Ryan had been around all those years, sure, but he’d never actually beentherefor me. He was there in the fights, the mess, the girls, the hangovers. Always in the wreckage, never pulling me out of it. The people who’d stood by me, who’d actually shown up? They were right here, in this pub. Trav, Danny, Jordan, Tom, the girls, Eddie & Sarah. They were the family I’d built around myself.
For the first time in a long damn time, I didn’t feel like running. I felt settled. Like I belonged to an actual, whole family. AndGod, I couldn’t wait for tomorrow.
“Okay, Reeds,” Gwen called, standing with her hands on her hips like a drill sergeant. “We need to get moving. We’ve got toget our girl ready for tomorrow. So hands off, Tyler, thank you very much, she’s ours tonight.”
I groaned, half-laughing at the thought of her being taken away for the night. “Oh, come on, you sure you need herallnight?”
Orla smiled at me, eyes warm and teasing.
“Yes,” Gwen said, already shepherding Kate toward the door. “No arguing. You get to keep her for the rest of your life.”
Man, was there a better feeling than knowing that?
“You guys go ahead; I’ll be up in a minute,” Orla said, coming over to grab my hand.
“Okay,” Gwen said over her shoulder. “But don’t be long. You need your beauty sleep.”
We stepped out into the cool night air. The sky was a deep shade of navy, every star sharp and clear like someone had scattered diamonds across velvet. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Danny leaning against the stone wall with some girl I couldn’t quite make out, their heads close together. I would have called him out, made a joke but the look on his face told me to let this one slide.
I slung an arm around Orla’s shoulders, her arm looping instinctively around my waist. Pulling her close, I kissed the top of her head, breathing her in.
“In case I didn’t tell you tonight, you looked beautiful.”
And she did, that white cotton sundress, soft against her skin, making her look like an angel. My throat tightened just thinking about what she’d look like tomorrow.
“You okay now?” she asked, smiling up at me.
“I’m perfect. I’ve got you, I’ve got friends that matter, and tomorrow I get to marry you all over again.” I smirked, brushing a strand of hair back from her face. “Although, I’m not exactly thrilled about an empty bed tonight.”
“You’ll survive,” she teased.
Maybe. But right then, as we reached the castle wall, survival didn’t sound good enough. I pressed her gently against the cool stone, caging her in with my body.
“Or,” I murmured, lips brushing her ear. “I could just take you here. Give me a taste of what’s waiting for me tomorrow night.”
She giggled softly against my chest, but her hands looped around my neck all the same. “No chance, Mr. Reed. It’s bad luck.”
I slid my palm up her thigh, pushing the hem of her dress higher. “Bad luck, huh?” My fingers grazed the silk of her panties and then pushed them aside. She gasped when I sank a finger into her, tight, wet pussy, instinctively clenching for me.
“Tyler…” she moaned quietly, her voice breaking.
“It’s okay, baby,” I murmured, curling my finger deep inside her. “Nobody’s around. Let me fuck you with my fingers, just enough to keep you aching for me until tomorrow.”
She bit her lip, tipping her head back against the stone as another soft moan slipped out despite herself. My name tore from her throat, desperate, and I smiled against her skin, working her open, feeling how wet she was getting for me. Keeping her right on that edge to ruin her for sleep tonight.
Then I withdrew my fingers, watching her eyes widen in frustration.
“Tyler, that’s evil,” she giggled, half-scolding.
I brushed my mouth across hers, lingering slowly. “Not evil, baby. Just saving the big one for tomorrow night.”
She shook her head against my forehead, still laughing softly, still clinging to me like she didn’t want to let go. “I really don’t want to leave you tonight. Not after everything.”
“I know,” I admitted though my throat was tight. “But it’s just a few hours, O. Then you’ll be back in my arms as my wife…again.”
I was about to kiss her properly when my phone buzzed in my back pocket. The sound felt intrusive in the moment but something in me told me to check it.
Trav:
