“Not anymore,” he answered her, holding out his arms.
She walked into them, wrapping her own tightly around him. “I love you, Lucas. I loved you when I was eighteen, and I’ve fallen in love with you all over again at thirty-three.”
He held her tightly, his face buried in her hair. “Your family is going to hate this. Your mother...”
“Will have to get used to it,” she broke in firmly. “This is my choice, not hers.”
“We can take it slow, if you want,” he felt compelled to say, giving her one last out. “Give you time to make absolutely sure...”
“Lucas.” She looked up at him, her mouth inches from his. “Do you need more time?”
“Hell, no,” he muttered, his tone heartfelt. “If it was up to me, I’d marry you right now. Right here. Never let you out of my sight again. But...”
“Then shut up and kiss me,” she murmured, reaching up to tug his head down to hers.
He smiled ruefully against her lips. “You’ve become a bossy woman, Rachel Jennings.” He wasn’t complaining.
“Yes. I figure I have to be to keep up with you.”
“You could be right,” he conceded. And then he allowed himself to kiss her, knowing he would be lost when he did.
He was right. The first brush of her lips against his made his head spin. And when she moved closer to him, bringing their bodies in full contact through their bulky winter clothing, he lost all remnants of self-control.
Crushing her mouth beneath his, he twisted, holding her against the hard rock wall. He reached between them, fumbling with her jacket, and with the buttons of the heavy brushed-cotton shirt she wore beneath it. He spread the garments open, baring her skin to his searching hands. Savoring her softness, he slid his palms up her sides and cupped her breasts through the lace of her bra.
Rachel groaned into his mouth, her hips pressing into his, against the erection that strained against his zipper. After spending the morning trying to be noble, telling himself there was a chance he wouldn’t see her again, the sheer relief of having her with him now went straight to his heart—and to his groin. He wanted her as he couldn’t remember ever wanting before.
Rachel’s hands were busy, pushing his leather jacket aside, fumbling with the buttons of his denim shirt. She crowded against him, and her skin felt warm against his. He tugged her bra out of the way, flattening her soft, firm breasts against his chest.
They moaned in unison.
Snaps were unfastened, zippers lowered. Lucas reached inside her jeans and cupped her bottom, lifting her against him. Their breathing was ragged, their movements frantic. Rachel wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging tightly.
For one brief, lucid moment, Lucas became aware of their surroundings. The chill in the air. The roughness of the rock behind Rachel’s back. “You can’t be comfortable,” he murmured, lowering her tenderly to her feet. Trying so damned hard to rein in his hunger. “We should wait. Find a bed...”
“Next time,” she whispered, moving sinuously against him. “I want you, Lucas. Love me.”
She reached down to take him in her hand. His knees almost buckled. Next time, he told himself as he lifted her against the wall again, he would give her romance. Flowers, candlelight, a soft bed. This time he could only give her himself.
Rachel seemed to have no complaints when he thrust deeply, heavily into her. Her soft, choked cry sounded pleased, excited—and maybe a little triumphant.
Lucas knew in that moment that he had finally come home.
Epilogue
LUCAS TUGGED restlessly at the too-tight collar of his tuxedo. “I think I’m choking.”
“When’s the last time you wore a tie?” Emily asked, smiling up at him from within the layers of white net that framed her face.
“I haven’t the faintest idea,” he answered candidly.
“Well, you look great. So stop complaining and try to enjoy it.”
Enjoy it? Not likely. Lucas’s stomach was knotted as he and Emily waited in the church vestibule for their cue to enter. Wade and his best man, proud-looking Clay, and a groomsman who was one of Wade’s deputies, waited at the altar. The bridesmaids—Savannah and Tara—had just gone in, and it would be Lucas and Emily’s turn an
y minute now.
How did he let himself get talked into staying for this wedding, anyway—not to mention giving the bride away? But even as the question crossed his mind, he knew the answer. Rachel and Emily had joined forces; Lucas hadn’t stood a chance against them.