I was halfway down the aisle when I felt comfortable enough to drag my gaze away from her and glance around at the people—orcs and humans—who were watching the ceremony. They were all smiling, and I assumed they were all the groom’s friends, since I was the only guest Kesha had invited. Had Milo’s friend Jay really planned this whole thing?
Impressive. I would have to compliment him. Everything looked great, and the flowers?—
When I glanced at the archway, woven with sea holly and plumeria, my gaze flittered over the best man…then slammed back.
Brakkor.
That intense gaze, the curl of those lips, those intriguing tattoos I’d examined in detail…it washim.
Recognition shot through me like a bolt of lightning, and I gasped and tripped over my own feet, lurching sideways. Big hands caught me, and I thought someone might have muttered something amused-sounding, but I didn’t do anything more than mumble an apology and try to get my feet back under me.
Oh God.
He was here.
He was the best man. My bestie was marrying his brother? What were the odds I’d find him again?
You lucky bitch.
Except… Except we’d agreed to only one night together. Despite the way my core throbbed just at thesightof him, despite the fact I knew I was already wet, just remembering the way he made me scream with ecstasy, I had to remind myself that to him, our hookup had been…well, just that: a hookup.
One night of pleasure.
In a daze, I managed to make it up the rest of the aisle and stand at Kesha’s side just as the mayor began tospeak. But I didn’t pay attention to any of the words. Throughout the simple ceremony, I kept my wide-eyed gaze locked on the male standing across from me, and Brakkor’s heated intensity made me squirm.
What was I going to do?
Chapter Six
Brakkor
I managedto stay calm throughout the ceremony, although myKteer’snear-constant rumble was damned distracting. Korrad glanced at me once or twice, and I wondered if he could sense my edginess.
So I schooled my features and tried to remind myself that this was an important ceremony for my brother, and that it would suck to ruin it by throwing the maid of honor over my shoulder and running howling into the night.
No matter how tempting it was.
So instead I spent the rest of the ceremony staring, deciding I didn’t give a fuck if everyone could see my hunger.
Even Jocelyn.
She washere. And even though I was desperate to taste her again, everything seemed…I dunno,bettersomehow. Like, shit wasn’t fixed, wasn’tright…but it would be. Soon.
Soon.
I figured I was home free once Sakkara declared Korrad married, but then there was a kiss, and the mechanicalness of it dragged my attention from Jocelyn long enough to glare at my brother’s back. He calledthata kiss?
Dipshit.
Finally it was over, and I was ready to rip open this collar—when Jay announced it was time for photos. “Fuck me,” I groaned under my breath, and even Korrad echoed the sentiment with a put-upon sigh he hid from his new wife.
Wife. The poor bastard was married now.
Sylvik—Abydos’s personal assistant who’d moved to Eastshore and apparently fallen hard for Abydos’s so-called-Mate’s sister—was put in charge of taking photos, because apparently he had the best camera. Brooke—I still didn’t buy she was his “Mate,” and not just the female he was committed to—took charge, directing everyone where to stand, who to pose where. I suppose her event-planning gene couldn’t help it.
So I spent another forty minutes moving in and out of various shots as we posed in front of the arbor, in front of the waves, in front of the full moon, whatever. I just stood where she told me, put my hand where she told me, I did my best to smile.
I mean, by the end of the torture, it was more of a grimace, but whatever. Korrad was in the same boat.
