Page 33 of Billionaire's Surprise

“Maybe once or twice.” Who knew you could actually have a world-famous designer drop everything to make your wedding dress? I guess when you were marrying a billionaire, dreams could become reality. My gown was a sleek, princess fantasyof silk and beads. It weighed a ton and glittered like diamonds when it caught the lights.

In the reception ballroom, huge black-and-white photos of us adorned one wall. We’d had them taken for our engagement, and our planner thought it would be a great idea to decorate with enormous pictures of our love. I’d thought it would be obnoxious, but they actually looked spectacular, especially as a part of the silver and black décor, with thousands of pink and white flowers filling the room.

Of course, I doubted anyone would notice the decorations once Maroon 5 took to the stage. Yes, my crazy, ridiculous husband-to-be had somehow gotten my favorite group to be our wedding band. How was this mylife?

I’d been having a lot ofWhoa!moments while I’d acclimated to being the future spouse of someone with literal money to burn. For the most part, we lived a simple life, but that didn’t mean Fray skimped on grand gestures. I was working on dialing him back.

“Luke will go nuts when he sees you,” I said, eyeing the black dress with silver beading that clung to her curves. It was floor-length but featured a slit to mid-thigh on one side. The halter-style showcased her slim shoulders and allowed a tasteful glimpse of her cleavage.

A blush colored Laura’s cheeks. “Nah…”

“Oh, trust me. He’ll spirit you away the first chance he gets—”

A knock sounded on the door, interrupting me, and Fray’s mom, Sara, poked her head into the cabin. “Ready?”

I nodded. “I was ready a month ago.” I grinned. “Butsomeoneinsisted on awedding.”

She lifted her chin, unapologetic at not letting Fray and I elope. “You’ll thank me for it later. You can’t trade the memories.”

Sara was probably right. And she’d made sure I had plenty of memories of this whole process. She’d taken me under her wing and mothered me as if I were her own little chick. Not only was I getting a husband, but I was acquiring a Mom, Dad and some annoying brothers in the deal. And I loved them all.

Fray didn’t know it, but his family was the greatest gift he’d given me last Christmas. And as I walked down the aisle to the beautiful man of my dreams a few minutes later, I knew it was only the beginning of many gifts we’d give each other, every day for the rest of our lives.

“Hi, wife,” he said, when I stopped beside him, Jacob before us. Jacob had been overjoyed when we’d asked him to marry us at sea on the ship where he reigned.

“No yet,” I murmured.

Jacob chuckled. “Still time to run, Em.”

Fray quickly grasped my hand. “No. Time ran out the day I saw her. Let’s get this done, or do I need to find another officiant.”

“Good luck with that, mate,” his friend retorted. Still, he lifted the tablet he held, and welcomes our guests to our wedding. We had a large contingent of family and friends with us, including several of the billionaires from New York who were friends and associates of the Cassels. From what I’d heard, there’s been some scuffles over appropriate rooms for the lot, and as a result,several enormous yachts were traveling along with the cruise ship. I didn’t care. Fray and I had the same suite as we had a month ago.

A suite I couldn’t wait to return to later, since Fray had stayed with Luke since we’d left port yesterday. He hadn’t liked it one bit, and no he never took his eyes off me. I had a feeling he wouldn’t be much farther away than this for the rest of the cruise.

“I’m not letting you out of my sight,” Fray promised as if reading my thoughts.

I grinned, and as I listened to Jacob launch into the ceremony, Fray’s plans were just fine with me. He already lived in my heart anyway.

Epilogue Two

Emerson

Five Years Later

“Where are you going?” Fray grabbed me around the waist and pulled me back into bed with him. I sprawled over him, resting on his chest, my favorite place to be.

“You dragged me to bed so fast last night, I still need to put your last present under the tree.”

His arms tightened. “The only thing I want is right here.”

His mouth covered mine, and he rolled, covering me with his body. If I’d thought our desire for each other would wain after we’d been together awhile, I’d have been wrong. We were still going strong.

“Well, I want you to open your presents,” I argued.

“Okay.” He started to push up my pajama top.

“Fray,” I protested, though it was mostly a moan. He had me aroused and ready in a split second. Not a difficult feat, since he could do that just by looking at me a particular way. It was ridiculous really. Thankfully, he was just as bad as I was, always needing me, too. I’d lost track of the number of times I’d beensummoned to his office for somesecurity reviewwhich was usually a breach of my panties…by him.

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