This morning I woke up to a dream. Call me a pussy if you want, but I’ve wanted Peyton since the moment I laid eyes on her what feels like a lifetime ago. If I have to forfeit my man card because I’m over the moon at feeling her soft curves against my body, so be it. I knew she’d be hungover this morning, that stupid bartender fed her drinks left and right. I’m sure he thought he’d get her drunk and take her to bed, but I swooped in bursting that bubble quickly.

Peyton threw her arms around me and begged me to dance with her… well, she slurred something about dancing—either way, we ended up on the dance floor. Things started off innocent, but as the music changed from soft and slow to a pulsing beat, our dance changed too. Her ass found its home against my cock and her arms lifted over her head circling around my neck. I don’t know if she pulled me down, or if my brain short-circuited, but my lips found the curve of her shoulder. I licked and kissed her soft skin, then my hands moved from the safety of her hips around to her breasts. I plumped the soft mounds and teased her nipples into firm points as she ground that tight little ass against me.

We danced like that through several songs, driving each other crazy. I noticed several of our friends and family members watching, but I couldn’t find it in me to care—not with Peyton in my arms. The music changed to something slow and sultry, and I turned her in my arms moving us to the new beat. I took her in, loving the flush of her cheeks. She looked up at me with hooded eyes, desire evident. I brushed my lips across hers and pulled her from the dancefloor. I wasn’t sure where I was taking her, but I needed her away from prying eyes.

She drunkenly tripped over her own feet, giggling. I swooped her into my arms walking purposefully toward a dark corner of the banquet hall. Safely ensconced in shadow, I set her on her feet and kissed her. I’ll never forget how easily she opened to me or how sweetly she moaned as we kissed. My dick gets hard as I remember pushing her lithe body against the wall and how she practically climbed me like a tree to get closer. Her legs wrapped around my waist, lining up her hot little pussy perfectly with my cock. I was ready to fuck her right then and there, but the one working brain cell I had left kept me from making that mistake.

Reluctantly, I slowed things down until our kisses were nothing more than sweet pecks and our touches were languorous instead of frenzied. With a finger under her chin, I studied her face. Her cheeks were rosy, and her lips swollen, but that sadness I saw earlier in the evening was still weighing her down.

I brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “What’s wrong, baby?”

Her lips turned down in a frown and her forehead wrinkled in consternation. “You stopped kissing me.”

I chuckle. I can’t help it; her pout is adorable. “That’s not what I mean, and you know it.”

“I’m pretty sure my wet panties would agree with me,” she complains.

“If I kiss you again, will you tell me what’s got that sadness in your eyes?” I ask.

I’m not above a little bribery. It took her a few seconds to consider her options. When she unwrapped herself from my body and stood on her own two feet again, I was certain she was about to walk away. It surprised me when she slid down the wall and sat on the floor. My heart hurt looking down at her. She looked defeated. I couldn’t stand seeing her like that, so I sat on the floor next to her and pulled her into my lap. She didn’t hesitate to snuggle against my chest.

“This whole weekend. The wedding. All of it,” she said.

Jealousy spiked through me like lightning because the only reason I could imagine for the wedding to bother her was if she was upset about Theo marrying her sister. Does she want Theo? I always wondered how they could be friends without fucking. Maybe their relationship wasn’t as platonic as they let on.

“Did you know I’ve been in fifteen weddings?” she asked.

“No, I didn’t.”

She snorted a sad little laugh. “Yup,” she said popping the P. “Always a bridesmaid, never a bride. As soon as I get home, I should adopt half a dozen cats and start the whole crazy cat lady thing.”

“Aren’t you allergic?”

A small sob escaped her throat, and her eyes glistened with tears. “Even cats don’t want me,” she wailed.

Well, that escalated quickly.

“Shhh… it’s okay, baby,” I soothed.

“N-no it’s n-not,” she stuttered through her tears. “I’m going to d-die alone.”

“That’s crazy talk. You’ll get married when the time is right,” I said. My mind reeling from what she just revealed.

She sat up abruptly, the back of her head knocked against my chin. She got a wide smile on her face even though her cheeks were still wet with her tears. My head spun as I tried to catch up with Peyton’s abrupt change of mood.

“You’re right!” she exclaimed, practically bouncing with excitement. “Kingston, let’s get married!”

“I didn’t mean right now, baby,” I answered carefully.

“We’re in Vegas, when will there ever be a better time?” she asked, her excitement growing.

“Perhaps when you aren’t stumbling drunk? Let’s get you upstairs. You’ll feel much better in the morning.”

I lifted her from my lap and held her until she was steady on her feet, then lead her toward the elevator. We barely made it to the casino floor before she grabbed ahold of a random guy and asked him to marry her. He looked shell-shocked, but when his eyes raked lecherously down her body, I put myself between them and snarled for him to disappear. I turned to find Peyton gone. It took me a minute to find her, and I seethed when I saw her with a group of men.

She sidled up to one of the men and blinked up at him with those alluring green eyes, and I could see the instantaneous effect she had on him. With that one look, she had him hook, line, and sinker. Her lips came close to his ear, and I could only imagine what she was saying when his eyes widened. I could see him consider her words then he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. Rage. Pure and simple rage flooded me at the sight.

Peyton is mine.

In seconds, I closed the space between us. Fists clenched at my sides. One of the guy’s friends elbowed him and nodded in my direction. As soon as he saw me, he dropped his arm and moved away from my girl. Smart fucking man. Without a single word, I lifted Peyton off her feet and threw her over my shoulder, ignoring the strange looks from people as I carried her bodily through the casino. When I found a quiet alcove, I set her on her feet and pressed her against the wall, caging her in.

“Are you really so desperate to get married that you’re willing to pick any prick in this place?” I snapped.

“Yes. If I’m not good enough for you, I’ll find someone—anyone—who will marry me before number sixteen. I can’t do it again. I can’t be the ‘maid’ of honor again. I want to be a matron damn it,” she said with a hysterical edge to her voice at the end of her little rant.

Gripping her chin, I tipped her face up to mine, so she was looking me straight in the eye. “First of all, baby, you are perfect for me. If anything, I’m not good enough for you. I was trying to be the gentleman here and not take advantage of you, but I won’t let you go off marrying some stranger. You are and will always be mine. Only mine.”

Okay, that was the moment that I should’ve called Tammy or Theo or Jillian and had them take her up to her room and tuck her cute little drunk ass in bed. If I was a better man that’s exactly what I would have done, but I’ve never claimed to be the better man. Instead of doing the right thing, I found myself agreeing to marry her. An hour later, we had got rings, a marriage certificate, and Elvis wishing us a “hunka hunka burning love.”

* * *

“Tell me again why the girls are coming to your bachelor party,” douchebag Troy whines at Theo.

Theo rolls his eyes and lets out a long-suffering sigh. “Because this is Vegas and I don’t want my woman out there somewhere without me.”

It’s impossible to keep the smirk off my face. Theo is the most laid-back person I know, and you would never think that he has a possessive streak a mile wide, but he’ll become a feral beast if he thinks someone is after his woman. He might not seem imposing to look at him, he’s several inches shorter than my six foot five, and he’s all lean muscles like a swimmer whereas I’m built like a linebacker. Looks can be deceiving though, Theo is cool as a cucumber, but when he snaps—the fucker is crazy. I’ve only seen him come unhinged once, but the dude he let loose on had to be carted off to the hospital.

I wonder if douchebag Troy knows this… I’d have to say no because just then the ladies walk into the hotel lobby and Troy unabashedly eye fucks Jillian up one side and down the other. Theo is oblivious. He only has eyes for his bride-to-be, and I have to admit she is striking, but she’s not Peyton. No matter how similar the sisters look, no one could measure up to my beautiful wife.

As if my thoughts conjure her, Peyton appears arm and arm with Tammy. It takes all of one second to want to rush over to her and throw my jacket over her shoulders and hide her body from view. If last night’s dress was sexy, this one is indecent. It’s cut low in the front letting the soft swell of her breasts spill over the top, and the slinky black material clings to her every curve like a second skin. The skirt is so short that I wouldn’t be surprised if the delectable cheeks of her ass play peek-a-boo as she walks. I swear her legs go on for miles, the creamy skin on display for any fucker to see. The whole ensemble is topped off with mile-high gold heels. If you looked up fuck-me-heels in the dictionary, these would be pictured.

My cock throbs behind my zipper, my heart is pounding in my chest, and every thought in my head revolves around taking her in my arms and claiming her lips for all the world to see. I take a step toward her to do exactly that, but when her eyes find mine, they fill with trepidation and flick over to Jillian and worry creases her brow. The last thing I want to do is make her uncomfortable, but I’d be lying if I said the idea of keeping my distance doesn’t rankle. I tell myself this distance is only temporary, that she’ll come around. I’m determined to make this thing work. I want Peyton, and I’m going to fight for her.

Jill steps into Theo’s arms, and he dramatically dips her into a passionate kiss. Their love is a palpable thing, and I feel a surge of jealousy because I want that. My gaze flicks back to Peyton and the soft smile she’s got on her face as she watches her sister and Theo tells me she wants the same thing I want. As if she can feel my eyes on her she looks up at me. I expect to see annoyance, but she looks at me hungrily. I groan at the sight, and I about lose control when her pink tongue sweeps along her bottom lip.

“Get a room,” Tammy teases.

Jillian blushes and the other bridesmaids laugh.

Douchebag Troy sidles up to her, throwing an arm over her shoulders. “I got a room for you, baby.”

“Not to mention a couple of STDs and a severe case of pencil dickitis,” Tammy says as she sidesteps out of his hold.

“I’ll show you pencil dick,” Troy says grabbing his crotch.

“Listen here you stup—” Tammy starts, but Peyton puts her hand over Tammy’s mouth stopping whatever insult she was about to throw.

“Don’t mind her, she’s just hangry,” Peyton apologizes for her friend.

“I’m fresh out of Snickers, so we better get her to the restaurant before she decides to take a chunk out of someone,” I tease.

Peyton turns her attention to me and flashes me one of her patented smiles—the kind that lights up her whole face and makes it impossible not to return. It feels like a small victory to know that I got her to smile at me, but it doesn’t last nearly long enough. Between one blink and the next, she goes from smiling to closed off completely.

“Let’s get the fuck outta here,” Troy says, slapping me on the shoulder like we’re friends. Stupid fucker. “There’s a whole club full of pussy waiting for me.”

“Ugh. Why did Theo invite this asshole?” Tammy loudly whispers to Peyton.

I don’t even try to hold back my laughter.

“Because Jill stole his best friend as her maid of honor,” Peyton says, sneaking a glance over her shoulder at me to see my reaction to the dig. Of course, I just smile at her. There’s no point in being butt hurt—I know Theo would’ve picked Peyton over me any day of the week. “And he was desperate to fill the spot when Charles backed out last minute,” she finishes.

“Remind me to smack Charles next time I see him,” Tammy says without humor when she sees Troy hitting on another bridesmaid, Shelia, I think. Charles should be scared. Tammy doesn’t make idle threats.

* * *

Once again, Peyton and I are seated next to each other and she’s doing everything in her power to ignore me. I’d find it hilarious if it didn’t frustrate the hell out of me.

“Crap,” Peyton says as her fork hits the floor between our chairs. Before she has a chance, I reach down and grab the utensil. And because I’m done playing fair, I trail the back of my hand up the length of her leg, caressing her soft skin. I smile to myself when she gasps. I hold the fork out to her and she just stares at it for a moment before slowly reaching out for it.

“Thank you,” she says breathlessly.

I lean in close so that my lips are a scant inch away from her ear. “You’re welcome, wife.”

She groans in response and it’s not in pleasure. Peyton pushes away from the table and stands. Tammy gives her a questioning look to which she responds with a shake of her head before quickly walking toward the restrooms. I manage to wait a whole half a second before I follow after her.

I push into the ladies’ room surprising an older woman that’s washing her hands at one of the sinks. I put a finger to my lips and point at the closed stall door. The woman smirks knowingly and quietly exits. I lock the door behind her and lean against it, waiting for my bride to stop hiding. I don’t have to wait long because as soon as she thinks she’s alone, she opens the door to the stall. She’s so lost in her thoughts that she doesn’t even realize that she isn’t alone.

My heart cracks a little when she braces herself on the counter and her head falls forward. I close the distance between us and wrap my arms around her body from behind. She stiffens in my hold, then sags into me. I turn her in my arms and hold her close. I expect a fight, but she simply wraps her arms around my waist and rests her head on my chest. I’m not an idiot, I know she’s only seeking comfort from me because I’m the only person who knows the secret that’s got her so upset.

When I hear her sniffle every instinct in my body goes into protect mode, yet the thing she needs protecting from is me. I know she regrets last night, but I don’t, and I won’t give up on making her mine. Legally, I’ve bound her to me and I’ve claimed every inch of her body. Now, it’s time for me to claim her heart and soul. I want it all with Peyton Hart.

Her watery green eyes look up at me pleadingly. I brush a loose strand of hair from her face. “Peyton, baby…” I start but trail off because I have no clue what to say.

“Kingston.”

Her voice catches at the end of my name and I can’t take it. I cup her cheeks in my hands and study her. Her lips are painted red and begging to be kissed. I don’t know how to handle her tears, but I do know how to handle those sinful lips of hers. Moving in slow, I give her plenty of opportunity to stop me before I brush my lips against hers. I study her reaction, and when she doesn’t pull away I press my lips more firmly against hers. Her beautiful green eyes flutter closed as she tips her head back giving me better access. I lick her plump lips, asking for entrance. I don’t have to wait long because she parts her lips and slides her tongue along mine.

My cock hardens, and it takes what little self-control I have to keep myself from rubbing against her. Instead, I deepen the kiss, our tongues dueling for control. She’s gone from a passive participant to aggressive and taking what she wants. My cock throbs in response to her fire. I want to lift that tiny little dress over her ass and fuck her right here against the sinks. I want to pound into her until she’s screaming my name for all the people in the restaurant to hear.

She pulls away from our kiss desperately sucking air into her lungs. Her cheeks are flushed, and her eyes are heavy with desire. Not wanting this moment to end, I trail kisses down her neck, stopping to lightly suck the skin over her rapidly beating pulse. She threads her fingers through my hair and pulls… I’m not sure if it’s to hold me closer or to pull me away, but either way, I’m not done with her yet. My lips coast down her chest, I nudge the slinky fabric of her dress aside and am rewarded when her pretty pink nipple comes into view. I groan when I realize she’s not wearing a bra and I have to wonder if she’s completely bare underneath this dress made for sin. I’ll find out soon enough. First, I need to taste her nipples.

My tongue darts out, circling the hardened nub. Peyton’s fingers tighten in my hair again and I take that as encouragement, so I repeat the motion until she’s whimpering in need. I suck her nipple between my lips and nip at the swollen tip with my teeth. Her hips rock into me and I take that as my cue to give her more. I run my hands up her thighs, pushing her dress up as I go and exposing a pair of barely-there black lace panties. This time it’s me groaning because they expose more than they cover. I fall to my knees in front of her and bury my face in the apex of her thighs taking in the sweet scent of her arousal.

Glancing up, I’m met with Peyton’s hooded eyes trained on mine. I hold her gaze as I pull her panties down and off, stuffing them in my pocket for safe keeping. My eyes move to the delicious treat in front of me. She’s completely bare, minus a small trail of light brown curls leading to her slit. She’s so wet I can see her pussy glistening and I lick my lips in anticipation. Her eyes shutter closed as I run my tongue over her pussy lips. I lap at her lazily, content to savor the moment.

“Please,” Peyton gasps as she rocks her hips forward.

“Tell me what you want, baby.”

“I… lick me.”

I run my tongue over her again, doing exactly as she said, but not giving her what I know she wants. Her fingers dig into my hair in frustration.

“What’s wrong?” I ask with a smirk.

“Kingston,” she mewls.

“Tell me where you want my tongue,” I say before continuing to lick her in the same way.

“My… my clit. Lick my clit.”

“As you wish.”

I spread her open with my thumbs and circle her clit with my tongue, teasing the sensitive nub. I flick my tongue over it until she’s panting. She whimpers in protest when I move away from her clit, but it quickly turns into a moan when I thrust my tongue inside her. I slowly fuck her with my tongue as I press my thumb over her clit, rubbing tight circles around the sensitive flesh.

“Oh, God. Oh… Kingston.” She’s practically screaming my name.

“Baby, unless you want the whole restaurant to know what we’re doing in here, you need to be quiet.”

I smile when her hand flies up to cover her mouth and her eyes beg me not to stop. As if. I slide my fingers through her wetness and plunge two deep inside her, loving how wet she is for me. My lips encircle her clit and I suck the swollen bundle of nerves, her pussy tightens around my fingers in response. There’s a knock on the door and panic flares through Peyton’s eyes. I don’t stop what I’m doing. I lick and suck her clit while my fingers fuck her relentlessly. The knock sounds again.

“J-just a minute,” Peyton stutters on a moan. If my mouth wasn’t otherwise occupied, I would laugh at how obvious she sounds. There is no doubt in my mind that whoever is on the other side of that door knows exactly what’s happening in here.

Peyton throws her head back with a loud moan as her orgasm rocks through her body. Her pussy quakes around my fingers with every flick of my tongue. I slow my movements, bringing her down from her peak as she tries to catch her breath. Slipping my fingers from her pussy, I meet her eyes and lick them clean. Desire flares in her eyes once again and I smile at her knowingly.

Rising to my feet, I lift her face to mine and kiss her lightly on her lips. I fix her dress as she stands there in a daze. I see a million questions flitting through her mind and I’m not sure she’s ready for the answers yet, so I decide it’s time to make my exit. I press a kiss to her forehead and turn to leave.

“Kingston?” Confusion mars her voice and I hate that I’m leaving her like this, but it’s for the best. The conversation we need to have can’t happen in a restroom.

I unlock the door and am not surprised to see Tammy on the other side. Her eyebrows practically become part of her hairline when she sees me, but I walk straight past her, not giving her a chance to question me. Poor Peyton won’t be able to avoid her so easily.