Broken Dreams

  “Reed! Oh God, Reed! Yes! I’m coming. Oh God…ah…oh God, oh God, oh God.” I could hardly even form any words. I just cried out the same thing over and over.

  Then, I felt Reed getting bigger inside me as he began to come.

  “Ah…shit…Courtney, it feels so good.” He kept thrusting as he reached around and began playing with my clit.

  I instantly had another orgasm as his fingers assaulted my clit over and over again. Reed pulled out of me, and we both collapsed onto the bed. I was still trying to catch my breath as I came down from my second orgasm. Reed was lying next to me, attempting to catch his breath as well.

  I rolled over and looked at the ceiling. “That was so fucking hot.”

  He laughed. “It sure as hell was.” He turned and looked at me. “That was fun,” he said with a wink.

  I let out a giggle, rolled over, and snuggled up into his side. I began moving my fingertips lightly across his chest. “Wow, that was amazing. I really like your goals, especially that last one.”

  He pulled me closer with his arm and kissed my forehead. “I love you, Courtney. I can’t believe we’re having a baby.”

  I smiled, and my stomach did that funny little dip, like the one from a first kiss. I’m having Reed’s baby. I’m marrying Reed tomorrow and having his baby. My insides were jumping for joy as I thought about tomorrow and the baby.

  Resting against his chest, I placed my chin on the back of my hand and looked into his eyes.

  He smiled and asked, “What are you thinking about?”

  “This.”

  He let out a chuckle. “This?”

  I smiled. “Us. Sometimes, I think I’m dreaming, but then you touch me. I feel the fire from your touch, and I know nothing in this world could feel that amazing and be wasted in a dream.”

  “I’m sorry,” Reed said as his smile faded briefly.

  I moved to sit up, and I wrapped the cover around me. “What are you sorry for? I loved what we just did. It was amazing and sexy and…amazing!”

  Reed let out a laugh. “You already said amazing.”

  “That’s because it was so amazing that I had to say it twice.”

  He looked away as he took a deep breath. “I’m sorry for hurting you that day in the old cabin. And I’m sorry for sleeping with Anna when I was trying to forget about you. I’m sorry for fighting my feelings for you for so long and for pushing you into the arms of Mitch.” He began shaking his head as he turned back to me and closed his eyes. “I’ve hurt you so much. I don’t deserve your love.”

  My heart literally hurt from hearing the pain in his voice. I let go of the cover and moved on top of him. He snapped his eyes open, and we held each other’s gaze for a few minutes. As I felt him growing bigger and harder underneath me, neither one of us moved or said a word. I slowly began grinding myself against him, as I felt the heat building between us again.

  “I’m just as guilty for hurting you and for fighting my love for you. But that’s all in the past now, Reed. I’ve never in my life felt so complete in every possible way. You’re my own personal drug for so many different things.”

  I got up on my knees a bit and moved until I felt his tip seeking entry into my body. I slowly sank down onto him, and we both let out a moan.

  “Nothing feels as amazing as having you inside me, as you loving me,” I said as I began moving up and down slowly.

  Reed touched my stomach, and I jumped. Goose bumps covered my whole body, and he smiled.

  “I love what my touch does to you,” he whispered.

  He moved his hand down and began playing with my clit as I brought my hands up and started playing with my nipples. I knew it drove Reed mad to watch me touch myself, so I slid my right hand down and pushed his hand away as I began playing with my clit while I so slowly moved him in and out of my body.

  “Fuck me, Courtney.”

  I smiled as I looked down at him. “Mr. Moore…right now, it’s time for slow and steady lovemaking. The fucking will come later.”

  He sucked in a breath of air and flipped me over onto my back. He began moving in and out of me even slower.

  “Ah…it feels so good.” I wrapped my legs around him and lost myself in his lovemaking.

  Nothing in this world could ever top this night.

  I stood in the small building just outside the hotel where the sweet and bossy Kendra had told Layton and me to wait. I walked back and forth, wringing my hands together. Layton was kicked back in a chair, humming some stupid tune. I tried blocking him out of my head, but he was beginning to drive me crazy.

  “Stop. With. The. Humming,” I said between gritted teeth.

  Layton stopped and looked up at me. “You don’t like that song?”

  I shook my head. “I don’t even know what song you’re humming. Just stop!”

  Layton whistled and leaned back his chair. He drew in a deep breath and said, “Dayum, you a little on edge, Reed, my boy?”

  I stopped and glared at him. If he wasn’t my best friend, I’d punch the shit out of him right now. Layton stopped smiling and dropped the front legs of the chair back down to the floor.

  “Reed, what in the hell are you so nervous for? You’re marrying the love of your life in one of the most beautiful places on earth. You’re going to be a father, and a damn good one at that, I might add.” Layton stood up and walked over to me. He grabbed me by both shoulders and gave me a little shake. “Just relax, and take a deep breath.”

  I instantly felt better…until Kendra banged on the door.

  “Mr. Moore? Mr. Moore, are you still in there?” she screamed from the other side of the door.

  I rolled my eyes as Layton laughed.

  I pulled open the door and stared down at her. “Yes, Kendra?” I flashed her my signature smile.

  My patience was running out with this girl, and I thought she was starting to see that.

  Her face immediately flushed. “Oh, um…we’re ready for y’all to take your places on the beach now. Miss Will is about ready.”

  I let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you, God. I was going crazy in this small room.”

  Layton slapped me on the back. “Let’s do this thing!”

  We headed down to the beach, and I smiled at the white arbor covered in red and white roses. I had made a call to the florist at the hotel as soon as I could after we arrived to change up the flowers Court had arranged. I’d also had them bring the flowers up to our suite last night. When Courtney had asked me why I wanted white and red, I’d told her that the two colors done together signified unity. I smiled, thinking back to her saying that I had scored another swoon-worthy moment.

  “What in the hell are you thinking about? Wait, never mind. I don’t want to know.” Layton walked up to the preacher and began talking to him.

  I turned and looked out over the beautiful blue waters of Lake Tahoe. I couldn’t wait to see Courtney’s eyes with this blue all around us.

  Layton walked up behind me. “Reed, it’s time, dude.”

  I turned to see my best friend smiling like a little kid in a candy store. I couldn’t believe we had both gotten what the girls called our happily ever afters. Layton deserved to be happy, but I still wasn’t a hundred percent convinced that I deserved Courtney’s love.

  I looked down and kicked the sand as I let out a laugh. “Holy shit, I’m about to get married.”

  Layton grabbed me and pulled me in for a quick hug before he pushed me away and walked over to his place. I followed him and said a quick prayer that I didn’t mess this up for Courtney. I wanted to make this day special for her, and I was pretty sure what I had planned would be a swoon-worthy moment for sure.

  I moved up next to Layton and smiled at the preacher.

  “Are you ready, son?” he asked in a fatherly tone.

  I nodded and said, “Yes, sir. I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life.”

  When the music began playing, I glanced up and saw Whitley walking down the aisle. She looked
breathtaking, and I heard Layton suck in a breath of air.

  He whispered, “My girl.”

  She was dressed in a charcoal-colored dress that Courtney had said was a perfect fit. She had also said something about it being perfect for a beach wedding with its cocktail length and satin sheath. Whit made her way up to us on her bare feet. She smiled and gave me a wink as I smiled back at her.

  Then, something in the air changed, and I looked back down the aisle of red and white rose petals. My heart stopped beating. Courtney was standing there, wearing a beautiful strapless white dress that hugged her body perfectly. My eyes moved up and down her body as she began walking toward us. The bottom of the dress was lower in the back and higher in the front, so she had no problem walking through the sand in her bare feet. She was carrying a huge bouquet of white and red roses. Her hair was pulled up with a few strands hanging down, blowing gently in the wind. She looked so beautiful.

  When she walked up to me, I had to remind myself to breathe before I passed out. She held out her hand, and I took it and kissed the back.

  “You take my breath away, Courtney. You look so beautiful.”

  Her blue eyes sparkled, catching every single bounce of light coming off the crystal-blue water. She bit down on her lower lip and then whispered, “I feel like a princess.”

  I placed my hand on the side of her face. “You’re my princess.”

  The preacher cleared his throat and began with the ceremony.

  I wasn’t even sure that I knew half of what he was saying because I was so lost in those beautiful blue eyes. They were filled with so much love. The fact that I was marrying Courtney while she was pregnant with our baby was doing all kinds of weird shit to my stomach. I knew I was nervous, but at the same time, I’d never in my life felt so…complete.

  We exchanged vows, and right before the preacher was about to officially announce us as man and wife, he did what I had asked him to do.

  “Courtney, Reed would like to say a few words to you.”

  Her face lit up, and the tears she’d been able to hold back finally broke free.

  I held on to her hands tighter and took a deep breath. Then, I began speaking from my heart, “Courtney, you’ve made me the happiest man on earth by becoming my wife, and you’re also giving me the greatest gift I could think of.” I looked down at her stomach and then back into her tear-filled baby blues. “I’ve been wandering around lost and broken for so long, thinking that none of my dreams would ever come true…but then you walked into my life and made it a living hell for so many months.”

  Court, Layton, and Whitley all let out a laugh.

  “There was something about you though, and I knew it the moment I first saw you. I felt it in my heart and soul, but I fought it for so long until I finally figured out that nothing could keep love from happening. It always finds a way.” When my voice started cracking, I had to stop talking, so I could get my emotions under control.

  Courtney’s thumbs were rubbing back and forth so fast on the backs of my hands that it was causing a sensation to run up my arm.

  “I’m not perfect, and I’ve done things in my past that have haunted me for years, but when I’m with you…” I smiled as I reached up and wiped away her tears. “When I’m with you, Courtney, I’m a better man. You’ve filled my heart with so much happiness and love, and I’ll never be able to thank you enough for that. I absolutely cannot wait to see what our lives together bring. I love you. I love you so very much.”

  Courtney began crying harder, and I was pretty sure I heard Layton sniffling behind me. I turned around to see him wiping away a tear, and I just looked at him.

  “What? Dude, that got me…that got me good,” Layton said.

  Whitley, Courtney, and the preacher all let out a chuckle. When I looked back at Courtney, she had the most amazing smile on her face. I couldn’t help but smile back at her.

  “Courtney, Reed, I now pronounce you man and wife. Reed, you may kiss your bride.”

  I placed my hands on the sides of her face, and I brought her lips up to mine. I kissed her softly and tenderly. I wanted to turn the kiss into something more, but I needed to keep this gentle and loving. When her hands moved up and around my neck, she pulled me in to deepen the kiss, and I did just that.

  I wasn’t sure how long we were lost in our kiss.

  Layton tapped me on the shoulder and said, “Uh…I think the good preacher needs to get to another wedding, y’all.”

  I pulled back just a little bit and whispered against Courtney’s soft lips, “I love you, Mrs. Moore.”

  She smiled and said, “I love you, Mr. Moore. Thank you for making all my dreams come true.”

  I winked at her. “I’ve only just begun.”

  I sat at the bar, drinking water and staring down at my wedding ring. Reed had picked out a beautiful platinum wedding band with diamonds surrounding it. It was beautiful and looked breathtaking against the pink diamond on my engagement ring. My whole body came to attention when I felt Reed’s hot breath on my neck.

  “Are you happy?” he whispered against my skin.

  “Yes,” I barely whispered as my stomach dipped.

  He turned me around, and when I looked up into his eyes, my body reacted immediately.

  How long is this incredible need to have him buried inside me and make me his going to last?

  “What’s the plan now, y’all?” Whitley asked as she leaned back onto Layton’s chest.

  Layton had not stopped yawning since we sat down.

  “Are you tired, cowboy?” I asked with a wink.

  Whitley’s face turned ten shades of red.

  “Your best friend here had me up almost all night,” Layton said as he wiggled his eyebrows up and down.

  “Court, do you realize we are going to have our babies so close together?” Whitley said with a huge grin on her face.

  I smiled, but then panic set in, and my smile faded. Reed and I hadn’t told our parents yet that we were pregnant. My mother had been texting me all night and this morning.

  What if Reed’s mom thinks I trapped him with this? What if she doesn’t believe that we just found out?

  I peeked up at Reed, and the happiness on his face told me all I needed to know. He was over the moon about me being pregnant. I knew how much this meant to him, and honestly, I didn’t give a shit about what my parents or his mother would think.

  All that mattered was us—Reed and me.

  I closed my eyes and thought back to what he’d said during the ceremony. I wanted so badly to tell him that he had swooned the hell out of me, but I could barely talk.

  “What are you thinking about, angel? Your face is flushed,” Reed whispered before kissing me softly on the cheek.

  I opened my eyes and stared into his. “What you said to me during the wedding. It was amazing.”

  When his eyes lit up and that crooked smile played across his face, I knew what was coming next.

  “Swoon-worthy?”

  I slowly nodded my head. “Oh, yes, very much so.”

  I laughed when he did a fist pump, and then he pulled me off the stool and took me into his arms.

  “I want to go dancing.” He looked over at Layton and Whit. “Y’all want to hit the club? Have a little fun before we head back to Texas tomorrow?”

  “Yes! Dancing sounds amazing!” Whitley said.

  Layton nodded. “Sounds good to me, but I need a nap.”

  Whitley turned around and hit Layton in the stomach. “Come on, let’s head back to the room, so you can call Kate and see how her horseback riding competition went.”

  “That’s right! I forgot Katie Mac was in a show this weekend. Shit! I can’t believe I forgot, and we missed it,” I said as I pulled out my phone. I sent Jen a quick text message, saying I was sorry for missing Kate’s show.

  Layton grinned and pulled me in for a hug. “Don’t worry. I told Jen about you and Reed, and she was so happy for y’all. She said that Kate will have plenty of shows. Now
, you and the old man go have a bit of fun before we all meet up again later. Our flight is early tomorrow, so we can’t stay out too late.”

  I giggled. “Okay, Dad.”

  While Reed and Layton talked about something to do with the ranch, I hooked my arm with Whit’s, and we made our way to the elevator. Every now and then, someone would stop Reed and me and congratulate us on our wedding. I was honestly getting tired of smiling.

  Gesh. What would I have done if we’d had a big wedding with guests, like my mother wanted? I would have died.

  “Have you told your mom yet?” Whitley asked with a smirk.

  “Ugh, no. Honestly, I’m scared to tell her. She was pretty upset that we’d decided to elope and that we were getting married so soon.”

  Whitley shrugged her shoulders. “She’ll get over it soon enough. I bet they are going to want to throw a big reception though.”

  I let out a sigh as we walked into the elevator. “Yep. She wants to have a dinner or something for us when we come up for Tyler’s wedding. I just hope we’ll be making it to the wedding…ya know?”

  Whitley knew why and didn’t even have to ask. It was kind of nice that she knew about Noah now. If I hadn’t told her, she would be asking me fifty million questions about me not going to my own brother’s wedding. I’d already been going over excuses for why I wouldn’t be able to make it if Noah’s business trip got canceled.

  Whitley and I rode up to the top floor in silence as we listened to Layton talking about a racehorse he needed Lucky to work on. Then, he went on about something to do with the cows and calves and fences that needed mending. Reed worked more now than he ever had with his job at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, but he loved every minute of being partners with Layton. They worked so well together. Layton had hired Frank and Mimi’s former ranch hand to take Mitch’s place, and from what Reed had said, this guy was ten times better than Mitch.

  Reed glanced my way, and when our eyes met, he licked his lips, and I let out a soft moan, regretting it the moment it escaped my lips. Layton was too busy talking, and Whitley was staring up at Layton. She was so lost in his words that she hadn’t noticed my slip.