Divine Charity(Divine Creek Ranch 18)(125)

The last chorus of the song faded and Ransome kissed her before releasing her into Val’s arms as “Who I Am With You” by Chris Young began to play.

Charity giggled and said, “Okay, confess. You and Ransome were afraid to shock Grace with your song choices, weren’t you?”

He laughed with her and said, “Despite the fact that your sister is in a ménage and has been for some time, I still see her as being your innocent kid sister somehow. I really do like this song, though. It was my sentimental choice.”

“What was the song you really consider our song?”

He looked down and she watched as a slow, sexy grin crossed his lips. “Gotta be ‘Come As You Are’ by Nirvana. What?” he asked as she wrapped her arms around him and started giggling.

“We really were meant to be together, weren’t we?”

“You know it, baby,” he replied, his eyes taking on that sexy, sleepy quality she loved so much.

“You all look so handsome tonight.”

He grinned as she stroked the lapels on his black suit jacket. The three of them were wearing black suits that fit their muscular bodies wonderfully. “Your sister pointed us in the right direction when we asked her about your dress. I’m glad you decided to really go for it.”

“You are?” she asked, smiling as she recalled the way their eyes had all bulged when she’d made her entry on the back deck, clad in an ecru lace strapless wedding gown. The mermaid cut had been Justine’s suggestion. She would’ve gone for just a basic cocktail-length dress but all of the girls had nay-sayed her, pushing her to actually try on wedding dresses even though she didn’t want to go overboard. They’d had good instincts.

“Of course. You look beautiful. And I can’t wait to take it off of you later,” he murmured while nuzzling her cheek. His arms felt wonderful around her and they swayed close together until the song came to an end. He lifted his head and looked off to the side. “I think someone is waiting impatiently for his turn.”

“Oh,” she whispered as the next song began and a wave of gooseflesh swept over her. Val kissed her forehead and gently turned her toward Justin, who waited with open arms and a tender gaze. She sniffled and tears filled her eyes as Michael Bolton’s “Said I Loved You…But I Lied” began to play.

“Baby…” he whispered as he peered down at her and swiped a tear from her cheek with his thumb. “Should I have picked something less…”

She shook her head firmly as she looked up at him and kissed him. “No. Never.”

“Grace asked me for a song that was special. It seemed like the best one and I knew only you and I would know the deeper meaning.”

Kissing him again, not minding being reduced to tears, she said, “You picked perfectly, Justin. What could be more perfect than the song that was playing the first time you made love to me?”

His eyelids closed as though he was reliving the memory with her, and he smiled and said, “I wanted this moment to be special, for all of us but also to acknowledge our history. I love you like crazy, woman.”

They shared another kiss as they danced and she lost herself in the sweet, sensual closeness of his embrace. The crowd and the house seemed to recede as her memories returned.

The music had played on her radio, mixing with the sounds of the creek gurgling close by as they lay in each other’s arms, slick with perspiration, joined together for the first time.

Her heart pounded as she recalled the love in his deep brown eyes as he entered her the first time, the memory of the slight pain dimmed by time. He’d made love to her with such gentleness, his caresses unschooled and innocent as he held her, both of them awed by the other as they were swept away by fiery currents of passion. She could almost hear their combined panting as they brought each other to orgasm and lay there in wonder for long minutes afterward.

More tears stung her eyes as she looked up at him. “I had no idea I could love you more back then, Justin. But I do. You weren’t just the man who introduced me to lovemaking. You’ve been the man who’s loved me through thick and thin, through childbirth, raising kids, making not only a living, but making a life with me.”

He caressed her temple, his fingers gentle on her fancy updo, and said, “Life has little meaning without you in it, babe. Whatever form the future takes, I’m glad you’re with me, and I’m glad Val and Ransome are with us, too.”

Another song began and the area set aside as a dance floor filled with people as the next song, “Run” by Matt Nathanson and Jennifer Nettles began to play. Charity’s heart swelled until she thought it would burst as Val and Ransome joined them and crowded in close so she was dancing with all three of them. Looking around she noticed that Grace and her men, and several other of the ménages were doing the same thing. It was at once a sensual and completely joyous moment, and as her sister met her gaze, she was glad it was one she could share with her and all their friends.