A Merry Vested Wedding - Melanie Moreland Page 0,19

Riley, we’d best get at it.”

“Excellent answer, Mrs. Riley.”

Addison

I loved hearing Brayden call me Mrs. Riley. We had agreed, for business purposes, I would remain Addison Ridge, but in my personal life, I would be Addison Riley.

I had been half in love with him my entire life. He was always there, a constant friend and supporter. I tried to date, feeling as if I shouldn’t have the feelings I had for Brayden since we were almost family. But the few boys I had dated never measured up. I didn’t feel the same way when they held my hand as I did when Brayden would. They looked bored when I would talk, as if they really didn’t care what I had to say. Brayden always listened. Asked questions. Argued with me on subjects we didn’t agree on. He challenged me. The bottom line was, he completed me. We fit as if made for each other. Once I got over my worry about our family ties, I accepted that—and him—entirely, and I had never looked back. Neither had he. Our course in life was tied with the other, and we were both happy to go with it.

I couldn’t help my smile as they announced us, and we walked into the reception amid the loud applause. It wasn’t a huge wedding by society standards. My dad and his partners kept their business and private life separate, so there were few unknown faces—mostly the plus-ones. Our social circle, and that of our parents, was tight-knit, so the numbers weren’t large—our family made up most of the crowd.

Brayden swept me into his arms, and we danced our first dance as a couple, alone on the floor. He was an excellent dancer, and we moved well together. He held me tight in his arms, resting his head along mine and humming with the music, occasionally making quiet remarks.

“Our first dance of forever.”

“You look beautiful in the candlelight, Addi.”

“I love how you feel in my arms.”

“Have I mentioned how much I love this dress?” He slid his hand up my spine, his long fingers splayed wide. “I’m looking forward to seeing how it looks on the floor of our bedroom later.”

He pressed a kiss to my head. “And seeing what surprises you have on underneath it.”

He dropped his head to my shoulder, running his mouth over my bare skin with light brushes of his lips. “Making love to my wife. Fucking her until she screams my name,” he whispered darkly into my ear.

I felt flushed and breathless by the time we took our seats for dinner.

Brayden seemed calm, smiling and laughing, but I saw the desire in his eyes. Felt it in the grip he had on my hand. The way he kept me close, finding excuses to touch me. Throwing himself enthusiastically into the crowd’s demands for kisses during dinner. The glasses would barely start clinking and he would be on his feet, dragging me into his arms, his mouth hard and possessive on mine.

Brayden had been my first and only lover. I was his. When we started dating, we had a frank discussion, and I told him I had always envisioned waiting for my wedding night. My virginity meant something to me, and unlike many girls at school, it wasn’t something I was anxious to get rid of or give away.

The shocked look on his face would have made me laugh except for the seriousness of our talk. He was quiet for a moment, then took my hand.

“If that’s what you want, Addi, I’ll wait. We have the rest of our lives.”

The next five years were filled with temptations. We kissed and touched, explored, learned the pleasure we could give each other, the pleasure we could take, without ever having actual intercourse. Orgasms were plentiful and enjoyable. I knew his body as well as he knew mine. We learned it all together, and although I knew there were times that Brayden wanted more, that his frustration levels had reached a maximum, he never lost his temper or pushed. He respected my decision, and although sometimes I was strongly tempted, I remained steadfast in my decision.

Until the night of Brayden’s twenty-first birthday.

All he wanted was dinner with some friends, then to head to Port Albany. It was his favorite place on earth. We were surprised to find ourselves alone. Aiden was away with my dad and Maddox, looking at a piece of land up north. My mom was in Toronto, and although Cami had waved as