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  “Jesse.” Abby’s voice trembled once she managed to make the call. “I’m ready.”

  “Me too, Abby my love. I’m at the elevator. Come out and we’ll go.”

  Abby walked slowly down the corridor. She was shaking. What if she was wrong about the dress? What if Earl had been right? What if she did look like a giant gumdrop and Jesse laughed at her? When she turned the corner, she stopped and waited, not raising her eyes from the carpet.

  “My gods,” Jesse whispered. “You’re beautiful.” He stood motionless as if afraid any movement would break the spell.

  Abby finally met his gaze. What she saw there made her heart race. She let the warmth of his expression surround her. The affection filled her senses. His desire excited her. His sincerity chased all the doubts from her mind. His happiness was contagious as she felt her lips curve into an answering smile.

  He extended his hand, offering her the single white tulip he held. “I didn’t know what color you chose so I thought this would go with anything.”

  “Thank you,” she whispered as she took in the suit that looked as if it had been tailor-made for him. “You look wonderful.”

  “No, I look like a guy in a nice suit. You, on the other hand, are a vision,” he spoke quietly as he brought her hand to his lips. “I’ll never forget this moment. Thank you for giving it to me.”

  “I, uh…” Her mind refused to function as the heat of his gaze intensified.

  Jesse stepped back, drawing her with him. “Please sit for just a minute.” He urged her into the chair where he had waited.

  When he dropped to one knee in front of her, Abby gasped. “What are you doing?”

  “Well,” he began, apparently unconcerned that the elevator might open and they’d have witnesses. “While you were shopping, I picked up more than just these clothes.” He reached into his jacket pocket and he claimed her left hand. “Since we decided to keep this to ourselves for a bit, I couldn’t get you a traditional engagement ring. But it didn’t feel right not giving you any token of my affection.” He slipped a ring on her finger. “I thought this was pretty.” He held her hand so she could see the peridot and diamond birthstone ring. “I love you, Abby.”

  “Oh, Jesse.” She was stunned. “You didn’t have to… I never expected…”

  He kissed her hand again. “I wanted to. Do you like it? Will you make me a very happy man and wear it?”

  “It’s beautiful,” she whispered with tears shining in her eyes. “It’s perfect. I love it. I can’t believe you did this.”

  “Why not? I’m afraid I’m being selfish again. I wanted you to have something tangible you could see anytime you needed a reminder that you’re not alone anymore. If you ever begin to have doubts that fate wants you and me to stick together all you have to do is touch this ring and know how right it is that we’re joined.”

  “I don’t have anything for you.” Abby frowned.

  “Sure you do. You’re giving me you and I consider that to be an incredibly special gift. You’re marrying me and accepting me as part of your life. You’re committing yourself to share mine. What more could I ever want?”

  Abby’s heart was pounding as she held his gaze. She couldn’t hold back the flood of emotions. “I’m all yours, Jesse. Forever if you want.”

  “Now this moment really is perfect.” His hands framed her face as he kissed her. “Let’s go get hitched.” He held out his hand and waited while she rose and slipped her hand into his grasp.

  “Yes, let’s go get hitched,” Abby repeated as his hand tightened around hers.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Abby leaned across the console to claim another kiss. They were parked in the garage beneath city hall and had been married for a total of eight minutes.

  Jesse’s senses were reeling as she turned up the heat. She was driving him wild with the way her tongue danced with his. He was in serious danger of forgetting his good intentions and going straight back to the hotel without bothering to meet Frank at Harry’s restaurant as planned. His body was screaming for him to give in to the desire that surged for hers. And the way she was kissing him wasn’t doing one bit to strengthen his resolve. When Abby’s hand covered the bulge in his crotch, he groaned. His hips shifted forward on their own, pressing more firmly against her.

  “Hold on, Ab.” He fought for control as her fingers unbuckled his belt.

  “No,” she replied, finding his zipper.

  Jesse managed to tear himself away from her mouth as he tried to stop her. “This isn’t really a good place…”

  Abby moved back just far enough so she could look directly at him. “It’s the perfect place for what I have in mind,” she declared as she lowered his zipper. “It’s deserted. The windows are tinted. We’re in a corner, away from any other cars so even if someone does come they won’t walk over here. You said we need to celebrate. You said I needed to meet Harry. But you also said I could do anything I wanted to do with you and that I shouldn’t hold back.”

  “I know but this isn’t exactly what I meant,” Jesse protested as her hand slipped into his pants, leaving only the soft cotton of his boxer briefs between them.

  “I understand that. Really I do. This morning, you put a lot of effort into erasing Earl from our future. For the last five years he made me feel like a cheap tramp for admitting I liked the feel of a hard shaft in my mouth. For wanting to make it even harder by running my tongue all over it. For needing to relax my throat so I could draw it all the way in. For enjoying the taste of the first drops of pre-cum that spilled from the tip.”

  “Gods, Abby, don’t,” he pleaded as she tried to free his erection.

  “Don’t you see, Jesse? You wiped away Earl’s touch with yours. I need to break free from his hold on my mind by doing this. I need to know you won’t reject me because I want to make you explode with my mouth.” Her voice was filled with desperation. “I need you to ask me to make you come. I need you to ask me to open my mouth for you. I need you to pretend you enjoy this. That you don’t think I’m a pervert. That you don’t mind if I do this once in a while.”

  “Fuck,” Jesse swore as he raised his hips and slid his pants and shorts out of her way. “Pretend, precious? Pretend!” He pushed the seat all the way back and spread his thighs. “Do I look like I’m pretending? You have me so hard just by talking about it. I know I won’t last long so don’t be surprised.” He pulled her toward him and kissed her thoroughly, guiding her hand over his erection. “Damn it, woman! You want me, you got me. Lean over here and get that mouth ready. Lick me with that hot tongue of yours. Suck me, Abby. Suck me and make me come. Make love to me with those soft lips of yours until I shoot. Make me yours, Abby. I need you to take me and make me yours.”

  His encouragement made her heart swell. He knew she wanted him to talk just the way he was. Before dropping her face to his lap, she kissed his cheek. “Thank you,” she whispered as her hand circled him.

  Abby inhaled deeply as she kissed the tip of Jesse’s shaft. He was all man and all hers. He was even bigger than he’d seemed before. And he was her husband.

  “Come on, outlaw wife. Get that mouth busy,” Jesse urged, resting his head back against the seat.

  Abby’s tongue licked his length. She held him steady as she twirled it beneath the head. She flicked the tip and was rewarded with the first taste of him. Jesse groaned when she covered him with her lips. His hips lifted as she inched him deeper into the wet heat of her mouth.

  “Mm,” she hummed around him, stroking with her tongue as she moved over him.

  “Oh gods,” he panted, his hands finding her head, urging her onward even as he kept the pressure light. He seemed to want his fingers in her hair while letting her know she still had the choice to stop if she chose to. “Oh yeah,” Jesse moaned as her throat muscles relaxed, drawing him entirely within her mouth.

  Abby loved the noises he was making. Jesse sounded raw as his hips lifted in response to the rhythm she set. When she felt his ball
s constrict, she eased the suction, pulling him back from the edge. She was enjoying this too much to let it end just yet. When he didn’t relax, Abby replaced her mouth with her hand, holding him but not stroking as her tongue toyed with his balls. She drew first one then the other between her lips, lavishing attention with her tongue as she did.

  “Holy shit,” Jesse exclaimed. “Your mouth is so fucking hot.”

  “Mm,” Abby hummed some more as she peeked at his face, seeing the pure pleasure he was feeling.

  After what must have felt like a lifetime but was probably just mere minutes, he stroked her hair. “Come on, Abs. Swallow me again. Let me slip down your throat while that sexy tongue of yours works its magic. I need to come so bad I could scream. I’m in pain here. I gotta come and I want you to taste every drop of it.”

  In response, Abby licked her way from his balls to the tip of his shaft. This time she sucked hard from the instant her lips sealed around his cock. Jesse was pounding up into her mouth while she urged him to lose control. When she felt the first twitch along his shaft, she knew he was close. Although she could have kept him at the back of throat without gagging, she wanted to taste him this first time so she slid so just the head remained in her mouth. The pressure of her tongue finally pushed him to the point of no return. He exploded, filling her mouth with his hot cum. After the contractions stopped, Abby cleaned his shaft thoroughly before raising her head.

  Jesse must have sensed that she was waiting for him to say something. “Mrs. Monroe, that was, without a doubt, the absolute best blowjob in the world.”

  Abby dropped her eyes at his praise, suddenly embarrassed by her behavior. “Thanks. Glad you liked it.”

  “Liked it? I loved it! You, Abby my love, are a goddess. A magician. A hot, lusty babe. A passionate woman who for some cosmic reason just became my wife. I’m so damn lucky. I can’t believe you’re mine and I get to have you do that again some time.”

  “You really liked it?” She peeked at him.

  “Look at me. Do I look like a guy who didn’t just share an intensely incredible sexual experience with his brand-new hot wife? You weren’t kidding when you said you enjoyed doing that. Hell, just thinking about it is making me hard again.”

  Abby covered him with her hand, feeling the truth of his statement. “Ooh,” she purred. “I’m going to love having a husband who recovers so quickly. Can I do it again?”

  “Not until you kiss me senseless first,” Jesse stated before he reclaimed her mouth.

  They lost track of time as the kiss continued. Abby’s hand stroked him as her mouth seduced him. When he was fully aroused, she broke away from his lips, giving him a wicked grin as she returned to his lap.

  Half an hour later, Jesse was slumped in his seat while Abby licked her lips. “You can’t be real,” he declared. “I must have died and gone to heaven. You’re really an angel, aren’t you?”

  “No.” She giggled, watching him tuck his penis back into his pants. “Thank you.”

  “Entirely my pleasure, I assure you,” Jesse caught her before she straightened in her seat. “Abby, promise me something.”

  “What?”

  “That you will never, ever hesitate if you feel the need to do that again. I mean it. Any time. Any place. Doesn’t matter. If you’re feeling inspired, I will find us a moment of privacy no matter what may be going on around us.”

  She was laughing. “Okay, Jesse. You have my word. I promise to tell you whenever I want to suck your cock, even if we are in the most inappropriate place.”

  “Thank you.” He tried to sound serious as he kissed her lightly. “Ready to go?”

  “I guess.” Abby fastened her seat belt as he left the parking garage. “Hey, Jesse?”

  “Hmm?” He squeezed the hand he refused to release.

  “I want to suck your cock now.”

  “Oh gods.” He groaned. “You’re going to wear me out before we manage to make love but, if that’ll make you happy…” He started to pull off the street.

  “Wait, I’m teasing.” She giggled. “Well, not really but I think I can control myself for an hour or two.”

  “Up to you.” He shrugged innocently, guiding her hand to his crotch. “But I seem to be almost ready to accommodate you if you change your mind.”

  “Wow.” Abby’s hand roamed over his growing bulge. “You really don’t mind me touching you like this?”

  “Hell, no! Let me state again that I am not Earl. He is an idiotic fool for insisting you subdue your instincts. I’ve never been very inhibited. In fact, you’ll need to tell me if I cross a line at any point. I love your touch already. I’m not embarrassed if the whole world notices my physical reaction to you. If you are, I can try to hide it. But if you’re not, I certainly won’t complain to any affection you want to show me. I know some guys don’t like public displays of any kind and even I draw the line at totally naked sex at centerfield during the Super Bowl but a caress or a squeeze when you feel like it will never be unwelcome. You’ll have to let me know if I ever need to keep my hands to myself.”

  It was Abby’s turn to groan. Jesse was so open. He was giving her permission to be as affectionate as she always wanted to be. He had to be too good to be true. “I think I’m in trouble here.”

  “Why?” Jesse misunderstood.

  “I think you’re more than I can handle. I don’t know how to do this.”

  “Gee and I was just thinking I wouldn’t be able to handle you. Stick with me and we’ll be fine. I’m sure that we’ll figure it out.”

  Abby leaned in to the seat and watched the man who was now her husband. She was so aroused by what he had just let her do. How was she ever going to make it through dinner? She only hoped no one else would be able to see the way he affected her. But why should she worry about that? If Jesse wasn’t shy about walking around with half a hard-on, why should it bother her if strangers could tell that she was excited by him too?

  Chapter Nineteen

  The couple entered through the kitchen as instructed when Harry heard they’d be joining Frank for dinner. When Milo spied them and bounded toward them, Jesse couldn’t hide his grin at his costume. He was wearing a silver jumpsuit that did nothing to conceal the body underneath. Jesse was forced to admit Milo was in decent shape. Perhaps he and Frank could share workout tips during their night out. That thought made Jesse chuckle. Frank was being a good sport about the whole thing but Milo’s clothes were a bit much. He couldn’t wait to see what Petey had donned for the occasion.

  “I’m so glad you’re feeling better,” Harry greeted Abby. “My apologies again for my cousin’s lack of sense in the presence of a good-looking man.”

  “Don’t mention it. Please. It worked out okay. And I can’t blame Milo for having his head turned. Jesse is something.” Abby smiled at Jesse. “If Milo hadn’t gotten us mixed up, Jesse and I wouldn’t have met and Frank wouldn’t be here to entertain them for the evening.”

  “I can’t begin to imagine how he let himself get talked into this,” Harry stated as Milo fluttered around Jesse. “He’s my cousin and I adore him but he can be a little hard to take sometimes. He and Petey are two peas in a pod so together, they can be a handful.”

  “Can I tell him, Jesse?” Abby asked. At his nod, she continued, “Ever heard of SL Benton and her Let Me Tell You… column?”

  “Sure. She has a great way with a story.”

  “Well, Frank is her husband. I think he agreed to go just so he could tell her about it. You should have heard her on the phone last night.”

  “I can’t wait to read it!” Harry chuckled. “Of course, if it’s at all flattering, there won’t be any living with them.”

  “Then you better get prepared. I don’t remember her ever being mean. Even if her column is negative about tonight, I doubt that she’ll be unkind to the two of them. They’ll probably wind up stars.” Abby giggled at the thought. “Are you making mousse?” She indicated the bowls in front of her.

  “Yes, f
or tomorrow. I always make it a day ahead.”

  Abby surveyed the ingredients on the table. “May I?”

  “Please. But don’t feel you have to. You’re here to enjoy a pleasant meal, not prepare something. I’d hate for you to splash anything on that lovely dress of yours.”

  “It’s fine. I used to make this all the time for Edgar.” Abby slipped the apron Harry offered over her clothes as he told her what he had already put in the bowl. “Can I make this in a non-traditional way?”

  “Help yourself.” They watched as she searched his spices, obviously hunting for something.

  Five minutes later, Abby offered Harry a taste on a spoon. His expression was full of wonder when the combination of flavors connected with his tongue. “Oh my goodness.” He took another taste. “This is divine. I never considered adding cinnamon and cayenne to chocolate mousse.”

  “Not everybody likes it.”

  “Which is precisely why I offer a variety of selections. Mind if I ask where the recipe comes from?”

  “It’s mine. Edgar wanted to try new things and told me to see what I could come up with for him. He was working on a seasoned pork tenderloin and I thought this would complement it.”

  While they were busy, Frank had slipped into the kitchen. He and Jesse watched with fascination at Abby’s transformation. She was totally different as she spoke with Harry. Here, she was full of confidence and eager to express her opinions. She was entirely at ease and showed none of the hesitation she did away from the kitchen.

  “Jess,” Frank whispered so he wouldn’t interrupt their discussion. “I think you’re in big trouble.”

  “More than I imagined,” Jesse agreed.

  “She’s amazing.”

  “Yeah.”

  “I wish Shelby were here. She’d have her tongue in knots rattling off all the questions she’d have.”