An hour later I’m dancing with our friends on the dance floor—laughing at their terrible moves and trying to memorize every detail. Aaron is dancing with Tina, and I can see him tearing up so I know they’re having a moment together.
“You having fun, Mr. Archer?” Angie is doing her best to twerk to the beat next to me as she questions me and I can’t help but shake my head at her.
“More than you know, Angel. But I’m also dying of heat stroke. Be right back.” I wander off to our table where we have left our things and remove my coat and tie—leaving me in just my button-up and vest.
I watch Aaron for a moment longer, noticing he’s also ditched his tux jacket. He looks so beautiful—so at home and peaceful here. I can’t believe I married him. I can’t believe that’s my husband.
My attention is snagged on the bar where Josh stands, staring off into space, and I think he may be drunk.
“Hey—” I greet him, attempting to check in and make sure he’s doing okay. “You good, Josh?” He turns to me and a huge grin slowly takes over his face.
“Cutie! Happy wedding. You look good enough to eat.” Rolling my eyes, I take the drink from his hands.
“Thanks. No more booze for you, you barbarian. You’re totally drunk right now.” Josh laughs—taking a step toward me and leaning down slightly as if I can’t hear him from where he stands naturally.
“You’re always so bossy, Bear. Is it because you’re cute?” I place a hand on his chest and push, laughing in his face.
“Alright—enough. Back it up, loverboy.” I feel his hand rest on my hip, not moving an inch under the force of my palm. Before I can think—before I can tell him to let me go—I’m slapping him across the face. Josh stumbles back a step, eyes wide as he holds his red cheek. “Josh—”
“Bear—I am so sorry. I’m very drunk and that was not appropriate. Excuse me.” Josh flees from the crime scene and acouple of bystanders mumble to each other as I brush off imaginary dust from my vest. What the fuck was that?
I’m trying to calm myself—to work through what just happened—but I can feel his eyes. I turn around and sure enough—there’s Aaron. Watching me. Watching Josh touching me and me touching him. On our wedding night.Oh fuck. This is bad, this looks really bad. Just my luck, just my fucking luck!
No—I will not let this destroy our moment, our happily ever after. Such a tiny, insignificant thing. Such a stupid misunderstanding.
I walk straight to him, grabbing his hand and pulling him outside, a good distance from the party.
“Aaron—” I turn to him, dropping his hand to plead with him, to make him understand. “I swear to God nothing just happened. Josh is drunk and tried to lay a hand on me, so I slapped him—that’s it. I swear to you the first thing I thought of as soon as he stepped toward me was boundaries with other men and I—” Aaron’s hands move to hold my face, effectively shutting me up. I notice he’s smiling down at me softly.
“I know, Benjamin. I was watching.” He rests his forehead on mine. “You did a very good job. I am very proud of you.” A sigh—long and loud—exhales from my mouth.
“Thank God. I felt my entire life flash before my eyes. I thought I was about to die.” Aaron laughs—kisses all over my face.
“I love you. I love you so much.”
“I love you too,Husband.” I wrap my arms around his waist, drink in the low groan he gives me in response.
“It sounds so filthy when you say it. Are you tempting me, Benjamin?” His hips push up and into mine as I chuckle, grinning up at him and the heat in his eyes.
“I’malwaystempting you, Aaron.”
“Yeah—I can fucking tell.”
Somehow, we always end up back here—we can’t seem to stifle that need to devour each other. It’s a living thing; it’s its own separate entity thatlives between us.How exciting.
We make our way back to the reception and our friends and family.Our friends and family. I’m now Benjamin Archer—no longer tied to the Dickinson name. Fuck—dreams do come true.
Chapter Forty Eight
May 2024
Benjamin
You still won’t tell me where we’re going?” Aaron is walking me to the front of the event house where our car to leave is stationed—as well as our guests to bid us farewell.
“Nope. Tomorrow morning when we leave, I’ll take precautions. You’ll have no idea until you’re there.” He looks proud of himself—which of course only scares me more.
“Great—so a kidnapping.” Aaron laughs.
