The Bottom Line (24 page)

“Now what?” The teasing lilt of his voice made her smile.

“Now we get naked.” She jerked her shirt over her head and tossed it to the floor. Then she unzipped her jeans and shoved them down her legs before kicking them aside.

“Keep going.”

“Your turn,” she insisted.

His shirt and pants were gone before she could pull off her socks.

“Get that underwear off, too,” Mallory ordered as she shed her bra and panties. “Now.”

Naked, they stood on opposite sides of the bed. The tension and anticipation added to her nearly overwhelming desire. “Ready?”

Ben didn’t reply. Instead, he crawled onto the mattress and knelt in the middle, holding his arms open.

Mallory joined him, moaning as he wrapped his arms around her and flesh touched flesh. Although they’d been apart a mere two weeks, she was starved for the feel of him. Their lips met in a kiss that began gentle and loving and quickly turned carnal. Her tongue thrust past his lips, stroking his tongue, tracing the line of his teeth, teasing until he grasped it between his teeth and gently tugged.

Arm around her shoulder, he eased her down on the mattress, letting her stretch out so he could blanket her. The crisp hair on his chest tickled her nipples, making the real one harden. She rubbed her toes against the hair on his legs, reacquainting herself with the wonderland of his body. His cock rested against her core, sending heat racing through her, fanning from her center to the rest of her body.

Ben braced himself up on his forearms and stared down at her. “I missed this.”

Mallory scraped her fingernails gently over his shoulders. “Me, too.”

“I love you, Mal.”

“I love you, too, Ben. Make love to me.
Now.
”

He responded to her fierce command by kissing her hard and gyrating his hips to rub his erection against her. Yet he avoided every attempt she made to put her hand between them and guide him to her entrance.

“
Now
, Ben, please.”

“Patience is a virtue.” He kissed his way down her throat. Nibbling kisses traced a path across her collarbones to her chest and over her breasts. He stopped long enough to draw her right nipple deep into his mouth before moving lower.

Lost in a sensual haze, ready to receive his intimate kiss, Mallory put her hands on his head. Instead of being able to tangle her fingers through his thick hair, she found rough stubble—a reminder of his willingness to love her unconditionally. Her smile changed to a whimper when Ben reached her core. He tortured her with his tongue and lips until he gently took her sensitive nub between his teeth.

She lost herself in the storm he sent through her body. Heat and need and love, none of which could be contained. Too quickly for her to savor his attention as she wanted, her body knotted in tension.

“Ben! Please…”

He ignored her plea and sent her tumbling into an orgasm that made her gasp and buck beneath him. He didn’t let up until he’d wrung every last spasm from her body.

As she slowly came back to earth, his face loomed above hers, a cocky smile on his lips. “Liked that, huh?”

How easy it would be to smack his ego and tell him it was merely
okay
. But after the way she’d sung out, he’d have known she was lying if she claimed nonchalance. “
Loved
that. But…”

“But what?”

“Something’s… missing.”

He quirked an eyebrow.

“You weren’t there with me.”

She didn’t give him time to ponder her statement. She sat up, pushed his back to the mattress, and kissed each of his nipples.

“Mal, you don’t have to—”

Mallory gave his stomach a playful bite, soothing it with a lick. One kiss to his navel as she wrapped her fingers around his erection. Ben hissed, fisting his hands in the quilt.

Having power over such a strong, handsome body inflamed her every bit as much as his intimate kiss. With a smile, she took his cock deeply into her mouth, whirling her tongue around the crown while savoring his rumbling growl. Just to add the coup de grâce, she cupped his soft sac in her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

Sitting up, he clenched her upper arms and dragged her up his body.

She tried to protest. “I wanted to—”

Ben flipped her to her back and separated her thighs with his knees. “I want
this
.” Ben grasped his cock and rubbed it between her feminine folds. “Now, baby?”

“Oh yes…”

When he plunged inside, her body sprang back to life. Mallory wrapped her legs around his hips, letting him sweep her away with every thrust. There was no teasing, no easy pace. This was a rough race to fulfillment.

Gripping his shoulders, she matched him, raising her hips each time he pushed back inside her until her body exploded in another shower of warmth. He was a few heartbeats behind, growling as he buried himself deep inside her.

“You look amazing,” Ben murmured as he took Mallory’s hand, cradling it in both of his. Although he wasn’t nervous, he worried she might be—after all, she was tying herself to him when she deserved a prince.

Too bad, because he was never letting her go.

A blush tinted her cheeks as she gave him a shy smile. “Thanks. You look like a model.”

He had to resist the urge to preen like a peacock in his black suit. His hair—and hers—had grown out in the months they’d taken to plan the wedding. The warmth of June hadn’t come fast enough to suit him. “Thanks.”

The minister began the ceremony. “Dearly beloved…”

And so it went as Ben stood with Mallory in front of their friends and family to tie the knot. He had a hard time concentrating because his gaze kept drifting back to his bride.

Her dress was a pale pink and fit her curves perfectly, the hem ending just below her knees. She’d worn her hair down. In a few more months, it would touch her shoulders. She was crowned with a small wreath of pink and white flowers. She was everything a bride should be. Beautiful. Happy.

His.

When prompted, he recited his vows in a clear, strong voice, stressing the “in sickness and in health” promise, although he doubted it was necessary. She had to know by now that he would never leave her side so long as he could draw air into his lungs. While the future could be a scary thing, Ben refused to wallow in any worry. Today was a day of joy.

Amber winked at him. She stood behind Juliana, Mallory’s maid of honor, but they didn’t wear matching bridesmaids’ dresses. In her typical fashion, Mallory had wanted to keep everything relaxed. She’d helped Amber find a new dress, but it was appropriate for any occasion. The wedding was small, tasteful, and exactly what they both wanted.

Ben and Robert had helped the women decorate the Bayside Church gathering area the day before. Mallory, Amber, and the Ladies had turned the large room into a festive haven since both the wedding and reception would happen there. The church hall that had been the place of their first dance was awash in candlelight, crepe paper streamers, and flowers—the perfect site for a marriage to begin.

“And now, by the powers vested in me by the state of Illinois, I pronounce you husband and wife,” the minister said with a nod, closing his little black book. “You may kiss the bride.”

Ben didn’t give her a chance to react before tugging her into his arms. Then he kissed her, long and lovingly, until the minister loudly cleared his throat.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Carpenter.”

Amber let out a whoop and hurried to them, trying to hug them both at the same time. Her enthusiasm made his heart sing. He kissed the top of her head, glad life was looking up as much for his daughter as it was for him. Sure, Theresa would always be a raspberry seed in Amber’s teeth, but perhaps with Mallory’s guidance, mother and daughter might find a way to make a relationship work. Amber also had a good woman in her life now who loved her and would help her through the changes life tossed her way.

Juliana punched Ben in the upper arm, hard enough to make him wince. “You better be good to her.”

“I will.”

Danielle and Bethany had moved forward to stand at her side, the three of them giving him a hard stare.

Jules refused to drop the subject. “If you aren’t good to her—”

He held up a hand to stop her. “I’ll treat her like fine crystal. If I fuck up, I give the three of you permission pound me into the mud.”

“Me, too,” Amber added.

As if he’d ever want to incite that much feminine hostility. “Good thing I love her so much, then, isn’t it?”

“Will you all stop?” Mallory groaned. “I’m a big girl. I can handle myself. He treats me bad, I’ll make him regret it. Trust me, I have ways of making him pay that you all don’t.” She rose on tiptoe to brush a kiss over his mouth.

“That’s my girl,” Ben said. “If you’ll excuse us, ladies…” He dragged her away to greet more of their guests.

* * *

The time passed in a whirlwind, and Mallory wanted things to slow down. The wedding seemed to whiz by in a heartbeat, and the reception was slipping away every bit as quickly. The guests had been fed. The cake had been cut. All that remained was dancing and socializing until it was time to leave.

Ben’s wedding gift to her had been to plan the honeymoon. As soon as the reception ended, he’d be taking her to Chicago. They’d spend their wedding night at the Drake, and in the morning, they’d be flying out of O’Hare to head to Aruba—her first trip to the Caribbean.

Thanks to Ben, she wouldn’t worry about her appearance anymore. He’d given her the gift of confidence. She could wear a swimsuit, a new yellow bikini, in public. While the idea of sitting on a beach and sipping margaritas with her new husband was appealing, she wasn’t in a hurry. This wedding had been everything she’d hoped for, near to perfect in her mind. They’d made their relationship permanent in the same place it had begun and in the same way—she was in Ben’s arms, dancing in their rather awkward style.

The DJ’s voice boomed through the sound system. “It’s time for the bride to throw the bouquet!”

A squeal rose from the ladies as they scrambled, quickly lining up on one side of the parquet dance floor. Several had kicked off their shoes and were staking out territory with not-so-gentle pushes and glares.

Ben led Mallory to the other side of the dance floor. Amber scurried to the bridal table to grab the bouquet and brought it back to Mallory.

“Thanks, honey,” Mallory said, taking the flowers from her new stepdaughter.

“You better wait ’til I get over there to throw it,” Amber replied, hurrying away.

Ben and the men stood to the side along with the women who’d eschewed the tradition. When Mallory saw Juliana plant herself in the middle of the men, she shook her head and pointed to the group of females elbowing each other for a great place to snatch the prize.

Juliana shrugged.

“Jules… get over there.”

With a dramatic sigh, she dragged herself over to the women waiting on the toss.

Mallory turned her back to the women, gave Ben a wink, and then waited for the DJ to count down from three.

Then she tossed it hard before whirling to watch the results.

Even though Jules had taken a place on the farthest side of the women, the bouquet landed right in her hands. She stared at the flowers, frowned then glanced up at Mallory while the rest of the women dispersed in a chorus of laughter and a few complaints about the toss being rigged.

“It’s fate,” Mallory insisted when Jules came to her. “You’re next to get married.”

Danielle joined them. “That’s how it works, Jules.”

Bethany nodded as she came over to the group.

“It’s ridiculous,” Jules retorted. “And hell will freeze over before I ever marry again.”

When Mallory thought about all her friends—these Ladies Who Lunch—had done for her, fresh tears formed in her eyes. “Thank you all for making this wedding so beautiful.”

“Stop,” Beth ordered, dabbing the corners of Mallory’s eyes with her embroidered handkerchief. “If you start crying, I will, too.”

“Me, three,” Danielle added, sniffing hard.

“I love you all so much,” Mallory said. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without all of you.”

The four women gathered together in a group hug that had to look like a football huddle to the other guests. When they broke apart, even Jules had tears in her eyes.

Then her gaze followed a waiter who’d just passed them with a tray of full champagne glasses. “I don’t know about you, ladies, but I need a drink.” She hurried after him.

“Right behind you, Jules,” Danielle said and she and Beth scurried away.

The DJ waved to Mallory and pointed to his watch.

She shot him a curt nod.

“It’s that time everyone,” he said into the microphone. “The bride and groom will dance the last dance.”

Before she could move, Ben came to her and held out his hand. “I don’t suppose you’d… you know… want to dance?”

Hearing the same words he’d used when he’d first approached her filled her heart with joy. “You’re asking
me
?”

He took her hand and pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her as he backpedaled until they were on the dance floor. “You and no one else, Mallory Carpenter.”

She hummed as she wrapped her arms around his waist. “Mallory Carpenter. I like the sound of that.”

“I sure as hell hope so because you’re stuck with it now. You’re stuck with
me
, too.”

“Glad to hear it.”

As they danced, she laid her cheek against his chest and sighed in happiness. What would her world have been like if Ben Carpenter hadn’t come to her rescue?

Sad and lonely
—and she’d still be living in a house that was falling down around her while her heart was in just as bad a state of disrepair. She lifted her head to smile at him. “You know something, Ben?”

“No, what?”

“I remember exactly what you promised me the day we met.”

“And what was that, baby?” He nuzzled her neck.

“You told me the bottom line was that you’d fix things for me.”

Ben eased his head up, letting his gaze capture hers. “What exactly did I fix?”

“Everything.”

He arched a dark eyebrow.

“Well, just look at my house—
our
house. It’s beautiful now—all because of you.”

“You helped a lot, and you know it. Plus you have really good taste. In everything.” He gave her an exaggerated growl and wiggled his eyebrows.

She giggled. “You fixed something else, you know.”

His dark eyes were so full of love, she found tears forming in her own. “What else did I fix?”

Mallory stopped dancing and cupped his face between her palms. “You fixed
me
, Ben. My heart was just like my house—a broken-down mess. But you worked your magic on it.”

“Did you ever think that street runs two ways?” he asked.

“What do you mean?”

“While I was helping you, you worked a little of your own magic on my life… and Amber’s.”

Her cheeks flushed warm as a tear spilled from the corner of her eye.

Ben kissed it away. “The bottom line is that we’re both damn lucky to have found each other.”

“And now that we’re married, you will be a lot easier to afford.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that. I’m kinda expensive.”

Mallory tossed him a sultry smile. “Trust me. You’re worth every penny.”