Love at First Relationship Bonus Scene
Flynn
Three Months Later
Tita looks stunning in her periwinkle silk gown as her grandsons accompany the diminutive lady down the aisle. Her smile radiates warmth and joy, and she winks at me mouthing the name “Zorro.” It’s become our inside joke.
I smile and wink back, trying not to look nervous. Staring down the long line of groomsmen, I nod at my foster brothers, absorbing the fact that this is really happening.
I thought I’d be the last man standing when it came to bachelorhood. And I would have been if it wasn’t for my beautiful little señorita, Jasmine Estrada. But when it was all said and done, I ended up being one of the earlier adopters of domestic bliss. At least among my foster brothers.
Plenty still lag behind me, including Hawk and Fletcher. And I have no clue what’s going on with Turner and the neighbor he still finds too hot to handle but can’t manage to stay away from. Even though she comes as a package with five younger siblings.
The early spring day is still gearing up to be hot at Rancho Estrada. We stand at the top of the mesa where we celebrated Tita’s birthday, surrounded by breathtaking expanses of verdant vineyards and rugged mountains, blue with distance and foliage.
Our marriage is sprawling with more than two hundred people in attendance, thanks to both of our large families. The men in the wedding party all wear black suits with black cowboy boots and hats, and the crowd contains a mixture of vaqueros and ladies in their finest clothing.
To say the least, this wedding is filled with traditional pageantry. Although we didn’t end up settling for the family’s traditional Catholic priest, due to my nondenominational Christian beliefs. Instead, we found an amenable Anglican priest to perform mass and service. Some family members are livid over it, but all the best marriages come with negotiation and sacrifice. At least, Jasmine’s parents and my dad get it.
It’s good we chose an evening wedding. A welcome breeze blows in from the ocean, cooling the valley.
Asante comes down the aisle carrying the ring. He thought the task was a little beneath him at the advanced age of thirteen. But once he tried on the fancy duds that came with the role, he changed his mind. Now, he beams at me, showing his wide pearly grin. We’ve come a long way since the barn when he feared my marriage to Jasmine would threaten his position in the family.
He’s also grown a good three inches since he first showed up on my doorstep, no doubt because of the way my blushing bride stuffs him. She moved in right after our return from Tita’s birthday because I couldn’t stand to live or sleep apart from her for another moment. She’s my lifeline in so many ways I can’t begin to quantify, and I love her with a fierceness that grows stronger each day.
The courts awarded me full guardianship of Asante with no trouble because Felicity fully cooperated in the proceedings. As angry as I still am at my sister for the treatment of her son, I am thankful she didn’t ultimately stand in the way of Asante having a better life. Not all kids in his situation can say the same thing.
Jasmine’s bridesmaid cousins and sisters, including Angelica, smile across the aisle at me and the groomsmen. Angelica warmed up to me quickly after finding out about the fake engagement and then the real one. And she fell head over heels for the diamond and ruby engagement ring I gave her older sister. Today, Jasmine gets the wedding band to match it, and I get the woman that I can wholeheartedly say is my soulmate.
A small group of flower girls follows Asante, and then the crowd pauses. The air is thick with anticipation as the string quartet launches into the traditional wedding march.
My eyes strain for a first glimpse of my beautiful bride, and when she finally makes her way outside, a knot catches in my throat. I’ve never seen a more gorgeous sight in my entire life. She takes my breath away and my composure, too. I hate to admit it because I’m known in my family for my self-control. But I have to use the back of my hand to wipe my eyes.
Her father’s face radiates happiness and pride as he walks Jasmine down the aisle. Her glossy black hair piled high atop her head, and red lipstick captivates me. She wears an off-the-shoulder gown covered in lacy flowers that emphasize the curvy figure I can’t get enough of.
I have to fight the temptation to reach out and trace the intricate designs on her dress with my fingertips. There’ll be time enough for my hands to get in trouble later. For now, I’ve got to be on my best behavior. It’s not easy in the presence of my girl, though.
Tita and my dad, Wyatt, act as our madrina and padrino. Jasmine told me they’re like wedding godparents. Today, they’re tasked with blessing us, reading passages from the Bible, and helping us with the Mexican wedding tradition of el lazo.
During the unity part of the wedding ceremony, they drape a decorative silk cord, el lazo, around Jasmine and me, binding us together for life. I remember a time when the thought of something like that would have had me sweating bullets. But spending the rest of my life with Jasmine is the ultimate dream come true.
As Christian explained to me back in December, there really are those people in this world you can’t live without. Jasmine and I are at the top of that list. Maybe we always were, which goes a long way toward explaining the depression and hopelessness I felt before we got together.
I still count the night of Tita’s birthday party as the best of my life. Because it’s the night I finally claimed Jasmine as mine forever. Of course, it’s tough to beat the first Christmas we spent snuggled up on the couch together, although I fucked things up by taking the higher road. It all worked out the way it was meant to, though.
With tears in our eyes, we exchange our vows and rings, pledging our lives to one another for eternity. I don’t think that’s nearly long enough. But I guess it’s a start.
Finally, the priest declares, “You may kiss the bride,” and I don’t have to be told twice. I pull my lovely woman into my arms, claiming her mouth passionately and tenderly as our families cheer and mariachi music plays in the background. Although every ounce of me longs to devour her right here, I need to respect her traditional family and avoid constant ribbing from my brothers.
So, I keep the kiss more chaste than I would like. Her younger cousins tease me that I need to kiss her again with enthusiasm. My sweet woman blushes, hugging me and whispering in my ear, “Later, you won’t know what hit you.”
Yes, ma’am. I like the sound of that.
After photographs and cocktail hour with the string quartet, we make our way to the tables decked out with tealights reminiscent of the tree we decorated for Christmas. We sit at the wedding party table, which looks more like a banquet table between all the groomsmen and bridesmaids.
Asante barely stays in his seat. He’s too busy running around with the kids he now refers to as his cousins. But he makes a point of coming over to Jasmine when I catch his eye. He’s got something special for her.
“What is it, baby?” she laughs merrily as he wraps his arm around her.
“Now that you’re officially my auntie, I wanted to tell you how much you mean to me.” He pulls out a small jewelry box that’s meticulously wrapped. We had the lady do it at the jewelry store so we couldn’t mess it up, but Asante picked out the bow. It’s bright red to match the ruby engagement ring and wedding band I gave Jasmine. Inside, she finds a shiny ruby necklace encircled with diamonds that matches her ring set.
“Oh, Asante, this is amazing! How did you do this?”
The teen winks at me, and I ruffle the hair atop his head. He says to Jasmine, “I want to thank you for making our house a home. Every day with you is an adventure. There’s no end to the fun things we do together, whether it’s horseback riding, working in the garden, playing board games, reading together… I love it all. And you’re the best cook on the planet, which goes without saying considering how much I’ve grown since you moved in with us. I love you, Auntie.”
Jasmine tries to hold back tears, but it’s been a day filled with happy ones. And I can see her face flooded with emotion as she hugs our boy and whispers how much she loves him in his ear. Then, as quickly as we got a hold of him, he’s gone. Streaking around the property with all of the other kids as I fasten the necklace’s clasp at the back of Jasmine’s neck.
“I can’t believe how big that boy’s getting,” Dad remarks, coming over to grab both of our hands. “You’ve done a fine job with Asante. When do you think you’ll get started on some more like him?”
I laugh, remembering the way Tita put me on the spot during her birthday party. As if she’s read my mind, the little lady with a walker heads our direction, taking Wyatt’s hand warmly and smiling at the family.
“So, what did they say?” she asks Dad with a mischievous smile.
“They haven’t given me an answer yet.”
“Jasmine, are you going to take this one, or should I?” I ask, wrapping my arm possessively around my bride.
She laughs, “Grandma and Dad, I promise we’ll start working on this right away. Flynn assures me I can do most of law school online, so I don’t see why I can’t add a big belly to the mix.”
The two elders look pleased as punch, and I take a deep breath. I’m off the “awkward family talk” hook again. But I know the respite won’t last long. I see why Jasmine came up with a fake engagement in the first place. The questions never stop at Rancho Estrada.
I swallow loudly, my eyes wandering towards my brothers with babies and kids. Maksim and Alex’s son Dmitri is finally over his colicky stage. And thank goodness! Now, the little guy is obsessed with learning how to crawl. He’s also fascinated with putting everything in his mouth and drooling. So, while Maksim and Alex’s ears may have gotten some respite, they’re running around more than ever.
My blond-haired mountain man brother couldn’t be happier, though. Neither could his beautiful wife, Alex, with her flowing mane of black curls. They look more in love than ever as he holds her in his arms. They both watch Dmitri crawling in the grass, whispering back and forth in their exotic mixture of Bulgarian and Russian, ready to jump at the first sign of trouble.
Travis and Faith still manage to have a chill sleeper. Although Ryder no longer fits baby carriers, he seems just as pleased curled up in his parents’ arms. And Wolfe and Izzie, the parents of Matt and Stasia, are pregnant again. Wolfe can’t keep his hands off his wife’s baby bump. For her part, Izzie glows with happiness, wrapped in the protective love of her Army Ranger husband.
So, I guess I have nothing to hyperventilate over. All of my brothers seem to have survived parenthood thus far. And the ones who haven’t are racing headfirst in that direction. Zane and Birdie are newly pregnant. So are Christian and Cricket. Christmas will never be the same around the ranch, and I’m finally on board. (As long as there’s an escape route for Jasmine and me when things get really loud!)
By the end of the evening, the dancing’s winding down, our bellies are full, and thousands of photos have been snapped. Guests say their goodnights couple by couple, and my heart races. I can’t wait to get my girl alone.
Señor Estrada whispers in my ear, “Your limo’s here.” I try to hide the enthusiasm in my smile, but I can’t help myself. I’ve been waiting all night to get my new bride alone.
The limo drives us to the coast and a stunning luxury hotel overlooking the cliffs of the Pacific Ocean. The cool ocean breeze is a relief after the warmth of Rancho Estrada, and I carry my bride over the threshold of our bridal suite, reveling at how her jaw drops as we enter the massive room.
“We have our own oceanside balcony and jacuzzi, a full wine bar, champagne, anything you want. I plan on spoiling the hell out of you all week long.”
She giggles, saying, “I thought the carrying over the threshold thing was for our home.”
“It will be for that, too,” I reply, gently setting her down before pulling her into my arms and ghosting her cheekbones and eyelids until I feel her trembling with anticipation. Then, I move to her neck, sensually kissing and tasting her until she shivers in my arms.
“Would you like some champagne?” I ask, wanting to make sure everything’s perfect for my woman.
She shakes her head no.
“How about some caviar? Or some mineral water?”
Again, she shakes her head.
“Umm…” I look around the room, about to offer her cashews and white wine, when she strides towards me purposefully, wrapping her arms around my neck.
In low, seductive tones, she says, “I don’t want anything until I’ve tasted you.”
The words send waves of desire radiating through my body and straight into my cock. “What do you have in mind?” I ask breathlessly.
“Lie back on the bed,” she orders, and I’m about to remind her that I’m in charge when it comes to the bedroom. But she beats me to it, reassuring me, “You’re still in control, love. If there’s anything you don’t like, tell me, and I’ll stop.”
I nod, feeling a thick lump of desire forming in my throat. Maybe I could get used to a slight relinquishing of power every now and again.
“Why don’t you get relaxed, and I’ll be right back,” she says, excusing herself from the room. I lie on the bed, a thousand sexy thoughts jumbling my brain and making my cock rock hard. My veins and arteries pulse flames at her suggestive words, and I need more of her, so much more. I stare at the gold band on my left hand, still amazed at the day and my new life.
When Jasmine finally steps out of the large master bathroom with the huge bathtub and shower, she’s scantily clad in a pale pink teddy, the same color as the cashmere sweater she wore during her Christmas stay. She’s let her hair down, and it falls in sexy, large curls around her face.
I exhale loudly as my eyes rove appreciatively over her round tits, generous hips, soft tummy, and stunning ass. I don’t know how I landed my dream girl, but I have to fight hard not to drool as she heads in my direction.
“Jasmine, honey, you look good enough to eat.”
“I’m counting on that,” she says quietly, a slight glow lighting up her cheeks. I’m happy I can still make her blush so many months after we first got together. “But first, I want to taste you. Is that okay?”
“Hell, yeah, Jazz.”
I barely get the last words out before she’s kneeling over me on the bed where I recline. She takes her time unzipping my tuxedo pants before inching down my boxer briefs and taking my girth in her hand.
“You’re so hard and big, husband. I don’t know how I’ll get you in my mouth.”
Between pants, I manage, “We’ll figure something out.”
Her head sinks sensually over my rod, and I feel her wet tongue and moist heat. Instantly, my body melts into the warmth of her silky lips and mouth. “Dammit, Jasmine, that feels fucking amazing.”
She sucks me in and out slowly, taking her time. Loving and teasing every inch of my dick with her hot, velvety tongue until I feel like I’ll explode.
I warn between breaths, “Honey, you better let me in that pussy soon because I’m about to come, and I’m going to come hard.”
“My mouth can take it,” she replies stubbornly, enveloping my girth and relaxing her throat to swallow me. A few more sucks, and I come completely undone in her mouth, feeling the bliss of her slick mouth and throat as she takes all I have to give. She swallows every drop of me as I let out a low scream. I’m sweating, panting, and thankful for my headstrong Aries as she crawls up to kiss my mouth. I can taste my cum on her lips, and it sets me on fire.
“Damn, honey. I need you so fucking bad. I’ve got to lick that pussy.”
She smiles seductively, not realizing what she’s in for. I jump up, flipping her quickly onto her back and gently pinning her arms with a naughty smile. “Now, it’s my turn.”
Without a second thought, I dive between her legs, finding the hot, wet, lacy swatch covering her perfect pussy. She’s shaven as always, which makes the slickness of her arousal all the more obvious and breathtaking.
“I have to have you… all of you.” I sink into her juicy folds, moaning against the sweetness of my favorite flavor and the wicked, wet sounds my tongue makes as I claim her. “You better get comfortable, Mrs. Washington, because I’m even more stubborn than you are, and I’m not stopping until my back is covered in your claw marks, and your pussy’s pouring honey for this cock. You understand me?”
Her eyes roll into the back of her head with pleasure as I circle her clit with my tongue, and she moans, “Yes, boss.”
TURNER
After a tragic car accident, my next-door neighbors’ five children are left without parents. Their older sister, Lily, rushes home from college, sacrificing everything to keep the family together. She throws away her future, taking menial jobs and struggling to make ends meet. It’s pathetic to watch because the irresistibly curvy, much younger woman deserves so much more…
Until the day I can’t idly sit by watching any longer… So, I make Lily a begrudging offer she can’t refuse. In exchange for marrying me, I’ll allow her and the kids to move into my cabin. Have I lost my mind? More than likely. My head knows Lily’s my wife in name only, but my heart and body have other plans…
Devour the next steamy installment in the Rough & Ready Country series, Love at First House.
