Society Weddings (Corrigan & Co. Book 11) Read online

  When the girls have gone before me, I stop at the large circular window that looks out onto the grounds, and smile. This is right. I may have thought I didn’t want marriage and kids, but I want both. Not all at once, but soon. First, I need to take the hand my mom has outstretched towards me, and walk down the aisle.

  I’m halfway down the aisle when I decide that patience is definitely not a virtue I have. I give my mom a quick kiss on the cheek, reach down for the hem of my dress, and sprint the rest of the way. Four inch heels be damned, I want my man. The one who’s looking oh so sexy in a black suit with a matching vest, and no tie. I am a lucky, lucky woman.

  He’s laughing as he hops down the two steps to meet me. “Couldn’t wait, love?”

  “For you? Never.”

  I lean up and kiss him, causing the guests to laugh, and Wayne, who got ordained online just so he could marry us, to clear his throat loudly. Several times. We finally break apart to see him glaring at us.

  “Look, I didn’t go through the boot camp like hurdles I did to get this license just to have the two of you blatantly disregard the sanctity of this wedding.”

  “You clicked a few buttons on the website, asshole,” Kace tells him. “That’s hardly boot camp.”

  “My fingers are precious.”

  “You’re precious, alright.”

  “Just take your damn places, please.”

  We smile at each other, before doing as he asks. The rest of the ceremony goes as expected. When I promise to obey him, Kace’s eyes go dark. I smirk at him, and lick my lips, knowing full well we’re going to end up late to our own wedding reception. Our guests will understand.

  * * *

  Kace

  It’s nearly killing me to stand and take pictures after the wedding. Don’t get me wrong, I love being photographed with Stella and our friends and family, but hiding a hard on while standing next to your parents is not fun. When Stella moves in front of me, I think she’s helping me out. Until she rubs that perfect ass of hers over my cock.

  “Payback’s a bitch, love,” I whisper in her ear.

  “Good thing I like it rough,” She whispers back.

  “You’re not helping my…situation.”

  “Poor baby boy, do you need me to kiss it and make it better?”

  I groan in her ear. Who am I kidding? That groan was loud enough to be heard two states over. “The thought of you on your knees in that wedding dress while you suck me off …holy hell…I want that so fucking bad.”

  “As your wife, it’s my job to make sure all of your needs are met,” she says, and then turns to everyone else. “I think we have enough pictures for now. Why don’t you all head on in to cocktail hour. Faith and Gavin have really outdone themselves.”

  “Aren’t you two heading in?” my mom asks her.

  “Soon. I need Kace’s help with something first.” Fuck yeah she does.

  Tegan smirks at us both before leaning in like she’s hugging us. “I’ll hold everyone off, but I can’t do it indefinitely. Go get your freak on.”

  We don’t have to be told twice. Once everyone has gone into the reception tent, I lead her inside our building, and down to the bowling alley. When we walk in and she sees the candles all over, she pulls me to a stop and kisses me. I want to strip her bare, and fuck her hard, but I haven’t forgotten her earlier promise. I lead us to the lane I set up and drop a pillow to the floor. She pushes me down into one of the seats with a smile.

  I watch her sink to her knees, causing her tits to almost pop out of the top of her dress. I reach out and run my hands over the exposed skin while she unzips my pants, and pulls my dick out of my briefs. “You’re so beautiful, Stella.”

  “That’s Mrs. Reynolds to you.”

  “Well then, Mrs. Reynolds, please put my cock in your mouth before I die.”

  “Since you asked so nicely,” she says, kissing me once, and then taking me deep into her mouth.

  I watch her for about a minute, enjoying the view. I love seeing my cock go in and out of her mouth almost as much as I love seeing it go in and out of her pussy. I try to hold on, but she knows exactly what to do to make me come hard. One squeeze of my balls, and some stroking to go with the sucking, and yeah, I drop my head back and yell out her name as I empty myself down her throat.

  I take a moment to come back down to Earth as she places kisses on my abs and ribs. I know taking me in her mouth made her even hornier than she was earlier. Giving me pleasure turns her on, just like eating her pussy does the same to me. And that pussy of hers is next on the menu.

  I stand up, and then help her to her feet, unzipping her dress, but catching it before it falls to the ground. We’ll have to go back eventually, and I know she’ll want her dress to come out of all of this unscathed. I set it on the chairs and turn back to her. And nearly have a heart attack.

  Without her dress, she’s in just a tiny white satin strapless bra, and sheer, lace topped, stockings. No panties. No fucking panties. If I’d known that earlier, I would’ve never made it through the pictures.

  But the most beautiful thing she’s wearing, by far, is a smile. “Thank you for taking care of my dress.”

  “Welcome,” I say taking her hand and pulling her over to the bowling ball return.

  “I did enjoy this last time,” she reminds me.

  “You don’t honestly think we’re doing the same thing, do you? I mean, come on, you don’t see me as a one-trick pony, do you?”

  “If I lie and say yes, do I get to ride you?”

  “Later. Now straddle the fan.”

  She does as I ask, but she’s not exactly where I need her. I move her forward a little, take off her shoes so she’s lower, and then drop to my knees. As the hot air hits her center, I take my first lick. Stella starts moving her hips as the stream of hot air combines with my mouth to bring her close to the edge.

  “Fuck, Kace.”

  “Soon,” I say. “After you come on my tongue.”

  I lick lower, feeling the heat on my tongue as I plunge it in and out of her. Alternating between her sweet little clit, and her dripping pussy, I take her over the edge as she screams.

  “Ready for your ride now, love?”

  “Yes. Please yes.”

  I lean back and pull her on top of me. We don’t need fancy for this, just a good old-fashioned fucking. She slides down my cock, and then we’re both moving. I pull her tits out of the bra, and feast on them while she rides me hard and fast. We’re both so far gone that it only takes minutes before she’s shuddering, and I’m coming right behind her. Once we’re both momentarily satisfied, I start to laugh.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “I didn’t even realize you still had your veil on until now.”

  “What? Oh, shit. I didn’t realize it either.”

  “I almost wish we didn’t have to go back, but they’ll be looking for us soon.”

  “We have the rest of our lives together to do this over and over again.”

  “Yes, we do.”

  We get up, and put ourselves back together. We’re holding hands as we enter the tent. I see the cool, modern chandeliers she placed at every table, and she sees my next surprise. I had Swarovski encrusted letters spelling “Mr.,” “&”, and “Mrs.” placed in the middle of the dance floor.

  “I love them. Oh wow. I want them in the apartment.”

  “Whatever you want.”

  “I want you. Today…the bouquet…the vest…the sex…the letters…you’ve made this day perfect for me.”

  “The vest comes before the sex?”

  She rolls her eyes. “I wasn’t listing things in order, horndog.”

  “Just checking. And for the record, today was perfect for me, too. After all, I got to marry you, Mrs. Reynolds.”

  “Ditto, Mr. Reynolds. Ditto.”

  Isa & Jake

  Jake

  “You holding up okay?” I ask Isa, walking into her office at the Corrigan & Co. Foundation.

  “Sure
. Why wouldn’t I be? I mean, your mother has just taken over my wedding, and now one of your ex-girlfriends has turned up dead, only to have her father hire us to find out who killed her. And let’s not forget that you’re his number one suspect.”

  “No one believes I killed Skylar. And even if they did, I have an airtight alibi. I was servicing my fiancé that night, and the apartment cameras will prove I never left the building.”

  “I know. Logically, I know that. I just worry.”

  I move behind her to massage her shoulders. “Don’t worry about that. We’re good there. Now tell me what my mother’s done now.”

  “The usual. She thinks this is her wedding.”

  “I’ll take care of her.”

  “No, Jake. It’s fine. It’s just a wedding, right? I mean, being married is more important.”

  I step around to lean on her desk and look at my sweet girl. “Yes, marriage is the most important thing, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have your dream wedding.”

  “Even if it’s silly?”

  “What could possibly be silly about your dreams?”

  “What I want isn’t sensible, or sophisticated.”

  “Good. Those two things are highly overrated.”

  “So you’d be okay if you walked into a wedding and reception full of pink, pearls, and maybe a little bling? Nothing as sparkly as Stella’s, but I think I’d like a little.”

  “I’d even dress in pink if that’s what you want.”

  “No,” she says with a laugh. “Maybe slate grey?”

  “That works, too.”

  “Now, I just need to convince your mother.”

  “No. I said I’d handle her, and I will. You just go ahead and plan what you want.”

  “She wants to be involved. I think that’s a good thing.”

  “She can be involved as long as she supports you, and what you want.”

  “You don’t have to do this. I should just stand up for myself.”

  “Isabelle Carlton, you are one of the strongest women I know, but my mother is…well, you know how she is. Standing up to her is work. A lot of work you don’t need. She won’t give me any trouble.”

  “Thank you.”

  “No need to thank me. Just keep loving me forever, and we’ll call it even.”

  “Deal.”

  I kiss her softly, which turns into more than kissing. Just like it always does. She finally tells me I have to leave so she can work on Skylar’s murder investigation. I’d like to have this case closed before the wedding, so I don’t put up much of a fight.

  I “dated” Skylar years ago. I use that term loosely because it was more like we were each other’s arm candy, and we had sex a few times. End of story. At least until news of my upcoming wedding to Isa broke. For some reason Sky wanted her fifteen minutes of fame and tried to use us to get it. She’d been all over the media for weeks claiming that we’d been having a clandestine affair, and that I was going to dump Isa at the altar. Never mind that I would never touch another woman, but the times she said I was with her were times I was with Isa and our friends. Even in D.C., I was either with Aiden or Vicki. Isa knows this and told me from the beginning that she’d never believe I cheated on her, but I still wish I understood why Sky did it. I guess I’ll never know now.

  I do know one thing, though. My mother needs to be reined in. I call her as I get into the elevator.

  “Darling, I didn’t expect to hear from you so soon. Did something happen with Skylar’s case?”

  “No. Something happened with my wedding. I need you to stop trying to run over Isa. She’s either going to have the wedding of her dreams, or I’m taking her to the drive-thru chapel. Without you.”

  “You wouldn’t.”

  “After all that’s happened, you really believe I wouldn’t do everything in my power to make sure Isa’s every wish and dream comes true?”

  “When you put it that way, I guess not. I was only trying to help your image, you know. A sophisticated affair would go a long way in this town.”

  “When have I ever cared about my image?”

  “Never. Fine, it was about me.”

  “When it’s really supposed to be about Isa.”

  “And you. Don’t you want anything?”

  “Yes. I want the woman I love to be happy. That’s all I need or want.”

  “I’ll be nice.”

  “I know you will, because you know I’m not kidding about the drive-thru chapel.”

  “I shouldn’t have raised you to be so tough. It’s coming back to bite me in the ass.”

  “Karma, Mom. Karma. It’ll get you every time.”

  * * *

  Isa

  I’ve been going over the details for Skylar’s murder, and nothing is jumping out at me. I have that nagging feeling in my brain telling me I’m missing something, but for the life of me, I don’t know what. Maybe I need to step away and wait for Tegan to tell me what she sees. We purposely stay away from each other for the first day or two of analysis so that we don’t influence each other’s initial findings.

  I’m restless; worrying about finding this killer, and worrying that I’m going to make a mess of my wedding. I probably should’ve just let Liz Mason give me sophisticated and fancy, but I really want romantic and pink. Ever since Jake talked to her, she’s been more than happy to listen to me. I don’t know what he said to scare her, but whatever it was, it definitely worked.

  She’s not a bad person. In fact, if she loves you, she’d slay a zombie for you. And I know she loves me. It’s only because Jake does, but still, she loves me. She just likes to project a certain image, and dresses that look like cotton candy don’t fit into her mold. But she’s breaking her mold for me, and I really appreciate it.

  She’s canceled the country club and booked the Library of Congress Great Hall, which is where I really wanted to get married. Well, honestly, I wanted to get married at the Smithsonian, but they can’t do weddings there. She’s also Skyped me in with her florist and smiled indulgently when I picked the pinks and whites with fake diamonds dripping down for my centerpieces. The bridesmaid’s dresses were a little harder for her to swallow. They don’t really look like cotton candy, just pale pink ruffles with white daisies all over the strapless bodice and scattered around the skirt. I’m not much of a daisy fan, but I fell in love with the dresses, and while Liz doesn’t exactly love them, she didn’t put out another hit on me. At least not that I know of. As a whole, it’s all coming together. Even with the publicity surrounding Skylar’s death and fake claims about Jake.

  “Hey, girlie,” Tegan says from my office doorway. “Are you ready to compare notes?”

  “Hey. Yes, I’m more than ready. I keep thinking I missed something.”

  “I may have your missing something. In fact, I’m pretty sure I do.”

  “Do tell,” I say, leading her to the round table in my office.

  “Don’t start without me. I helped,” Ainsley says, coming in and taking her own seat.

  “You did. Isa, what I think I’ve figured out is that if it hadn’t been Skylar, it would’ve been you. Or at least the murderer would’ve tried to kill you.”

  “What? Why?” I ask; although, I think I know.

  “Jake. Skylar was murdered after she said they’d been having an affair. Ainsley helped me go through blogs and message boards—there are a disturbing amount of those things dedicated to your man, by the way.”

  “I know. Back on track, please.”

  “Anyway, an anonymous person has been posting everywhere about how Jake is hers.”

  “Anonymous? You haven’t found the identity yet?” I ask Ainsley.

  “No. Whoever is posting has been using different university computers. I’ve even considered that it’s more than one person based on the fact that none of the schools are near each other.”

  “Why did I have to fall in love with the man every woman in D.C. and the surrounding states wants for herself?”

 
“Because he’s a great guy, and worships the ground you walk on,” Ainsley says.

  “And don’t forget the medal she gave him,” Tegan adds with a smirk.

  “No one is ever going to forget that medal,” I say, shaking my head. Damn boys and their prizes.

  Now we just need to figure out who wants Jake enough to kill for him. Because if some bitch tries to mess with my wedding, I will take her down. I have enough stress as it is.

  * * *

  Jake

  “Hey, Vick,” I say, answering the phone with a smile.

  “It’s not your little piece on the side,” a male voice that sounds familiar answers.

  “Who is this? And why do you have my best friend’s phone?”

  “Best friend? Yeah, right. Your cheating is catching up on you.”

  “I don’t cheat. And I’m asking you again, who the hell are you?”

  “Your judge, jury, and executioner all rolled into one.”

  “You killed Skylar? Why?”

  “If you want to know the answer to that, and maybe save your friend, you’ll fly to D.C. and meet with me.”

  “Where in D.C.?”

  “You’ll get instructions when you land. And come alone. I’ll know if you bring anyone.”

  He hangs up, and I immediately call Matt. Within minutes, a Corrigan jet is ready for me, and Nate, Aiden, and Theo have all headed out to board another one. I won’t involve Isa, even though I know she can handle herself. This guy wants me, and he’s going to get me. I had no feelings for Skylar, but Vicki’s my best friend. He put his hands on her, and now he’s going to die.

  I send Isa a text saying that I have to go to D.C. to take care of something. She wishes me a safe trip, trusting that I’ll explain it to her later. Which I will. The secrets I kept from her nearly destroyed us both, so I keep nothing from her anymore. Well, almost nothing. I ordered something from “our” jewelry store for her to wear on our wedding day, but she won’t know that until Stella gives it to her. Some things need to be a surprise.