As I regained my normal breathing pattern, his eyes locked in on mine. He lowered my jeans slowly along with my panties, and then he freed his cock from the prison of his pants. He wasn’t gentle as his eyes stayed on mine and he shoved his cock into me. His arms held onto the arms of the chair where I was sitting. His thrusts were slow but forceful.
And as the man I was going to marry fucked me in the middle of my living room and I thought about how he was the last man with whom I would ever share this kind of intimacy, I tumbled headfirst into another shattering orgasm that perfectly punctuated my thoughts.
twenty-one
I must’ve tried on twenty gowns, and while they were all beautiful in their own ways, not one was perfect. Not one was “me.”
I had an idea of what I wanted, but I had to be honest with myself. The daughter of Gideon Price was going to be scrutinized on her wedding day.
I truly didn’t care about what anyone thought. The public could take it or leave it. What I did in my life, who I wore…frankly, none of it was anyone’s business. I was born to rock royalty, though, so I was thrust into a spotlight that I neither wanted nor liked.
And that meant, for reasons completely unknown to me, whatever I chose to wear on my wedding day would impact the fashion world.
I preferred my vintage t-shirts and jeans. I didn’t want the attention.
But it was my wedding day.
I wanted to be perfect, but not for the public or the media or the pictures.
I wanted to be perfect for Parker.
My appointment at the bridal boutique started with racks of dresses selected especially for me in my size. The shop owner, Camilla, showed me dress upon dress. I awkwardly chose the ones I found to be the prettiest while I tried not to insult the ones that I didn’t even want to try because they were so far away from who I was.
I was pretty sure my mom would have wanted to be there, but I had no idea when she was coming into town. I didn’t have a maid of honor, and my closest girlfriends were narrowed down to Virginia or Vanessa. I didn’t want to bother either of them for their opinions. On the one hand, Vanessa was still dealing with Keith’s attack. On the other hand, Virginia and Tim’s little flirtation was getting on my nerves. I didn’t particularly want her there with me for such an important occasion.
So I was bridal dress shopping solo with the exception of Bruno keeping watch near the door.
Solo, that is, until I saw a familiar warm face smiling back at me when I emerged from the fitting room.
“Kimmy!” I yelled.
She grinned as she stood to hug me.
I’d never expected to see Parker’s sister, but there she was in the flesh.
“I heard you might need some help picking out wedding gowns, and it just so happens that I’m in town.” She squeezed me, and it felt like a warm hug from my own sister. I’d always wanted one. While I’d only met Kimmy once, she already felt like family.
She pulled back and held my upper arms in her hands as she looked at the dress I was wearing. “That dress is gorgeous, but I’m telling you right now, it’s not the one.”
Camilla’s eyes narrowed in her direction, but Kimmy was right. It was beautiful, but I knew the second I put it on that it wasn’t the one for me.
Maybe I needed someone’s opinion after all. Having Kimmy there would make it a whole lot less awkward when I had to tell Camilla that I wasn’t interested in her gowns.
I headed back into the dressing room, a giddy smile on my face. I realized how lucky I was to have found Parker, but I had to admit that having his sister as part of the package was a pretty good deal.
Kimmy watched me try on five more gowns, and then she turned to the store owner. “Can you give us a minute?”
She nodded, and Kimmy whispered, “Maybe this isn’t even the right store for you. What do you think?”
I shrugged. “I need a dress. I’m getting married in five days.”
“That doesn’t mean you have to settle.”
I nodded.
“Why did you choose this store?”
“My dad recommended it.”
“Like dads know anything about wedding dresses,” she whined.
I laughed.
“He somehow knows the owner. She’s been very attentive. I just think I need something more…” I trailed off, not sure what I needed.
The problem was that these dresses were all the latest styles. They were fresh off the runway. My dad assumed that’s what all women wanted, and I should have been grateful.
But what I really wanted was a vintage gown. Vintage just fit me.
“Vintage?” Kimmy guessed, finishing my sentence.
“Vintage,” I confirmed.
“Do you have a designer in mind?”
I shook my head. “I’ve never been someone who cares about labels.”
“But…?” she asked, drawing out the word as if I had more to add. She barely knew me—we had only met twice now—but somehow she knew me well.
“But all eyes will be on the bride. And I don’t mean the guests we invite. I mean all eyes.”
“Do you care?”
“Not really, but I am representing my dad. You know?”
She nodded like she understood, even though she couldn’t have. No one could, really. She smiled warmly. “Let’s get out of here. Let me take you to lunch and we can figure out a game plan.”
At lunch, I learned that Kimmy was an interior designer who had an eye for fashion. She was elegant and chic, but she was down-to-earth and fun. She was the type of girl who I could see myself gossiping or laughing or crying with. A real, actual girlfriend. A real, actual sister.
After lunch, she said she had somewhere to take me. She didn’t know the streets of Los Angeles very well, so she had me drive while she navigated from the front seat.
We ended up at another bridal shop, but this one specialized in vintage dresses.
The first one I tried on was off the rack, but it was gorgeous. It was made of tulle and had a slip underneath. It had a simple v-neck, and the back mirrored the front. Small flowers and tiny white beads created an arabesque design. When I emerged from the dressing room to stand on a small platform in front of three full-length mirrors, I knew it was the dress for me before I even looked at my reflection.
The price tag was under three hundred dollars, a far cry from the first shop my dad had recommended.
I was pretty sure I’d known it was the one for me the moment I spotted it on the hanger.
I heard Kimmy’s gasp behind me.
“Oh my God! Yes, Roxy! That one! For sure, that one!”
I caught sight of my reflection in the mirror, and I had to admit that Kimmy was right.
This was the one.
I turned and looked from all angles. The three foot train behind me made me look somehow taller. The fabric was feminine against my skin. It fit like a dream. It was like someone made it for me and left it there. It wouldn’t even need alterations.
It was perfect.
Dresses are a lot like the man you’re going to marry.
When you know it’s right, you snap it up the second you realize it.
I paid for the gorgeous gown and some white undergarments to accompany it. I found a barrette made of crystals that would be perfect for any hair design, opting out of a veil that would take away from the intricate femininity of the gown, and I was good to go on my bridal wear.
While I was out for the afternoon with his sister, Parker was squaring away his own formal wear. With my dad’s credit card, the time factor became a complete non-issue. Anything could be done in a short timeframe for the right price.
As I drove Kimmy back to her rental car parked outside of the restaurant where we’d eaten lunch, I asked, “Do you have some place to stay?”