Teddy Bear Sir (The Sloan Brothers Book 3) (13 page)

I thought she was drifting off, so her words went through me in the darkness.

“
Favorite part of what?”

“
Of us.  When it’s just you and me and we’re spooned together like this.  It’s my favorite part.”

“
I’m hoping that a better favorite part happens soon Ayla.”

She giggled, not missing my reference.

“
We’re too drunk Pierce.”

I knew that, but I also knew it would be possible if we tried hard enough.  My hold up was the memory.  I wanted it to be memorable for both of us.

“
You want me, don’t you Ayla?”

She turned in my arms and put her mouth to my neck.  A shiver ran through me and I gripped her hips.

“
I always want you.  Every time you look at me, I want you.”

I claimed her lips and she gave back tenfold.

This preceded the make-out session to end all make-out sessions.  Never in my life had I been naked with a woman and done nothing but explore kissing.  An hour later, I held her close to me, stroking her hair while her breathing deepened and I whispered softly, “I think THIS is my favorite part”.  She was changing me in increments and I was helpless to it.  I didn’t know if I couldn’t or wouldn’t fight it, but the fight wasn’t there.

Weddings are strange things.  They take on a life of their own, even spur of the moment weddings.  I could only imagine how giving birth to a large church wedding must feel.  This was a, “Hurry up and get them married before Anton fucks up or Melody injures herself again” affair.  What would it be like to watch a wedding take shape after months of stressful planning?

I looked at my fiance who was focused on her hair and makeup to the exclusion of everything else.  She was a woman with a purpose.  When I asked her why she was going to such great lengths, she simply replied, “It’s Melody’s wedding.  I have to get ready and then I have to get HER ready.”  She said this as if explaining it to a small child that had been raised in the wilderness with no working knowledge of English.  I felt like that child because her explanation gave me nothing.  How long would it take to get ready for a Vegas wedding?  Especially this one.  Anton wanted to get married by an Elvis impersonator.  In a chapel.  I had my doubts, but never doubt the possibilities in Vegas folks.

I misjudged his seriousness when I asked if Deacon and I should wear white jumpsuits with tacky capes.  For a second, I thought I’d be barred from the ceremony.  After that, I held my tongue.

I wore my dark gray suit and Ayla’s dress was a shimmery silver sheath and was tea length.  She and Anton traded places as she ran next door to help Melody.  A few minutes later, Deacon knocked on our door, trailed by a very hungover Austin.  Chase followed suit, in slightly better shape for foregoing the party.

Once they were all inside, I mentally did the math and found us one short.

“
Where’s Sean?”

Austin and Chase exchanged exasperated looks.

“
Helping the girls of course.  He said he needed to help Mel’ get ready.”

That didn’t sit right with me, so I looked at Anton who was busy fumbling with his cufflinks.

“
Doesn’t that bother you Anton?  Some guy is next door helping your future wife get dressed!”

He looked at me and rolled his eyes.

“
I haven’t seen the dress, but I know it’s strapless.  She has to wear a corset with it.  Have you seen the buttons and hooks on a corset?  They’ll need muscle to get her into that thing.  If it were one of you guys, I’d have to rip your lips off and stuff them up your ass.  They’ll need Sean.”

I could not digest this information.  I hazarded a glance at Deacon who was smirking.  Then he mouthed, “Five hundred dollars”, and I narrowed my eyes.

“
You’re telling me that you’re okay with Sean seeing Melody practically naked.

Anton was slipping into his suit coat and checking himself out in the mirror.

“
He helps runway models dress for a living Pierce.  She hasn’t got anything he hasn’t seen before.  I’d be more uncomfortable if he were helping me get dressed.  You realize he’s gay, right?”

I still couldn’t get my head wrapped around it.

“
You don’t think he’s seen Ayla naked, do you?”

Austin started laughing out loud and Chase joined in.  I failed to see the humor.

“
What?  He’s a good looking man!”

Deacon was leaning against the wall with his arms folded.

“
Strange that you would notice that Pierce.  Something you’d like to share?”

My expression gave me away and they all started laughing.

“
Oh piss off the lot of you!  I don’t care if he’s wearing pink underwear and mascara, I don’t want another man seeing Ayla naked!”

Austin slapped my back in jest.

“
That boat has sailed my friend.  You do know Ayla was a stripper once, right?”

Thank god the bed was behind me or I’d have hit the floor.

“
She was a what?”

Chase slapped Austin on the back of the head but his eyes were twinkling.

“
Quit teasing him Austin, look at him.  You’ve fried his circuits.”

I looked around and all of them were sharing a joke at my expense.  I glared at Austin who didn’t seem the least bit intimidated.

“
That’s a horrible thing to say about your own sister.  Have you no shame?”

“
Nope.  She would’ve pissed herself laughing if she’d heard that and you know it.  I can’t believe you fell for it!  Ayla?  Our Ayla?  She gets embarrassed if she’s seen in her bathing suit Pierce!  Lighten up!  Seriously man, this is supposed to be a festive occasion!”

I checked my watch and stood, pulling down the sleeves of my jacket.

“
I’m going to watch my brother get married by Elvis.  Probably to some tacky song while his bride holds plastic flowers.  Pardon me if I feel like I’m a bit player in a ‘B’ movie.”

Anton stood in front of me, deathly quiet.

“
Don’t knock the King Pierce.  Just...just...don’t.”

I swear I would’ve laughed myself if he hadn’t seemed so serious.  I nodded politely and we followed each other out the door.

The plan was simple.  That was the problem.  We were scheduled to arrive at four o’clock.  The girls plus Sean would take one limo, Anton and the rest of us would take another.  The chapel was half a mile off the strip and as we pulled up, I had to admit it was nice.  Simple, but tasteful.  I had hopes.

We arrived first and went in to shake hands with the clerk that stood behind a counter.  Pictures of other weddings hung on the wall behind her and the people in the pictures looked happy.  A few had Elvis and even he looked happy.  So far, so good.

The woman, (named Elsa) smiled and greeted us formally.  She ran through our part of the ceremony and the expectations.  We all nodded in understanding and she ushered us into another room.  There were upholstered folding chairs and a man in a suit that greeted us.  Anton, Deacon, and I were approached and he asked for the license.

I’m new to this, but even I know you need a license to get married.  Anton froze.  Luckily for him, I watched him put his license down on top of ours when he came into my hotel suite to finish getting dressed.  Knowing my brother and his ability to fuck up making toast, I grabbed them and put them into my inner suit pocket.  He was lucky to have me and I’d remind him later.

I pulled out the license and didn’t notice that it was folded into ours.  Admittedly, I was nervous.  I was about to stand before Elvis in a chapel in Vegas.  There were other things on my mind at that moment.  Okay?

The man in charge looked puzzled, but he took it in stride and excused himself.  We took our seats and waited to be called.

Ten minutes later, he came for us and we followed him into the ante room of the chapel.  We lined up in front of Elvis (he was impressive, I have to admit it), and we introduced ourselves.  He didn’t, so we simply called him Elvis.  It seemed fitting.  Love Me Tender began to play and the chapel doors opened up.  Dorothy began her walk and she looked lovely.  Her dress was also silver, but it flowed softly over her bump and ended several inches below her knees.  Her hair was up and she was smiling.  Her flowers were real and I began to have hope.  She took her spot as Ayla began her walk.

I couldn’t take my eyes off of her.  There should have been a halo crowning her head, she looked that angelic.  Her red hair was down in soft waves and she walked with confidence, a smile barely ghosting her lips.  The white roses she carried completed the illusion and she took my breath from me.  I watched her take her spot next to Dorothy and saw nothing else.

It turns out there WAS nothing else.  All eyes were on the door, but Melody was nowhere to be seen.  A nervous Elsa stood at the back of the room wringing her hands, trying to get Elvis’ attention.  He was ogling Ayla and I shot him a dirty look.  Once the song was over, it was obvious we were all present minus two.

Sean was also missing in action.

Anton started down the aisle to get to the bottom of it, and we all held our ground looking at one another.  Elvis never missed a beat.

“
Looks like the Bride is All Shook Up.  Uh uh-huh.”

Not funny.  Well it was, but no one was laughing.  Then he pulled out a piece of paper.

“
Which one of you couples is Pierce and Ayla?”

Confused yet curious, we both stepped forward.

“
Okay, let’s do this.  By the time we’re done, maybe the other groom will have found his bride.  Ready?”

“
Whoa.  What?”

Ayla was looking at me and I was looking at her.  We were both in shock.  Elvis continued as if it were another day at the races.  I don’t think he even took a breath.

“
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this teddy bear to his latest flame.  Pierce, does Ayla rock your world?”

“
Well yeah.  But...”

“
Ayla?  Do you promise to keep Pierce as your teddy bear until death do you part?”

“
Of course, but...”

“
Do y’all have rings?”

We were in possession of Anton and Melody’s rings so we held them up.

“
Perfect.  Pierce, repeat after me.  Ayla, I can’t help falling in love with you and I promise I’ll love you forever.”

I looked at Ayla and grinned.  If you can’t get out of it folks, get into it.

“
Ayla, baby I can’t help falling in love with you and I promise I’ll love you forever.”

I slipped the ring onto her finger and she stared at it until Elvis broke the spell.

“
Ayla?  Repeat after me.  Pierce, you’re my hunk of burning love and that love will burn within me forever.”

Oh I liked that.  That was a nice touch.

“
Pierce, you’re my hunk of burning love and that love will burn within me forever.”

I watched her slide Anton’s ring onto my finger.  Then Elvis clapped his hands once and swiveled his hips before he put one arm around each of us.

“
By the power vested in me from the great state of Nevada, I now pronounce you husband and wife.  Kiss your baby Pierce.”

I did just that and then Elvis addressed everyone else.

“
Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs. Pierce Sloan!”

I shook the man’s hand and he kissed Ayla on the cheek.  As she turned to retrieve her bouquet from Dorothy, I looked into the face of a shocked Deacon.

“
I’ll take the five hundred in cash big brother.”

He ran his hand through his hair, then linked his wife’s hand around his elbow.

And THAT ladies and gents is now the only fond memory I have of Las Vegas.  That, and the killer picture of Ayla and I with Elvis.

I am now a married man.

Ayla and I held hands all the way back to the Bellagio.  There was still no sign of Melody or Sean, and now we could add Anton to that list.  Remember that paranoid feeling I had on the plane?  It was working on me overtime now.  Ayla could sense it and she kept stroking my arm as if to comfort me.  I turned and kissed her beneath her ear and she smiled.

“
We got married Pierce.”

“
Yes we did.  Any regrets?”

“
I don’t think so.  It all happened so fast.  I know you wanted a different kind of wedding and maybe one a little further down the line.  Do you have regrets?”

I kissed her before rubbing my nose alongside hers.

“
Are you kidding?  I’m your hunk of burnin’ love baby.  I’ve got you now.”

“
Hmm...playful Pierce.  I think I like playful Pierce.”

“
Yeah?”

“
Yeah.  I’m worried though.”

I looked straight into the eyes of my brother who was watching us closely.

“
Me too baby.”

Dorothy was clenching his hand tightly and I knew Deacon had multiple concerns all playing at once.  He was worried about Dorothy.  She was six months pregnant and she didn’t need this stress.  He was worried about Melody, because it wasn’t like her to disappear without a word ten minutes before her wedding.  He was worried about Sean, because wherever Melody was, Sean was probably with her as collateral damage.  Then there was Anton.  If he got into trouble, it would mean publicity and we were nowhere near the people we needed to play it down.

We stayed silent until the limos delivered us back to our hotel.  No one gave us a second glance as we entered the elevator and then shot up to our floor.  Once we got out and knew for certain we were alone, we flew into action.

Deacon settled Dorothy in with Ayla and Austin, who promised to call him if anything seemed wrong.  Then he and I went across the hall and knocked on Anton’s door.  Imagine our surprise when he opened it with his cell phone pressed against his ear.