Katie Ashley - Beat of the Heart

Suddenly, in the middle of a romantic love song, my Spidey mommy senses perked up, alerting me that something was wrong with Bella. Sure enough, Mari started across the floor with a wailing Bella in her arms. The moment she saw AJ and me, she stretched out her arms and kicked her legs.

“I was going to take this little girl on across the street to the hotel to bed, but I got halfway out of the ballroom when she started screaming for her mama and dada.”

“Come here, mi amor,” AJ crooned, taking Bella from Mari.

Snubbing back her tears, Bella rubbed her red eyes with her tiny fists. I leaned over to kiss her wet cheek. “It’s way past your bedtime, sweetheart. Go on with Abuela. Mommy and Daddy will see you in the morning.”

AJ nudged me. “Surely she can stay a little while longer and dance with us? I mean, how many times do her parents get married?” he questioned, with amusement twinkling in his eyes.

With a grin, I shook my head. “You are spoiling her rotten. It’s no fun playing bad cop all the time, AJ.”

“Actually, that could be really fun for us to play in the bedroom.”

Considering his mother was still standing right there, I smacked his arm. “Fine. She can stay. But when she starts screaming again, I’m walking away, and you can deal with her.” I hugged Mari, before she started off the floor and back to her table.

AJ wrapped his free arm around me to where Bella was cocooned between us. She rested her head against his shoulder. He jerked his chin up at the band leader who nodded. When the opening notes to Unchained Melody came on, I smiled and pressed myself closer against AJ. I remembered the first time we had danced to this song, and he had sung to me in Spanish. This time he began singing to both me and Bella. By the time the song ended, she was fast asleep.

“I’ll go put her down,” I said.

“Nah, let’s make our exit.”

“It’s only midnight, AJ.”

“So?”

I laughed. “It would be considered poor form since Italian and Mexican couples do not leave the reception until at least two in the morning.”

He snorted. “As long as the booze keeps flowing, the food keeps coming, and the music keeps playing, they’ll be fine. Besides, we did the whole cake cutting/bouquet throwing shit.” He leaned down to nuzzle my neck. Whispering into my ear, he said, “I’m ready to consummate our marriage, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” I murmured. His words in my ear started up a thrum of desire within me—one only AJ could do.

“Good. So let’s get the fuck out of here.”

AJ waved to our remaining guests and motioned down at Bella’s sleeping form, as if she excused us for making a run for it. Mari rose out of her chair and came with us since Bella would be sleeping in her and Joaquin’s suite tonight. We were leaving for Mexico in the morning—this time when we spent a few days with Abuela, we would be sleeping together. Then it was on to a resort in Puerto Vallarta while Bella stayed behind with Abuela.

Joined by two hulking body guards, we made our way outside onto Peachtree Street. There were only a few straggling paparazzi wanting to get a picture of us. A year ago we’d given them quite the story with Bella’s limo birth. As flashbulbs went off all around us, AJ quickly handed Bella to me and then took off his tux jacket. He wrapped it around my shoulders so Bella would be shielded from the flashes of the photographers.

We hustled across the street to the Georgian Terrace. When we got to her floor, Mari took Bella from me. Thankfully, she was still sleeping soundly. I think the day’s events had completely worn her out. Before she stepped off the elevator, Mari turned to me with a smile. “Today was so very beautiful. We’re so happy you’re officially a part of our family now, Mia.”

I smiled. “Thank you. I am, too.”

She gave me a quick hug before heading off to her room. AJ and I continued on up to one of the bridal suites. “So, did you buy something sexy to wear for me tonight?”

Even though I had one entire bag of my luggage full of naughty items from my lingerie shower, I shook my head. “What would be the point? You’d get hard if I was wearing a flannel gown.”

AJ threw his head back and laughed. “True. But I’d still like to see you in some lace and garters.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Then, I think that can be arranged.”

When we got into our hotel room, I made a beeline for my suitcase. I pulled out a racy, white number that Abby had given me. I grinned at AJ who was tearing out of his tux so fast I thought he would rip it. Turning around, I glanced over my shoulder at him. “Unzip me, please.”

He groaned. “If I do that, I might not be able to stop.”

“If you don’t, I’m never getting out of this massive dress.”

“Fine, fine.” He then worked the zipper down for me.

Cupping the front of my dress, I winked at him. “Be back in a minute.”

“Make it a second.”

I slipped into the bathroom and began making fast work of getting out of the fancy crinoline and the intricate bustier. I had just finished adjusting my garters when AJ stepped into the bathroom. “Wait, I’m not—”

My words dried up at the sight of him twirling a set of handcuffs around his finger. He jerked his chin up at the massive grotto shower with a gleaming silver showerhead. “I think it’s time for a little payback, Mrs. Resendiz.”

With a squeal, I tried to escape him, but he was too fast. I was locked into his tight embrace. He smiled down at me with such love in his eyes. “You know, I loved you even after you handcuffed me to that damn shower at Jake’s.”

“I loved you when I did it…and even after, too.”

His lips crushed against mine with a mixture of both lust and love, and I knew I was in for a night I’d never forget.