Seducing The Bride Read online

  The moment is perfect, powerful, profound—and far more amazing than any teenage fantasy I ever had about making love with Hayden Hughes.

  A moment later, he catches his breath and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “Feel good, princess?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Happy?”

  I smile. “Yeah.”

  He shoots me a sly grin. “Is that token you gave me good for more than one ride?”

  The curl of my mouth turns naughty. “It’s good for the whole night.”

  “Hallelujah. How about we break out the bubbly, I slip that engagement ring on your finger, then you can spread your legs for me again so I can make you deliciously sore and ensure you look well fucked tomorrow when I marry you?”

  There’s my Hayden—audacious and challenging and perfect for me.

  I wriggle under him, earning a hiss, then whisper in his ear, “I can’t think of anything I want more.”

  4

  Hayden

  I’m in heaven.

  Six days ago, Perrie came home, “fiancé” in tow, and forced to me re-examine my feelings for my best friend’s sweet, virginal daughter. Thank god I don’t have to fantasize anymore what being deep inside Perrie is like. After last night, she’s all woman—my woman. And as she walks down the aisle to me, looking stunning in a simple white satin floor-length sheath with lace insets along the back and the thigh-high slit, I could swear she’s glowing even more than usual.

  Fingers crossed she’s pregnant.

  Yeah, maybe it’s wishful thinking, but the notion makes me pretty damn ecstatic.

  “I’ve never seen either of you look so happy,” Dan murmurs in my ear as he stands beside me.

  “Thanks for being my best man.”

  He nods. “Happy to. I’m honored to be beside you both as you become man and wife.”

  “Will I be returning the favor soon?” I look at Hannah in the front row. “My sister looks teary-eyed…and she’s wearing a rock on her left hand that didn’t used to be there.”

  “I proposed last night. She said yes. We’re going to Vegas next weekend.”

  “Perrie and I will be there.”

  Dan claps me on the back and falls silent as my bride glides toward me. I have eyes only for her. And a full heart that belongs to her alone.

  Finally, she reaches the front of the aisle. Beside her, Derek—who barely made it in time for the ceremony—lifts her veil and kisses her on the forehead. “Be happy, darling.”

  “I will.” She glances at me with love in her eyes before regarding her friend one last time. “You find your person and be happy, too, huh?”

  He nods, then takes his seat in the front row. On the other side of the altar stands one of her former college roommates I managed to fly in at the last minute so Perrie would have someone she adores to stand up with her. And the way she and Derek are eyeing one another tells me that neither will be spending the night alone.

  I tuck a finger under Perrie’s chin. “You ready to become Mrs. Hughes?”

  “Yes. Come on, slowpoke. Let’s get hitched.”

  “Slowpoke?” I raise a brow at her. “Who managed to bring your maid of honor in from Connecticut in less than twenty-four hours? And get us a last-minute marriage license on Saturday morning?”

  “You,” she concedes, then glances down at the two-carat cushion-cut diamond with surrounding halo I picked out yesterday morning, determined to make her my wife. “And you’ve made me the happiest woman.”

  “I’m going to keep doing that for the rest of your life.”

  “And I’ll make you the happiest man, I promise.” She smiles, then whispers my way as we face the officiant. “You know I never break my promises.”

  I know. And as I promise to love, honor, and cherish Perrie for the rest of my life, I figure she’ll learn soon enough that I don’t break my promises, either.

  About Shayla Black

  Shayla Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than seventy novels. For twenty years, she’s written contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances via traditional, independent, foreign, and audio publishers. Her books have sold millions of copies and been published in a dozen languages.

  Raised an only child, Shayla occupied herself with lots of daydreaming, much to the chagrin of her teachers. In college, she found her love for reading and realized that she could have a career publishing the stories spinning in her imagination. Though she graduated with a degree in Marketing/Advertising and embarked on a stint in corporate America to pay the bills, her heart has always been with her characters. She’s thrilled that she’s been living her dream as a full-time author for the past ten years.

  Shayla currently lives in North Texas with her wonderfully supportive husband and two spoiled tabbies. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading, and listening to an eclectic blend of music.

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