Forever You're Mine (MINE #4)(41)

“I need you deeper.”

“Fuck,”

I reached back further, dragging the wetness from her * to her ass. “Yes,” she cried out above me as I dipped the tip of my middle finger inside her tight little hole. “Oh God.”

“You like that?”

“Yes.”

“You want me that deep, Cora?”

“Yes.”

“Baby.” Blood coursed through my veins at a fevered rate. I pumped my hips, thrusting in and out of her while f*cking her tight ass with my finger. Her forehead pressed against mine, our breaths mingling in the dark, lost in each other beneath the stars.

So right.

So high.

Lips…eyes…hair…touch.

Too much Not enough.

Eyes closed.

MINE.





Only the gentle are ever really strong.

~James Dean





The wedding was held at the family’s church. Noble had kept the ceremony traditional, wearing a simple vintage gown with her hair braided and twisted in romantic knots. You could see the pride shining in Titus and Ruby’s eyes as he walked his only daughter down the aisle.

I was close enough to hear the gasp Tom made when he lifted her veil, revealing his beautiful bride. My eyes and throat burned as they read their vows to one another, vows they’d written themselves, promising to love and devote their lives to each other forever.

I was seated between Cannon and his seventy-seven year old grandmother. Gran Gran, as she demandingly insisted I call her, dug into her oversized big purple bag, retrieving a silver flask with a J engraved on it. She calmly placed it in my hand, as if people bring flasks to church every single day. “Here…take a lil sip of this.”

What the hell?!

I looked at Cannon who quickly snatched the flask from my hand, tucking it into the breast pocket of his coat.

Still in shock, I blinked at her. “I love Jesus…I just drink a little.” She smiled.

“Ma!” Titus hissed over his shoulder.

Gran Gran giggled.

I somehow managed to stifle mine.

She tossed me a wink.

This woman was going to be my new best friend.

Cannon valeted the truck and escorted us inside the massive ballroom. Crystal chandeliers, crystal champagne glasses being held with Cristal bubbling in earnest from each one. The ceremony may have been small and simple, but they spared no expense with the reception. Waiters with short white coats milled about, offering hors d’oeuvres and drinks to the many distinguished guests. Orchids peppered the linen covered tables, accented with tea lights and fancy place settings.

My own imagination never conjured anything this elaborate for my own wedding. Not that I had much to compare it to. I’d only been to two. Maddie and Holden’s of course, and my friend Suzy from high school who got married in her parent’s backyard to a guy named Bubba who wore a camouflage tuxedo and requested a buckshot groom’s cake.

Not my thing either, but hey…different strokes.

My hand in his, Cannon searched for our table when he stopped dead in his tracks, causing me to bump into his back. When I caught sight of what he was staring at, I gasped. I knew who she was. I didn’t even have to ask. Because when I stepped around to Cannon’s side and released his hand, I could see it all over his pale face.

Nikki.

She hadn’t been able to make it to the ceremony. He’d been nervous all morning about seeing her again, but shortly after we arrived, Mrs. Ruby had told us Nikki would only be attending the reception. Her little boy had come down with a stomach bug overnight, so she wasn’t able to make it.

Now here she was, looking every bit as beautiful as Cannon had described her.

“Hey,” she greeted, taking a step forward. Cannon didn’t say a word. “You must be, Cora,” she offered me a hand and a warm smile.

I gave her mine.

“Ruby has told me so much about you,” she said, bringing her eyes to Cannon’s. Without a word she stepped into him and wrapped her arms around his waist. He stood frozen for half a second until his arms finally folded around her back, accepting her affectionate embrace. They held each other for a moment before she finally released him, wiping away the tears. “I hated I couldn’t bring Christopher. He’s been driving me crazy about seeing you. Ruby told me to bring him by, but I wasn’t sure you wanted to see me. You never answered any of my calls, emails. You just…disappeared.” Nikki gave me an apologetic look before meeting Cannon’s eyes once more.

He let go of a heavy sigh but continued to hold her hand. “I know. I should have called. It was just…too much. I couldn’t stay here. His memory was eating me alive.”

Pain flashed in her soft blue eyes. “Did you ever think about the effect that it would have on me? I lost him. Then I lost you. God, it’s been so hard. And Christopher…” she trailed off. “He misses his father so much.”

A part of me wanted to be jealous of their history, I am a woman after all. It’s within our DNA to be jealous when it comes to our man and a woman of his past. But how could I be? The past was theirs. I had no claim to it. The only thing I could call mine was his future.

And that was more than enough for me.

“I’m so sorry, Nik. I was selfish, I know, but I wouldn’t change a thing. If I hadn’t left…there’s no tellin’ what I would have done. My head wasn’t right. I wasn’t right.” Cannon’s eyes swung to mine. “But now I have hope. I still struggle but…it’s getting better.”