Stand and Defend (Lakes Hockey Series Book 4)

DECEMBER

The fresh snowfall last night makes everything look like a winter wonderland. Pockets of blue sky cut through the overcast clouds. It’s chilly, but I’ve always welcomed the cold.

I peek out our bedroom window and see the cleared area on the ice. The lake isn’t completely frozen over yet, but it’s rock solid along the shore. Snow has been shoveled and packed down to form a walkway, which creates a semicircle at the end, there’s only enough room for our immediate families—plus the Lakes team and their wives. I smile as my mom attaches my veil.

“Your father and I are so impressed by you and who you’ve become. We’re glad you found Camden.”

“That means a lot, Mom. Thank you.” Over the last month, I have dedicated most of my time at Safehouse. I even spearheaded a new off-the-record project on the side—which involves walking some very fine lines with Seven—to assist the most severe domestic abuse cases. I’ve disclosed the story of Bryan to my family—minus the Bluetower details. Though, after seeing the pride in my dad’s eyes, I suspect he already knew I was involved in his demise. Bryan is in prison, and he’s probably safest there, considering the hundreds of investors who want his head on a platter. I stole his freedom, and I’m not giving it back.

My parents apologized for not being here while everything went down. Truthfully, I was thankful they weren’t. It was something I needed to take care of on my own, but I’m glad to have them involved in our life going forward. Who knows what the future will bring for Camden and I. Good things, I’m sure.

“Oh, Jordan. We need your ring.” I haven’t taken it off since he put it on. I wiggle it off and notice an engraving on the inside that I didn’t see before, one word: Priceless. A juxtaposition to I love you this much. I clutch my heart and smile to myself. These are the little surprises that make me fall more in love with him every day.

“Are you ready?”

I nod, barely able to contain my smile. Micky crouches down and grabs one of my snow boots, which I’ll be wearing until I switch to the white stilettos after the ceremony. She helped me pick out the ivory, plunging V-neck crepe wedding dress. It’s appropriate for winter, long sleeves with pearl buttons that go from my wrists to my elbows and match the ones on the back. My mom holds open my floor-length white wool coat, and I slip my arms inside.

Micky glances out the window and clutches my hand. “They’re ready for you.”

CAMDEN

I adjust my cufflinks one final time on the right side of the “altar,” which is technically a patch of snow. My heart flips when I catch sight of her beaming at me as she makes her way to the edge of our lakeshore. That’s my wife. My fucking wife. Since Jordan, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. She seems pretty pleased with me too.

Beside me, Chicken Salad wags her tail, and the ice sings as soon as she steps onto the frozen lake. It gives me goose bumps.

Barrett, our officiant, chuckles behind me. “Singing ice is supposed to be lucky on your wedding day.”

I hum in agreement, but truth is, there could be an earthquake and I’d still feel like the luckiest man alive. With every step closer, I fall harder. The belonging she makes me feel. The safety and stability my life has now that she’s in it. She’s made my world better—she’s made me better. I hug her parents, and they hand her off. She gave herself to me long before today.

They step back to stand with my parents, and Micky takes Jordan’s coat off her shoulders. Goddamn. She looks up at me through her lashes. Jordan is painfully gorgeous every day, but in that wedding dress? She looks every bit the queen she is. Without thinking, I lean in and kiss her. Barrett clears his throat behind us. He can’t fault me for that. She’s my ultimate weakness. Especially in this wedding dress.

I mumble, “When I get you upstairs later, I’m going⁠—”

“Let’s begin,” Barrett barks. I roll my eyes and Jordan blushes.

“Behave.”

Barrett’s speech is touching, and I appreciate him being a part of our day. As we recite our vows, high and low pitches strum, like plunking echoes under the ice. Every kid who grew up playing on frozen lakes can attest to the mystifying, ethereal sounds of newly frozen water. It makes this day all the more special. We exchange rings, and when Barrett finally says I can kiss my bride, our lips lock and the distant ice cracks, shooting thunder across the lake from under our feet. It’s beautiful. Our friends cheer, and we all hustle inside to warm up our rosy cheeks.NôvelDrama.Org: text © owner.

The caterers have set out some of the food—along with the pumpkin muffins and apple scones we requested—it was the obvious answer when we were asked about dessert options. Our reception is low-key and relaxed, exactly how we wanted it. Being with our favorite people, the ones who know us best. The ones we want in our lives because they enrich it. I’m thrilled that Jordan has found a family with the team as much as I have. The wives of the other players have welcomed her with open arms, she fits in effortlessly, and I love watching her laugh and tell stories with the other women as they clink champagne glasses.

The sun begins to set, and I stroll up to the girls. “I’m going to steal her away for a minute.”

Jordan smiles at me, and I slip away to the foyer. When she follows me, I’m waiting with her coat, and she allows me to slide it over her shoulders. We wander to the shore again. The sky drapes in fiery pinks and oranges, making the sparkling snow around us appear in technicolor.

Hand in hand, we step onto the frozen ice. “I wanted one more moment out here with you.”

She turns into me and wraps her hands behind my neck. “Will you dance with me?”

“Always, Sunshine.” I pull her close, and she rests her head on my shoulder. I breathe her in and feel—this is so fucking cliche—I feel complete. We sway on the ice in each other’s arms. “You know we can’t ever move, right?”

“After getting married over singing ice? Yeah, no. We’re never leaving. They’ll bury us in this backyard.”

I tuck my chin down to press a kiss to her hair. “Have you thought more about where you’d like to honeymoon?” We’ve already agreed to go during the offseason. It gives us something to look forward to, but we still haven’t chosen a location.

“Raleigh and Barrett said we could use their place in Hawaii?”

“Hell no. I’m not having sex in their weird cum-covered, baby-making beds.”

She laughs. “Yeah, I’m not quite ready for kids yet. Someday, though.”

“The world could use more of me.” I nod.

Jordan squeezes me tighter. “Definitely. There’s a shortage of humble people.”

I smile down at her and listen to the snow crunching under our feet and the pew-pew-pew of the ice. It’s such a rare, magical experience, and to have it on our wedding day makes it even more special.

Glancing at the house, filled with all of our friends, the windows glowing with warmth against the landscape turning more blue as the sun sets, I imagine filling it with family someday. The world may not need more of me, but I wouldn’t mind creating a few more Jordans.

She shivers against me, and I run my palms up and down her arms. “How much longer before I can take you to bed?”

“Only a couple more hours.”

I groan and spend a few more minutes with her, watching the sun melt into the icy horizon. When we’re ready to rejoin the party, she picks up the hem of her gown and we take our time trekking off the lake.

When we finally say goodbye to everyone, I’m practically shoving people out the door. As soon as the lock turns, I throw her over my shoulder and haul ass to our bedroom. She bounces when I toss her onto the bed and spreads her thighs. Gazing down at her, I remove my tie, unbutton my shirt, and push the suspenders off my shoulders, letting them fall at my thighs. She simpers.

I’m going to undo that column of buttons up her back and work her over in every way imaginable. With my thumb, I caress her tattoo. I love this woman.

“Thank you for not covering your freckles today . . . Now why don’t you push up that white dress, Mrs. Teller, and show me how wet you are.” I help her shove the billowy fabric out of the way, and my eyes nearly bulge at the hot-as-fuck bridal lingerie. Goddamn.

She props up on her elbows and pushes her stiletto against my chest. “Show me you’re worthy, Mr. Teller. Put your face between my thighs and find out yourself.”

My dick is so hard it hurts. It fills my chest with warmth to see her holding her ground with me. I’ll happily get on my knees and do anything she asks. She’s mine and I’m hers. Falling in love changed us.

I smirk, and my hand finds her throat so fast she jumps, her heel digs deeper into my chest. “I’m going to eat this fucking cunt because I want to. Don’t forget, wife, in the bedroom, you kneel for me.”

Standing, I stride to the plush navy high-back chair near the dressing mirrors and sit. I lean back and beckon her with two fingers. Her chest heaves with excitement even though she glares at me from across the room. With a tight jaw, she pushes off our bed, prowls over, and plants her feet in front of me with hands sweetly laced behind her back. I twirl my finger in a circle, and she turns, facing away. Palming the sides of her breasts, I slide down her sides and over her ass, admiring the shape of her curves. She’s trembling, and her flesh pebbles as I unhook the pearl buttons, starting at the base of her spine.

I work quickly, after the last pearl, the gown tumbles to the floor in a pile around her sexy satin heels. I hold out a hand, and she grasps it while stepping out of the dress. My hands graze up and down her legs. I loop my thumbs into the lace garter belt and thong and drag them down her toned thighs; then spread her cheeks and loll my head to the side, admiring her plump glistening pussy and swiping a finger over her arousal. Her shudder puts a smug grin on my face.

“Grab your ankles.”

She bends and clasps her calves. Her spine arches when I dive in and devour her from the back, dipping my tongue inside to lap her up. I’ll never tire of this. For the rest of my life, Jordan will be the first thing I touch when I wake up and the last thing I taste before I fall asleep. It’s cute how fast she submits when I’m sucking her clit. Not so bold now, are we?

Her moans drive me wild. With one arm safely braced around her, my fingers plunge inside, she’s drenched. I sink my teeth into her ass, and she screams out. I’ve been looking at her all day, my patience is running thin. Curling my fingers, I peek around to glimpse her face. Her mouth drops open and thighs quake, shaking the stiletto heels as she takes her first orgasm of the night.

I smack her ass and spin her to face me. “Get on your knees and open your mouth.”

When she does, I grip her neck and spit her cum into her own mouth. “Taste that?”

“That’s my worthiness. The taste of my bride greedy for her husband’s cock.” Heat flashes in her eyes, and I drop a loving slap to her cheek. “My wife’s such an eager little cumslut, even for her own pussy . . . God, you’re perfect.” I kiss her lips, and she mewls against mine.

“Everything but the heels and your wedding ring.”

Thank Christ I’m sitting, because the way she grins at me when unhooking her shelf bra, makes me weak in the knees. Those nipple piercings are begging me to play with them.

“Now take out my fat cock and suck the way I taught you.”

She unzips my fly, releasing pressure from the zipper against my ladder. My erection bobs out, she spits on it, and rolls her tight fist over me. I groan and cup her cheek. “That’s right. Be my dirty fucking wife.”

As soon as her lips seal over me, my eyes roll back. This woman could suck the chrome off a tailpipe. “Fuck, Jordan.”

She moans around my length, and I pluck her nipple piercings, making her breasts jiggle. My palm rests on her throat, the diamond necklace tattooed on the back of my hand is centered perfectly with her neck, and I smile. My fingers tangle in her hair as I move with her, and she gradually hands over control. I increase the tempo, and we regard each other with endless trust and love. Her big brown eyes are fixed on mine, and my heart explodes for her. Her eyelashes flutter as I stroke her temples and praise her loud enough to hear over the glucking sound that soon fills the space.

“You have the sweetest fucking tongue . . . So precious, giving me control . . . That’s it. Every inch . . . Yeah, whimper those sounds I love so much . . .”

The filthier I speak, the more she moans and shivers. I love how my praise affects her. Tears roll down her cheeks, and she drools a little. This woman is remarkable. I tug her hair back, pulling her off me so she can catch her breath. She gasps and pants, with trembling fingers on my knees. Her mouth opens again, and she nods when she’s ready for more. I cup her chin and push between her lips. Pretty manicured nails dig into my thighs, and I roar as I fuck her mouth, relishing the pain of her scratches.

“Deeper . . . You like that, don’t you? Of course you do . . . So goddamn beautiful . . . I know it’s hard, baby, but you’re doing so well . . . ”

When my balls draw up, I swipe my thumb across her chin and haul her into my lap, our lips crash together as she whines for more. My hand travels between her legs, and I smile when her arousal is practically dribbling down her legs. Gripping her ass, I stand and carry her to our bed where she leans against the pillows like a goddess. She looks like an angel—a sinful angel about to be well-fucked—but an angel, nonetheless.

One at a time, I unclasp the straps of her heels and press a kiss to each ankle.

“I want to be loved and fucked by you, every day, for the rest of my life,” she whispers.

“Try and stop me.”

She smiles.

I crawl over her and rub my piercings against her most sensitive spot. “Promise to love you more every day,” I say, slipping inside.

Her fingers fan out against the sheets, and those raspy moans slay me. Each barbell drags in and out of her tight entrance. I’ve fucked her enough times to know when she’s about to break, and she’s on the precipice.

I need to see my bride fall apart while I’m buried deep. Her soft body clenches, and she kisses me with everything she has. I groan as my thrusts turn unpredictable. Her eyes flicker with emotion, and it sends me flying off the cliff I’ve been teetering on. She falls with me, and I tuck her into my chest.

My nose brushes up her neck as she writhes beneath me, her body constricting mine. She sighs and wraps her arms around my back, holding on with everything she has as the climax subsides.

I never thought I’d fall in love, and if I hadn’t crossed paths with Jordan, I never would have—no matter how long I lived. It had to be her. They say if two people are meant to be, they’ll find each other. That’s what we did—that’s how I know she’s my soulmate. It wasn’t luck that placed us on this earth at the same time, it was destiny.

She’s my twin flame. My one and only. My forever.

She’s corrupted me—in the best way imaginable.