Page 40 of The Claiming Series: Collection 1

Daisy

One Month Later

“Is everyone here a billionaire?” I ask Lily, glancing around at the wedding guests. We’re sitting at one of the tables in the hotel function room where they’re holding the small reception.

Lily chuckles. “Not everyone, no. Apart from Callum, there’s only Jensen, who owns The Lockhart Club in Houston.

He and Callum grew up together, along with Jared and Dexter,” she says, glancing across at the three men as they stand by the punch bowl talking with Drayton.

“Jared and Dexter are firefighters, so definitely not billionaires.”

I follow Lily’s gaze to the four men by the buffet table.

Callum and Jared are both tall, but Dexter and Dray are both a good head taller.

Dexter is a beast of a man who looks like he could crush a small car in one hand, but it’s Dray who holds my attention, looking edible in a dark gray suit and tie that emphasizes his broad shoulders and muscular thighs.

“What about Ashton Stanbrook? Pretty sure he’s a billionaire,” I point out.

“And then some,” Lily confirms, glancing across at him and his wife, Ivy, as they stand talking to Lily’s new husband.

Callum is one of the most genuine people I’ve ever met, and I can totally see how Lily has fallen head-over-heels for him. It’s clear he’s absolutely besotted with his wife, supporting and standing by her while she dealt with a challenging situation with her ex-boss.

My best friend looks stunning in her simple ivory wedding dress, her dark hair swept up into a stylish updo, her hazel-green eyes sparkling with happiness.

Today has been wonderful—and emotional—watching Lily and Callum get married.

Lily called me three weeks ago to say they were tying the knot – they both knew it was right and didn’t want to wait.

Dray and I traveled here from Garland yesterday morning to be her maid of honor, and I feel like a million bucks in my gold bridesmaid dress.

Despite the amount of money in the room, the wedding has been an understated affair.

Lily and Callum wanted it to be intimate, so the ceremony itself was at a registry office in San Antonio with family and close friends in attendance.

Now it’s early evening, and everyone is back at the five-star hotel for the reception.

Callum has also been kind enough to pay for everyone’s hotel rooms for the duration of their stay.

“I can’t believe you’re a married woman,” I murmur, shaking my head in disbelief as my gaze returns to my friend.

“Ha! Said the woman who got engaged in the space of two days,” Lily snorts.

I grin, my eyes falling to the simple solitaire Dray placed on my ring finger a few weeks ago. “Like you said, when you know, you know.”

“Ain’t that the truth,” she smirks. “I think Dray is perfect for you. The man can’t keep his eyes off you.”

“The feeling’s mutual,” I murmur, proving the point as my eyes are drawn back to him. My stomach jolts with excitement when I find his gaze already on me. Judging by the heat of that look, he’s already thinking about how he’s going to be peeling this dress off me in our hotel room later.

“I guess I’ve lost you to Colorado permanently, huh?” Lily asks with a knowing smile.

“Dray offered to transfer to a precinct here in Houston, but I’m happy in Garland. I never thought I would be, what with all the memories there, but I’m making brand new ones now. Happy ones,” I reply.

“And I guess you’ll be close by if anything happens with your mom?” Lily points out. “Have you heard anything from her?”

I shake my head sadly. “I haven’t seen or spoken to her for a month. Last I heard, her ex-boyfriend was living there again. I keep expecting Dray to get that phone call, you know? He hasn’t said anything, but I think he’s been keeping an eye on her from a distance.”

“You mean through his job?”

“Yeah,” I nod. “I know she doesn’t want anything to do with me, but Dray takes his responsibilities toward the residents seriously. And, whatever else, she’s still a resident of Garland. ’

“I’m so sorry about how things worked out, honey,” Lily says, reaching for my hand and squeezing it. “I still can’t believe the things she said to you. I hope you know how much you’re loved despite what she told you.”

I squeeze her hand back. “I do. Thank God for you and Danny and Dray. My sheriff came into my life at the perfect time.”

“Some things are fated, I guess,” she says, looking dreamily at her husband.

I smile as I think about the news I have for Dray later. “Yeah, I guess they are.”

“How does this damned thing come off?” Dray growls two hours later as he wrestles with my dress.

I giggle, helping with zips and buttons until my dress pools at my feet, leaving me in my black silk teddy and stockings.”

“Holy fucking shit,” Dray grunts, his eyes running all over me.

I smirk. “ You like?”

“No, I fucking love,” he replies, still gaping at me. “How the fuck did I get so lucky?”

“I think that’s my line,” I laugh softly, sauntering toward him. I slide his suit jacket off his shoulders and reach up to loosen his tie, going on tiptoes to pull it over his head. “So, did you enjoy yourself today, baby?”

“Yeah. It was great to meet Lily in person,” he replies, dropping his hands to my hips and pulling me closer. “I know we’ve talked on the phone, but it’s not the same as meeting face to face. They look great together. Callum makes her happy.”

“Like you make me happy,” I murmur, working open the buttons on his shirt to reveal his broad chest with its sexy dusting of hair. I lean forward, brushing my lips over a flat male nipple.

“Sweet thing, you’re killing me here,” he groans, cupping my ass and grinding me against him.

“I’ve barely started, Sheriff,” I smirk up at him.

I squeal as he scoops me up and stalks toward the bed, tossing me into the middle.

I’m laughing as he dips his head to claim my mouth, but by the time he’s stripped me out of the black silk teddy, my laughter has turned to moans of pleasure.

I’m naked apart from my stockings, but Dray doesn’t seem in any hurry to remove those.

“Fuck, you are the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen,” he mutters, moving away briefly to remove the rest of his clothing.

“Again, I think that’s my line,” I reply, licking my lips at the sight of his large cock.

I clamber from the bed and drop to my knees in front of him, sliding my hands up his muscular thighs and cupping his balls in my hands. I massage them gently, and Dray’s head falls back with a loud groan.

“Fuck!”

I lean in, flicking my tongue over the head of his cock, and it jerks involuntarily. A bead of pre-cum blossoms on the slit and rolls down his length. I chase it with my tongue, licking the underside of him from base to tip.

“Jesus, don’t stop,” Dray mutters, fisting his hands in my hair.

I didn’t know anything about giving a blow job before I met Dray, but over the last month, it’s become one of my favorite things to do for him, knowing it drives him crazy seeing me on my knees with his thick cock in my mouth .

The taste of him zings across my tongue, salty and manly.

Opening my mouth, I take him slowly inside, stretching my mouth open as far as I can and practically unhinging my jaw to fit him inside.

Dray gasps and groans as I bob up and down on his length.

I hum in pleasure as I circle my tongue around the head of his cock, reveling in the sounds I’m drawing from his throat.

Dray moves his hips in little thrusts, pushing his cock to the back of my throat.

I fight my gag reflex, breathing through my nose and swallowing around him as he fucks my mouth.

Giving him pleasure always works me up, too, and I slip my hand between my legs, parting my folds and rubbing my slick pussy.

“Fuck, Cherub, are you getting yourself off, too?”

I hum a yes around his shaft while my fingers dance over my clit, feeling my release approaching.

I suck at him furiously, wanting to make him come with me.

Dray pumps his hips once… twice… then stills as he roars his orgasm into the room, unloading his cum down my throat in thick ropes.

I swallow him down, drinking every last drop before licking him clean.

Next thing I know, I’m on my back on the floor, my legs draped over Dray’s shoulders as he buries his face in my pussy.

He licks and sucks and pulls at me, eating me out noisily.

I’m so turned on, it only takes seconds before I’m exploding around his face, squeezing my thighs around his head as I spill my juices into his mouth.

“Oh, God! Oh, fuck!” I choke, shaking and jerking as wave after wave of pleasure bombards me, wringing me out and leaving me boneless in the aftermath.

Dray licks and kisses his way up my body, pausing to suckle my sensitive nipples before burying his face in my throat.

“I love you, sweet thing,” he mutters, his teeth nipping the sensitive skin of my neck.

“I l-love you, t-too,” I hiccup, feeling the first hot tears slide from the corners of my eyes into my hair.

Dray’s head whips up, and his blue eyes narrow on me in concern. “Baby? What’s wrong? Did I hurt you? I know I can get a little rough?—"

I place my fingers over his mouth to stall him. “I’m fine. I think it’s hormones.”

“Time of the month coming up?”

I bite my lip. “Well, that’s the thing. My time of the month came and went two weeks ago. ”

Dray’s eyes widen as the penny drops. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

“Well, if you think I’m saying I might be pregnant, then…

yes.” I hold my breath, not sure what his reaction will be.

This is a huge moment for us. We knew the risks we were taking having unprotected sex.

We fell into each, completely and wholeheartedly, and I think it will destroy me if Dray doesn’t want this child.

“You’re making me a daddy?” he asks, cupping my face in his hands and gazing at me with such reverence it steals the breath from my lungs.

“I—I think so, yes,” I whisper. “Is that… is that okay?”

“Okay? It’s better than okay. It’s fucking awesome!’ he bursts out, a broad smile on his handsome face. “It’s what I’ve been hoping and praying for from the first time I was inside you. Making you pregnant. Making you my wife. Keeping you with me, always.”

The last of my fears trickle away at his words. “Thank God. I was so scared.” I sob, fresh tears rolling down my face. “I know we’re moving at light speed, but I’ve never had anything that feels this right in my life, not ever , until you came along. ”

“We’re not your parents, Daisy,” he says softly, kissing away my tears. “If we’ve made a baby together, it’s a child who will be a product of our love. And any children we have will always know how much they’re loved. They won’t ever be left in any doubt about how much we wanted them.”

“We’re having more than one, huh?” I tease, running my hands over his muscular back.

“I was thinking three or four,” he grins.

“Maybe we should see if I’m pregnant first,” I suggest.

“You didn’t take a test?”

I shake my head. “I wanted to wait and take it with you. Talking of—" I extricate myself from his arms and get to my feet, retrieving the three pregnancy tests I have stashed away ready in my purse and waving them at him.

Dray raises an eyebrow. “Three?”

I nod. “We have to be sure.”

“Okay, sweet thing. Go pee on those sticks,” he grins.

As it turns out, only one of those pregnancy tests is needed.