“See that, Lizbeth? I told you she had babies on the brain. A hundred bucks says she’ll be knocked up before they cut the cake. Anyone want to bet against those odds?”
Emma burps out a laugh. “Not me! I bet that will be the case before she walks down the aisle.”
“Ha-ha.” I glower over at Wes as if this were all his fault, and to be truthful, a large majority of this is stemming all the way back to the Steel Barricade, of course.
Bree starts in on trying to break her glass with her fork.
“I want to see some tongue, Messenger. Put some meaning behind it, Oliver.”
Rory grabs ahold of Logan and forces her lips to his, and I hate every minute of it. I don’t care if that is my body. I glare out the window.
I can’t believe my mother has allowed this farce to go on for as long as it has. How dare she lock me out of Heaven. How dare she ignore my cries for help. And if my body dies tomorrow, my blood will be on her hands. At least Rory will be back in paradise where she belongs.
It’s win-win for me.
Chloe grunts,You won’t win, Skyla. But you’ll be getting your eviction notice tomorrow afternoon either way. You’d better make this work.
I will.
All night I have feverish dreams, my nightgown drenched with sweat as I writhe beneath the sheets. Gage comes to me, fiercely handsome, turning up the charm as he takes me by the hand.
Let me make love to you. One last time. Just you and me. Let me prove my love to you.He nuzzles kisses to my neck, peppering them over my face.
And for reasons unknown to me, I can’t find the energy to protest. Chloe certainly doesn’t mind the effort. I can hear her moaning, panting in anticipation right along with me.
Skyla.Gage pulls back to look into my eyes. Those dimples of his dig in deep.My love for you is an unknowably deep ocean. How can you doubt me? When all is said and done, you will never doubt me again.
With all my might I try to push out a rebuttal, but I’ve been weakened by Chloe, by Gage, and there’s nothing left to do but surrender to this horrific fantasy.
The scenery changes. Gage has landed us at Rockaway Beach, where an expansive blanket lies over the ebony sand we’ve spent so much time at. The ocean roars and whispers, the breeze is warm against my skin, and I marvel as I look down at my hands, my body, every inch of it my own.
Gage takes his time with me, slow kisses, long licks of his tongue, creating erotic pathways that make every last part of me sing. Gage pleasures me first and leads me to earth-shattering heights as Chloe and I cry out at the very same time. Gage is in me, with me, demanding that my body shatter again and again, slow and easy, rough and rowdy, until the sun sears the blinds in Chloe’s bedroom and I moan to life.
It’s my wedding day.
“Oh my God.” It’s all I can say after that all-night flesh fest. I sit up with a start and glance at myself in the mirror across the way. Every inch of Chloe Bishop glows like a light bulb. “Well, someone had a good time last night.”
Yes,she muses.And it was you.
“Please, Chloe. You’re the reason we had that wet dream. I don’t think about Gage anymore. Not when I’m awake, not when I’m asleep.”
Ha! Yes, Skyla. You caught me. I often dream I’m you and invite Gage to make love to me. Newsflash: that was no ordinary dream. He invaded our minds, he invaded your dream body. My God, the things he did to us.She sighs.Skyla, damn it all to hell. That’s what I wanted with him. All my life I’ve dreamed of Gage loving me that way—saying those things to me, looking at me that way. But it was all for you. I was just a voyeur.
My heart crushes just listening to her. “I’m sorry, Chloe.”
Don’t be.Her voice pitches as if she took a deep breath.Never say you’re sorry. It’s a sign of weakness. If you should be sorry for anything, it’s all your fault for lusting after him in your sleep.
“Me? Please, Chloe. You’re the one that conjured him last night. It’s probably a nightly occurrence with you. I’m surprised you were able to wait this long.”
Oh, shut up. That was no accident, and you know it. And how convenient. You get to have an affair with Gage right before you pledge your undying love to Logan. You’re sick, Skyla. I bet you and Gage will continue to get it on long after you and Logan tie the knot. And you’ll plead nighttime insanity just the way you are now. You should be ashamed of yourself. And don’t think for one second I won’t be telling Logan.
“You wouldn’t! What am I saying? Of course, you would. You’re the queen of drama. Go right ahead. And I’ll tell him it was your status quo porno I was forced to endure. He’ll believe me.”
Yes, he will. You have him pussy-whipped. But in the back of his mind, he’ll wonder. Neither Logan nor Gage will ever feel like they were enough for you. And that alone satisfies me. You don’t get the happy ending, Skyla. Not really. Not if your Prince Charmings aren’t entirely convinced of your love for them.
“Oh, good grief. I’m not going around the block with you. Logan and I have a love that transcends eternity. And if he doesn’t know how much I love him, then I can’t help him.”
Okay, sounds good. But think about this, Skyla. What if the love triangle went another way? What if Logan were tormented with feelings for both you and Lexy? What if he were having wet dreams about Lexy right now—just hours from your wedding? What if he just expected you to understand that both you and Lexy were his soulmates?
