ic's

o-Be'," she said, downing the rest

jaw to keep from la

ery little bride-

t me a defiant smile, as if finishing her

act tough, even though her hands trembled slightl

n anyone's life-I was the most selfish guy I knew-but it wasn't every Friday

st logical thing would have been to send her back to her fri

eplied, playing along, and gestured

ing to hold back a laugh. It wasn't every day the cl

dy half-buzzed, as she s

ly one shot..." she

itial sweetness gave way to a sharp

g warmed up. The night

looking, she snapped her gaze away, as

uting... A tiny crease formed between her brows, like the drink was poi

ding my liquor," she

heavy, exagg

end a fortune on such a handso

ghed, his face fl

d the joke. Then a smile broke across her face

ity. Besides, it's my bachelorette party," she dec

ink it so fast like that... and then cl

polished off her third. She slammed the empty glass do

looking like a kid wa

ed off m

or some

she just beamed as i

had truly

ndra, now fearless, knocked them back one af

er grew louder, ringing out as if we

, laughing at every piece of nonsen

ghter that made everything seem lighter. She wasn't the type to trauma-dump when she got

out of all that money?" I asked

waving a dis

about those mo

climbed up onto the barstool, then hopped down to the floor

s wasn't the main dance floor downstairs, and dancing up here was strict

n realize I was smiling until she came running over, gra

re and watch, are you?!" She dragge

der. She ripped off her "Bride-to-Be" sash, tossed it onto the

eans if I start running around naked,

ddenly feeling

is my command," I repli

ing I didn't hav

entually, I caught the eye of my security team and signaled th

hand and placed it on her waist-so slender I felt like I might break her. I hesitated for a fra

flush against me. Her soft curves molded to my chest.

o's the

what kind of fire she was stoking

undeniable hardening in my pants.

on pressing against her. But instead of ba

ly twitch into a

shudder of pain ripped through her small frame. My chest tightened in response. Acting on pure instinct, I wrapp

swaying to the music, but the playful energy had vanished, replaced by a heavy, suffocating sadness. She wasn'

ry little hiccup felt like a punch to my gut. I didn't h

d, looking up at me with big, tear-drenched

hard on her

t no one would trul

ng. She asked it like her ent

ing down until my mouth was

but boring isn't one of them. Any man

yes l

sudden burst of excitement

without t

ms around my neck. She shoved me backward against the n

. or better yet, take mine. Do

ng absolute nonsense, but damn if i

mpossible to hold back. Could

her stray tears with my thumbs be

my last nam

a smudged and her eyes red from cryi

ow, darling. You

ounded coming from her lips when something soft and warm cr

g, like she wanted to devour me whole. Her fingers tangle

with i

tion, and I had absolutely no in