Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
I keep my eyes locked on her. She smiles, and it’s that simple gesture that has a series of events flashing in my eyes. Alyssa dressed in white, walking toward me. Alyssa growing round with our babies. Falling asleep with her curled up next to me every night and waking up the same way every morning.
I swallow hard.
I’m in love with my best friend.
That internal confession almost knocks the air from my lungs. I inhale deeply and slowly exhale as she reaches me. Without being told, I reach out, taking her hands, and guide her to stand before me.
“You’re beautiful,” I tell her.
“Oh, he’s good.” I think it was Kennedy who whispered that, but I don’t take my eyes off Alyssa to find out.
Instead, I do what any decent groom would do on his wedding day. I bring her hands to my lips and kiss her knuckles.
“Damn.” I think that was Jade, but I can’t be sure.
“Dearly beloved,” Ramsey starts, and I tune her out after that. I can’t seem to focus on anything but Alyssa’s brown eyes and the way they’re watching me intently. There’s a question in those deep orbs, and I’m sure she thinks I’ve lost my damn mind, and maybe I have.
All I know is that the seed has been planted. Hell, it was planted years ago, but it’s just now being watered, and it’s starting to grow. I can see my life with her, not just as my best friend, but as my partner.
As my wife.
“Sterling?”
I tear my gaze from Alyssa to look at Ramsey. “Sorry.”
She gives me a knowing smile. “This is where you say ‘I do.’ We’re skipping all the other stuff.”
I clear my throat and turn back to Alyssa. “I do.” My voice is clear, and there’s a certainty in my voice that I’m positive my family doesn’t miss.
“I do,” Alyssa says when it’s her turn.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
Knowing I need to follow through, I lean in and kiss her cheek.
“Come on, Kincaid!” I hear one of my brothers call out. My head is too foggy to decipher which one. “You can do better than that.”
I open my mouth to tell them to fuck off, but then I see the way Alyssa's tongue peeks out and wets her lips. Sliding my hand around her waist, I pull her close. “They want a show.”
“Seems like it.”
“What do you think we should do, Tink?” Everything and everyone around us fades away. I’m aware of what’s about to happen and that my family is going to witness it, but the need to feel her lips against mine after all of these years is strong and overpowering.
“Who are we to deny them?” she whispers.
I lean in a little closer. “We don’t have to.” I feel like it’s important that I give her an out. More cheers from my brothers as they start to chant “Kiss” over and over again.
“They’re not going to stop until we do.”
My mouth moves closer to hers. “Last chance,” I whisper.
“Tank?”
“Yeah?”
“Kiss me already.”
No more words are needed. I close the remaining distance, and for the first time since we were kids, my lips press against hers. The last time I kissed her, we were nine years old, and it was during a game of Truth or Dare. It felt wrong, and it lasted maybe a second before we were pulling apart and wiping our mouths.
This time is different. Nothing about this kiss feels wrong. Keeping one hand around her waist, I slide the other behind her neck, angling her mouth where I want her, and kiss the breath from her lungs.
I’ve shared a lot of kisses in my lifetime, and none of them have lit my body on fire like this one. A tingle of anticipation washes over me. I can’t ever remember my heart stalling in my chest at first contact.
More cheering and whistles pull me back to the present. Slowly, even though I don’t want to, I pull out of the kiss and make sure she’s steady on her feet before releasing my hold on her and stepping back.
“Mr. and Mrs. Kincaid!” Ramsey cheers. “Thank you,” she tells us. “I know we didn’t need to do that, but it was fun.”
“Speaking of fun.” Alyssa turns to look at Palmer. “What was your surprise?”
“Oh.” Palmer rubs her hands together. “I’ll be right back.”
“I’m going to run to the restroom.” Alyssa takes off behind her and disappears into the house. Not before I caught the pink hue to her cheeks, and the sight of the rapid rise and fall of her chest, and let’s not forget to mention the way that she licked her lips, placing her fingers against them in a gentle touch.
I turn to look at my family. “Not a word. Not one single word. We got shit to figure out, and I don’t need the peanut gallery confusing us.”