Page 59 of Kandi's Crush: A BWWM Sweet Billionaire Romance

At the very least, I hoped that seeing our friends and family toast our marriage would momentarily lift our spirits.

Kandace walked out of the bedroom and stood before me in a soft white strapless floor-length dress. She’d spent her morning at the hair salon getting her hair straightened and swept into an elegant updo which showed off her graceful neck.

“How do I look?”

My eyes focused on the heaving mounds visible from the top of her gown. I pointed to my dick with a smirk, and she walked into my outstretched arms. I wrapped myself around her, wanting her to feel the love and admiration I held for her. She sighed against my chest.

“You look like a perfect gentleman, but we both know that you’re anything but a gentleman.” I gave her ass a playful swat. She jumped a little before she wiggled her bottom and laughed. “You’re perfect. But keep that up and we’ll be late to our party, because that smack just made me a little wet.”

Our private black town car arrived in front of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel at the designated time. On the drive over, she looked out the window and absentmindedly snapped the small white evening clutch open and shut. I knew she was nervous at the prospect of our first public event and seeing her mother. Celeste was such a live wire—you never knew what she would or wouldn’t do.

“Hey there. Are you ready? Don’t worry. I’ll always be on your right-hand side,” I promised. She rewarded my chivalry with a thankful smile. “Let’s go, babe. We have people waiting for us.”

At the elevator, an usher handed us two feather-embellished parasols, black for me and white for Kandace. We grinned at each other when a gentleman in a pinstripe suit and a Stetson hat held out two feathered fans and took a deep bow. He would be the Grand Marshal of our little parade. He blew a whistle, and the brass band, all dressed in bright red suits, began to play a song I couldn’t place. But judging by the gleam in my wife’s eyes, she knew.

“It’s “Crazy in Love” by Beyoncé!” she yelled over the loud blare of the horns. “My mother remembered I wanted to enter to this song at my wedding!” Pure, unadulterated glee lit up her face as she began to dance in rhythm with the music. Her energy was infectious. I felt the joy bubble up in my chest and began to dance with her.

For the first times in our lives, we were at the front of a second line parade. The Grand Marshal joined our dance party, though his moves were far smoother and more rhythmic than ours. From inside the reception hall, an emcee announced us as “Chadwick and Kandace St. Clair“ before the ushers swung the large heavy doors open. Camera flashes and bright spotlights temporarily blinded me, but once my eyes adjusted, I made out the crowded ballroom filled with our family and friends.

Our parents had spared no expense. I had explained to my mother that Kandace’s parents wanted to contribute, and they had all agreed to split the costs down the middle. There were dozens of circular tables adorned with beautiful floral centerpieces. There was a large cake near the dance floor and a long banquet table filled with gifts.

It looked like the party had started long before we arrived, as each guest had a drink in one hand and a white handkerchief in the other. We walked through the crowd of applause and I received many claps on the back. The brass band led us directly to a small table for two in front of the dance floor.

Another spotlight shone on our parents as they clapped and smiled at our entry. The mothers wore coordinating navy gowns while our fathers had donned black tuxedos.

My eyes drifted to Celeste. She danced with Franklin with a phony smile on her face. Our guests likely didn’t notice, but Kandace and I both knew she hated him and was putting on a show for our five hundred guests.

Once the noise of the crowd died down, the wait staff handed us flutes of champagne as my father’s loud voice boomed in the reception hall.

“Please raise your glasses to my son, Chadwick, and my beautiful daughter, Kandace.” Celeste shot him a glare, but Martin St. Clair was well-versed in public presentation and appearances. He ignored her stare and added, “Congratulations on your marriage. Genny and I want lots of grandchildren. To Chadwick and Kandace! Salut!”

The crowd repeated a chorus of congratulations before tilting back the glasses filled with amber fluid.

Kandace put on a brave front as her father took the microphone.

“Your mother and I love you more than words can describe. We wish you two a lifetime of happiness. Everyone join me in a toast to sweethearts. May all sweethearts become married couples, and may all married couples remain sweethearts.” Franklin’s words were surprisingly familiar and warm. He smiled at Celeste standing at his side and she flashed another fake smile. Kandace’s eyebrows raised and fell.

We both walked onto the stage to hug all of our parents. Kandace’s face crumpled as Celeste’s arms encircled her but didn’t touch her with any pressure.

Someone passed the microphone to Kandace’s friends. Representing the group, her best friend, Natasha, delivered a humorous and loving speech.

“To quote, Dr. Seuss, ‘You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep, because your reality is finally better than your dreams.’ Congratulations Chadwick and Kandace! We love you!” She raised her glass before taking a sip.

James went next, speaking for my friends. In true James form, he wore a grey tuxedo that was as shiny as aluminum foil. I was a little worried. I’d known him a long time, and he knew all the skeletons in my closet. He grinned and raised his champagne flute to me. I held my breath and prepared myself for an embarrassing speech.

“Some of you think the four of us are best friends. We’re not. We are brothers. Our brother is happy, and we are thankful he found love. Because, let’s be honest, everyone’s tired of reading about your exploits online.” The crowd roared with laughter. “They say you don’t marry the person you can live with—you marry the person you can’t live without. Congratulations to Chadwick and his lovely bride, our new sister, Kandace.”

After the rounds of toasts and speeches, the emcee signaled that it was time for dinner and that Pop-Pop Alexander would say the blessing. The reception hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. After the chorus of amens, the elegantly clothed waitstaff brought plates to each of the tables.

“I can’t wait to get you out of this dress. I will rip your panties off with my teeth,” I murmured, leaning down to kiss her bare shoulder. A collective female swoon followed by a chorus of awws echoed throughout the room. Kandace looked down at her lap and tried to hide her blush as we were both reminded that there was a spotlight on us. She bit her lip and giggled a response that was music to my ears.

“I’m not wearing any,” she whispered. “We still need to cut the cake, and there will be dancing. Then, we can leave this place.”

My jaw dropped, her erotic admission stunned me. I didn’t care about dinner, cake, drinks or dancing. I wanted to throw her over my shoulder and carry her to the nearest bed.

“I believe there is an empty banquet room. We can sneak off. Or I can get us a room.” The palm of my hand rubbed her lower back. “How about it?”

“There is a literal spotlight on us. Do you want hundreds of nosy eyes to follow us out of this room? Do you think we can disappear for an hour? Everyone’ll know.”

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