Markus woke before Mekena did.

Reaching over, he moved a piece of hair out of her eyes and smiled. She was so beautiful and all his. He’d finally told her. Finally told her he loved her, something that had been true for so long but he never was able to tell her. That chance was taken from him, but not any longer. Now she knew, and he knew she loved him. Man, he’d never forget that moment either. The way her eyes lit up, or how her lips curved in such a sweet, delicate way.

She loved him.

As she slept, he couldn’t even take how right he felt. They were finally good and had the future at their fingertips. They were going to move in together, they were going to make a life, and he couldn’t believe how different he felt. How everything had changed in the blink of an eye. He was finally getting everything he wanted.

He had her.

His girl.

He kissed the side of her mouth before getting out of bed. Since he knew they both had a long, big day, especially her, he decided to get up and start breakfast, giving her a little longer to sleep. Lucy and Benji’s wedding started at one, but she had to be there earlier for pictures of everyone getting ready. He was excited to see his friends get married, but even more than that, he was excited to dance with Mekena later that night. She had promised she’d make time, and he couldn’t wait. Really, he was just thrilled to be with her. It was like it was all new again, and he was giddy with anticipation for the rest of their lives.

But he also heard Lucy loud and clear. Her words had rattled him a bit, but he realized she was right. As good as he felt now, that could change. He refused to allow what happened with Baylor after she was almost raped to happen with him. He wouldn’t put Mekena through that. It wasn’t fair, not when he could avoid it. So he would go to therapy. He had already made the appointment with the team therapist and was eager to make sure he never hurt anyone who loved him. He knew Baylor hadn’t meant to scare everyone, but with her being so headstrong, it was inevitable. Markus had learned from her mistake, and the gentle reminder from Lucy was needed. He wouldn’t let Mekena down. He already did that once by not fighting for her, and he wouldn’t do it again.

Never again.

Stretching his arms above his head, he left Mekena in bed and went into the kitchen to start breakfast. As he walked toward the kitchen, Mr. Right moved in and out of his legs, almost tripping him as he meowed loudly.

“Dude, I hear you,” he said, rolling his eyes as he went straight for the cat’s food. As he opened the can, Mr. Right meowed louder, his eyes watching as Markus scooped out the can. “Just to let you know, bro, when we move in to the apartment, you’re going on a diet.”

Pain shot up his leg, and he glared down at the devil cat as he hissed. Now, he understood it was insane to think the cat understood him, but he was having a hard time not believing it. Laying the plate on the floor for the cat, he shook his head as Mr. Right attacked the plate, eating it as if he hadn’t just eaten twelve hours ago.

“Happy now?”

Mr. Right hissed and Markus glared.

Little asshole.

Rolling his eyes, he went to work on breakfast. It didn’t take much thought, which meant Markus’s mind wandered back to the fact that he hadn’t answered his parents. They had texted him twice more and even tried calling, but he ignored them, unable to answer their questions. As much as he would love for them to be there since he did miss them, he hadn’t brought it up again to Mekena, and he didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable. He was a little torn on what to do.

As he plated some eggs beside the pancakes he had just finished, he heard footsteps behind him. He smiled when a pair of arms came around his waist. When she kissed his back, chills ran down his spine as Mekena said, “I love a man who cooks.”

“You mean, this man?”

“That’s what I meant,” she said, kissing him once more as he chuckled, setting the plate down. Turning in her arms, he gathered her up before pressing his lips to hers. As they parted, she smiled. “Good morning.”

“Morning, gorgeous. Have a good sleep?”

“Dead to the world,” she laughed as she pulled away, grabbing her plate. “I sleep better with you.”

“I hear ya,” he agreed as he leaned against the counter, cutting some pancakes as she hopped on the counter and placed her plate on her legs. As they ate, he kept looking at her, loving everything about this. Yeah, there was a table not a couple steps away, but standing there as she sat on the counter felt right. Felt perfect.

“This is really nice,” she said, glancing up at him, her face blushing a bit. “Like, really nice.”

“I know.” He smiled.

“We shouldn’t get a table when we get an apartment.”

He laughed. “I can’t make love to you on the counter, too high.”

She was fully blushing as she laughed loudly. “Perv!”

“Your fault for being so sexy,” he accused, and she giggled, kicking her legs happily.

“Why don’t you have any sausage on your plate?”

He shrugged. “There were only two links. Guess someone ate it all.”

She shot him a guilty smile. “It’s my fave.”

“I know.” Cutting into a piece of sausage, she held it out for him. “I made that for you,” he said, shaking his head.

“But it’s your favorite too.”

Grinning at her, he took the bite before she smiled back happily, going back to her food. Clearing his throat, he didn’t return to eating. Instead, he drank in the lovely color on her face and the way she smiled as she ate. How he ever lived a second without her would forever be the question of his life. This girl completed him. But he did miss his parents, and that was a problem. Could he have both?

“Hey.”

She looked over at him, her lips still curved happily. “Hey.”

“I never answered my parents.”

Her smile faltered a bit as she nodded, cutting into a piece of pancake. “Oh.”

“Yeah,” he said, sucking in a deep breath. “I kinda want them to come.”

She looked up once more and nodded. “You can get tickets, right?”

He nodded. “Yeah.”

“Well, then good.”

But was it? As she ate, he paused, watching her once more before he asked, “Would that be okay with you?”

Meeting his gaze, she paused. “It’s your parents, Markus.”

“I know this, but I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”

Her face wrinkled. “I appreciate that, but they’re your parents, you’re making your debut. I don’t matter.”

He scoffed. “You always matter, and if you don’t want them there, I won’t invite them.”

She gave him an incredulous look. “As sweet as that is, it’s ridiculous. Invite them.”

He held her gaze. “Are you comfortable with it?”

She swallowed hard as she nodded. “Yeah, it’s fine.”

“You’re lying,” he accused, and she let out a breath as she shook her head.

“They hurt my feelings, Markus, but I refuse to allow you not to invite them because of me. I don’t have to see them.”

“But if I reach out like this, they’re coming back into my life.”

She paused. “I thought they got divorced?”

“They worked it out,” he said, running his hand along his head, scratching the back of it. “Which is good, I guess.”

“Yeah,” she agreed, and he noticed she had stopped kicking her legs as she chewed on her lip. “I mean, it was stupid to divorce when he didn’t even cheat.”

“That’s what I said,” he agreed, rolling his eyes at his parents’ drama. His mother had accused his father of cheating with one of the waitresses at their restaurant, but it wasn’t true, and he did everything to prove that. His mother had still wanted the divorce, though. That was, until his father basically wooed her into staying. It was nice and sweet, but then everything happened with Mekena, and Markus didn’t care about their drama any longer.

“You want them to come?” Mekena asked, and he looked up, meeting her soulful gaze.

Nodding, he said, “Yeah, I would.”

She cupped his cheek. “Then invite them. This is your day, and if you want it, I want it. Maybe they’ll be nice to me.”

When she winked, he smiled. “They will. I promise.”

Putting her empty plate on the counter, she jumped off and kissed his cheek. “Well, I’m only worried about you anyway. They didn’t chase me off before, and they won’t now.”

Catching her in his arms before she could get away, he held her close. “Seriously. I’ll cut them out before they’re mean to you.”

Kissing his jaw, she nodded. “Thank you.” He pressed his lips to hers again as she smiled. “I gotta get ready.”

“Okay,” he said, kissing her once more before letting her go since he knew she had to. She couldn’t be late, and he understood that. As he watched her head back to the bedroom, he pressed his palms into the counter and let out a breath. That hadn’t gone as well as he wanted. He knew she wouldn’t be keen on it, but he wanted her to be comfortable, so he would keep his promise. His parents wouldn’t be shitty to her.

Reaching for his phone, he dialed his dad’s number and waited for him to answer. When his dad’s deep voice filled the line, he closed his eyes. It reminded him so much of his grandfather’s.

“Markus.”

“Hey, Dad.”

“Wow, it’s good to hear your voice.”

“Yours too,” he said, and he meant it. “Sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you. Lucy is getting married this weekend, so we’ve been doing wedding stuff.”

“Yeah, we hate that we can’t come. We sent a card since Mom has the ladies’ luncheon at church and I have to work.”

“I’m sure they’ll appreciate that.”

“Yeah,” he said, and Markus hated the awkwardness. He’d never really had a good relationship with his parents since their restaurant always seemed more important than him, but he loved them. “So, wow, you’ve been called up. We’re proud.”

“Yeah, thanks. I’m excited.”

“Game is Wednesday?”

“Yeah, I’m going to get my family tickets for you guys. I’ll have them up at the box office for you.”

“Or you can drop them by the restaurant?”

“Eh, I might not have time, but I’ll try.”

“We’d love to see you. We miss you.”

“I miss you guys,” he admitted as he drew in a breath. “How is Mom?”

“She’s good. Missing you.”

“Yeah, maybe we can try to be better about communication.”

“Son, it’s pretty one-sided. You stopped talking to us.”

“For good reason,” he said bluntly, and his father cleared his throat.

“Maybe so.”

“No maybe, and I need to make one thing clear.”

“Okay?” he said, and Markus’s heart pounded.

“If either of you is rude or disrespectful to Mekena, I will never speak to either of you again.”

His father paused, and Markus almost chewed a hole through his lip. “I hadn’t realized you were still with her.”

“I am.” He figured he’d leave out that they had been apart for longer than a year. His father didn’t need to know that because it didn’t matter. All that mattered was that they were together and Mekena was his. If his parents wanted to be in his life, they had to accept Mekena.

Clearing his throat, Markus’s father said, “We look forward to seeing you play.”

He wasn’t sure what that meant. “I mean it, Dad. She means the world to me.”

“I hear you, and I understand. We will see you Wednesday if you can’t swing by the restaurant.”

As he let out a breath, he nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”

“Great, see ya soon.”

“Bye.” He laid his phone down and squeezed the edge of the counter. He wasn’t sure how he felt. He wanted to be excited; he had both his parents and Mekena in his life.

But it scared him since he wasn’t sure for how long.

 

 

Sitting in his chair, Markus looked around as the room filled up. If he had thought the room was gorgeous the other day, it was nothing compared to how it looked now. Candles illuminated the space, and it gave a romantic, subdued feel which was heightened by the fact that it was gloomy and chilly outside. The altar was decorated to perfection along with the aisle which was covered by a really pretty lace runner with Lucy’s and Benji’s names written in the middle. Flowers were everywhere, and all Markus could do was think that Benji had paid out the ass—and Grace Justice designed that ass off.

It was gorgeous.

Leaning back, he smiled as he made eye contact with Elli Adler as she came down the aisle, her five kids behind her and Shea bringing up the rear. It was striking how much the kids resembled their parents and how sweet they all looked in their matching dresses and suits. “Are these seats taken? I have a crew,” she said, and he laughed as he moved all the way down.

“For the Adlers? Of course not, have a seat.”

She smiled a thanks as she wrangled everyone into the row before sitting down beside Markus. “Goodness, Grace outdid herself. This is way better than our wedding.”

Shea laughed. “And more expensive.”

“Ours wasn’t that much!”

Shea scoffed. “Even with my sibling discount, we’re still paying my money-hungry sister.”

Rolling her eyes, she looked over at Markus. “He’s lying.” Markus laughed as she went on. “Excited for Wednesday?”

“Really excited. Did you get my email about the tickets?”

“I did, they’ll be waiting for Lamar and Yolanda Reeves.”

Markus nodded. “Thank you.”

“Of course! It will be a special day, for sure.”

“I hope so.”

“Everyone is excited,” Shea said over to him, and he grinned.

“Me too. Nervous.”

“Don’t be, you’re my clutch player, I just know it!” Elli cheered and Shea smiled.

“She’s a bit excited for you.”

“Wow, thanks, Elli,” he beamed, and Elli grinned back just as his phone chimed. “Jeez, my bad. I thought I shut that thing off.” Digging in his pocket, he pulled out his phone to see he had a text from Lucy.

Lucy: I need you.

His brow rose.

Markus: Lucy, I’m a taken man. We can’t run away together.

Lucy: Damn it, Markus, get back here.

He almost laughed, but then he got worried. Was she okay? Getting up, he said, “I’ll be back.”

“Okay!” Elli said, placing her purse in his seat. “I’ll hold your spot.”

“Thanks.” He headed down the side of the rows to the stairs at the back of the building. He knew where the dressing rooms were since he had brought beer back earlier for the guys. But before he could even get there, he saw Lucy standing outside with Mark and Autumn. While he was curious as to what was going on, he was stunned by her beauty. Her dress was fitted, a beautiful ivory color and was made almost entirely of lace. The top was off the shoulder, framing her cleavage perfectly and hugging her in all the right ways. Her hair was up in a bun with braids, and her veil was attached at the back and draping down her shoulders. As she looked up, relief filling her face, he smiled at her soft makeup choices overall which were offset by her bright red lips.

It was so Lucy, stunning.

“Hey, Hottie McHot!” he called, and she rolled her eyes.

“Oh, thank God,” she said, coming to him, the dress whooshing with each step.

“I didn’t get the car for a getaway,” he said, and she smacked him.

“Shut up,” she laughed. “I need a favor.”

“What?”

“Can you walk Mom down the aisle, so that I can have River and Dad walk me down?”

There was no hesitation. “Duh, I’d love to.”

“You rock, thank you,” she said before turning and nodding her head. “Mom, get River.”

Her mother beamed back at Markus, and he smiled as she opened the door, calling River’s name. When he came out, his brows were pulled together as Lucy came toward him. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah,” she said, reaching for him and wrapping her arms around one of his as he looked around, confused. “I need to ask you something.”

“Okay?”

“You’ve been a big part of my life, a wonderful stepfather to me and stepgrandpa to Angie, and I want nothing more than to have you walk me down the aisle.”

It took a moment, but then River’s lips curved as his eyes dusted with tears. Looking to Mark, he cleared his throat. “And you’re okay with this?”

“You were there when I wasn’t. Figure we both deserve the honor of giving this beautiful woman away.”

Mark held out his hand, and River glanced down at it before looking back up at Mark. Nodding his head, he took it. “Couldn’t agree more.” He turned to Lucy, wrapping her up in his arms. “I would be honored.”

When Autumn wrapped her arms around Markus, he smiled over his shoulder at her as she leaned her head into his. “I’m so happy.”

“Me too,” he agreed as Lucy hugged and kissed her two father figures. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Mekena shooting away, getting every image of the special moment between Lucy, Mark, and River. When she glanced over at him, a sneaky and sexy grin on her face, his heart stopped. Her hair was up in a braid and out of her face. She wore a black dress that was modest, covering every inch of her, yet he still found her so damn sexy.

Holding Markus tight, Autumn fought back the tears. “This is going to be a beautiful day.”

“It sure as hell is,” he agreed, hugging her tightly to him before kissing her forehead.

She stole his attention as she smiled. “You good, Markus?”

His gaze went back to Mekena as she smiled, holding her camera up and snapping a picture of them together. Lowering her camera, she smiled as she blew him a kiss that he swore he felt in his soul. He nodded as his gaze held his girl’s and he whispered, “I am, Mom. I really am.”

 

 

Mekena never cried at weddings.

She did really well holding back her tears, but she was starting to think that was a thing of the past. Or maybe she had never experienced a Sinclair wedding.

Mekena stood to the left of Lucy as she fought back the tears and snapped pictures left and right as Jace, Jude, and Jayden stood around their big sister, all of them with all the love in the world for her.

“You’re sure? I can go get the car,” Jayden said, and Lucy laughed.

“I’m already married to him!”

“So? We can draw papers up in a jiffy,” Jace said, and everyone chuckled as she rolled her eyes.

“I can have him killed,” Jude offered, and Lucy snorted.

“Please, you can’t even kill a spider.”

“Um, they have billions of babies,” he protested, and she giggled before wrapping her arms around her brothers. Snapping the photos, Mekena moved around them, hoping to catch each of their faces as they hugged each other, their eyes closed, the love radiating off them.

Clearing her throat, Lucy whispered, “I love you guys. So much.”

“I love you,” all three said before they pulled apart and she kissed each of them.

“Okay, let’s do this. Everyone is waiting,” she said, ushering them out. But when she got to the door, she paused as Angie came to her, wrapping her arms around her waist.

“Mommy, you’re so pretty.”

Grasping her baby’s face, Lucy beamed. “Me? I can’t get over how gorgeous you are!”

And she was. Angie wore a pale purple dress that looked more like a frothy cupcake than a dress. She looked like a sweet little young lady with her hair down in curls and wearing a crown to boot. She was beautiful.

“Daddy is excited. He’s cried twice!”

Lucy grinned. “Really? Well, you just watch. I bet you five bucks he’ll cry again.”

“Duh! You’re so beautiful!” she said before wrapping her arms around her mother and kissing her on her cheek as Lucy leaned down. “I love you, Mom.”

“I love you too, baby. Now go on, Jace is waiting for you.”

Lucy let Angie go, and she ran to Jace as Lucy came to the doors, holding on to the doorframe as she took in a bracing breath. “I guess I need to get out there, huh, Mekena?”

“Yup, everyone’s waiting.”

Lucy nodded before gathering her skirt in her hand and heading out, Mekena snapping photos along the way. The hall they walked down was so long that she waited until Lucy was almost to the end before she took the picture, already seeing it in a black-and-white hue. As Mekena ran down the hall to catch up, she found Lucy with a grin on her face as she met River and Mark, who were waiting for her at the door. Everyone had already started down the stairs, Libby shooting those images since Mekena’s main responsibility was Lucy and everything she did. The doors were closed as Lucy took her bouquet from Grace and laced her arms with the two men.

“We can run,” River suggested, and Mark nodded.

“I can have a car in two seconds and divorce papers right behind that.”

Lucy choked on a happy sob as Mekena grinned. “I want to marry Benji. Again.”

“Good,” Mark said with a wink.

“Yeah, the dude’s already crying. I think he wants to do this,” River said, and Lucy smiled as Grace held up her fingers, counting down.

Right as the doors opened, Mekena heard the soft playing of a piano before she saw Avery at the instrument by the altar as she sang “I Get to Love You” by Ruelle.

But Lucy’s gaze wasn’t on Avery for long before she saw Benji’s face. It was full of pure bliss as he started to tear up, bracing himself against his thighs, his jaw essentially on the ground as Lucy started down the stairs. It was by far the sweetest thing Mekena had ever seen.

As Avery sang, the whole room was in tears as Lucy made her way down. The lights sparkled, and everyone was in complete awe of her. The dress she wore had a long train that added extra drama to the photos Mekena took. She wanted to say it was the moment that had her eyes misting, but it wasn’t. It was the lyrics to the song Avery sang that had Mekena struggling for breath as she snapped picture after picture. She wanted to look at Markus; she wanted to find him and wrap her arms around him because the song was everything she was feeling.

Because loving Markus was the best thing she could ever do.

She swallowed hard, hiding herself as she snapped pictures and the minister started the wedding. Benji was a mess, and it was a beautiful thing, especially when Lucy started to cry. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house, and if there had been, that changed as soon as Lucy opened her mouth.

“I get to love you. For the rest of my whole life. That’s why I picked that song to walk down the aisle that brought me to the rest of my life. I never thought I would find someone who would love all this crazy, who would be so patient and understanding, but I did. I found you. And you love me, you love Angie, and you give us the world. I will never ever be able to thank you enough for all you do, for all the love you give. But I can promise you this,” she said, her voice breaking as Benji stared deep into her eyes. Wiping her own tears, Mekena held the camera up as she snapped a series of photos before Lucy continued. “I will love you unconditionally, even when you tell me I’m crazy. I won’t make fun of your collectibles, even when I know they’re just man toys.” He snorted with laughter along with everyone else in the room. “I’ll let you love me. I won’t fight what is perfect between us, and I will forever be yours. I love you, Benji Paxton, and in no way, shape, or form will that ever change.”

Squeezing her hands, Benji grinned as he cleared his throat. “Lucy Lane Paxton…God, I love saying your last name,” he said, his voice clouded with tears.

“Well, it’s yours, I’d hope so.”

He laughed. “I love saying it with your name is what I mean, and I know this isn’t a surprise, but I’ve had these vows written and memorized since the day I asked you to be mine.”

Lucy’s face broke into a grin as she nodded. “Nope, that is not surprising at all.”

It blew Mekena away. She knew she was supposed to be working, but it was hard. It was just so amazing witnessing this beautiful union between the two of them. It was like neither of them knew they were in a room full of hundreds of people. It was just them—Lucy and Benji—and that made Mekena’s heart flutter.

It felt like that when she was with Markus.

“But that all changed last night,” he said, and her brows came together. “I sat at the rehearsal dinner with our daughter in my lap as your father stood across from me, saying all these wonderful things. Like how I stood beside you through all the fire in your life and I make you this beautiful person. And don’t get me wrong, I truly appreciated everything he said and I took it all to heart. But I don’t think they realize how much you saved me.” When his voice broke, Mekena’s tears started to flow like a river, as did his own. “I was walking this earth because I had to. I had no purpose, I had no reason. I was a lost soul, lonely and pathetic, but then you looked at me, this passion and anger in your eyes, stubbornly telling me you didn’t need me because you had YouTube, and you brushed me off. I should have walked away, my tail between my legs, but I’d never wanted to be needed by anyone in my life the way I wanted you to need me. But truthfully, you still don’t need me. You’re the strongest woman I have ever met in my life, and I’m completely okay with you not needing me because, damn it, you want me.”

Lucy’s lip quivered as she nodded. “I do.”

Bringing her in closer, he cupped her face as his eyes bored into hers. “While I have stood next to you—and I will forever stand next to you—I need you to know I am in debt to you for saving me. For giving me a purpose in this thing called life. For giving me a chance to love you and be the father and husband you two deserve. I messed up the first time and lost everything. I will never, ever mess up with you. I doubt you’d let me, plus, I don’t want to fail either of you. I want to be a great father, someone Angie will love and look up to. I want her to see what love is, and I want her to know how to be treated by a man. But I also want you to know. I want you to wake up every day and be happy—even when it’s hard. I want you to know that I’ll always be there, that I will want and need you, both of you, because you both complete me. I love you, Lucy. I always will.”

Wiping her face, Mekena swallowed hard as Lucy leaned her head into his and Angie ran to him, wrapping her arms around him. “Daddy, I love you too.”

As an audible aww went through the room, Benji wrapped an arm around Angie, along with Lucy, holding his girls close to him as the minister said, “Beautiful just beautiful. Now, I think I know the answers, but it’s part of this, so Lucy Lane Paxton, do you take Benjamin Walter Paxton to be your husband? Again?”

“I do. A thousand times over, I do.”

Benji beamed as the minister turned to him. “And do you, Benjamin Walter Paxton, take Lucy Lane Paxton to be your wife, once more?”

“I always do.”

“I do too,” Angie said then, and everyone laughed as Benji hugged them closer.

With a wide grin and tears in his eyes, the minister said, “Well, all you gotta do is kiss the girl now—both of them. They’re yours, Benji.”

“Hell yeah, they are,” he said, crushing his mouth to Lucy’s as the room erupted into cheers.

But Mekena wasn’t cheering, she was crying.

Happy tears.

Because she wanted the same thing Lucy and Benji had.

She was supposed to be taking pictures, and she prayed Libby caught what she missed since she just had to look at him. But when she found him at the front, sitting next to Lucy’s mom, Markus wasn’t watching Lucy and Benji kiss.

He was watching her.

And with a wide grin, he mouthed, “I love you.”

Right then, she knew her world was complete.

 

 

After cleaning up her face and shooting a ton of family pictures, along with photos of just Lucy, Benji, and Angie, Mekena leaned against the door while she waited for Benji and Lucy to come out of her dressing room. Lucy had to change into her reception dress…or at least that’s what she claimed she was doing. But that was fine, it gave Mekena a moment to just breathe.

The wedding had been overwhelming.

Lucy was so happy, so in love, and Mekena knew she felt the same. The overpowering love for another person knocked the breath out of her. She knew she loved Markus, she knew she always would, but when he wanted to give up his family for her, it had never rung truer. He was an all-or-nothing kind of person, they both were, but it overwhelmed her. It was all happening so fast. She was happy, she was, but she was also scared.

What if his parents still hated her, and he decided he couldn’t let them go once more for her? She had heard him on the phone and his conditions, but was that fair of her? He loved his parents—though, they were more full of themselves than of him, but that was beside the point. He shouldn’t have to have one or the other; he should get it all, the whole world.

Did that mean they wouldn’t make it?

Wait, no, she wouldn’t put a time limit on them. She wouldn’t wait for the other shoe to drop. No, she would be fucking happy because she loved him. She wouldn’t be a Libby. She would be a Mekena, and while she was usually a very planned-out and cautious person, she was done with that. She’d throw all caution to the wind, she would live each day to its fullest because she knew he loved her and she loved him. If she didn’t get the job, she didn’t care. They’d work it out. And if she did and he was sent back to Florida, that was fine, too. They would make it work because he deserved everything that made him happy, and that was Mekena.

She was his happiness as he was hers.

Leaning her head against the wall, she heard Lucy laugh and she smiled. She wanted to be a Benji and Lucy, and damn it, she was going to make that happen.

“I haven’t seen you this happy in a long time.”

Looking to her left, she found Libby coming toward her, camera in her hand. “I have a lot to be happy about,” she said, eyeing her aunt who, for the first time since yesterday, wasn’t glaring at her. “What are you doing? Are we trading off?”

Libby shook her head. “No, everyone is seated, waiting on Lucy and Benji. So I decided to come talk to you since I’m sure they’ll be a little longer. Thank God the wine is flowing.” Mekena didn’t say anything as she looked down, tinkering with her camera. Libby leaned against the wall before letting out a loud sigh. “I was an asshole yesterday.”

“You were,” she agreed and Libby sighed again.

“I’m sorry for that.” Mekena looked up, holding her gaze. “I got used to you being with me. Being all pathetic and lonely with me. What can I say, kid? I’m a poor excuse for a human. I’m holding on to something that happened almost thirty years ago, still so bitter, and I was happy to have someone who was bitter and upset like me. But I had no right to judge or be a bitch to you when you decided to get your head out your ass and take what makes you happy. For that, I’m sorry.”

Mekena nodded. “You don’t have to hold on, Libby. Let go. Be happy.”

“Eh, I’m set in my ways. I’ll grow old, be alone, and I’m okay with that. But you have such a long, beautiful life to look forward to, and my God, the way he looks at you. It’s breathtaking.”

“He’s amazing.”

“He is,” she said with a smile. “I’ve watched him, and he loves you, Mekena.”

“He does,” she agreed, her heart skipping a beat. “I want you to meet him.”

“I want that too.” Coming closer to Mekena, she asked, “Do you forgive me?”

Mekena didn’t even hesitate. “Of course.”

“Good,” Libby said as an exhale. “I felt horrible for being a dick to you.”

“It’s okay, it happens. And I should have told you about the job.”

“Yeah, but it’s such a great opportunity. You’ll do great, you love shooting games.”

“I do. A lot.”

“It’ll be excellent, I just know it,” Libby decided with a nod. “You won’t fly out tomorrow, right?”

“Nope, I don’t know when I will. I might fly later, and drive back with the rest of my stuff. I don’t know yet.”

“Okay, well, I’ll start packing up for you. I have nothing else to do.”

“You could make an eHarmony page.”

“Or join Tinder.”

“Or Match.”

“Or Plenty of Fish.”

Mekena gave her a dry look. “I’m trying to get you a relationship, and you just want sex.”

Libby shrugged. “Hey, sex is enough for me.”

Rolling her eyes, she leaned into her aunt, laying her head on her shoulder. “I want you to be happy.”

“Eh, how about you be happy for both of us?”

Mekena smiled, knowing her aunt wouldn’t budge. She was right; she was set in her ways, and the sooner everyone accepted that, the better. “Done.”

They stood in silence for a moment before Libby exhaled. “She moved out.”

Mekena’s breath stopped. “Who?”

“Skylar. Your parents told her she had to get help or get out. She got out.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah, they’re worried.”

“She’s a big girl.”

“You’re right, but she needs help.”

“And she’s the only one who can help herself,” Mekena said, looking to Libby, and she nodded. As much as she knew she should feel something more, she couldn’t shake the anger. She couldn’t believe what her sister had done, but one thing was for sure, she wouldn’t make excuses for her.

“You should call your mom, though, tell her you love her. She’s struggling.”

Mekena averted her gaze, chewing on the inside of her lip. “Okay, I will.”

“Hey.” Hearing Markus’s voice, Mekena looked past Libby to see him coming toward them with his hands in his pockets. “Have you guys seen Lucy and Benji?”

Mekena grinned as she hooked a thumb to the door. “She’s ‘changing.’”

“Ew, freaks,” he commented before going to the door and banging his fist on it. “Hey, you sex fiends, people are hungry!”

“Ten minutes!” Lucy called, and Markus scoffed.

“Please, Benji can only last thirty seconds,” he called back before grinning over at Mekena and Libby.

Reaching for him, she took his hand and brought him closer before holding her other hand out to Libby. “Markus, this is my aunt, Libby. Libby, this is my boyfriend, Markus.”

Markus grinned as he held out his other hand and Libby took it. She wasn’t smiling but she wasn’t glaring either, so Mekena took that and ran with it. “It’s wonderful to meet you.”

Libby nodded. “You too. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Markus’s face filled with nervousness. “Good, bad, or both?”

“Both,” Libby said with a wink before she cupped his shoulder. “But I’ll stick with the good.”

“That sounds great to me,” Markus decided and Libby nodded.

“Me too.” Looking to Mekena, she smiled. “I’m gonna head out there.”

“Okay, I’ll see you in a few minutes,” Mekena said, and then she heard laughing from behind the door once more. “Or maybe an hour. Who knows?”

Libby laughed. “Do you think we’ll get paid more if we get hurt in the brawl for food?”

“Is it in the contract?” Mekena asked, and Libby paused.

“Shit. No, I should put it in the next one,” she said with a wink, and Mekena grinned as she walked away, leaving her with Markus.

“Looks like you guys worked everything out.”

“Yeah,” she said, tearing her gaze from her aunt and onto Markus. “She apologized.”

“Good,” he said, kissing her temple.

“She said she’s gonna start packing my things up. I guess she thinks I have the job.”

“I know you have it.”

“How?” she giggled, getting chills from his lips tickling her temple.

“You’re the best,” he said simply. “And Elli Adler isn’t an idiot. She wants the best. Just make sure you always shoot the left side of my face, it’s my best side.”

Giggling, she smacked his chest. “You’re silly, and plus, both sides are great.”

“Stop sucking up, I’m still going to sleep with you,” he whispered against her jaw, and her head fell back as she laughed.

“How lucky for me.”

“Exactly, and if you don’t stop being so hot, I’m going to take you against this wall.”

“Markus Reeves! I’m wearing a black dress that shows off nothing.”

“But I know what’s underneath,” he whispered, nibbling on her neck. “And I want it all.”

“Jesus, man, I’m working. Control yourself,” she demanded, breathless as his hands snaked around her, cupping her ass.

“Never,” he said before capturing her mouth with his. She knew she shouldn’t get lost in his kisses, but that wasn’t possible, no matter how hard she tried. As he drew the kisses out, her insides went to mush and the spot between her legs filled with heat. Pulling away, she gasped for breath as he started to pull her away.

“Markus, I’m working.”

He stopped at the door. “Time check!”

“Markus! Please!” Lucy complained, but then she laughed. “Ten minutes!”

“We got ten minutes,” he said to her before pulling open the door to the room beside Lucy’s, a room that appeared to be a coat closet. “Which is really twenty.”

Closing the door, he pushed her into the wall, his body crashing into hers before she said, “And what in the world do you think is going to happen?”

He grinned, his teeth so white in the dark closet. “I mean, I can tell ya, or I can show you.”

Her breath caught as he took her camera and set it carefully on the ground before taking her body in his hands. It was completely dark. She couldn’t see a thing; she could only feel him. For some reason, that thrilled her even more than the fact that she knew she shouldn’t be doing this.

But she wanted to.

So damn bad.

Moving his hands down her body, he caught her mouth with his as he pulled her dress up and then over her head, leaving her in only the black bra and thong she wore. Not that he could see it, but that didn’t stop him from pushing her thong to the side and sliding his fingers between her legs into her center.

“God, you’re so fucking wet,” he groaned against her lips as she cried out.

“Only for you,” she said, and instantly, she was proud of her sex talk.

Especially when he moaned her name, finding her clit before ruthlessly flicking his fingers against it. Crying against his neck, she clung to him as he took her out of this world and into the next. Her body shook, thrashed against his as he kept on, wanting her to find her release. She had never experienced such a rush of emotions in her life until the moment that Markus’s hands touched her in her most private spots. She had masturbated before, it wasn’t that she hadn’t ever come, but it was different when Markus was the one taking control. It shook her to her core, and as she came, her body clenching tight as she squeezed her lips shut, she knew she had never experienced anything like this before.

It wasn’t just the fact that she was getting her release; it shook her because of who was doing it.

A man she loved, wholeheartedly.

“Fuck me,” he groaned as her pussy throbbed, her release taking away her breath as her body flushed with heat.

“Okay,” she gasped, and his laughter was strained as he held her, kissing her neck. It was so dark, but she could sense his grin, his dark eyes on her before she heard the tear of a condom packet and then his zipper. She couldn’t see him coming, but when he lifted her leg, she knew where he was and braced herself against the wall. She prayed it wouldn’t hurt like it had before, but she really didn’t have any time to prepare before he entered her with one thrust, filling her completely. To her surprise, though, it didn’t hurt as much as it had. It was uncomfortable but only for a second before he started moving in and out of her with a need she couldn’t see but could definitely feel. He wanted to be gentle, she knew he did, but she didn’t think he could. His hands were shaking, his breath was coming out in spurts, and his cock was throbbing inside of her as he moved urgently.

“Are you okay?” he grunted out and she nodded.

“Yes,” she whispered when she realized he couldn’t see her.

When he suddenly tilted her pelvis up, she moaned softly as he started to thrust in and out of her faster and a bit harder. Each thrust felt as if it had more meaning, his body shaking even more, and it felt better and better. She never wanted him to stop. It felt so damn good, and soon she was asking herself why she had waited so long to do it. But she knew why.

Because she only wanted him.

When he stilled, coming with a guttural moan, she captured his mouth, drawing out the kisses as he thrust once more and then again before he finally stopped, his fingers biting into her hips. Their hearts were pounding as their breaths came out in whooshes, but all Mekena could do was smile as she really realized what she had just done. Leaning her head into his, she wished she could look into his face to see if he saw the hilarity in this.

“Did that really just happen?” he asked, and she had to hold back her laughter.

“You attacked me that time.”

“I did.”

“Does this make me risqué?”

He scoffed. “What?”

“You know? Like those super naughty girls? Am I naughty, Markus?”

That had him laughing from his gut as she fought back her own laughter. “I used to think you were too innocent to be naughty, but then you let me take you in a coat closet. So, really, what do I know?”

Grinning, she leaned her nose into his chin as she breathed, “That you love me?”

“Oh, that’s a given,” he whispered, gathering her in his arms as she closed her eyes. “And that will never change.”

“Good.”

“Good,” he said, kissing her nose, but they both stilled when they heard Lucy’s voice.

“Huh? I thought Mekena was out here.”

“Shit!” she whispered, and he chuckled softly. When the closet door opened, she almost screamed but then Markus popped his head out.

“What the hell, Lucy? You said ten minutes!”

She wasn’t sure what Lucy was doing, but soon Mekena heard her and Benji laughing. “We rushed,” Benji said, and Markus jerked his head to the side.

“Go back in there, give us five.”

As the newlyweds laughed, Markus shut the door. Mekena shook her head, her face beet red. “If I get fired, I’m going to kill you.”

“Eh, you’ll have a new job in a few days.”

“Oh, so no big deal?”

“Right? You’ll be good in a couple days.”

“So you’re basically promising this will never happen when I work for the Assassins?”

Markus laughed as his lips moved against hers. “No way in hell I’m promising you that. Tell me something, Mekena Preston. Have you ever wanted to join the Mile High Club?”

Mekena’s brows pulled together. “What’s that?”

She was met by his laughter. “Oh, I’m so excited to live my life with you.”

“While I feel the exact same way, I really need to know what that is.”

She could see his grin as he gathered her in his arms. “Don’t worry, I’ll show you.”