Page 36 of Love Unbound
Shortly after, upbeat music started to thump from the DJ’s booth, and the dance floor was packed, dancing and singing along to Usher’s ‘Yeah’. Jodi begged out when the song ended, parched and in need of water. She had long forsaken the heels and she padded barefoot to the bar, where Kyle handed her a bottle of water which she took gratefully. Free had followed, taking one as well. Laughing together at an over exuberant uncle on Cassie’s side dancing excitedly, Jodi sighed, enjoying herself immensely.
Free reached up and loosened the tie knotted as his throat, releasing the top button as well. The sleeves of his black button down had long since been rolled up to his elbows, leaving his tanned forearms bare.
Leaning down, Free spoke into her ear over the music and crowd, “Wanna take a walk outside? Cool down a bit? I’m roasting in this suit.”
Jodi nodded, then followed him out of one of the tent’s draped entrances. String fairy lights hung in the towering maple trees sprawled everywhere, and solar powered patio lights lit several different paths into the darkness. They wandered out, following one dimly lit pathway.
“Are you having a good time?” Free asked softly. They had traveled a few hundred feet away from the reception tent, and it was much quieter. Crickets chirped and bullfrogs sounded in the distance. Here and there, a firefly would illuminate in front of them.
“Of course,” Jodi said and smiled up at him. The lights strung in the trees cast just enough light for them to see each other. “I love weddings. They make me happy.”
“Did yours?” he asked quietly.
Jodi shrugged, staring down at her feet as they walked. “I didn’t actually have a wedding when I married Josh. He didn’t want a wedding, so we just went to the courthouse.”
“So, you didn’t get to do any of this?” Free asked, gesturing back to the tent and party behind them.
Jodi shook her head, no. “It’s okay, though. I’m glad we didn’t. It would have seemed like a waste.”
Jodi was grateful that Free left it at that. She didn’t want to talk about her marriage to Josh, not tonight.
A creek babbled about ten feet ahead of them, where the trail they had taken ended. A wooden bench stood just before it, and Free took Jodi’s hand, leading her over to it. He sat downand spread his knees, pulling her toward him so that she stood between them.
Jodi’s fingers tunneled through his soft, dark hair, pulling it away from his brow before letting her hands move down to cup his strong jaw in her palms. Her fingers played with the dark, trimmed hair that covered his jawline, chin, and upper lip. He stared up at her from where he sat, letting her explore, his blue-green eyes intense as he watched her. Feeling bold, she ducked her head and pressed her lips to his, her hands cupping either side of his face.
His hands trailed along the bare skin of her calves, moving up, skimming under the fabric of her dress. Palms flat against the backs of her thighs, he squeezed lightly, and with gentle pressure urged her closer. Their mouths melded, tongues tangling, trying to taste all of the other. Pulling slightly, Free collapsed her knees, hauling her closer until she straddled his lap, her knees on either side of his hips. Her dress rode up, leaving the majority of her thighs bare to his ardent touch.
Jodi gasped, the wood of the bench cool against her shins. Free’s hands settled on the curve of her hips, at the same time rotating his hips upward. Jodi moaned quietly, biting her lip, when she felt his hardness between her thighs. She settled more firmly onto his lap, and this time it was Free’s turn to groan.
“Fuck,” he whispered hoarsely, threading his fingers up through her hair and pulling her mouth back down to his, ravishing it with his own. Breaking the kiss to breathe, he chuckled breathlessly against her lips. Shifting his hips again, he breathed, “I’ve wanted to do this for so long.”
Jodi nodded, her lips brushing back and forth against his. “Me too.”
“I should probably get you back to the party before I try to fuck you here on this bench,” Free growled, nipping her lip with his straight white teeth. “Or before your dad comes looking forus.” Jodi giggled, and Free groaned again. “Oh god, don’t do that.”
Assisting her back to her feet, he stood, too.
“It’s a real good thing we’ve got a bit of a walk, because this isn’t acceptable party attire,” he jested, motioning to his fly.
Jodi laughed lightly, stepping close to him. Bravely, she ran her hand along his left thigh, letting her fingers flit over his front teasingly. Growling darkly, he captured her hand and pressed it to him, and she gasped again, her eyes flying to his, at the same time her fingers closing around the hard ridge there. His eyes fluttered closed briefly, and he gnashed his teeth around a groan. “This is what you do to me.”
Swooping down to press another fiery kiss to her lips, he pulled away, leaving her breathless. “I mean it. We need to go before I take you out here right now.”
“I’m not objecting,” Jodi whispered throatily.
She watched as he shook his dark head. He tucked a stray curl behind her ear. “I’ve waited a decade for you, a few more hours won’t kill me.”
Pressing her front against his enticingly, he groaned and slapped her ass with his palm. “Then again, it just might.”
Chapter 26
When they rejoined the reception a few minutes later, Jodi excused herself to the ladies’ room to freshen up, and make sure she didn’t look like she’d just been ravished. Her lips were kiss roughened, the skin around her mouth deliciously abraded by Free’s beard. She fixed her makeup best she could, then joined Free by the bar.
There was a slow, romantic ballad playing, and the dance floor was filled with couples swaying slowly together. Free took her hand in his and led her out onto the dance floor, pulling her close. They swayed together on the edge of the dance floor, and Jodi’s eyes flit from one couple to the next.
Cassie’s head rested on Shane’s chest as they swayed back and forth, and Shane pressed a tender kiss to his bride’s forehead. Among the couples out on the dance floor were Cassie’s parents, Seren and Levi, and Leah and Adam.
Free’s younger cousin Kale had asked Shaun to dance, and she laughed softly at something the young man said. As Jodi watched, Kasey walked up to the two of them and tapped his younger brother on the shoulder. Kale grinned and let Kasey cut in. Shaun stiffened and said something that made Kasey grin widely, even as his hand splayed wide on her back. He murmured something quietly in return and Shaun’s blue eyes narrowed ominously. Unperturbed by Shaun’s ire, Kasey chuckled and twirled her around the floor effortlessly.
