Destination Weddings: Books 1-3 Read online

  I’m glad. I just want you to be happy, he wrote back.

  Chapter Seven

  They shared an incredible dinner at the little Italian place Kenzi loved. The wine and good food left Chaz mellow, relaxed. He’d love nothing more than curling up on the couch with Kenzi and just listening to music. Listening to her breathe. “You want to skip the movie and just go back to your place?”

  She studied him for a moment-way too long for his ego-before her face relaxed into an easy smile. “Yeah, I do.”

  Traffic was light, so they arrived at her apartment quickly, and were soon settled on the couch. He sighed and pulled her into his arms, fitting her soft curves perfectly against his side. Nuzzling her sweet-smelling hair, he groaned. “I ate too many carbs. I’m ready for a nap.”

  “You’re dreaming if you think you’re falling asleep before you make love to me.”

  He grinned. “Hell, I could do that in my sleep.”

  She elbowed his side.

  “Oh, but I wouldn’t want to miss out on a moment of it, so I’d never fall asleep on you, baby.”

  “Yeah, right.” She nestled even further into the curve of his shoulder.

  His eyes grew heavy and he rested his cheek on the top of her head.

  Chaz woke on the couch the next morning. Thank God Kenzi was asleep in his arms. Her neck was going to be stiff, though. Good excuse to give her a full body massage. He flexed his hand to wake the arm beneath her head.

  Kenzi stirred, sighed, and then her eyes blinked open. “Damn, I slept through the sex part.”

  “We both did. That’s a fine welcome home.”

  “We can always make up for it.” She lifted her head and kissed him.

  Her nose was cold on his cheek but her lips warm and soft, kneading against his and parting when his tongue sought entry. Her hands clasped his shoulders, pulling him closer. Her full breasts pressed into him, tempting him to touch them, knead them. Worship them. With his free hand, he stroked up her side, over her silky blouse. The smooth fabric felt good on his palm, but he needed skin on skin. Finding the hem of her blouse, he ducked his hand under it and resumed the exploration.

  He loved the way Kenzi gasped into his mouth when his fingers skimmed over her ribs. Her back arched the closer he got to her heavy breast, which wasn’t hidden beneath a bra. As he squeezed the firmness there, he drew back from the kiss. “Nice. I like this braless bit.”

  She smiled. “One less article of clothing to try to find afterward.” She unbuttoned her blouse one miserable button at a time starting at the bottom, and his eyes were riveted to the slow, erotic movement. An inverted V of flesh appeared, growing wider with each step upward.

  When she reached the last one, she held the two sides of her blouse in place for an eternity. Then, sitting up, pulled the fabric off her shoulders and let it fall away.

  Chaz could only stare for a moment. He would never get over the ripe perfection of Kenzi’s form, her breasts absolutely flawless in their shape and size. The peach-colored skin around the nipples puckered in the cold. He reached out to warm one breast, to tease the hardening bud, but it wasn’t enough. He needed a taste.

  Her breast swelled in his hand as he sucked, her heart pounding beneath his fingers. He switched to the other side, kneading and sucking until the nipple was hard and red.

  Kenzi tugged at his shirt. “Skin. Now,” she demanded.

  He scooted away from her on the couch and pulled his shirt off, his abs clenching when her eyes drifted down his body.

  She stroked her hand over his chest. “Nice to see you keep up the workout on the road,” she said. “I’d miss these muscles. I love the hardness of you pressed up against the softness of me.”

  Kenzi stood up and slipped out of her jeans. “Let’s continue this in the bedroom.”

  Chaz was grateful for the sunlight streaming through the window. This high up, with no tall buildings between hers and the inlet, they didn’t have to worry about paparazzi. He wanted to see everything inch of her for as long as he could stand it, and torture himself for a while after that. He ached for her, so hard, throbbing in desperate need for her touch. He unbuttoned his jeans, kicked off his shoes and got undressed. He saw Kenzi reach to take off her thong and he stopped her hands. “Let me.”

  Chaz knelt in front of her. It took all his strength not to rip off that bit of lace. He traced a finger along the leg opening, drawing in a breath when her weight shifted to open herself as much as she could while standing. Gooseflesh appeared on her silky skin where he brushed his hand down her thigh. He nipped her leg, tasted the salt on her skin and licked the spot to ease the sting.

  Kenzi moaned, her body trembling.

  “Are you cold?”

  “No. Burning up.”

  She might think she was burning already, but he was about to turn up the heat. God she was a sight. Her pale, full breasts thrust upward, begging to be explored. Their size made her waist look about the as big around as his thigh. And her hips, such beautiful, feminine curves.

  “Don’t tease,” she begged with a moan. “Touch me.”

  “Soon.” He pressed his hand over her panty-covered mound. Hunger hit him hard, his mouth watering for a taste of her. He slipped his finger under the lace and discovered how ready she was for him.

  Her legs trembled more, a good sign. He stroked a finger over her curls, flicked that little nub and groaned when her hips rocked into his hand. His erection continued to swell until it literally ached.

  Her heat increased and he thrust faster, wrapping his free arm around her to hold her up when she began to shake He lowering her to the bed when she cried out. She was beautiful in her ecstasy, her skin flushed, eyes closed, her lips spread in a small smile.

  When he rose, she blinked and reached for him. “You aren’t stopping now, are you?”

  “Hang on, let me find a condom.” Chaz took one from her nightstand and ripped it open. He was long past foreplay and letting her help, he needed to be balls-deep, and now.

  Kenzi scooted back on the bed and he crawled after her. She opened her legs. He knelt between them, grabbing her behind the knees and sliding into her warmth with ease. He groaned and shuddered, waiting a moment so he wouldn’t finish too soon.

  She was a nice, tight fit and he glided smoothly in and out. Her fingernails dragged down his back, the light touch sharp in his heightened state of awareness. His whole body tingled, his skin hot, sweat beading on his forehead.

  His focus went south and all he knew was the tightness surrounding his erection, clutching him, encouraging him. Her breaths came more rapidly, and on the outskirts of his awareness he felt her shattering with him.

  For a moment all he could do was pant. The haze began to clear and he saw Kenzi smiling up at him. His erection jumped again, and he chuckled. “Damn, woman, you’re going to wear me out.”

  She shivered tugged at his shoulders. “Not at the moment. I’m cold. And I need a nap.”

  He pulled the covers over them as he lay down next to her, spooning up tight against that ass he loved to squeeze, and throwing his leg across her thigh. If it was possible, he’d take her completely inside him, join them as the one being they were.

  He yawned and sighed. Life was perfect, and he was perfectly exhausted.

  ~*~

  As she lay in the twilight stage between sleep and wakefulness, Kenzi still had a smile on her face. Each time she and Chaz made love, it got better. He knew her body better than she did, and managed to find a new sensitive spot with every stroke of his hand. He could practically make her climax by stroking the back of her knee.

  The sex had always been good between them, but the fact he remembered what she liked said so much about him. The way he used those memories to take her to places she’d never imagined…well, what could she say? She couldn’t believe how lucky she was to have connected with him again.

  Moving carefully so as not to waken him, she twisted to look at him. She’d always loved to watch him sleep, esp
ecially when she could tell he was singing. Sometimes just his lips twitched. Others, he hummed a bit like he used to in class. It was like watching a sculptor turn a ball of clay into a work of art. Chaz took the same words everyone spoke all day long, added the few notes in a scale, and anyone who heard the result swore he’d captured the music in their souls.

  He was a gifted. He was giving. And he loved her.

  ~*~

  By Sunday, Chaz was almost sated physically. He didn’t think he’d ever have enough of Kenzi emotionally or spiritually. He lay on her couch, his head on her lap, while she played with her tablet.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to go do something?” she asked.

  “I’m enjoying not doing anything. That’s rare for me.”

  “I know. Hey, I have Christmas week off, remember? Where will you be?”

  He scrubbed his hand over his face. “I don’t think I have to be anywhere. Where do you want to be?”

  “I usually fly home for a day or two. But I’ll go wherever you want.” She set down the tablet and stroked his head.

  As he relaxed into her touch, he fought the urge to sleep. Jet lag was one thing, but sleeping through the rare moments he had with Kenzi was out of the picture. “Do you want to go to my place? It’s warmer in L.A. than up here.”

  “That sounds good. Let’s plan on that. Do you want to see my parents for Christmas Day, or are you heading home for that?”

  “We’ll figure that out.” He let himself get lost in the magic her fingertips were working on his scalp. “I could definitely get used to this.”

  “I know. I like not doing anything with you. I don’t shut down often enough.”

  “You don’t? Ha, you should see Joey. He’s still talking ideas in his sleep.”

  She laughed softly. “I haven’t caught myself coding in my sleep. I do remember you singing, though.”

  “Guilty. I still wake up and scribble down the words to something that came to me in a dream.”

  “That’s so cool. I haven’t got a creative bone in my body.”

  His thoughts drifted while they enjoyed each other in silence, and he went back to their early days in college when they’d been filled with hopes for their futures. “I know you were very decided about your major in IT, but did you ever imagine where it would take you?”

  “Not really. I was more business-like about it. I enjoy working on computers. I was fascinated as a kid that just by typing, I could tell a computer to do what I wanted. But mostly I knew I wanted a career that offered a comfortable income, so the fact I’d love going to work everyday was a bonus.” She looked down at him expectantly. “What about you? Did you ever imagine you’d grow up to be Chaz-freakin’-Marino?”

  He laughed and sat up. “Who calls me that?”

  “Jasmine. That’s the dizzy fan-girl side of her. She’s over it. Now you’re just that guy who’s dating her bestie.”

  “Bestie. She really says that?”

  Kenzi smiled. “I think she does it for effect, to keep people from seeing the real person. Although it tends to slip out when we’re alone and she gets exited.”

  “I like her. All of your friends. They’re like you, so real.”

  “Where yours are plastic.”

  He mussed her hair. “You know what I mean.”

  “Yeah. But you do have real friends, too.”

  “I’ve got some good ones I can trust. I’m lucky.” He was amazingly lucky.

  “You never answered my question. Is the reality as good as you hoped it would be?”

  “My vision was superficial. Playing music instead of having a real job. Sleeping all day. Traveling the world and seeing different types of people. And getting my words, my thoughts, out there for people to hear, to think about.”

  “That sounds kind of deep, to me.”

  “Maybe there’s more to me than I realized. One thing I pictured came true though.”

  “What’s that? The groupies calling you Chaz-freakin’-Marino?”

  He chuckled. “You got that right. No, seriously. Us. I never imagined we’d be anything but a couple, right up until I got that contract after Star Launch. I didn’t think it through, what you’d have to give up to go with me.”

  “You thought I’d pack up and follow you anywhere?”

  “No. It wasn’t like that at all. I loved that you were your own person. Still do. I’m proud of what you’ve done with yourself. Amazed that you’re willing to be seen with me, especially with what people tend to assume about me.”

  Chaz cupped his hand on her face and she turned her cheek into his palm. “I was the stoner musician who was totally stoked that the pretty girl with the brains kind of liked me.”

  “She likes you a little more than kind of.”

  “Likes me enough to let me stick around a few years?”

  “Well, I’m not so sure I like you that much…”

  “Then I’ll have to work on that.” He slowly closed the space between them, watching her lips tremble as he lowered his mouth to hers. They might not have a lot of time to spend together, but they could fit a lifetime into every moment they had.

  Epilogue

  Kenzi’s bouquet shook almost as much as Bree’s as she watched her friend walk up the aisle to the altar. Bree’s gown was to die for, strapless and form fitting down over her hips with a ginormous swirl of fabric at the hem trailing back into a train.

  She was beautiful, and glowed with such joy Kenzi’s eyes watered. Stealing a glance into the pews, she found Chaz watching her. She blew him a kiss.

  Ash’s voice broke as he recited his vows, the old-fashioned traditional ones that suited him perfectly. Bree was proud and confident in her vows.

  The ceremony passed quickly and the wedding party moved to their tables. Rather than a head table, Kenzi and Jasmine sat with the band and their dates, while Bree, Ash and the groomsmen sat with the groomsmen’s wives.

  Kenzi kissed Chaz’s cheek. “How does it feel being a plus one?”

  “I like it. And I love being seen with you in that dress.”

  Bree had chosen the bridesmaids’ gowns well. No merengue or butt-enhancing bows, just softly flowing salmon-colored rayon gowns with cocktail-length hemlines. It wasn’t necessarily a color Kenzi would have chosen on her own, but it suited both her coloring and Jasmine’s.

  They sat through the meal, the toasts and the rituals, and finally the DJ began to play. Bree danced with her father, who handed her over to Ash. A lump grew in Kenzi’s throat and she sighed. She’d always loved the symbolism of that, even though most women these days had been on their own long before they married.

  When other couples began to join the bride and groom on the floor, Chaz grabbed Kenzi’s hand. “Dance with me.”

  He held her one hand and wrapped his other around her waist, holding her close. The feel of his body sliding over the silky fabric of her gown was almost erotic, in a romantic kind of way. She rested her head on his shoulder.

  He kissed her cheek and whispered, “Let’s do this.”

  “We are doing this. And quite well, I’d say. We never danced much since you were usually making the music.” The fabric of his jacket was rougher on her cheek than the t-shirts he always wore, but she loved being wrapped in his arms.

  “No, let’s do this.” He motioned with their raised hands to take in the entire room. “Only not like this. Let’s just run to the courthouse and get married.”

  Kenzi lifted her head, uncertain if he was joking. “Now?”

  “Of course not now.” He winked. “It’s Saturday, they’re closed.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I figured you were only teasing.”

  Chaz tugged her closer. “I’m serious. I don’t care if we wait for your next week of vacation, or if you just take a Friday off on a three-day weekend. Marry me.”

  Her mind went blank. That was the last thing she expected to hear from him, and at a time like this.

  His smile faded. “Hey, if you have to think ab
out it…”

  “No! No, that’s not what I’m doing. I can’t even think if I wanted to. Yes, of course I will marry you. Whenever you say, wherever you want.”

  Studying her as if he didn’t believe it, Chaz finally grinned. “Awesome. I love you, Lady K. I can’t live without you.”

  Her smile reached all the way down to her toes. “And I love you. I can’t wait to become Mrs. Chaz-freakin’-Marino.”

  His laugh started low, growing louder until she was sure everyone was looking at them. And she didn’t care. She rose up on her toes and kissed her man as if he was the only person who existed. Because in her heart, that was true.

  * * * * *

  Christmas

  with

  the Best Man

  Ari Thatcher

  Christmas with the Best Man

  Copyright © 2015

  Ari Thatcher

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from Ari Thatcher.

  Published by Aspendawn Press

  United States of America

  Electronic Edition: November, 2015

  This book is a work of fiction and all characters exist solely in the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Any references to places, events or locales are used in a fictitious manner.

  Prologue

  The sun poured through the stained glass windows in the charming, tiny church outside Kilmore Quay, Ireland. The colors gave the room a magical glow, as though magical leprechauns might appear at any moment.

  Rather than awaiting leprechauns, Jasmine Wright stood at the altar waiting for her friend Kenzi Packard to marry her first love, rock star Chaz Marino. Wondering what the delay was, Jasmine glanced at the best man, Joey Hughes, who stood on the opposite side of the red-haired minister.