Substitute Bride Page 9

  “You can almost convince me of that.” He pulled away from her. When she protested, he brought his fingers to her sensitive nub and lightly massaged it. “Can you concentrate on what I’m saying if I do this?”

  She sighed in pleasure and closed her eyes. “Yes.” It was a half-truth but she was sure she could focus enough to get the gist of what he was saying. For sure, she didn’t want him to stop caressing her down there.

  “Okay.” Though he didn’t sound fully convinced, he continued, “I was thinking that when we graduate, we should take a trip. Maybe for a week or two.”

  She licked her lower lip. The area between her legs ached so she reached down and encouraged him to slip a couple of his fingers inside her. “That’s better.”

  “Are you even listening to me?”

  “Sure. You want to go on a trip after we graduate.”

  It must have been enough to convince him she could indeed pay attention to what he was saying while he fondled her.

  “So anyway,” he began, his breathing heavier than before, “I thought we could go to Maine.”

  It took her a moment to understand what he was saying, and when she did, she stopped his actions. “Maine?” She got up on her elbow so she could look him in the eye.

  Grinning, he started stroking her again. “Whatever happened to this?”

  She pulled his hand out of her and held it. “It can wait.”

  He laughed and kissed her.

  Groaning, she turned her head. “Kevin, come on. I’m being serious.”

  “So am I.” He wiggled his eyebrows and then kissed her neck.

  Even as her skin tingled and her body ached to have him inside her, she asked, “Do you really want to go to Maine?”

  He stopped kissing her, and though he pulled her closer to him, he didn’t fondle her anywhere that might distract her. “Yeah. Remember when we were in the fifth grade and you gave that oral report about wanting to see Maine? Well, I thought this would be a good time to do that. You know, before we have to settle down and get full-time jobs.”

  “I can’t believe you mean it!”

  “We’ll rent a little cottage along the Atlantic coast or stay at a bed and breakfast. Then we’ll walk along the shore and check out a lighthouse.”

  Pleased, she smiled at him. “You remember what I said in my report?”

  “I know. I don’t believe it either. It happened so long ago. I guess there was something special in the way you read your paper. I knew it meant a lot to you and thought maybe one day I’d take you there. Back then I wasn’t thinking we’d get married, but going there and making love certainly has its appeal.”

  “Oh, Kevin. You are so sweet. I’d love to go to Maine.”

  “How much would you love to go?” he asked as he gave her a sly grin and brought her hand down to his erection.

  She ran her hand down the length of him. “Very much.” Leaning forward, she kissed him and continued stroking him, making sure to tease the tip with her thumb.

  His hand returned to the area between her legs, and he slid his fingers into her. She moaned and deepened their kiss, her tongue mingling with his. They remained like that, side by side and stroking each other for a good couple minutes before he slipped his fingers out of her, grabbed her around the waist, and sat up with her.

  She settled her sensitive nub on his arousal and intensified their kiss. Her hands cupped the sides of his face while her hips moved up and down. When she ended their kiss, she was gasping, her body demanding she get her release.

  He moved her hips up and down his shaft. “There you go,” he whispered, his own breathing labored.

  The tension in her sensitive nub increased until she thought she couldn’t take it anymore, and then she cried out as she peaked, her body slightly jerking in response to the waves of pleasure that came crashing down on her. He lifted her by the hips and entered her.

  She let out another soft cry, loving the feel of his erection as her body clenched around it. When the last of her orgasm subsided, he placed his hands back on her hips and moved them. She took his lead and rode him, eager to give him the same experience he’d just given her. And when he found his release, she stilled and held him close. She liked it when he came inside her. It made their lovemaking feel complete. They remained in each other’s arms, satisfied and reluctant to part.

  The sudden knocking at the door, however, broke the mood, and Alex looked at Kevin. “Is someone supposed to come over?”

  “No. I didn’t order a pizza or anything.”

  Sighing, she got off of him and stood up. While she secured the blanket around herself, he went to the door and peaked out the peephole.

  “What on earth?” he asked.

  “What? Is it Tammy?” she replied, not putting it past the annoying woman to interfere with her and Kevin’s alone time.

  “No. It’s Camden.” He groaned and yelled, “Hold on!” As he passed her, he said, “The guy’s an idiot.”

  She followed him. “Just tell him we have no food and he’ll leave.”

  They reached the bedroom where he pulled out the dresser drawer and grabbed his underwear, shirt and pants. He quickly put them on and kissed her. “I’ll go see what he wants.”

  Deciding she might as well get dressed too, she put on a white t-shirt and a pair of blue shorts. After she pulled her hair back into a ponytail, she went out to the living room and watched in partial annoyance and partial humor as Camden, who had made himself at home on the couch, opened his pizza and picked up a slice.

  He took a bite of it and glanced at her and Kevin. “Help yourself. I got a large.”

  “What are you doing here?” Kevin asked.

  He swallowed his food and picked up a can of soda. “We always get together on Sundays. I figured Greg and I would be coming over here since you and Alex live here now. You know, like Alex and I would go over to your and Greg’s place before you got married.” He drank the soda and sighed. “Now that’s root beer!”

  “You can’t stay here,” Kevin said, his tone betraying the fact that he had no control over the situation and knew it.

  Camden took another large bite of his pizza slice. “Why not?”

  Alex cringed. She hated it when people talked with their mouth full.

  “Because Alex and I just got married,” Kevin said.

  “So?” Camden glanced between her and Kevin. “We’re still friends, and today’s Sunday.”

  Kevin ran his fingers through his hair and groaned.

  Holding back the urge to laugh, Alex approached Camden. “How long do you plan to stay?”

  “Alex!” Kevin protested.

  She motioned to the pizza and soda. “Well, he did bring lunch.”

  “Alex, you were always my favorite,” Camden told her.

  “I’ll get the plates,” she said.

  Kevin followed her into the kitchen. “Why are you encouraging him to stay?” he whispered.

  She took three plates down from the shelf and turned to him. “Camden’s lonely.”

  “So?”

  “Kevin, Camden’s been our friend since high school, and if it weren’t for us and Greg, he wouldn’t have any friends.”

  “Then he can hang out with Greg today.”

  “Maybe Greg’s not at the apartment. Maybe he’s doing something else.”

  “Well, that’s not my fault.”

  Making sure Camden was still sitting on the couch and watching the movie on TV, she turned back to Kevin who had a disgruntled look on his face. She put her free arm around his waist and kissed him. “Look, we won’t be ready to make love again for awhile, so what’s the harm in having him over here for a couple of hours?”

  “Hours?”

  She gave his waist a light squeeze. “Until the movie is over. Then we boot him out of here, okay?”

  He let out a low groan but nodded. “Okay.” With a heavy sigh, he added, “We just had our first marital argument and you won. I guess this means you’ll win all of the ar
guments.”

  Giggling, she gave him another kiss and patted his butt. “Yep, and the sooner you get used to that, the easier it’ll be for you.” She left the kitchen and handed Camden his plate. “Don’t spill crumbs on the floor.”

  He took the plate and smiled. “Thanks, Alex. Help yourself.”

  Kevin motioned to Camden to scoot down, and once he did, Alex moved over so that Kevin could sit next to her. She handed him a plate, which he reluctantly took, then unmuted the TV.

  “I love this movie,” Camden said as she grabbed a slice of pizza and bit into it. “I’ve seen it a dozen times. I love it when the guy shoots the shark to smithereens. I always felt it was too bad the captain of the boat died, though.”

  Kevin, who’d been reaching for his own slice of pizza, threw it back into the box. “Well, thanks a lot, Camden.”

  “What?” Camden asked, his eyes wide.

  Alex rubbed Kevin’s thigh. “Kevin hasn’t seen this movie yet, though to be fair,” she glanced at Kevin, “you weren’t exactly watching it earlier either.”

  “Yeah but now the guys are hunting the shark down,” Kevin grumbled. “This is where it gets good.” He leaned forward so he could see Camden. “And now you went and spoiled the ending for me.”

  Camden weakly laughed and shrugged. “Sorry. I thought everyone’s seen this movie. I mean, it was made in the ‘70s.”

  “Hey, at least the pizza’s good,” Alex said.

  Kevin finally picked up a slice of pizza and started eating it.

  They watched the movie for awhile, and as it was about to end, someone else knocked on the door. Camden put his soda down and went to answer it. Alex caught the look of disbelief on Kevin’s face and bit her lower lip so she wouldn’t chuckle.

  “I hope he doesn’t think he lives here,” Kevin muttered.

  Camden opened the door, and Greg came into the apartment.

  “Camden, what are you doing here?” Greg asked.

  “Funny. I was just wondering why you weren’t over here,” Camden replied. “It’s Sunday. The day we all get together to watch TV.”

  “Come on, Camden. Let’s go.” Greg grabbed his arm.

  “But this is the part where the shark almost kills the man in the cage,” Camden protested as Greg shoved him out the door.

  Kevin groaned and threw his head back on the couch.

  “I’ll keep him away,” Greg said. “You two go back to what you were doing.”

  After he shut the door, Kevin turned off the TV.

  Alex laughed. “Don’t you want to see the end? It’s almost over.”

  “Why? I already know how everything goes. The suspense is gone.” He tossed the remote back on the table.

  “You poor thing,” she said and took his hands. “Why don’t we go to bed, and I’ll give you a massage to make up for Camden interrupting us?”

  “Front or back?”

  “Both.”

  Grinning, he got up and followed her to the bedroom.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Alex reread the paragraph in her Business Law book, but no matter how hard she tried to focus, she couldn’t. She glanced around the shop where she worked and sighed. It was Wednesday, and her exam was tomorrow. Trying to study at home was pointless because even though Kevin would start out helping her, they’d end up kissing and one thing would lead to another before all thoughts of studying were forgotten. Whatever made his aunt decide on Valentine’s Day for a wedding? Didn’t it occur to her that marrying in the middle of the semester was a bad idea for a college student?

  Alex glanced at her watch. It was about time to get off work. She was in trouble. There was no way she was going to get any reading done at home. Maybe she could leave for school a couple of hours early and study in the library on campus. Slamming the book shut, she set it down on the counter and put her purse beside it.

  The bell above the door rang, so she looked up. “Hey, Nita. What’s up?”

  “I haven’t seen much of you since the wedding, so I came to see how you’re doing. Is marriage to Kevin everything you hoped it would be?”

  Alex grinned but shrugged. “It’s fine.”

  “Fine?” Nita scanned her face and laughed. “You’re looking more than fine.”

  “I’m happy. Okay?”

  “Good. You know, Kevin looked really happy when I saw him in class yesterday.”

  Alex’s face flushed with pleasure. “Did he?”

  “Yeah, he was smiling like an idiot.”

  She laughed. “Come on. I’m sure it’s not that obvious.”

  “I know a guy in love when I see one.”

  “He hasn’t told me he loves me.”

  “Not yet.”

  Alex’s heart skipped a beat as she imagined Kevin saying he loved her. She’d love to hear him say the words, but she decided to not tell her friend that.

  Nita glanced at her watch. “So, where is lover boy?”

  “He doesn’t get out of class for another hour.”

  “Bummer.”

  “It gives me a little more time to study for my exam tomorrow.”

  “Hmm… Double bummer.”

  Alex giggled and, noting that it was time to leave, collected her book and purse and stood up. “Are you going to grab a bite to eat?”

  “You read my mind. I was about to ask you the same thing.”

  The door opened again, and they turned to see Greg enter the shop. “Hey, guys. Alex, I wanted to apologize for Camden going over to your place on Sunday. I don’t know what he was thinking.”

  Nita shook her head. “Camden didn’t.”

  “He did,” Alex said. “But it was fine. Sure, he spoiled the movie for Kevin, but Kevin survived.”

  “Camden arrived at your apartment, and all he did was interrupt you and Kevin watching a movie?” Nita asked.

  “Well, technically. Kevin and I had just finished…with other things…when he knocked on the door,” Alex hedged, not willing to go into more detail than that.

  Greg chuckled. “At least he didn’t get there sooner.”

  Alex grimaced. She definitely wouldn’t want to be interrupted while she was making love.

  “Don’t worry,” Greg said as he opened the door for them, “I’ll make sure Camden’s busy next Sunday.”

  “See you Friday,” Alex called out to her boss who was in the back room.

  “Alright,” her boss replied.

  As soon as they stepped onto the boardwalk, someone called out her name. Surprised, Alex turned and saw Trent heading her way with a folder tucked under his arm. “Hey, Trent,” she said. “What’s up?”

  “You know that favor I said I was going to ask you for?” Trent held up the folder. “Is now a good time to claim it?”

  Her eyebrows furrowed as she tried to figure out what kind of favor was inside a folder. “I guess. I was about to have a bite to eat with Nita.”

  “And Greg,” Greg added. When she glanced at him, he shrugged. “I haven’t eaten dinner yet, and since Kevin’s not with you, I know I’m not going to interrupt anything interesting.”

  “How are things with Kevin?” Trent asked her.

  “Good.” Ignoring the telltale dorky smile on her face, she motioned to the folder. “What’s the favor?”

  “I’ll tell you when we get to the restaurant,” Trent said.

  Now she was really intrigued, but she decided she could wait. They headed for the seafood restaurant, and her thoughts went to Kevin and how he’d first told her about his aunt’s will further down the boardwalk. Little did she realize how different her life would become in three short weeks, but here she was, Kevin’s wife and eager to feel his arms around her. She had no idea she could feel such excitement in relation to Kevin Edwards, but she did.

  Nita waved her hand in front of Alex’s face.

  Alex blinked and turned her attention back to her friends. “What?”

  Nita shook her head but smiled. “Girl, you’ve got it bad. Whoever knew you would fall in love
with Kevin?”

  “Come on,” Greg said as he steered Alex through the front door of the restaurant. “The food is this way.”

  Once the hostess seated them, Alex looked at Trent who sat across from her. “Okay. We’re here. What’s this favor?”

  Trent set the folder on the table and opened it. “I want a wife.”

  Greg, who’d been sipping the water, coughed and grabbed a napkin so he could wipe his chin. “You’re a little late for that, aren’t you? Alex married Kevin on Saturday.”

  With an amused smirk, Trent replied, “I ventured that would happen at the engagement party. No, what I need is your help selecting a woman who will make a good wife. I’ve been corresponding with a couple of women online for a few months now, but I want to make the right decision. So I thought I’d ask for Alex’s advice.”

  “My advice?” Alex tucked her hair behind her ear and accepted the pieces of paper Trent handed her. “What makes you think I’m qualified to pick out a woman for you?” She scanned the group of papers in her hand. At the top was a chart comparing the three women and after that seemed to be samples of emails they’d sent him.

  “I have a huge problem,” Trent said. “I’m rich.”

  “Ahhh…” Greg replied in mock sympathy.

  “No, it really is a problem,” Trent told him.

  “Can’t decide which car to drive on which day?” Greg guessed.

  “I don’t know if a woman’s interested in me because of me or because of my money.” Trent motioned to the papers in Alex’s hand. “None of these women know I come from money, so I figure it’s a clean slate with them. I can’t decide which one will be the right one, you know?”

  “So,” Alex began and flipped through the papers again, “what makes you think I’d be the right person to pick her out?”

  “I told you that you remind me of my little sister. She’s got a knack for judging people. I figured you might be the same way.”

  “Oh, yeah. She’s good at that,” Nita agreed as the server came up to them. “She knew right away that Tammy was only after Kevin’s money.”

  “Exactly,” Trent replied. “And that’s the kind of thinking I need.”

  They turned their attention to the server and selected their meals from the menu before they resumed their conversation.