Sweet Rome

  The minute she finished, I dived on her lips. Fuck waiting. Her vow to me was incredible and more than I could ever have hoped for.

  Breaking away, I stroked her face and said, “I love you, baby. I love you so much.”

  “I love you, too,” she said through happy tears.

  A cough pulled our attention, and the pastor smiled, holding up an open Bible. “If we exchange the rings, I can pronounce y’all husband and wife, and you can get back to your kissing.”

  Looking at Molly and our friends, we all started to laugh, and Austin handed me the ring.

  “Molly, I love you. With this ring, let it be known that I choose you above all others. Let it be known that with this ring, I promise to be with you for eternity, until death do us part.” Slipping that platinum ring on Mol’s finger did something to me. I felt reborn. Like the past, all the abuse and unhappiness, was finally buried, and only an exciting and perfect future with my girl awaited. I felt like, for the first time in years, I truly liked who I was, and it was all due to the girl before me, binding herself to me forever in every possible way.

  Ally handed Molly the ring, and she took hold of my left hand. “Romeo, I love you. With this ring, let it be known that I choose you above all others. Let it be known that with this ring, I promise to be with you for eternity, until death do us part.”

  “And by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” The pastor faced me with an amused smile. “Romeo, you may now kiss your bride… again.”

  I didn’t waste any time and took Molly’s mouth with mine, softly, savoring every moment of this unbelievable feeling taking hold.

  Molly was my wife.

  36

  Pulling my new wife closer in my arms, I whispered, “You ready to go?”

  Her bite on her bottom lip and her hooded eyes told me she was. I stood and faced our guests, who were finishing up eating. “Guys, we’re heading out.”

  Ally jumped to her feet in protest. “No, you haven’t done the first dance yet!”

  Shit. I looked down to Molly, who had surprise written all over her face.

  “First dance? But there’s hardly anyone here. We don’t have to do a first dance.” I smiled as she tried to get out of it, but I held out my hand, an expectant look on my face.

  Sighing in defeat, she took my offered hand and I pulled her to the small patio, surrounded by thousands of white lights. Ally ran to the stereo and the opening bars of our wedding song played. Molly glanced up at me, eyes glistening.

  “Romeo… how?”

  Stroking a loose piece of hair from her face, I said, “A few months ago you told me about this song. I thought it could be our tribute to your folks by making it our song too.”

  I remembered that day so well…

  “Mol? Where are you, baby?”

  I found Molly stood in the kitchen of our new place, making breakfast, music playing beside her from her iPhone speakers. I saw her shoulders shaking and I panicked. I instantly moved in behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist.

  “What’s wrong, baby?”

  Turning into my chest, she smiled a watery smile and set to wiping at her tears. “It’s silly. I’m being silly.”

  I knew I was frowning. I was so lost as to what the hell was happening. “Mol, tell me what’s wrong. Has something bad happened?”

  Laughing through her sobs, she said, “No, I promise, Rome. It’s just…”

  “What?”

  “This song.” Her eyes met mine, and I knew I still looked just as confused.

  “You’re upset because of this song?”

  “Not upset.” I watched as she took a deep breath, and I lifted her to the counter, cupping her face so I could see her better as I placed myself between her legs.

  “You’re going to have to explain, baby. Why are you crying because of a song?”

  “It was my mother’s favorite song. My dad would play it on their wedding anniversary, a kind of tribute, I suppose. It’s kind of a tradition… a good one. I loved it, looked forward to it every year. He did it so I would know my mum in some small way, and you know what? It did make me understand her a little. After Dad died, my grandma continued to do it for them both. And well, when she passed too, it was something I continued doing for myself. When I hear it, it feels like they are all somehow still with me.”

  I let myself exhale and pressed my forehead to hers. It was her parents’ wedding anniversary? Fuck. I didn’t know what the hell to say in response, so I simply said, “I love you, baby.”

  Brushing a kiss on my lips, she whispered, “I love you too.”

  Sting’s “Fields of Gold” played as my wife and I swayed on the spot, happy tears falling from Molly’s eyes. I knew I’d done right by this song. It was meaningful to her, and now it would forever remind her of this day. No words needed to be said, and I knew she would understand why I’d chosen it—I wanted her to feel like her family was here, in some small way.

  Our family and friends stood and watched us take our first dance as man and wife and eventually joined us on the floor.

  It was perfect.

  As the last few bars played out, Molly lifted her head, her hand pressed to my cheek, and she whispered, “Let’s go, Rome. I need to have you alone.”

  “Christ, how many damn buttons are on this dress!” I complained as I tried to get my girl naked, the long line of tiny pearl buttons at the back of the dress dangerously close to being ripped apart due to my increasing frustration.

  “Hurry,” Molly ordered, her voice rough with need. We were in a private luxury cabin. We picked somewhere off the beaten track, completely secluded, for our first night together as a married couple.

  As I unfastened the last button, I pushed the tight dress apart and it fell to the floor.

  Fuck. Me.

  “Mol, you’re friggin’ killing me,” I groaned as she stood before me in a white lace bustier, tiny white lace panties, white stockings and a friggin’ garter wrapped around her thigh.

  Smiling, she asked, “You like?”

  “I fuckin’ love!” I croaked, my cock nearly bursting through the zipper in my damn tight pants. I quickly rid myself of my jacket and shirt, snapping the fly to give my crushed dick some relief.

  Molly stood before me, looking like a virginal goddess, and my hands twitched, needing to touch her. “Get on the bed, baby,” I instructed, watching her tight ass as she climbed on the mattress and sat up on her knees, waiting for what came next.

  “Lose the bustier.”

  With an excited smile, Molly began unhooking the tight contraption. She was pushing her luck, taking her sweet time, and by the playful glint in her eyes, she knew she almost had me at my breaking point.

  “Don’t fuck with me, Mol.” I warned. “I’m barely holding it together here.”

  Reaching into my boxers, I stroked along my dick. Her wide eyes watched the movement, and with a final pull, the lingerie dropped to the cream-colored bed and her full breasts were completely on show.

  “Touch them,” I growled, pointing to her breasts. I roved my eyes down her insane body. The only thing left was the stockings, garter belt and the panties. The panties were a problem.

  Flushing in excitement, Molly moved her hands over her chest, slowly palming the flesh, tugging on her nipples, and closing her eyes in pleasure.

  I fucking broke.

  Marching to the bed, I crawled over Molly, knocking away her hands. “Enough, they’re mine now.”

  I cut off her surprised giggle with my lips. I plunged my tongue straight in her mouth and she pushed hers against mine, her fingernails scratching along my back. My hand wandered south and I stroked my fingers over her hip and into the waistband of her panties.

  “I need these off,” I said as I broke my lips from Molly’s and shifted until my face was met with the tiny scrap of white lace.

  “Romeo… please…” Mol moaned as she ran her fingers through my hair.

  The panties took all of
two seconds to remove, and I sat back, just drinking in the amazing picture that was my wife. Christ! My wife. I almost groaned out loud at how fucking happy that thought made me.

  Smoothing my hands back up Mol’s thighs, I lifted her right knee and placed it across my shoulder. Laying a kiss on her white-and-blue garter, I smiled up at her half-closed eyes and said, “This stays on,” and hooking my finger under the top of the white stockings, said, “These too.”

  “Okay.”

  Focusing between her legs, I leaned in and licked along her center in one long swipe, her hips rocketing forward at the action. “Mmm, baby, so fuckin’ sweet.”

  “Romeo, please, I need… need…” she murmured, fisting my hair.

  “Say it, baby. I want to hear you say it,” I demanded.

  With a shuddering breath, she rasped out, “Lick me… please…”

  Moving back in, my girl’s pleas spurring me on, I sucked on her clit, sinking two fingers into her channel. I worked her good, each passing second bringing her closer to the edge and my need growing more and more desperate.

  “Rome! I’m… I’m…” Molly’s legs stiffened and with a loud scream, she broke, coming hard against my tongue.

  I moved back, watching my girl catch her breath, her eyes closed, and I lost all restraint. In seconds, I yanked off my pants and boxers and, pulling Mol’s leg toward me, ran the garter down her thigh, her calf, and off her foot.

  Opening her eyes, she asked, “What…?”

  “Move to the headboard, baby.” Molly did as I asked. “Clasp your hands around one of the railings. I want to play.” She lifted her hands slowly, intertwining her hands on one of the white metal railings, and, taking the garter, I moved above her, securing her hands so she couldn’t move. Her brown eyes brightened with excitement and her foot ran up my thigh and rubbed up against my cock.

  “You want it, Mrs. Prince?” I asked, shifting closer until I straddled her chest.

  “Come here,” Mol said and took me into her mouth, my head snapping back on a hiss.

  “Fuck, baby, that feels so good.”

  She moaned and the vibrations almost drove me insane. It was too much. I needed to be in her, needed to take the final steps in making her my wife.

  Pulling out of her mouth, I shifted between her legs and wrapped her ankles around my back. Molly tested the strength of the garter with a pull on her hands, but it held tight, and an eager flush crept up her tanned skin.

  “You ready, baby?”

  “God, yes. Make love to me, Rome.” That was all the encouragement I needed, and in one quick thrust, I pushed in to the hilt, both of us groaning out in pleasure.

  Reaching up, I ran my fingers through her hair, staring right in her eyes as I pushed in and out of her warmth. “I love you, Mol. I love you so much,” I said, pressing kisses along her cheeks and lips.

  “I love you too, babe.”

  Her hips rocked against mine, and as I stared into her eyes, I knew I needed to feel her hands on me, her wrapped arms around me as I came.

  Reaching up with one hand, I snapped the material loose, and Molly immediately held me close, her nose tucking into the crook of my neck.

  Her moans increased, her breath getting faster as my pace increased. “Romeo… I’m going to come,” she whispered, clutching my arms.

  I pounded into my girl even faster, the motion making her scream out her release, the feel of her tight core taking me with her too.

  “Fuuccckkkkkk…” I groaned as I stilled and came, the muscles in my neck straining with the severity of my orgasm.

  Molly relaxed below me, her fingers slowly combing through my hair. As I looked down at her sated, smiling face, she put her hand to my cheek, eyes glistening, and whispered, “My husband.”

  In that moment, I was convinced that no two other people had ever shared something so strong, so crushing her mouth with mine, I pulled back, stared at the most beautiful girl on Earth, and whispered, “My wife.”

  37

  Seattle, Washington

  Twenty years later…

  “Hello?”

  “Rome Prince! Long time no see, son!”

  “Coach?”

  There was a gruff laugh before he said, “Yeah, it’s your old coach! Still going strong here at the Tide. Twenty-five years this year!”

  Smiling at the familiar sound of the man who helped me get through so much in my college years, I said, “I know, Coach. All-time record breaker for winning the BCS Championship. Not too shabby! I’ve watched your games every year. You’ve become a damn legend.”

  “And I’ve watched you too, son. You’ll be a hall of famer, no doubt about it. In a few years, you’ll be getting inducted.”

  “Thanks, Coach. I certainly hope so.” I poured a coffee from the machine and moved to the kitchen table, sitting down. “So to what do I owe this pleasure?”

  “I’m in Seattle and wanted to invite you and your wife out to dinner tonight if you’re free.”

  “Of course! Tell me where and when and we’ll be there. It’ll be good to see you again.”

  “You too, son. I have a meeting in five minutes, but give me a couple of hours and I’ll text you the details.”

  “No problem. See you tonight.”

  “See you, son.”

  Ending the call, I sat back in my chair, taking a deep breath. Damn, hearing his voice brought back so many memories. Was it really twenty years since I’d played for the Tide?

  Shit! I was getting old.

  The front door slammed shut and I looked to the hallway. It was only one in the afternoon and Molly shouldn’t be back yet.

  “Rome? You here?” she shouted, and a smile pulled on my lips.

  “Yeah, baby, I’m in the kitchen.”

  A few seconds later, she walked in, dressed in a tight black knee-length dress, her hair pulled back in a loose bun, and the most sexy-as-fuck glasses perched on her nose.

  Standing, I took the heavy briefcase from her hands and pressed a kiss on her lips. “You’re back early.”

  “Yeah, my meeting was canceled so I thought, bugger it, I’m going home.” Molly leaned in and wrapped her arms around my waist, pressing her cheek against my chest. “Mmm, I missed you.”

  “Missed you too, gorgeous.” Her arms squeezed my waist in response, and I said, “I’ve just had an interesting call.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. It was Coach. I haven’t heard from him for years, but he’s in town and wants to grab dinner with us tonight.”

  “The Alabama coach?” she asked, her surprised eyes fixing on mine.

  “Yeah.” I laughed. “The Alabama coach.”

  Her eyebrows pulled together in thought. “I wonder what he wants.”

  “To have dinner,” I replied, slightly confused at why she thought it was anything more.

  Stepping back to the opposite marble counter, she tilted her head as she stared at me. “Rome, you’re retiring this season, and suddenly the coach of the Tide just so happens to be in Seattle?”

  Hmm… Maybe she was right. Her smug smile told me she knew it too. “Okay, Shakespeare, I’m listening. What do you think he wants?”

  Moving before me, her fingers crept up my torso, and she gave me a quick kiss on the lips. “You.”

  A strange excitement set in my bones. I’d never really thought about going back to Tuscaloosa. I love it, it’s my home, but we left a lot of shit behind all those years ago, and we had made a good life for ourselves in Seattle.

  I glanced down to Molly again and asked, “You really think that’s what it could be?”

  “I’d bet my life on it. He’ll want you to coach. Bloody hell, Rome, you’re one of the most successful quarterbacks in NFL history. If you joined the Tide, can you imagine how much better they could be? The recruits they could acquire?”

  “And how would you feel about going back?”

  Her eyes dropped to the floor. “I—I don’t know. I love it here. Our lives are here and Tuscaloosa?
?? I don’t know, holds a lot of conflicting memories for me… for us.”

  I stroked a finger down her cheek. “Then we won’t go, if he offers me anything at all.”

  “Is coaching something you would want, though? Is it something you could see yourself doing with the rest of your life?”

  “Probably. It’s the Tide. I didn’t know what I would do when football came to an end, but the thought of being involved again with Bama football… I’ve got to say it excites me. It’s in my blood. I’m Tide ’til I die.”

  Nodding her head slowly, Molly looked up at me and said, “Let’s hear him out. If he offers you something, we’ll talk about it and decide what’s right for us all.”

  She began biting on her lip and her hand ran down my body to snap the button on my jeans. I fucking loved that look in her eyes. “Now, I’ve come home early from work, we have a couple of hours before we need to pick up the kids from school, and you’re looking pretty damn hot, Mr. Prince, hot enough to make me think up some pretty naughty ways to spend the afternoon.”

  I felt my cock harden under her light touch, and, instantly whipping her up off the floor, began running for the bedroom, Molly giggling over my shoulder, screaming, “Romeo!”

  “Oh, don’t you dare, Shakespeare,” I said with a hard crack on her ass. “You started this shit and I’m going to make sure I fucking finish it… at least three times!”

  * * *