Page 7 of Just Married

“Perhaps when you aren’t stumbling drunk? Let’s get you upstairs. You’ll feel much better in themorning.”

I lifted her from my lap and held her until she was steady on her feet, then lead her toward the elevator. We barely made it to the casino floor before she grabbed ahold of a random guy and asked him to marry her. He looked shell-shocked, but when his eyes raked lecherously down her body, I put myself between them and snarled for him to disappear. I turned to find Peyton gone. It took me a minute to find her, and I seethed when I saw her with a group ofmen.

She sidled up to one of the men and blinked up at him with those alluring green eyes, and I could see the instantaneous effect she had on him. With that one look, she had him hook, line, and sinker. Her lips came close to his ear, and I could only imagine what she was saying when his eyes widened. I could see him consider her words then he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. Rage. Pure and simple rage flooded me at thesight.

Peyton ismine.

In seconds, I closed the space between us. Fists clenched at my sides. One of the guy’s friends elbowed him and nodded in my direction. As soon as he saw me, he dropped his arm and moved away from my girl. Smart fucking man. Without a single word, I lifted Peyton off her feet and threw her over my shoulder, ignoring the strange looks from people as I carried her bodily through the casino. When I found a quiet alcove, I set her on her feet and pressed her against the wall, caging herin.

“Are you really so desperate to get married that you’re willing to pick any prick in this place?” Isnapped.

“Yes. If I’m not good enough for you, I’ll find someone—anyone—who will marry me before number sixteen. I can’t do it again. I can’t be the ‘maid’ of honor again. I want to be a matron damn it,” she said with a hysterical edge to her voice at the end of her littlerant.

Gripping her chin, I tipped her face up to mine, so she was looking me straight in the eye. “First of all, baby, you are perfect for me. If anything,I’mnot good enough foryou. I was trying to be the gentleman here and not take advantage of you, but I won’t let you go off marrying some stranger. You are and will always be mine. Onlymine.”

Okay, that was the moment that I should’ve called Tammy or Theo or Jillian and had them take her up to her room and tuck her cute little drunk ass in bed. If I was a better man that’s exactly what I would have done, but I’ve never claimed to be the better man. Instead of doing the right thing, I found myself agreeing to marry her. An hour later, we had got rings, a marriage certificate, and Elvis wishing us a “hunka hunka burninglove.”

* * *

“Tellme again why the girls are coming to your bachelor party,” douchebag Troy whines atTheo.

Theo rolls his eyes and lets out a long-suffering sigh. “Because this is Vegas and I don’t want my woman out there somewhere withoutme.”

It’s impossible to keep the smirk off my face. Theo is the most laid-back person I know, and you would never think that he has a possessive streak a mile wide, but he’ll become a feral beast if he thinks someone is after his woman. He might not seem imposing to look at him, he’s several inches shorter than my six foot five, and he’s all lean muscles like a swimmer whereas I’m built like a linebacker. Looks can be deceiving though, Theo is cool as a cucumber, but when he snaps—the fucker is crazy. I’ve only seen him come unhinged once, but the dude he let loose on had to be carted off to thehospital.

I wonder if douchebag Troy knows this… I’d have to say no because just then the ladies walk into the hotel lobby and Troy unabashedly eye fucks Jillian up one side and down the other. Theo is oblivious. He only has eyes for his bride-to-be, and I have to admit she is striking, but she’s not Peyton. No matter how similar the sisters look, no one could measure up to my beautifulwife.

As if my thoughts conjure her, Peyton appears arm and arm with Tammy. It takes all of one second to want to rush over to her and throw my jacket over her shoulders and hide her body from view. If last night’s dress was sexy, this one is indecent. It’s cut low in the front letting the soft swell of her breasts spill over the top, and the slinky black material clings to her every curve like a second skin. The skirt is so short that I wouldn’t be surprised if the delectable cheeks of her ass play peek-a-boo as she walks. I swear her legs go on for miles, the creamy skin on display for any fucker to see. The whole ensemble is topped off with mile-high gold heels. If you looked up fuck-me-heels in the dictionary, these would bepictured.

My cock throbs behind my zipper, my heart is pounding in my chest, and every thought in my head revolves around taking her in my arms and claiming her lips for all the world to see. I take a step toward her to do exactly that, but when her eyes find mine, they fill with trepidation and flick over to Jillian and worry creases her brow. The last thing I want to do is make her uncomfortable, but I’d be lying if I said the idea of keeping my distance doesn’t rankle. I tell myself this distance is only temporary, that she’ll come around. I’m determined to make this thing work. I want Peyton, and I’m going to fight forher.

Jill steps into Theo’s arms, and he dramatically dips her into a passionate kiss. Their love is a palpable thing, and I feel a surge of jealousy because I want that. My gaze flicks back to Peyton and the soft smile she’s got on her face as she watches her sister and Theo tells me she wants the same thing I want. As if she can feel my eyes on her she looks up at me. I expect to see annoyance, but she looks at me hungrily. I groan at the sight, and I about lose control when her pink tongue sweeps along her bottomlip.

“Get a room,” Tammyteases.

Jillian blushes and the other bridesmaidslaugh.

Douchebag Troy sidles up to her, throwing an arm over her shoulders. “I got a room for you,baby.”

“Not to mention a couple of STDs and a severe case of pencil dickitis,” Tammy says as she sidesteps out of hishold.

“I’ll show you pencil dick,” Troy says grabbing hiscrotch.

“Listen here you stup—” Tammy starts, but Peyton puts her hand over Tammy’s mouth stopping whatever insult she was about tothrow.

“Don’t mind her, she’s just hangry,” Peyton apologizes for herfriend.

“I’m fresh out of Snickers, so we better get her to the restaurant before she decides to take a chunk out of someone,” Itease.

Peyton turns her attention to me and flashes me one of her patented smiles—the kind that lights up her whole face and makes it impossible not to return. It feels like a small victory to know that I got her to smile at me, but it doesn’t last nearly long enough. Between one blink and the next, she goes from smiling to closed offcompletely.

“Let’s get the fuck outta here,” Troy says, slapping me on the shoulder like we’re friends. Stupid fucker. “There’s a whole club full of pussy waiting forme.”

“Ugh. Why did Theo invite this asshole?” Tammy loudly whispers toPeyton.

I don’t even try to hold back mylaughter.

“Because Jill stole his best friend as her maid of honor,” Peyton says, sneaking a glance over her shoulder at me to see my reaction to the dig. Of course, I just smile at her. There’s no point in being butt hurt—I know Theo would’ve picked Peyton over me any day of the week. “And he was desperate to fill the spot when Charles backed out last minute,” shefinishes.

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