The clinking of champagne glasses filled the country club as family and friends toasted to Nate and Sara during the rehearsal dinner. Lacey took one sip of champagne and set the glass down. She didn’t care if she tasted alcohol again any time soon.

“What’s the matter, Sweetie? Still feeling a little green?”

“Ya know, Luke, most of the time I find you adorable, but tonight, not so much.”

“Now, don’t go breaking my heart. We haven’t even danced yet. May I have this dance?”

“Only because I like you, and I love this song, so yes.” Lacey stood as Luke pulled her chair out. He held his arm out for her to take and led her onto the dance floor. Several couples were already dancing.

Luke surprised her with his lithe moves. He could get down with the best of them. He dipped and turned her, breaking her melancholy mood.

“That’s more like it.” She smiled up at him, grateful for his understanding.

Jesse and Beau joined them on the dance floor. They shimmied and shook their way around all four corners of the floor. Sara and Nate were in their own world with the rest of them circling around them.

“They are perfect for each other, aren’t they?” she said to Luke.

“Unfortunately, I must admit I was wrong about the guy, and say, yes, they are. I guess fate knows what it’s doing.”

“Maybe in this case anyway.”

“I’d say in all cases. Sometimes it just takes us longer to catch up.”

The music changed and the lights dimmed.

“Mind if I cut in?” Luke stopped dancing and looked from Dalton back to Lacey.

“That’s up to the lady to decide.” He looked to Lacey for confirmation.

She nodded her head in affirmation, and Dalton stepped in.

His arm circled her waist, pulling her in closely. He intertwined their other hands and began moving slowly across the dance floor. The soft, fluid notes of the love song surrounded them. Neither spoke. They just danced. Her head rested on his chest with his chin rested on top of her head.

Her hands slipped inside his suit jacket, locking around his back. The feel of his button-down dress shirt was cool to the touch. She could feel the warmth of his body heat through the silk.

A second slow song followed. They never stopped dancing. He held her even closer than she thought possible while standing. He extended her out into a dip and held her there. Lacey thought he was going to kiss her, but in the end, he did not. He made love to her with his eyes only.

The song ended. Lacey took a step back and cleared her throat. “That was lovely, Dalton. Thank you.”

She excused herself and ran off to the ladies’ room.  Luckily, it was empty save for her. She supported herself with both hands leaning on the bathroom sink counter. Staring into the mirror, she saw a love-crazed fool looking back at her. She had to stay away from him. It was the only way to get over him, but how did one get over the man you love especially if distance made the heart grow fonder? She was doomed.

She straightened her hair and washed her hands. She gave herself a quick pep talk and opened the door to go back into the hall. When she rounded the corner into the corridor, she was grabbed from behind and pulled into the coat closet.

She was kicking and lashing out when she heard, “Lacey. Stop.” Her body went rigid against his. He set her feet back down on the ground and she turned to him with fury in her eyes.

“What the hell are you doing? You scared the crap out of me.” She looked around the small, dimly lit closet and asked, “What are we doing in here?”

“I have a question that only you have the answer to.” Dalton began.

“And you couldn’t have asked me in the banquet hall?”

“No, no. I don’t think so. This was meant for something more private.”

The skin on the back of her neck stood on end. A thrill of nervous anticipation slid down her spine.

“What is your question? And stop walking toward me. I can’t think when you do that.” her voice sounded hoarse.

She backed into a rack of hanging coats.

“Last night you challenged me, and I was left at an unfair advantage, which I did not take; therefore, I feel I am owed a new opportunity to address certain question from our conversation last night.”

She groaned remembering the blatant fool she had been by literally throwing herself at him.

“Could we please just forget that last night ever happened? I know I’m trying too.”

“Oh, but you see, I spent most of the night wondering, needing to know…”

“What? What do you need to know that it couldn’t wait?”

He reached her in two fluid steps and pinned her to the wall. Her wide-green eyes were focused only on him.

“Tell me, Lacey, if I reach inside your panties right now, will you be wet for me like you said last night? If I dip one finger inside, will you ready for me? Will you?” His lips brushed hers with each word he was so close.

She felt her clit throb at his intimate words, her nipples harden.

“Answer me. Are you wet now?” he nibbled her earlobe.

“Yes, damn it. I am. Are you happy now?” she cried out as his tongue licked a trail down her neck.

“No. Not quite yet. Give me a few minutes.” He continued his quest around her throat up the other side to her other ear where he nipped and suckled.

“How about now? Wetter still?” her anguished moan brought his lips to hers as he ravished her delicate lips with his, his stubble grazing her cheeks.

His hands traveled downward to the short hem of her dress. The flat of his palms slid up the back of her legs and paused. She whimpered and pushed against him groin in need.

“Are you punishing me, is that it?” she cried.

“On the contrary, I’m giving us what we both need right now, sweetheart. I can’t wait any longer. Last night pushed me over the edge, baby. You don’t know how close you came to be fucked senseless even though you were drunk. It was by a small thread of decorum I made it out of your bedroom.

“We can’t. Not here.” She moaned as his hands trailed closer.

“Oh, but we can.” His finger slid across the center of her panties, her clit spasmed.

“Baby, you are so wet.  Do you know how hard that makes me? Jesus, I’m about to poke a hole through these pants I want you so badly.”

His fingers found their way inside her, her folds slick with need.

“Dalton, please. I need you inside me. I want you. All of you.”

He released his hold on her and laid her down on the carpeted floor. Lifting her dress over her head, he laid it out over a pile of coats.

“We wouldn’t want to wrinkle it.” He teased.

Raised above her naked body, he paused.

“Lace, this isn’t how I wanted it to be, but damn it I couldn’t wait. I had to touch you. You aren’t the only one who is set on fire when we touch. You set the launch sequence every time. I’m like a damn teenager.”

“Now who’s talking to much?” she groaned as she lifted herself to connect them as he thrust the rest of the way and took her home.

“I cannot believe we just did that. I’m so embarrassed.” Lacey’s face reddened at the thought of people realizing what they had just done.

“I don’t give a flying fig what anybody thinks, Lace, and you shouldn’t either.” He raised her chin with his forefinger. ‘We are two adults sharing something special that is no one else’s business but ours.” He kissed the tip of her nose.

He finished tucking his shirt in and looked to Lacey. “You look just as beautiful as you did when you came down the stairs tonight, maybe even more so. Your cheeks are flushed and your eyes are a deeper green. I like it.”

“Stop. You’re not helping. Am I put back together? What about my hair?”

“Your fine. I promise. If anyone says anything, I’ll give them a black eye, now come on.” He opened the door and paused. Beau was walking down the corridor.

“Dalton. Lacey.” Beau greeted them as if nothing was out of the ordinary and kept walking.

“Oh, good Lord. I wish the ground would open up right now and swallow me.” She was mortified.

“Look, we have some things to talk about, you and I. Things haven’t changed, but we need to talk. I’ll explain. Let’s get through this wedding tomorrow, and then we can really talk, okay?”

“By the way, best sex ever.” He escorted her back to the hall where she realized all the focus was where it should be – on Nate and Sara, mostly.

“Nothing like a quickie in a closet to put a skip in your step.” Jesse leaned over and whispered in her ear.

“Jesse!” Lacey tried to shush her to no avail.

“I knew it. I could tell by the look when you two came back in.”

“Could we please talk about this later, or how about not at all?”

“I think Dalton’s trying to get your attention, Jesse.” Beau pointed across the room.

Dalton was standing beside Luke, pointing at Jesse with two fingers and then pointing the same two fingers at his eyeballs.

Jesse held up her hands in defeat. “Okay. I’ll lay off. Jeez, what are best friends for if you can’t talk about the sex you just had?”

Beau stood quickly, “And that’s my queue to get another drink.”

“Can you believe that when we wake up, I am going to become Mrs. Nate Daniels?” Sara hugged Jesse and Lacey from behind. “I’m so glad you guys are here.”

“Oh, and isn’t closet sex the best?” Sara squeezed Lacey’s shoulders before she walked away to bid farewell to another table.

Lacey’s head hung low in shame, but Jesse encouraged her to look at the positive side.

“Oh, come on. Don’t go back into prude mode now. You’ve graduated. It’s like joining the mile-high club. Wear the badge proudly and earn points as often as possible. That’s what I say, anyway.”