Page 16 of Just Married

When Peyton takes the first step, and the silky-smooth skin of her leg is revealed every thought about modesty goes out the window. The slit is cut ridiculously high on her thigh. It would be nothing to slip my hand inside and straight to her pussy. With every step she takes, I feel a possessiveness rising up inside me. Every fucker in this room is staring at my wife, cocks hard for what’smine.

It takes all of my self-control not to snarl like a wild animal and throw her over my shoulder and carry her upstairs to my room, lay her out on the bed, and fuck her senseless. I close my eyes and take a steadying breath. The moment I open them, they unerringly find hers. I expect her to be avoiding my gaze, but she’s looking at me with heat and…Longing?

Surely, it’s just myimagination.

Has tobe.

The music changes, announcing the bride, but I still can’t pry my eyes away. Then the officiant is speaking, and I know I should be paying attention, but I’m entranced. Peyton’s gaze never waivers from mine. I’m brought back to reality when Theo whisper-shouts at me for the rings. Peyton’s cheeks flush pink when she realizes we’ve been caught staring. She avoids looking at me through the rest of the ceremony, except for the quick side-long glances she throws my way. I can’t help smiling every time she looks, and I feel like a million bucks when her blush returns and her lips quirk up into a smallsmile.

Two hours and what feels like a thousand pictures later, we make our way to the reception. Peyton and I are, once again, sat side by side at dinner. I thought for a minute that she would demand the seating arrangements be changed, but she sat quietly beside me. Though, this time, her quietness isn’t because she’s ignoring me. No, she’s studying me from the corner of her eye and surreptitiously watchingme.

The dinner seems to be over in a flash, and it’s time to cut the cake and make our toasts to the bride and groom. I’ve never been the romantic type, and the speech I prepared reflects my ineptitude. As I look down at my wife—my wife—my words comeeasily.

“I had a whole speech prepared for this toast, but it no longer feels right to talk about how Theo wet the bed until he wasnine.”

Everyone laughs at this, but teasing Theo is no longer my goal. Looking at how genuinely happy he is sitting there beside his bride, knowing that he did everything in his power to give Jillian the wedding of her dreams, I’m flooded with guilt at denying Peyton a day like this. She deserves the wedding she’s always dreamt about, not a quickie wedding with a cheesy Elvisimpersonator.

“Call me jaded, but I’ve never put much value on big fancy weddings or romance in general. This weekend has opened my eyes in so many ways.” I pause, looking down at Peyton as she nervously chews her bottom lip. If things weren’t so fucked up between us right now, I’d caress her cheek and let her know there isn’t a reason to be nervous. Hopefully, she can see the sincerity in myeyes.

“But now… Now I can see why it’s important. It’s about giving the woman you love what she wants. It’s about making her happy no matter what. It’s about stepping into the future with the one and only person you want to grow old with. It’s the start offorever.”

I’m talking directly to Peyton, and from the tears shimmering in her eyes, I know she knows. I get caught up in watching her and almost forget that I’m standing in front of a hundred people who are waiting for me to finish myspeech.

I clear my throat and raise my glass. “To Theo and Jillian, may your love be ever-lasting.”

___

Peyton is standing on the edge of the dance floor watching Theo twirl Jillian around. She’s smiling, her whole face lighting up at the sight. She looks absolutely breathtaking. I want nothing more than to have her in my arms, smiling at me with as much love and adoration as Jillian has for mybrother.

I make my way through the crowd of people, stopping just behind Peyton. I’m instantly surrounded by her sweet honeysuckle scent. My cock responds to her nearness, but I rein in my desire because now isn’t thetime.

The song ends, and more couples move onto the dance floor. Peyton’s shoulders sag, not enough for most to notice, but I do. She went from practically effervescent to holding the weight of the world on her shoulders, and I hate that I’ve played a part in making her feel thatway.

“Dance with me, beautiful.” I meant it as a question, but it sounds like a demand. She turns her big doe eyes on me, indecision warring in her mind. “It’s just a dance, Peyton. Please,” Iadd.

She gives me a little nod, and I lead her to the dance floor. The song is a slow one, so I take her into my arms, holding her closer than is entirely necessary, but she doesn’t push me away. I count it as a win, small as it may be. We dance in silence through one song, then the next. As the third song starts, Peyton pulls away slightly and looks up atme.

“Kingston.”

She says my name so quietly that if we weren’t so close, I wouldn’t have heard her. The way she’s looking at me is almost painful. There is so much turmoil in her gaze. I’d give anything to take away all of her doubts, but I don’t know how. The only thing that will do that is time and the only way I can have time is if she gives it tome.

“Peyton,” I say withreverence.

“What are we going to do?” sheasks.

“Give me a chance. Giveusachance.”

I cup her cheek with one hand, still holding her close with the other as we slowly move to the song. She closes her eyes and presses her face into my hand, seeking the comfort I’moffering.

“I’m scared,” shewhispers.

“I know, sweetheart. I’m scared, too,” I replyhonestly.

It’s the truth. She has the power to give me everything I’ve ever wanted or to take it away. I’ve never let myself be vulnerable like this with anyone, but I have to do things differently with Peyton. I need her to know exactly how I feel and that I am serious about her—about us. Our marriage might have started out in a less than desirable way, but I want it more thananything.

“What are we going todo?”

She repeats her earlier question, but I sense that she’s not truly looking for an answer. So, I do the only thing I can; I pull her closer as wedance.

---