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ALLISON

W atching Susie Beth attempt to hide her attraction to Kevin keeps Allison from thinking about how little time she has left with Russell. It doesn’t, however, keep her from noticing his presence, whether he’s close to her or across the room. Her body seems to have a homing beacon where he’s concerned.

The light brunch passes by quickly. Before she’s gotten herself mentally ready for the emotional event the actual wedding will be, it’s time for her to make her way down the aisle.

“Ready?” Russell holds out his elbow for her to take. Allison hopes he doesn’t notice the tremble in her hand as she reaches for him. He places his right hand over hers, that’s resting in the crook of her left elbow. “Don’t be nervous. I’ve got you, sugar,” Russell murmurs in her ear. She gives him a nod, just when the music begins to play. Taking a deep breath, Allison straightens her spine. I’ve got this!

Allison manages to make it down the aisle and to her designated spot without falling and embarrassing herself or Russell, who is a rock for her in the storm of her anxiety. Even once they’ve parted to go to their respective places, Russell’s steady unwavering gaze calms her nerves.

The music changes to the wedding march. Everyone turns to watch the bride emerge from the hotel. Emma is a gorgeous bride. Her blonde hair is in a half-updo braid. Her veil trails down her back and her face is covered in front. Her head is down, watching her step as she exits the building, but once she’s clear, her head comes up. Instantly a brilliant smile lights up her face.

Allison shifts her gaze to the groom, noticing tears in Curtis’s eyes when he sees Emma for the first time in her dress. His love for Emma radiates off him. Emma is one lucky bitch! Will I ever have someone look at me that way?

Her eyes dart to Russell without conscious thought. He is watching her, too. The look he is giving her takes her breath. A sexy smile spreads over his face that conveys a promise of what is to come after the ceremony.

Lord! Have mercy on me and speed up time so we can get to the good stuff, but, then, slow it down so I never have to leave him. Shit! Don’t think along those lines, Allison. You’re only going to end up hurt.

Allison forces herself to look away and focus on the ceremony. She’ll deal with her crazy attachment to Russell and the heartache it’ll likely cause her later. For now, she’s going to enjoy seeing Emma so happy and commit this day to her memories.

Worm

Worm can tell Allison is nervous when it comes time for them to walk down the aisle. He isn’t nervous about the ceremony, but he is anxious about what lies ahead. He is catching feelings for Allison. He hasn’t wanted to admit it, but the reality is staring him in the face. No matter how many times, he’s reminded himself it can’t go anywhere, that it’s just about the sex, his heart hasn’t been listening.

When they reach the end of the aisle, he gives her hand that’s holding his arm a little squeeze of reassurance before they part. He tries to focus on the ceremony, but his eyes keep drifting over to check on Allison. The wedding march begins to play and everyone’s attention turns to the building where Emma will emerge, but he keeps his eyes on Allison.

A gorgeous smile comes over her when she sees Emma exit the building, holding tightly to her father’s arm. Worm glances at Emma, noting she looks radiant and happy. He focuses once again on Allison who is giving him a come-hither look. He smiles back at her, images of her spread out on the bed and on her knees taking his cock flash in his mind. He can’t wait to hear her moaning and calling his name when she comes.

Allison flushes, like she is remembering their times together, too. She looks back at Emma, so Worm does his best to focus on the wedding, too. The wedding is perfect, everything goes off without a hitch. Worm pays close attention to Allison’s reactions to the couple saying their vows, pledging their lives to one another.

Would she ever consider marriage? She’s indicated she’s married to her job and isn’t looking for a relationship, but you can’tbe in a wedding without thoughts of your own future crowding in and making you think about it. For the first time in a long time, Worm is thinking about marriage, and it isn’t giving him the heebee jeebees like it always has in the past. Why is that? He knows the answer, but the weight of his responsibilities is still there. He can’t allow his wants to supersede them. Family comes first.

Suddenly it’s time to escort Allison back down the aisle, trailing behind the bride and groom. He could swear electricity sparked between him and Allison when their eyes met and arms touched. He’s really hoping the picture taking and reception are over in record time. He needs her now, not later.

Susie Beth is again in charge, directing them where to go once they’ve all cleared the guest seats. “I need the wedding party to curve back around to the alter please. Parents of the bride and groom also should head that way. All other guests, please head over to the tent. Appetizers and drinks will be served until time for dinner. Thank you all for your cooperation.”

“I need you out of that dress, sugar,” Worms whispers in Allison’s ear, what feels like hours later. He feels her shiver and goosebumps erupt over her exposed skin. “You like the sound of that?” Her head dips once, enough to let him know her answer. His hands are on her waist and they grip her a little tighter.

He’s standing just behind her posing for pictures with the rest of the wedding party. The attendants are grouped by couples on either side of the bride and groom. They’ve been at this for nearly an hour, even though they’d taken all those pictures this morning. He can’t help wondering if all this is necessary. How many pictures do they need?

“Allison, you and Russell stay there,” Susie Beth directs when the photographer at last declares she’s gotten everything she needs. The next thing he knows, Allison’s parents are joining them for more pictures. Allison tenses up, letting Worm know he isn’t the only one uncomfortable with this development. Allison opens her mouth to say something, but Susie Beth seems to be determined, he and Allison have pictures takenwith her parents.

Allison’s mother is beaming up at them. “Thank you, Russell for indulging me. I asked Susie Beth if we could have a few made of Allison with her attendant.” Well, damn, I can’t say no to this sweet lady who reminds me so much of Allison.

“You’re welcome, ma’am. It’s my pleasure.” Allison leans into him a little more and her head tilts up so she can look at him over her shoulder.

“Thank you,” she mouths, when her parents are distracted by Susie Beth giving them directions on where to stand and how she wants them to pose. He again gives her waist a little squeeze. He’s quickly coming to realize he’d do just about anything for this woman.

Allison

Oh my God! Allison is freaking out more than just a little. Why is her mother wanting them all to have pictures taken together? Her mother is acting like Russell is her boyfriend and not just her attendant. Glancing at her father, she can tell he is wondering the same thing, but like always, he’s indulging her mother. He rarely denies her anything, and normally has the patience of Job when it comes to her mother.

If Allison were being completely honest with herself, she’d admit there’s a change in her mother and in the way her parents are interacting. While they’ve always gotten along well, there’s an undercurrent in their relationship now that wasn’t there the last time Allison had been home. Her father is more attentive and her mother seems to have lost her ‘holier-than-thou’ attitude.

She fears what this means. Her mother’s doctor’s appointment pops into her head causing her to worry even more. Her mother has lost weight, but she’d told Allison she wasn’t sick. Her mother wouldn’t lie to her. Would she?

“Smile, Allison!” Susie Beth scolds from her post beside the photographer. “You look like you just ate a green persimmon.” Allison would love to throat punch Susie Beth right now. Her parents turn, giving her a worried look and she can feel Russell tense behind her.

“Sorry!” Allison calls trying to sound normal and not upset. “These shoes are killing my feet.” Not a lie! Just not the whole truth.

An hour later, the reception is in full swing. They’ve greeted the bride and groom and eaten dinner. Emma and Curtis have had their first dance and are busy cutting the cake. They are adorable cutting the cake together and trying not to get icing all over the other as they feed each other a piece of cake. “Smash it in her face!” Leslie calls out when Curtis holds up a bite to Emma’s mouth.

Curtis shoots Leslie a death glare. Even though it’s a wedding tradition, he’d never do anything to cause Emma stress. Having icing smeared all over her face would definitely stress Emma. She’s been subconscious about her weight for as long as Allison can remember. It seems Curtis knows his woman well, or he’s just a really nice guy, because he feeds her so carefully.

Allison sighs at the sweetness of it. The love shining in the couple's eyes as they gaze at one another is evident. Russell’s arm comes around her shoulders pulling her into his side. How is it, he seems to know just what I need and when? Allison gives him her weight.

“I need all the single guys to gather over here!” Kevin calls out when the cake cutting is over. Susie Beth is making a production of placing a chair in the center of the dance floor.

“Come on Emma! Time for Curtis to get that garter belt!” Hoots and cat calls erupt around the room. Allison giggles at the flush coloring Emma’s cheeks. The couple makes their way to the set up. Curtis urges Emma into the seat. He makes a big production of inching the hem of her dress up. When he’s almost reached where the garter should be, he stops. “Close your eyes or turn around,” he bellows. “No one gets to see that much of her, but me.”

A chorus of ahhs in female voices fills the room. All the men respectfully turn their backs on the couple. Allison knows this gesture has made this so much more comfortable for Emma. Curtis eases her dress up higher. His eyes never leave hers as he lowers his head to take her garter in his teeth and then he slowly pulls it down her thigh.

“All right, guys! Get ready to catch that garter!” Susie Beth exclaims, signaling the men to turn back around. Curtis hams it up, covering his eyes and flinging the garter over his shoulder into the mass of single men gathered behind him. Several of the guys jump to catch it. Virus has a confused look on his face when he comes out the victor.

“All the single ladies!” Susie Beth yells, when the garter throw is finished “Over here! Time to catch the boutique!” Allison hasn’t planned to get on it, but Susie Beth and her mother aren’t taking no for an answer. With all the female cousins married, it’s only Allison, Curtis’s sister, and a few of the girlfriends of Curtis’s teammates that are gathered to participate.

“Ready?” Emma asks, glancing over her shoulder at them. “One. Two. Three!” She flings the bouquet into the air. Allison watches in shock and dismay as it flies right into her hands.

“WooHoo!” Susie Beth shouts, fist pumping the air. “Allison is the next to fall victim to the Looovee Bug!” Allison grins, trying to be a good sport while shaking her head to deny it. Inside, she knows, it’s too late. She’s already been bitten. The question is will she succumb to the sickness?

The other ladies are patting on her while giving her shit about falling in love. She looks up to see Russell’s eyes on her with an unreadable expression on his face. She gives him a smile and shrugs her shoulders hoping for nonchalance, hoping he doesn’t freak out and decide not to speak to her the rest of the weekend in fear she’ll have the feels from catching the bouquet.

“Time to send the happy couple off for the night!” Susie Beth declares suggestively. Everyone gathers around, creating two lines for the couple to walk though. Everyone is tossing birdseed at Emma and Curtis as they run between the lines.

When the couple has departed, the DJ fires up the sound system once again. Music blares inside the tent and couples begin to flood the dance floor.

“Come on sugar,” Russell rumbles in her ear. “Dance with me?” Allison takes his hand and allows him to lead her out onto the temporary dance floor. He holds her close as they begin to sway to the music.

Russell moves them around the dance floor like an expert. Their bodies move fluidly like they’ve been dancing together all their lives. The longer they dance the more turned on Allison becomes and it seems Russell is feeling it too if the large bulge pressing into her lower abdomen is anything to go by.

The moment the song ends, Russell takes her by the hand leading her out of the tent and back toward the hotel. “I need you, sugar,” he says huskily. “I can’t wait another minute. Are you okay with that?”

“Yes, Russell,” Allison answers in a matching husky tone. “Take me to bed or lose me forever,” she quotes a line from Top Gun. Russell’s sexy grin has moisture leaking from her core to coat her thighs. She hadn’t bothered with underwear this morning. The bridesmaid’s dress is long enough to not flash anyone, and she’d known she’d want Russell so badly she’d want to save time.

They reach her room in record time, foregoing the elevator and taking the stairs.