Stolen Course by Aly Martinez
I lift her arms up over her head and pin her wrists together between my hand, holding her in place while I work her body with my cock. She wiggles and squirms beneath me. She may want it fast and hard, but tonight, she’s getting it slow.
“Tell me you’re mine.” I lean down and suck her nipple into my mouth. I graze it with my teeth as she arches her back up off the bed. I said slow—I didn’t say I wouldn’t be rough. I can at least give her that. I work my hips around in a circle but never pick up speed.
“I’m yours,” she says, thrusting her hips off the bed as quickly as she can. I still completely, and she drops her head back against the bed, releasing a frustrated growl.
“Tell me you’ll marry me,” I boldly ask. I’m hopeful that she’ll say yes, but it won’t destroy me this time if she doesn’t.
“Are you asking me to marry you in the middle of having sex?” she asks sarcastically.
“It’s my favorite place in the world. It just seemed right.” I toss her a smirk, and she laughs, rolling her hips to resume her earlier movements.
“Tell me you would have still proposed today, right now, even if there was no baby.”
“I can’t do that.”
Her hips still against the bed. “Then the answer is still no.”
“If there was no baby, you wouldn’t have said no at the doctor’s office, but if it wasn’t for the baby, we wouldn’t have been at the doctor’s office, so let’s go back a little further. If there wasn’t a baby, I wouldn’t have flown down to Savannah when I did and we might still not be back together.” She rolls her eyes at my logic, but I begin my slow rhythm inside her once again. “You can’t play the what-if game, sweetheart. You can only look at the now. And right now, I’m telling you that I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“Caleb.”
But that’s all she says, because I suddenly quicken my pace inside her, giving her exactly what she wants—and needs.
Bringing my lips back to her mouth, I claim what’s mine. I don’t care if she marries me anymore. She is absolutely mine.
Emma moans my name as she is gets close to the edge. Her legs squeeze me tighter, and I gently bite the lobe of her ear.
"Let go, Emmy. Just let go… I’ve got you."
And with this promise whispered in her ear, she falls apart around me. One last thrust and I make good on my word and follow her off the edge. Going still and holding her tight against me, we both come down from bliss. I raise myself up and look in her eyes. The tears I saw before are still slowly trailing down her face.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” I ask softly, slightly alarmed.
“It’s just that you are really bad at proposals.”
“It would appear that I am,” I respond, causing her to laugh.
“Happy tears,” she explains, pointing to her eyes.
I smile and kiss the tears on each cheek before lightly pressing my mouth to hers. I bring my hand to her face and tuck a stray hair behind her ear.
“I love you. You have put up with all my shit, but swear to you that I will do everything in my power to always be the man you deserve. We don’t have to get married. This is enough.”
“Well, that’s a shame, because I was just about to say yes.”
“Emmy,” I warn before I get my hopes up.
“Let’s get married, Caleb.”
“Stop,” I whisper, dropping my forehead to hers.
“I’m serious. You’re hot, and I’m about to get really fat. I figured I should snag you while I’ve still got it.”
"Swear to me you’re serious about this," I beg as my heart pounds in my chest.
“This is it, remember?”
“I fucked up the proposals, but I swear I’ll get everything else right. I swear, Emmy.”
“No you won’t, but that’s okay too,” she whispers, pulling me down for a passionate kiss that ensures I will be back inside her in three…two…“Fuck, Caleb.”
One.
“ARE YOU ready?” I shout across the house.
“I’ve been ready for three hours!” Caleb shouts back.
“It’s not my fault that maternity clothes are hideous!”
“Hurry up, Emmy.”
I sigh, staring in the mirror, pulling down my fitted dress over my large belly. I look like a sleepy cow on my wedding day. Fantastic!
It’s been two months since Caleb and I got ‘engaged.’ He went out and bought a ring the next morning while I was still sound asleep. I woke up to him sliding it on my finger. He never exactly asked me to marry him, but I still said yes.
Today is the day we agreed to get married. I figured Caleb would have rushed me to the courthouse as soon as I accepted, but I was actually the one who had to pin him down to pick a date. I thought for a brief second that he was having cold feet, but he just smirked and picked a random date off the top of his head. It ended up being in the middle of the week, but we decided just to stick with it.
Today, in front of court-appointed witnesses while six months pregnant, I will become Mrs. Caleb Jones. Not even a year ago, I would have laughed my ass off if someone had told me I was going to be in this situation today. It’s been quite the ride, but I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life.
“Let’s do it!” I say, walking into the den, only to come to a screeching halt when my eyes find Caleb. He’s wearing dark washed-out jeans, a white button-down with the sleeves rolled up to show off his amazing tattoos, and a simple black tie.
I will not have sex with him. I will not have sex with him. I will not have sex with him.
“Take your clothes off.”
“You first,” he says with a wicked smile.
“Jesus, you look hot.” I walk over and straighten his perfectly straight tie.
“I look like a hobbit standing next to you.” He kisses my lips with the gentle brush, refusing me the full connection he knows I’m longing for.
“I love when you lie to me like that,” I mumble against his lips.
“Let’s get out of here, Ms. Erickson.”
Caleb has been calling me this for weeks now. It used to kill him to hear my last name, but ever since we set a date and he knows it’s going to change, he can’t seem to say it enough.
The courthouse isn’t exactly a long drive from our house, and I’m thankful for that when nerves take root in my stomach. I have no idea why I’m nervous, because I’ve never been more sure about anything. Caleb and I agreed that today would just be us. We made plans to have Jesse and Brett, Kara and whatever random guy she is dating, and even Eli and Casey join us for a cookout at our house to celebrate this weekend.
We don’t talk a whole lot about Sarah anymore. He knows when I go visit her, but he never has a single word, negative or positive, to say about her. It’s almost like she is a person he has never even met. To say the least, it’s really fucking weird for Caleb not to have an opinion.
“I got us a room at a bed and breakfast for the night,” Caleb announces as we park in front of the Steel House. “Those are kind of Southern, right?” he asks with a huge glowing smile.
“Why? We live like two miles away?”
“Because I’m marrying the love of my life and she insisted on not having a wedding, so I felt the need to waste some money on a hotel room.” He leans over to kiss me. I try to dodge him just for fun, but he grabs the back of my neck, sealing his mouth over mine.
After Caleb is done with his mini make-out session in his truck, he hands me a key.
“I love you. More than anything. You know that, right?” he says, holding my face. He uses one hand to stroke across my cheek and his other hand to rub my rounded stomach.
“Yeah, I know that.” I suck his bottom lip into my mouth, roughly dragging my teeth across it before releasing.
“Mmm, sweetheart, you better get your ass into that room before I change my mind.”
“About what?” I move even closer into his body, causing him to growl.
Sudd
“Go!” He points to the door then turns to adjust his pants. I have to laugh, but it only causes him to flash me a smirk that drenches me.
My dress is a long, fitted white maxi dress with a black sweater over it. It’s simple—just like our non-wedding. I didn’t bring a pair of spare clothes for tonight, and if I don’t want to have to change my panties, I should probably go inside.
I blow a kiss over my shoulder and head into the ritzy house. The kind lady at the desk points me toward our suite, and I head straight inside, dropping the old-school metal key in the bowl in the entryway. I look around the lavish room Caleb has had decorated with dozens of orange roses. I pull out my phone out to text him when I hear a familiar voice from the other room.
“About time you showed up!”
My heart stops and those fucking hormonal tears immediately spring to my eyes.
“Sarah?” I round the corner to find my sister sitting with her feet kicked up on the coffee table, drinking a glass of faux champagne, and eating chocolate-covered strawberries while watching Judge Judy.
“Hey, preggo,” she says, standing to greet me.
“What the hell are you doing here? I mean…how are you here? Wait, are you even allowed to leave that place? Did you escape?” My concern only serves to make her burst out laughing. She falls down sideways on the couch next to her and laughs it out for a full minute before sitting back up.
“Jesus, that reaction alone was worth the deal I made with the devil just to be here.” She smiles, wiping under her eyes.
“What are you doing here?” I repeat.
“It’s your wedding day.”
“I didn’t think you were allowed to leave Building Foundations for another six weeks?”
“I’m not, but your little fiancé pulled some of his cop strings and got me a day pass. No worries. There is a uniform planted at the front desk in case I get squirrely.” Her voice is filled with sarcasm.
“Sarah!”
“I’m kidding. Stop.” She walks over to stand in front of me. “I’m not going to lie. I’m not sure how I feel about you marrying him, but given this basketball you are smuggling, I don’t think I have many options.”
“I’d marry him even without the baby,” I declare just so she knows that this isn’t a union based on our reproductive progress. I’m marrying Caleb because I’m pretty sure the world would crumble under my feet before it ever let me walk away from him again.
“I hate him,” she states boldly.
This isn’t the first time we have had this conversation, but it is the first time she has been so blunt about her feelings. This is definitely my older sister Sarah and not at all this new woman she claims to be.
“I also believe he’s a really good and honest man.” My head snaps up to meet her eyes. “If he wants to marry you… Well, you could definitely do worse than Caleb Jones.” She shrugs, and I tackle her.
We are both careful with my belly, but we laugh hysterically while rolling around and wrestling on the hotel floor. A few minutes later, she helps drag my pregnant butt back up off the floor.
“There’s a note for you over by the door. I swear I haven’t read it…more than twice.” She winks, pulling a pillow over her lap on the couch.
Emmy,
I know I didn’t do the proposal right, but I wanted to at least make today special for you. Everyone deserves to be surrounded by family, no matter what. We aren’t getting married until four, so enjoy the time with your sister. I’m just down the hall if you need anything.
I love you,
Caleb
I stare at the note, reading it over and over again until Sarah finally interrupts my thoughts.
“He bought you a dress too. It’s in the bathroom.”
I jerk my head up. “You know he wasn’t talking about just me needing family, right?” I ask, because to me, it’s painfully obviously why Sarah is here. I love her, and I love that she’s here, but even Caleb knew that she would want to be here to watch me say I do. “He did this for both of us,” I choke out.
“And that is why I’ve labeled him a good man today.”
She tries to play it cool, but her eyes still gloss over with unshed tears. We both try to restrain the emotions. Erickson woman don’t cry. Oh, who the hell am I kidding? Between the two of us, we have cried the likes of Lake Michigan over the last five years.
I try to change the subject. “What’s the dress look like?”
“It’s hideous. Some summery orange and white number.”
“What the hell is wrong with you? That sounds gorgeous.” I rush toward the bathroom as she rolls her eyes.
I pull the garment bag off the hanger to find a floor-length white cotton sleeveless dress with a plunging V-neck. Yep. Caleb definitely picked this. Sure, it’s going to show off a fair amount of cleavage, but the real drama is at the bottom. Just below my knees, the white fades into bright orange. I can’t even put into words how much I love it. It’s different, but stunning. Just like my man.
I whip out my phone and immediately text him.
Me: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Caleb: I love you and you are very welcome. Now, stop texting me and hang out with Sarah.
Me: What room are you in? I want to come say thank you.
Caleb: I’m with Brett and Eli smoking cigars on the roof deck. You should probably thank me tonight.
Me: Oh God, does Brett know Sarah’s here?
Caleb: Yes, now stop with the million questions and have fun. Lunch will be up in an hour.
Me: I love you.
Caleb: I love you too, Emmy. Always.
“WAS THAT Emma?” Eli asks, pulling a puff off one of the cigars he brought.
“You ever see Caleb wear a shit-eating grin that big and it isn’t because of Emma?” Brett says sarcastically.
“Shut the hell up, asshole.” I play with my phone while trying to get rid of the big-ass smile I can’t seem to wipe away today.
“What’d the ole’ wife have to say?” Eli asks.
“None of your damn business. However, she was worried about whether you knew Sarah was here or not,” I say to Brett, who is quietly puffing on his cigar.
“As long as I don’t have to deal with Sarah’s bullshit and Jesse isn’t within a twelve-mile radius of her, I told you, I’m cool with it.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“How are you doing with Sarah being here?” Brett asks, turning the tables on me.
“It’s weird. But I knew how happy it would make Emma, so it’s worth it. I can promise you one thing. There will be no alcohol or car keys anywhere near those two today. I’m not risking anything with her.”
I’m trying to let it all go with Sarah—really fucking trying. And to a point, I’ve been successful. Her memory doesn’t eat away at me like it used to, but forgiveness isn’t a cure-all either. I’m more than willing to admit that it does ease the burn though. Hate is a painful emotion to keep alive for any period of time.
I turn my attention to Eli. “So what’s up with you and Casey?”
“She’s Casey,” he answers with a shrug.
“You two doing it for real now that she moved back to town.”
“I am, but I don’t think she is,” he says shortly.
“Well don’t puss out and let her go this time.”
“Yeah, sure. Just like you didn’t let Emma go?” His tone is sharp, and it’s obvious I’ve struck a nerve.
“Hey, I’m getting married today. Obviously we figured it out.”
“Well I’d appreciate if you keep your mouth shut about shit you don’t know anything about. Not everything can be figured out.” He stands up and heads to the rooftop bar, leaving Brett and me staring at each other with wide eyes.
“Damn. She’s really fucking him up,” Brett whispers.
“Nothing new there, my man. She’s been screwing with him for years now.”
A
We sit in comfortable silence just watching the world around us.
“Did you ever think we would be here?” I find myself saying out loud. “I mean, in those dark days after the wreck, could you have even imagined being in a place this good again? I’m about to get married and have a baby on the way, Brett’s about to propose, and Eli has another chance with Casey. That wreck fucked us all over, but somehow we have all pieced together the crap we were handed and made something better.”
I look up to catch Eli and Brett looking down at their beers, seemingly lost in the past. However, for the first time in years, I’m not there with them. I’m getting married to Emma Jane Erickson today. You couldn’t drag me out of the present if you tried.
IN A white-and-orange dress and with my sister at my side, I officially became Emma Jones. Caleb and I agreed to wait until the real wedding after the baby was born in order to write our own vows, but he still surprised me with a few sentences about how much he loved me. It was really sweet, and of-freaking-course I cried.
Sarah and Caleb didn’t even acknowledge each other at the courthouse. They didn’t speak, but it wasn’t really all that awkward either. Just having them in the same place at the same time meant the world to me.
“You really have to go?” I ask Sarah as we stand outside the courthouse. Caleb walked away to make a few phone calls. I’m sure he was calling his sister and the rest of our gang to announce that we have officially tied the knot.
“Yeah, I need to get back before six,” she says, pulling me into a hug. “I’m really glad I got to be here today.”
“Me too.” I squeeze her tight. “Hey, and only a few more weeks before they start letting you come home on the weekends.”
“Oh goodie. Just in time to listen to you complain about your swollen ankles and heartburn,” she teases while rubbing my belly.
“See you on Wednesday?” I yell as she walks over to the unmarked police car that escorted her here.