The Sweetest Game (The Perfect Game #3)

The Sweetest Game (The Perfect Game #3) Page 1

The Wedding

Hands on my hips, I looked my best friend in the eye and shook my head as she turned to reapply her lipstick in the mirror.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Melissa snapped as she forced back a grin.

“Oh, I’ll look at you like that, all right. I’ll look at you like that all night if I want. Are you trying to kill my future brother-in-law?” I teased, knowing that less than two minutes ago she was locked in Dean’s room doing who-knows-what while I sat in Jack’s room waiting for her.

She narrowed her eyes before turning to face me. “Maybe.”

Frustrated, I rolled my eyes. “Try not to. I’ve grown attached.”

After applying a new coat of lipstick, she smacked her lips together before moving next to me. “You look gorgeous, by the way.” Her hands touched the back of my hair as she rearranged specific strands while I smoothed the nonexistent wrinkles from my knee-length white dress.

“Thanks. So do you.” Despite being annoyed with my pint-sized pal, I couldn’t help but smile.

“So, was your dad pissed about not walking you down the aisle?”

I sucked in a breath. The last thing I wanted on my wedding day was to feel bad about any of my decisions. The choice of walking alone or with my father weighed heavily on me at first. But I eventually decided that having my father walk me toward my life with Jack and then handing me over to him would all be for show. And I knew in that moment that I didn’t want anyone to be responsible for “giving me away,” least of all the one man in my life who had disappointed me more than any other.

It only seemed right that I walk down the aisle on my own and join Jack freely to start our lives together, since it was my choice, my decision, my heart waiting for me at the end of that aisle. After all, no one could give me to the one person I’d already given myself to years ago.

“He was definitely hurt at first. But I don’t think he truly got the message I was trying to convey. I think he just wanted to walk me down the aisle because that’s what a dad is supposed to do.”

“Oh well. Maybe he should have been a better dad,” Melissa said in a sharp tone.

I shrugged. “Hopefully after he sees how untraditional everything is today, he’ll understand and be less disappointed.”

Music filtered through the open windows and into the living room where Melissa and I stood waiting. I took in a deep breath and bit my bottom lip as excitement surged through me.

“Oh my gosh! It’s time!” Melissa moved toward the glass patio door and let out a little gasp as she peeked outside. “Ooh, it’s so pretty, Cass!” She gave me a hug and whispered, “I’ll see you out there,” then stepped out and slowly made her way down the makeshift aisle.

After taking a deep breath, I followed her lead, pausing briefly at the doorway. She was right. Gran and Gramps’ backyard had been transformed into a place of wonder. Candles cast tiny shadows everywhere as the sun began to sink behind the trees. A myriad of tiny lights twinkled in the tree branches.

When I stepped outside, my gaze landed on the mason jars filled with quarters and candles that lined the aisle, and I couldn’t help but smile as my heart filled with the sheer amount of love I felt for Jack. Still smiling, I looked down the aisle and immediately locked on to his chocolate-brown eyes. The air whisked from my lungs for a moment at the sight of him standing there in his charcoal-gray suit, waiting for me with a shit-eating grin plastered on his face.

I had to stop myself from running to him and leaping into his arms. Although I don’t think he would have minded.

Once at the altar, Jack reached out and took my hand in his, caressing it with his thumb in a sensual gesture that sent tingles throughout my body. “You look beautiful,” he whispered as he leaned toward me.

“And you look hot,” I whispered back, then gave him a wink.

Gramps cleared his throat and both Jack and I stifled a laugh. Jack’s grandfather looked serious as he welcomed our friends and family to this “special day,” before diving right into the ceremony.

Looking into Jack’s eyes, I swear I only heard a few things that Gramps said. My mind spun as I thought back to the journey Jack and I had traveled, from the pits of hell we’d been through to where we were now. We had come so far together.

I glanced briefly at Jack’s brother, Dean, who stood next to him, but his eyes were fixed on the petite brunette standing next to me. Shaking my head softly, I smiled before returning my gaze to the man who held my heart.

When it came time to exchange vows, mine a little more tearful than Jack’s. My heart melted at the sight of him getting choked up, and when he cleared his throat to regain his composure, I lost all of mine.

“I love you,” I confessed through my joyful tears.

Jack reached for my face, wiping away my tears with his thumbs as he tilted his head and leaned his face toward me for a kiss.

“Uh-uh! Wait!” Gramps called out, interrupting the moment as Jack froze, my cheeks still held between his hands. Gramps paused a beat, then his face split into a wide grin as he announced proudly, “I now pronounce you man and wife. Jack?”

“Yes, Gramps?” Jack’s voice rose in pitch as he remained frozen in place, and the crowd laughed.

“You may kiss your beautiful bride,” Gramps pronounced before slamming his bible shut.

“It’s about time,” Jack said before crushing his lips against mine. Cheers and enthusiastic shouts filled my ears at first, but they quickly faded away in that moment. Soon, all I heard was the sound of my heart rapidly beating in my ears. And all I could feel was Jack’s hands on my skin, and his tongue gently tasting mine.

Already on shaky legs, I grabbed Jack’s shoulders for balance as he slowly pulled away, breaking our first kiss as husband and wife.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to present for the very first time, Mr. and Mrs. Carter.” Gramps smiled wide.

“Baby-making time,” Jack whispered in my ear before grabbing my hand and pulling us from the altar.

Heat spread across my cheeks as I choked back a response, but followed him anyway. I’d follow that man anywhere.

Married Life

Bright morning light filtered in through the curtains as I opened my eyes to the sound of Gran and Gramps placing dishes and silverware on the kitchen table. My room was closest to the kitchen, so whenever they banged around in there, it always woke me up. For a second, I was reminded of my high school days, when the smell of Gran’s fresh-cooked waffles would waft down the hallway before school. With a smile, I remembered what day it was and focused my attention on the blonde hair splayed across my arm.

My wife, Cassie, lay curled up next to me, her ass pressed tightly up against my groin.

My wife.

Someone actually loved me enough to not only put up with my shit, but to agree to put up with it for the rest of her life. She was probably insane on some level, but I’d take it. Whatever kept this woman by my side was fine by me. I wasn’t sure what it was about being married, but the pieces that used to spin out of control inside me actually felt settled now. Knowing that Cassie had vowed to be mine forever filled me with a sense of comfort I’d never known I was missing.

In that moment, I felt like I could do anything. I could put on a cape, sprout some wings, and save the whole fucking world if I wanted to. And the best part was, the girl by my side wasn’t going anywhere. She’d sew a J on that cape and watch me fly if I asked her to.

How did I just revert to a twelve-year-old with superhero fantasies? Fucking loser.

I reached my arm around Cassie’s bare waist, my fingers exploring the side of her body I couldn’t see. She moaned and my dick throbbed to life.

“Good morning, wife,” I whispered against her face, before kissing the lobe of her ear and sucking it into my mouth.

Cassie moaned again before turning to face me, her gorgeous green eyes beaming. “Good morning, husband.”

Husband.

Fuck yeah, I’m your husband. I think that means I’m legally allowed to kill anyone who fucks with her, right? Right.

Leaning down, I pulled her lower lip between my teeth and nibbled playfully. Without warning, I pushed my tongue into her open mouth, moving it in sync with hers. I fucking ached to be inside her. Literally. Fucking. Ached.

“I need you,” I breathed out between kisses.

Her hands reached for my lower back, her fingers pulling at my skin to move me into position on top of her. I did as she silently asked, and she pushed her knees apart in welcome. “I guess that’s a yes?” I joked, sliding inside her before she changed her mind.

“Oh God, Jack,” she moaned, then bit her lip. “Go slow.”

“Jesus, Cassie. Do you know how hard it is to go slow when you feel this fucking good?” I attempted to manage my thrusts, but my dick was uncooperative. Like it had a mind of its own, it betrayed the commands from my brain. “I’m sorry, babe, but it won’t listen.”

She giggled underneath me as a line formed between her eyebrows. “What won’t listen?”

“My dick,” I breathed out.

Her hips moved beneath me, rising and falling in perfect time against me, with me, whatever. “I’m not going to last,” I warned, trying my best to slow the inevitable.

Those beautiful green eyes met mine before she gripped the back of my neck and pulled my mouth to hers. Our tongues explored each other with increasingly frantic desperation. I moved in and out of her perfection, my hard-on growing with each thrust.

“I feel you getting bigger inside me.” Her breath was hot against my mouth. “It’s such a turn-on, Jack.”

“You really shouldn’t have said that.” Those words were all it took to send me over the edge. With one last thrust, I lost myself inside of her. Cassie’s mouth fell open as pleasure coursed through her body. I watched as she found her own release and shuddered when it was done.

“God, you’re beautiful. I love you so much,” I said as I ran my fingers through her hair.

She smiled and said, “I love you too. Always,” and I was instantly reminded of how lucky I was to have her.

“Always,” I agreed. “We should get up. I smell Gran’s cooking and they’re already in the kitchen.”

Face flushed, she buried her head into my pillow. “Do you think they heard us?”

I laughed. “They didn’t hear us. But we’re married now, so we can do this stuff.”

“Jack! Don’t be disrespectful.”

“Me? You’re the disrespectful one,” I teased before planting a kiss on her forehead. “Now get up. Unless you plan on eating breakfast naked. Honestly, I don’t think Gramps would mind. Or Dean.”

Her face twisted in mock horror and she smacked me playfully. “You’re disgusting.”

A little while later, we settled into our seats at the table and I noticed Dean heading our way. I palmed a blueberry muffin and waited. He walked through the entryway and I hurled the muffin.

“Seriously?” He looked down to see the crumbled pastry at his feet.