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He worried his lower lip for a moment because he had promised not to lie to Rebekah and once he voiced this desire, there’d be no returning to his path of indifference. “I think so. The entire process will probably turn me into an emotional wreck or an insufferable asshole. You sure you can handle that?”
She nodded. “Yes, I know I can. With you beside me, I can handle anything.”
He smiled. “Yeah, I feel that way too. It’s the only reason I think I’m ready to face her.”
“Then we’ll find her and no matter what happens, I’ll still love you.” She gripped his chin in her hand and stared intently into his eyes. “You believe me, right?”
He gazed at her for a long moment, absorbing her affection, her love. He would probably never feel worthy of her, but he did believe her. She loved him. He could feel it in her touch, see it in her eyes, hear it in her voice when she spoke his name. Taste it in her kiss. It was real. She loved him. He believed. He’d never doubt it again.
“I do,” he whispered and kissed her just as the candle flickered out and they were bathed in darkness. “I do believe, sweet love of mine.”
Patience
Epilogue to Rock Hard
A Sinners on Tour Encore
by Olivia Cunning
Chapter One
Groggy from sleep, Sed rolled over in bed and reached for Jessica. When he found nothing but empty pillow, he felt a moment of panic. He lifted his head to see if the bathroom light was on and then checked the clock. Even though it was past eight, the room was more dimly lit than was typical for a southern Californian morning. It probably had something to do with the storm clouds he could see outside the French doors to the balcony. And the absence of his heart and soul probably had something to do with it being his wedding day.
And hers.
Jessica had wanted to stay in a hotel room the night before so they wouldn’t see each other before the wedding, but three orgasms had exhausted her enough to keep her in his bed. At least for the night. She must have risen early and vacated the place. He could almost picture her with her hand over her eyes as she scooted out of the bed to avoid glimpsing him even in sleep. He made a mental note to tease her about it later. He’d only agreed to a traditional wedding because his family were expecting it and Jessica said she wanted one. He didn’t care how the deed was done as long as he could make that woman his in the eyes of God, his friends and family, and the fine state of California. That way she would never leave him again.
Sed rolled out of bed and stood naked before the French doors, scowling at the angry clouds overhead. Jessica would be heartbroken if it rained today. He wanted her to be happy every day, but especially today. He wondered if the band’s manager could do something about the weather. Jerry was a miracle worker when it came to keeping the band from falling apart, even though they’d gone through plenty of tragic events in the past couple of years. Surely the guy could stop a few rainclouds from dampening his day.
Sed’s cellphone rang and he recognized the guitar-solo ringtone of his best man, Brian Sinclair.
“Are you up?” Brian asked in greeting.
Sed glanced down at his morning wood, which would have been stone hard if Jessica was in his morning routine, but it was already subsiding in her absence. “Not quite,” he said.
“Jessica and Myrna just left with an entire van full of giggling women. We need to go round up the guys and pick up our tuxedos.”
And how Jessica had ever talked him into wearing one of those, Sed would never know. At least she hadn’t insisted he wear one of those ridiculous bow ties. That was not happening.
“I’ll be over as soon as I get out of the shower.”
“You nervous?” Brian asked.
“No,” he said, but as soon as the words were out of his mouth, his stomach lurched in protest. “Not much,” he amended.
“Jessica is a wreck this morning. Not that I blame her. Look who she’s marrying.”
One corner of Sed’s mouth lifted in amusement. “Great, Brian. That’s just what I need to hear this morning.”
“Just remember I’m the nice one. Wait until Eric gets going.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” Sed said with a laugh. Nothing anyone said or did would keep him from marrying Jessica today. Not even Eric Sticks.
He found it hilarious that Jessica had set out proper socks and underwear for him in the bathroom. He’d gotten her really worked up the night before when he’d told her he was wearing white tube socks with his black tux and dress shoes. He did enjoy riling her. But he’d behave himself today. She was already under enough stress. Tonight, on the other hand, her temper was bound to get poked. And that wouldn’t be the only thing he poked.
Like a good husband-to-be, he wore those dumbass, thin black dress socks with his basketball shorts, T-shirt, and cross-trainers. He just hoped no paparazzi were waiting at the gate of his condominium complex this morning. He felt as lame in the dress socks as he looked.
When he arrived at Brian’s house, a party of cars was already parked in the long driveway. He recognized Aggie’s black Mustang, his sister’s Toyota, Eric’s Corvette, and the big van that Rebekah drove to haul her brother Dave and his wheelchair around. Jessica’s car was there as well. He really wished he’d gotten to see her that morning. His day never started right when he had to start it without her.
Sed rang the doorbell and was ushered into the house by Brian. He was surprised the man wasn’t holding his son. The kid was always attached to Brian’s arm except when he was on stage playing his guitar. He occasionally let Sed hold him. And nothing filled Sed with wonder more than snuggling his friend’s baby against chest except the knowledge that in seven months he’d be cuddling one of his own.
“Where’s Malcolm?” Sed asked.
“With his mother,” Brian said. “Come in. Did you have breakfast? Myrna said to make sure you ate something. She doesn’t want you fainting at the altar.”
Sed laughed. “Why the fuck would I faint?”
“It happens more than you think. Remember when Trey fainted at Malcolm’s birth?”
“Shut up, assmunch,” Trey said as he entered the room on cue.
“I missed that, unfortunately,” Sed said.
“Invite him to Jessica’s delivery,” Brian said, “and behold the hilarity for yourself.”
“I don’t think Jessica will want an audience of Trey.”
“I don’t know,” Trey said. “It’s not like I’ve never witnessed the two of you fucking in the bed right beside me.”
“We thought you were asleep,” Sed said.
“Dude,” Eric said, loping into the foyer to join the festivities, “where the fuck did you get those socks?”
“Jessica said I have to wear them with my tux.” Sed looked down at his socks and scowled.
“You could have brought them and changed into them later instead of wearing them now,” Eric said.
He punched Eric in the shoulder. “But I want to make sure they’re nice and smelly before the ceremony.”
The mechanical whir of Dave’s wheelchair announced his arrival into the increasingly crowded foyer.
“Why are we all congregating out here?” Dave said. “The strippers are getting lonely.”
“Strippers?” Sed’s band and crew had thrown him a wild and rather incriminating bachelor party a few nights before. He didn’t need any repeats this morning.
Brian chuckled and shook his head. “Myrna’s having some work done in the dining room. They’re stripping wallpaper off the walls this morning.”
“Good one, Dave!” Eric said with a hearty laugh.
“I think I’ve been hanging around with you too much,” Dave said. “Your lame sense of humor is wearing off on me.”
“Five minutes is too much when it comes to Eric,” Sed teased.
“That’s what she said,” Dave added with a laugh.
Eric had no qualms against smacking his brother-in-law in the forehead.
“Where’s Jace?” S
ed asked, noting the absence of the final member of his band.
“Asleep on Brian’s couch,” Trey said. “You know he doesn’t function before noon.”
“I think Aggie got a little vicious with him last night in the dungeon,” Eric said. “It’s got to be rough for them on the road without their St. Andrew’s cross.”
“I heard that,” Jace called from the living room off to the right of the foyer.
“What are you going to do about it, Tripod?” Eric asked.
“Gift you an hour-long session from Aggie when she’s on her period.”
“Eww, why when she’s on her period?” Eric asked, his long nose crinkled in disgust.
“Because she’s twice as vicious when she’s in a really bad mood.”
Sed still hadn’t taken Jessica for a training session with Aggie. He wasn’t afraid or anything. But now that Jess was pregnant, he couldn’t imagine that her using a cane on him to work through her frustrations would be good for the baby. Yeah, good excuse. It was bad for the baby.
