#Blessed by Malakai, page 16
The next scene was when Avery had arrived during my first live video. For this part, you could hear my voice as I discussed what I was looking for while staring solely at Avery. I laughed when I heard a few people in the audience say they were wondering what I had been looking at.
The videos continued with ones of us in the bar, ones of us in Cranberry Heights, some others from dates we’d taken recently. When Tyler and Serenity had initially shown me the videos they had been taking, I'd been caught off guard. Then Tyler showed me a few that had been posted by folks in my hometown and I realized that people genuinely wanted me to find love and wanted to know if Avery was the one.
After the video ended, Avery’s eyes were watery with unshed tears.
“Avery, what you saw in that video was only a token of the memorable times we’ve shared together, and although I know we hadn’t planned to fall for one another, I think fate had other plans.”
I pulled out the black velvet ring box, and knelt on one knee. “Avery Nightingale, contrary to what Twitterland may like to believe, meeting you is what has been my best blessing.” The audience laughed since that #BlessedByMalakai hashtag was still trending despite my best efforts. At least now, it was trending for my artwork from clients or when someone brought or shared one of my pieces and not my skills in the bedroom. “Will you complete my journey and marry me?”
“Yes,” she said, wiping away a few tears. “Of course I will.” She squealed when I placed the diamond ring on her finger, and as beautiful as the ring was, my mind was only on tasting her sweet lips again.
“I love you, Malakai,” she said in between kisses.
I broke the kiss to look her in the eyes. “I love you, too, baby.” Glancing around, I made sure no one could hear what I was about to say. “I have another surprise for you when we get home.”
Her eyes widened. “Is it my painting? You finally finished it?”
I nodded. A month ago, Avery had done the honor of posing nude for me since I was dying to capture her beauty and essence.
“I hope you made me look good,” she teased.
I smiled slyly. “You already know I did. But if you don’t like it, you can pose for me again.”
She playfully swatted me on my arm, but I was being serious. I’d paint her every day if she’d let me. Avery wasn’t just my inspiration … She was my truth. She was my future. She was my everything.
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THE END
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Once Upon a Bridesmaid Series
When four bridesmaids come together to support their best friend’s wedding, they realize that most of the people they know have already tied the knot. Whether unlucky in love or single by choice, these besties make a pact to change their relationship status. The goal is simple... Each woman has one year to find Mr. Right and say ‘I do’. Between passionate one-night-stands and best friend hookups, these bridesmaids are in for a wild ride. Are they in over their heads? Or will one impulsive wedding pact change their lives… forever.
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***Yours Forever excerpt on next page***
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Yours Forever by Sherelle Green (Book 1)
Beyond Forever by Elle Wright (Book 2)
Embracing Forever by Sheryl Lister (Book 3)
Hopelessly Forever by Angela Seals (Book 4)
Excerpt: Yours Forever
The Pact
* * *
There are two things in life that a woman always needs to have in her possession: her sanity and her punani. Grandma Pearl’s words echoed in Mackenzie Cannon’s mind as she fidgeted in her cushioned wicker chair and ignored the conversation taking place between her best friends.
Grandma Pearl had always been one of Mac’s favorite people. Not only had she been a classy woman with her large church hats and beautiful thick figure, but she’d also been the one to teach Mac the art of talking dirty without it sounding dirty.
Granted, there were times that Mac would rather say pussy instead of punani, but she kept it as classy as she could.
“I bet he tastes as good as he looks,” Mac said aloud, taking in the delicious sight of the best man in a tux. “Can someone please get me a glass of water?”
When he turned to look her way, she didn’t even try to hide her thorough perusal of his body. Now that one of her best friends was married and dancing with her new husband on the dance floor, Mac could loosen her bridesmaid dress and focus on the tall cup of coffee who’d held her attention all weekend long.
“Seriously, Mac! Are you even listening to what I’m saying?”
Mac turned to face her best friend since childhood, Quinn Jacobs. They may be polar opposites, but Mac had a soft spot for Q. Despite their differences, they were extremely close. “I heard you, Q. I agree, Ava and Owen look happy. But in case you didn’t notice, I’m trying my best focus on something a little more interesting than the newlyweds.”
Mac, Quinn, Raven Emerson, and Ryleigh Fields had grown up in the small town of Rosewood Heights, South Carolina and had been friends since they were little girls. Although they each decided to pursue careers in other states, the women had returned to their hometown to celebrate the union of the fifth member of their pack—and the only friend still residing in Rosewood—Ava Prescott, to her husband, Owen Sullivan. The beautiful wedding had taken place in Rosewood Estates, a staple in the small lake town and perfect for a woman who valued tradition and community like Ava did.
“Why must you be so rude?” Raven asked, shaking her head. “You know how Q gets when she’s talking about romance.”
“Ha!” Mac said with a laugh. “Anyone within a thirty-mile radius can hear her squeal when she starts talking about love and shit.”
“Girl, you can say that again,” Ryleigh said, giving Mac a high-five. It was normal for Ryleigh and Mac to agree. Both were headstrong and loved cozying up to a good-looking man every once and a while. At their high school dances, they’d often place bets on who could get the most numbers. Typically, they both took turns winning.
Quinn cleared her throat. “If everyone’s done making fun of me, can we please continue the discussion?”
Mac turned her body in her chair so that she could face each of the women just as the waiter approached to take their drink order.
“I’ll have another mojito,” Mac said as she polished off her third glass in preparation for her fourth. When it came to getting through weddings, Mac had a firm drinking rule… More booze equaled more fun.
Conversation flowed between the friends as if it hadn’t been a while since they’d last seen each other. Living in different states meant a lot of emails, calls, and text messages passed between them. Despite the different area codes, they made an effort to have a group conference call at least once a month to stay in touch.
The young waiter returned with their drinks and shot her what she assumed was his killer smile. Mac barely paid the youngin’ any mind.
“I think we should toast,” Quinn said, lifting her margarita high. “Here’s to us all finding that special someone and saying ‘I do’ by this time next year.”
Raven froze, her glass in mid-air. “Are you crazy?”
“Oh hell no,” Ryleigh said at the same time, almost spilling her drink when she placed her glass on the table.
Mac was shaking her head in disagreement before Quinn even got out the last word. “The only thing I’m saying ‘I do’ to is one night with that tall, mouth-watering best man standing over there.” She glanced over her shoulder in his direction.
Quinn placed her glass down and perked up in her chair. “Oh, come on you guys! We’re twenty-nine years old! I don’t want to be pushing a stroller when I’m fifty.”
“If Janet Jackson can do it, so can we,” Mac said with a smile.
“I’m being serious.” Quinn scooted forward in her chair. “Think about it. Just about everybody we know has gotten married in the last three years, yet we’re all still single. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a warm, hard body to snuggle up to every night? To not have to worry about those awkward bar or club meetings? I mean, how hard could it be?” She lifted her glass again. “Come on! We can do this. Right here. Right now. Let’s make a pact. Better yet, let’s make this a best friend challenge.”
Mac winced. Damn, Q just said the magic words. They were known to place a wager on anything and Mac hated to lose. Mac watched Raven slowly lift her glass to Quinn’s. A quick glance at Ryleigh proved that she shared the same sentiment as Mac, but she slowly began to lift her glass as well.
“Oh shit,” Mac huffed. “Are you seriously trying to make us all agree to be married before this time next year?”
Quinn smirked. “I thought the Queen of Friends with Benefits wasn’t afraid of anything.”
Mac rolled her eyes at the not-so-endearing nickname her friends had given her back when they were in high school. “I’m not afraid of anything.”
“Then raise your glass, girlfriend,” Quinn teased.
Mac hesitantly bit her bottom lip before finally raising her glass.
“To finding that special someone and saying ‘I do’ by this time next year,” Quinn repeated when all four glasses were raised.
Mac felt like she was on auto-pilot as they clinked glasses before taking a sip of their drinks. Screw it, she thought as she downed her entire drink after a few more seconds. There weren’t too many things that left Mac speechless, but agreeing to this pact was one for the books. I definitely need a distraction now, she thought as her eyes drifted back to the best man.
Mac stood from her chair. “Well, ladies, as fun as this is, I’ll have to catch you in the morning for breakfast.”
Quinn shook her head. “You won’t find your husband by getting in the best man’s pants.”
Mac smoothed out her bridesmaid dress. “Sweetie, I’m sure my future husband, whomever he may be, will appreciate my sex drive. In the meantime, there are other men who will appreciate it just as much.”
Was Mac ashamed that she enjoyed sex so much? Absolutely not. Would Mac ever apologize for having a frivolous fling? No way! She knew who she was and she didn’t have to explain herself to anybody.
Quinn shook her head. “It’s not always about sex, Mac.”
“And marriage isn’t always about love and romance.” With a wink, Mac made her way across the room, leaving her friends to discuss how shocked they were that she’d agreed to the pact. They were probably assuming she would back out, but there was no way Mac was backing down from a best friend challenge. No way at all.
***
“Beware, my brother. You may have been tempted before, but temptation never looked like that.”
Alexander Carter followed his brother’s gaze, only to find the sexy bridesmaid that he’d been avoiding all weekend walking toward them. Damn. It was almost like she’d been plucked from every fantasy he’d ever had of the opposite sex. Her thick honey-brown curls were pulled to the side, cascading over her shoulders. Alex had always had a thing for big, natural curls and hers were no exception. His fingers itched to run through her hair.
If that wasn’t enough to send his libido into overdrive, the woman had enough curves to keep a man occupied for decades. While some men always went after the skinny-model type, Alex preferred a woman with a little more meat on her bones. And damned if she isn’t stacked in all the right places.
He cleared his throat before leaning against the bar and looking back at his younger brother, Shane. “Yeah, I’m in trouble.”
“I told you, big bruh, you were in trouble the minute we went to Ava and Owen’s luncheon a couple of days ago. When Owen asked us to be in the wedding last year, he warned you that Ava had some fine-ass friends.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t think he meant any of them were my type.”
Shane laughed. “You know Owen has always been into talking in riddles and shit. He was trying to warn you without saying those exact words.”
Alex shook his head. “I’ve been celibate for two years and haven’t given into temptation. There’s no way I’m giving in now.”
Shane’s voice lowered. “Listen, I know the face of a woman on a mission, so you have to ask yourself one question. Can you handle denying yourself a night with a sexy siren like her?”
“Yes, I can.”
Shane could barely conceal his grin. “Then good luck, my brother.” He glanced over Alex’s shoulder. “You’re gonna need it.”
Shane had only been gone two seconds when she approached. “Hello, mind if I join you?”
Alex turned to face the stunning brown beauty he’d just been speaking about. Tell her no. Send her on her way. You may have had the strength to avoid women before, but not a woman like her.
“Sure, please do.” Her thigh grazed his as she leaned next to him against the bar. Alex briefly shut his eyes. Wrong move, my dude.
“So, what is Alexander Carter’s drink of choice?”
He took a sip of his once-forgotten drink. “Cognac on the rocks.”
She squinted her eyes. “Smooth, strong, dark. At first it appears simple, but then you take one sip and experience the added element of charm and power.” She looked him up and down. “I can see why you like it. It suits you.”
Alex grinned slyly. “And what does Miss Mackenzie Cannon drink?”
“Today, mojitos were my drink of choice. But, usually, I’m a White Russian kind of woman.”
Alex leaned slightly forward. “A White Russian… Sweet, yet robust. Creamy. The type of drink that sneaks up on you.” He observed her a little closer. “And the coffee gives the drink a hint of the unexpected and plays with your taste buds.”
When her eyes briefly danced with amusement, Alex noticed they were the color of sweet honey. He licked his lips and her eyes followed the movement.
“Very intuitive, Mr. Carter,” Mac said as she stepped a little closer. “I’m not the type of woman to beat around the bush, so I must warn you that I came over here to try and seduce you.”
Alex swallowed. “Well, I must say that you’re doing a damn good job.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that, Mr. Carter.” She pushed a few of her curls over her shoulder and placed one hand on her hip. “Although I came over here to do the seducing, you’re seducing me in ways that you probably don’t even realize.”
Man, she needs to stop calling me Mr. Carter. Her voice was sultry and as smooth as velvet. Addressing him so formally was only making his pants tighter in the crotch area.
“Want to take a walk?” Mac asked.
If you leave the confides of this reception, you may not be able to control yourself. “Sure,” he responded, ignoring the warning.
It was a beautiful September day in Rosewood Heights and Alex found the laid-back lake town extremely relaxing for a city boy like himself.
“I never thought I’d say this, but I miss this small town.” Alex glanced at Mac just as she waved to a store owner across the street.
“I can understand why you miss it. I moved around so much as a kid that I don’t really have roots anywhere. At least I didn’t until I became an adult and settled down on the east coast.”
“I know the feeling,” Mac said with a laugh. “My family moved around a lot when I was younger, but for some reason, we always came back to Rosewood. And every time we returned, my girlfriends welcomed me back with open arms.”
Alex smiled. He hadn’t known Mac for more than forty-eight hours, but he’d pegged her as the type that didn’t open up easily. The fact that she’d even told him that much surprised him.
They fell into easy conversation with an underline of flirtation in every word they said to one another. As much as Alex missed having sex, he missed the act of flirting even more. In his experience, flirting with a woman meant it would lead to other things. Things of the sexual nature. Things that wouldn’t end well for a guy who’d made a vow of celibacy.
“I’ve done a lot of traveling, but this is still one of my favorite spots,” Mac said as they approached a small garden with locks all along the fence. “We call this Love’s Last Garden. It’s been said that Rosewood Heights is the place where people come to relax and find love. Most of it is a myth, but this was the last garden that was built in the town and many townsfolk fell in love in this very place. Once you find love, you place a lock on the fence.”
Alex looked around at the lush greenery and locks positioned about the fence. He couldn’t quite place his finger on it, but he felt even more connected with Mac being in this garden. When he turned back to Mac, his eyes met hers. Watching him. Observing him. She bit her lip again in the same way he’d seen her do all day before her eyes dropped to his lips. What is it with this woman? He barely knew her, yet something about her drew him in. And without dwelling on his next move, he took two short strides toward her and pulled her to him.
He gave her a few seconds to protest, but when she looked up at him expectantly, he brought his lips down to hers. Alex had meant for it to be a simple kiss, but he should have known that Mac would awaken a desire deep within him, especially after the tension between them all weekend. She slowly opened her mouth and he took the invitation to add his tongue to the foreplay.
Kissing Mac wasn’t what he’d expected. It was so much more. He may be celibate, but he’d had his fair share of kisses. With Mac, she kissed with her entire body, nipping and suckling in a way that was mentally breaking down the walls he usually had up. When her moan drifted to his ears, Alex pulled her even closer, tilting her head for better access. His hands eventually found their way to her ass, cupping her through the material of her dress. Although the sun had set, they kissed in a way that made Alex forget that they were standing in a public garden.
