Page 96 of Life of the Party

It wasn’t long before we were both thoroughly, impossibly, giddily stoned.

My heart was pounding, my teeth grinding, and I couldn’t keep the smile from my face. I met his eyes and we laughed together at nothing.

“Now that I’m good and wrecked.” He wiped at his nose. “Your parents should really approve of me.”

“Ugh, trust me. With them, it’s better to be stoned.” I checked the mirror and wiped the white residue from my nose, then fixed my hair with a trembling hand. “Do I look okay?”

“Better than okay.” He smirked, and his blue eyes narrowed lustily as they looked me over. He placed his hands around my waist and with a careful, wicked grin, lifted me up so I was sitting on the bathroom counter.

It may have been the blow or the time we’d spent apart, but the warmth of his hands shot heat straight through my veins. I couldn’t remember ever wanting Grey as badly as I did at that moment. I pressed my knees around him and grasped his tie, pulling him towards me, slowly, until our lips finally touched.

Sparks flew then. I forgot everything…Marcy, my parents, the wedding…everything but the feel of his lips pressed to mine and the hard strength of his hands on my body. In moments we were breathless, dishevelled, and desperate for each other. I couldn’t stop, I didn’t want to, everything within me was screaming, go, go, go…

A hard, sharp rap on the door jolted us both out of the moment. Only then did I remember where we were, what we were supposed to be doing. I couldn’t believe the sheer lust that came over us, the depth of the desire still burning in my veins.

“Yes?” I tried to calm my frantic breathing.

“Mackenzie? Are you in there?” Mom demanded impatiently. I met Grey’s eyes in alarm. He lifted his eyebrows in amusement.

“Yes,” I answered.

“What are you doing? The speeches are about to start.”

Holy crap. Had she followed us or something?

“Sorry…I’m not…feeling well,” I lied quickly. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I just, I need a sec.”

“Okay. Hurry up. They’re waiting.” Irritation was evident in her voice. I waited until her heels had clipped briskly away from the door before I dared to speak again.

“Shit, Grey, what do we do?” I barely stifled a giggle. “We’re so busted.”

“I know. Here, you go first.” He grinned, pulling the straps of my dress back in place. “I’ll wait until you’ve gone in, and then I’ll come later.”

I agreed to his hasty plan, smoothing my dress, taking a breath to calm my frenzied pulse. I wondered if my cheeks were flushing as hotly as they felt. “Do I look high?”

He looked me over and shook his head. “I don’t think so. Do I?”

Grey was gorgeous as usual. His eyes were a little glassy, but not noticeably so. I straightened his tie, my touch lingering on his chest. “No.” I breathed.

“Go.” He smirked, removing my hand. “Before you get in trouble.”

Somehow, I made my way to my seat. I couldn’t keep the smile from my face; I had to suppress the urge to giggle the entire time. Grey came back in after a while, giving no excuse for his absence as he sat back down at my parent’s table. They pointedly ignored him. He winked at me, and I grinned right back.

Then the emcee started the program. I fidgeted through the speeches and the slideshow, restless and high, itching for the night to be over. After the thousandth picture of Blake and Marcy cuddling to the tune of “I Honestly Love You” by Olivia Newton-John, it was time for the first dance.

The newlyweds took their place on the dance floor. Marcy looked impeccable, glowing with happiness as Blake whirled her around the ballroom, a three-piece orchestra accompanying them with soft, gentle music. After a few moments of this, it was time for the bridal party to join in.

This meant I had to dance with Jake.

I bit my lip as he bleared across at me, approaching unsteadily, grasping my wrists a little rougher than he needed to and wrapping them around his neck. I stiffened at his touch, deliberately looking at anything but him as we moved around the dance floor.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with you,” Jake spoke finally, wine on his breath. He scoffed and glared in Grey’s direction with total repugnance. “Why would you want someone likehim? He’s got nothing.”

“He’s got everything I want.” I retorted.

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