the tips of his fingers trailing over each of them. His eyes were fixed on mine, as if to send me messages without speaking. The crisp air from the ceiling fan above made me shiver as my nipples hardened. He wanted this to happen. Major longed to have me tremble beneath him. With every touch, each embrace, he was taunting me. I turned my head to the side and closed my eyes as those fingertips reached the skin of my inner thighs. I could feel parts of me reacting to his tracing. A low giggle escaped my lips as he coursed over the base of my pussy; a spot he knew tickled.

With the back of one hand, he slid over that sensitive spot again, getting an immediate reaction out of me. My muscles tightened as I laid there praying he’d keep going. He was right there, inches from taking me with his fingers. He tugged his boxers down, springing to life immediately. With the brush of his thumb over my clit I beckoned for more. He sucked on two more, gliding them over my aroused bud with ease. Just as I was about to lose control he stopped. With my legs still spread, he lifted them higher until they sat on each of his broad shoulders. I’d never been very attracted to the muscular type of man, but Major gave physique a new meaning. He was well defined, but not too large. His strength was obvious, both with how much weight he could lift and what his body was able to endure. It took a lot for my man to break a sweat. He still went to the gym, but preferred running five miles each morning, while I tended to walk in the evenings to stay at a healthy weight.

Again, with the back of his hands, he glided over my skin, trailing up my waist and abdomen until he reached the smoothness between my breasts. I inhaled and exhaled heavily, prepared for him to caress and massage my breasts like I was so used to him doing.

Major leaned forward sucking a nipple into his mouth. He then turned his attention to the opposite side, leaving a trail of saliva as his tongue left it. I gasped, giving in to the raw intensity it left me feeling.

There were times where I’d be patient and let him have his way with me. This however wasn’t the time. I twisted my body, crawling further back on the bed so he’d have to chase me. With my ass in the air, I motioned with one finger for him to climb behind me. Major didn’t waste time following my lead. His hands were on my ass as he positioned himself behind me, leaning forward to place tender kisses, first on the small of my back, and then around my shoulders. When he reached my neck chills ran through every inch of my skin. A moan escaped my lips as I was turned over. He cozied his body up to hover over mine. His gold chain with a cross sat flat on the skin between my breasts. It was cold, causing my nipples to harden beyond what they already were.  Major lunged forward, placing his lips over mine. Quickly our tongues began to mingle. I ran both hands up his strong arms, needing to touch every part of him that I was able. His lips parted from mine, yet remained close enough where I could feel his breath as he spoke. “I don’t care how long it takes us. We’re going to fill this house with children, Bailey. I’ll be a good dad. I’m going to make sure they can count on me to be there for them. I’ll never let you down.”

I reached up and ran my hand over his cheek. “I know you won’t. You’re everything we’ll need, Major. I think I knew it from the moment you allowed me to be a part of your life. Becoming your wife will be wonderful, but in my heart I’m already yours. I can’t wait to start our family. I hope all of our children look like you.”

“That might be a problem, since I want them to all to look like you,” he teased. “Maybe they’ll have both of our good attributes.”

“As long as they’re healthy I won’t care. We’ll raise them with morals and make sure they never want for anything.”

“If we spoil them, my parents won’t have anything to do. Besides, I’m pretty certain even your old dad might come around once he holds his first grandson.”

“Grandson? What if it’s a girl?”

“It won’t be. I know we’ll have a boy first. Everyone in my family always has. It’s tradition.”

I let out a laugh. “You do know it doesn’t work that way? Though, if I had the choice, I’d want them all to have your olive skin.” I snickered against his body. “You’re being silly if you think you know those types of things.”

“You’ll see,” he assured me. Without further ado, Major took my hand and raised it up to his lips. He held it there, kissing it tenderly twice. “Where were we?”

“You were about to make love to me, in case you’ve forgotten.” I brought my knee up to rub over his erection. Right away he reacted with a deep groan.

Major kissed me between my breasts, working his way south until he reached the base of my pussy. There was no use squirming out of his reach. What he was about to do would only bring the utmost of pleasure. When his lips trailed across my sex I would forget about the stress and succumb to utter bliss. He would control me with his effortless skills, and I would reward him equally afterwards.

Then it happened.

I felt his tongue drawing a pattern on my clit. His circular motions were applied with pressure, enough to be certain he had me completely aroused. I drug my fingers over my lips, sucking one into my mouth to elude how rapidly my first orgasm was nearing. When that didn’t help I ran both hands over my delicate breasts, cupping them and finally massaging the tips with my thumbs. I pinched my own nipples while Major took me to the brink, then pulled away. He knew me too well. His ornery grin told me he was trying to drive me crazy. He wanted me to beg for more, and I was prepared to do it.

Before I could part my lips to get the words out, Major dove back down, this time dragging his tongue inside of me. I gasped and threw my butt up off the mattress as my body lost control. His lips vibrated with his own sounds as he felt me orgasm against his mouth. My release may have only lasted seconds, but I surely wasn’t finished. We’d only just begun. While Major was busy bringing me pleasure, I was on a mission to please him until I felt overexerted.

I’d no sooner flipped us over and traveled downward when I felt him lifting me back up to his lips. “Not so fast. As much as I like the way your mouth feels around my cock, I’d much rather be inside of you, making love with you, proving how much of a good husband I’ll be. Love me, Bella. Please don’t stop.” He entered me, and in that moment nothing else existed except us. I don’t know if it was true, but I swear it was the encounter where we conceived; where our future was already playing out before our eyes.

An hour later we lay there together in our bed. The covers had been kicked off, and the sheets weren't tucked. Major played with my fingers, lacing his own with mine. We were both on our backs staring up at the ceiling. The ambiance in the room was set by a small lamp, which happened to have a pillow case strewn over it. I have no idea how or when it was removed from the pillow, but it had happened at some point.

I knew there was an unfilled suitcase still on the floor needing attention. We were both aware there was much to do before we left the country. I just don’t think either of us cared. Both of us needed to forget for a little while. We wanted a reprieve, if only temporary.

Being in this position with him by my side only reminded me of all the things that kept us distracted lately. It’s wasn’t easy planning a destination wedding, even if some of his family lived there. The language barrier had been a struggle for me from the get-go. Major was usually the person who had to make the phone calls, leaving me frustrated and feeling incapable. I knew he helped without complaining, but I wanted to do my part. It wasn’t just my wedding. It was both of ours.

I wish that was all that filled my mind. Had it been my only struggle I think I’d manage okay. The fact that I still had family of his to meet left me nervous and uneasy. They were big into tradition and I wasn’t a strong Italian woman. They’d be able to tell immediately, especially after they met my father. My only hope was that he’d steer clear of them on account of not being able to understand what they were saying. Even with the extra reassurance from Major’s parents, I worried if they were only appeasing me for their son’s benefit, and also the fact that I wouldn’t know if they were calling me derogatory names. It didn’t help that men and women weren’t supposed to live together until they were married.

With so much on my mind I rolled over onto Major’s chest, appreciating the way his arms felt when they wrapped around my back. His lips kissed the top of my head. “Maybe we should elope,” I suggested.

“No. we can’t, and we’re not. We’re not doing what Shawna and Nathan did. Our wedding will be the happiest day of our lives. You’ll see. It’s all going to work out. Stop worrying. As long as you walk down that aisle nothing can go wrong.”

I smiled and closed my eyes. “There’s nowhere else I’ll be.”