Finding You – Bonus Scene

Joanna

“You look incredible.” Finn stood behind me as I looked at him through the large mirror of the bridal suite. My eyes filled.

“Well don’t cry, Banana, you’ll ruin the face you paid for,” he laughed.

At that, I smiled, swiping under my eyes and trying hard to not smear the expensive makeup. I usually only wore mascara, but today was such a special day that Honey insisted I “put my face on.”

“I can’t believe today is finally here!” I blew out another shaky breath and willed my nerves to settle.

“Don’t stress.” Finn fiddled with his tie. “Besides, you’re not even the one getting married.”

I turned to take him in. Finn was dressed in a dark, expertly tailored tuxedo. His large frame filled the jacket, and I could see his biceps straining the fabric. The dark navy trousers were slim, and made his long legs look even longer. My best friend looked simply stunning.

“Are you nervous?”

“Nah. Have you seen Seth in a tuxedo?” He winked at me, but started tapping his thumb against his thigh.

Finn started adjusting his cufflinks, and I realized how truly handsome he was. I wrapped him in a hug, and smiled up at him. My best friend was marrying the man of his dreams and I couldn’t be happier for him.

“Am I interrupting?” Lincoln’s deep, rumbling voice made the tiny hairs on my arm stand up, and a tingle rippled through my belly.

I unfolded from Finn’s embrace and turned. Lincoln’s steel-blue eyes raked over me, and instantly my mouth went dry. It was like I could hear every dirty thought running through his mind. One look from Lincoln, and I no matter where we were, I wanted to tear my clothes off.

Finn—relatively unfazed by Lincoln eye-fucking me from across the room—cleared his throat. I felt my cheeks flush.

“You two need a room?” Finn asked.

Flustered, I looked down and started absently rearranging the hair products on the small table.

I made the mistake of looking up through the mirror at Lincoln’s full lips as he licked them. Holy shit. My belly took a tumble.

“We’re good. You ready, boss?” Lincoln moved toward Finn and extended his hand.

They shook and Finn pulled Lincoln into a bear hug. It warmed my heart to see the brothers share a moment. Only a few years ago they were relative strangers.

It took time, but Finn and Lincoln were able to find common ground and rebuild the relationship that each had let slip away. Finn stopped keeping secrets, and Lincoln continued therapy to deal with the trauma he experienced in the Marines.

“Honey said it’s almost go-time.” Lincoln rubbed the back of his neck. “Damn, that woman’s a handful.”

I playfully slapped his shoulder. “Oh, stop. She may be intense, but she’s got a heart of gold.”

“Well that heart of gold just told me that if I didn’t get you two out there, she’d stomp my balls with her stilettos.”

I hearty laughed bubbled out of me.

“You laugh, but I believe her.” Lincoln adjusted his trousers, throwing me into another fit of the giggles. “Time to go, kids.”

Finn paused, taking a deep, hearty breath.

“This is it. Seth’s waiting for you.” I reached out to squeeze Finn’s hand.

“I’m ready.” Finn squeezed back and grinned. He squared his shoulders and pulled down on his jacket to straighten it.

As Finn moved toward the door, Lincoln stepped into my space and loomed over me.

“Mmm,” he grunted.

I closed my eyes and leaned into him. “You smell incredible.” I breathed deeply, and a tiny moan escaped me.

“You better stop with those little noises or I’ll rip that pretty dress off you right here.”

My thighs clenched together. Lincoln leaned down, dragging his nose up my neck and nipping my earlobe into his mouth. Warmth pooled between my legs.

“We’ll finish this later.” It wasn’t a promise, but a warning.

* * *

Lincoln

Watching my little brother get married was a fucking trip. I was honored when he asked me to be his best man, and I took the job seriously, but the thought of standing up and giving a speech in front the a crowd full of people made me want to gouge my eyes out.

Thankfully, Joanna took her job as a groomswoman even more seriously and happily took the honors of giving the big speech.

She was witty, charming, and had the entire room eating out of the palm of her hand. Her eyes sparkled as she recounted Finn’s antics. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her.

As she wrapped her speech, the dull ache in my chest grew stronger. She looked over at me, winked, and I could have died right there.  I was so in love with my wife.

When she sat, she leaned over and whispered, “How’d I do?”

Taking a deep pull of her sweet citrus smell, I replied, “Incredible.”

Her eyes crinkled, and she leaned over further, placing her hand high on my thigh. Her lips touched against the sensitive skin under my ear. “Did I tell you how much that tux does it for me?”

My cock stirred, and when she ran her tongue along my ear, I almost came right there. “Careful now,” I growled.

She laughed a sultry laugh as she moved back to her own space.

“Tease.”

I hated weddings—too much small talk, watered down booze, the Macarena—but I did love seeing Joanna dancing and laughing and getting a little tipsy on wine.

I was bound and determined to be an honorable man that was worthy of her love. So at that moment, it meant shedding my jacket and doing my best to not embarrass myself on the dance floor. As the music played, every song I held her closer than the one before.

One of Seth’s cousins tempted fate when he tried to step in to dance—a guy can’t even go to the fucking bathroom. I watched as he stiffly twirled her around. A smile played on my lips as she tried to offer small talk. I wasn’t worried that dickbag would steal her away.

In the three years we’d been married, I had only grown to love her more. We were fused, connected in a way that I didn’t fully understand.

Joanna fully accepted me, and I loved her completely. In fact, I didn’t think that there was anything that would make me love her more, until. . .

Midway through a slow song, I held Joanna in my arms. I swayed her body with mine and ran my hands up the bare skin of her back. Joanna looped her arms around my neck and pulled me close to her.

“Lincoln,” she breathed. “I have something to tell you.”

I closed my eyes, feeling her voice move through my chest.

“We did it, baby,” she said. “I’m pregnant.”

In that moment, my heart stopped. We had been trying for sixteen months, and while I didn’t mind all the practice, I knew it was weighing heavily on Joanna.

I looked deeply into her green-gray eyes. They were swimming in joyful tears, and I felt my heart shatter into pieces.

I grabbed Joanna, pulling her body closer to mine, and lifted her off the ground. She squealed with laughter as I spun her. At that moment, I held the whole world in my arms.

“I promise I will always take care of you. Both of you.”

Joanna brushed away a hair on my forehead and rested her hand on the side of my face. A smile danced on her lips.

“Babe,” she continued. “It’s twins.”

My heart pumped hard once and my knees felt like they would buckle underneath me.

“I am yours and you are mine.” I rested my forehead against hers. In all the years I searched for her, I never expected Joanna.

“You promise you’ll still love me when I’m as big as a house?” She laughed.

“You’re my goddess. My Valkyrie. I will always worship you, swollen feet and all.”

“And you are the most honorable man I have ever known.”

The crowd around us disappeared as I got lost in this woman—my gorgeous wife—the mother of my children. I had no fucking clue how I would ever prove worthy of them, but I was damn sure gonna try.