Page 43 of Puck Yes

That mouth. This woman. Those lips. This will be so fucking worth it. Anticipation grips me hard. Kana’s been snapping pics and she gets one right before I lean in to kiss Ivy.

But before my lips touch hers, the chorus to “Hound Dog”blasts at a million obnoxious decibels, and we’re all rubbing our ears and begging the King to turn off his phone.

“My bad, my bad!” The King holds up his hands in apology, sliding into a Jersey accent that’s totally incongruous with his outfit. “Just an alarm that I have another wedding in ten minutes.”

And that’s that. My teammates are already moving onto the next thing. Dev’s hooting and wrapping an arm around Stefan. “Let’s get tacos,” Dev says. “There’s a place nearby that’s still open. Meet us there after you get your paperwork and shit. I’ll text you. And send me those pics, Kana.”

“Count on it,” she says.

“Your wife is the best, Brady,” Dev says to our teammate, then to the officiant, he adds, “And you’re the man, King.”

“Anytime,” Elvis says, returning to his drawl once more, then Dev steers everyone out of the chapel. For a second, Stefan looks back at Ivy and me, longing in his eyes, before he goes.

Elvis taps his watch. “I’ve got another one to perform in ten minutes. You can sign the certificate, but first why don’t you help her out of that dress and give it back to me?”

Well, that’s not a bad idea.

Elvis exits, leaving Ivy and me alone in the chapel. She gestures to the white dress. “They had costumes, so I changed,” she says, then spins around and heads to the door.

That won’t do. Fueled by dares and desire, I stalk over to her and grab her hand, jerking her around so she’s nearly flush against me. “Where are you going?”

“To change,” she says with a pinched brow, like why would I ask?

I shake my head. “Not until I kiss my wife.”

16

EYES ON US

Ivy

His eyes glimmer darkly. His jaw is set hard. He smells like lust and power.

A prickle of fear slides down my spine from the way he stares at me with such possession. I feel like borderline prey. And the strange thing—the new thing—is I like it.

“Take it,” I whisper.

Let him figure out that I want him to punish my mouth. To claim my kiss.

He reads my wish, yanking me flush against him. He’s not soft or sweet. He’s not tender or gentle. There’s something almost mean in his eyes, and it makes my heart beat faster.

My gaze slides briefly to the door, looking, wondering if Stefan’s coming back. But I stop wondering when Hayes grabs my face firmly then ropes his other arm around my waist and grabs my ass. I gasp, but he shuts me up with one hard kiss. I stop thinking about the other guy.

Hayes’s lips crush mine. They’re demanding, determined, and I’m all too pliant under his touch.

His kiss is rough and greedy. A man with hard edges. He backs me up against the wall by the door. This is where I want to be. Pinned by him, like I was that day in the equipment room, when he gave me a hint of what he’d be like.

In charge.

Is that what I’ve been craving all along? Someone who kisses my mouth ruthlessly? Someone who grips my face like this? Someone who treats my body like it’s his to play with?

This isn’t how you kiss the bride. This is how you kiss a woman you want to pin down, tie up, and fuck.

There’s just one more thing I want…

I look to the door again, but my brain goes blurry as Hayes devours my mouth mercilessly, his strong arms keeping me in place, his stubble likely leaving whisker burn. I can’t move, and I don’t want to. Not as his tongue plunders my mouth. Not as he lets go of his grip on my ass to wander a hand up my body. Not as the creak of a door oh-so-faintly registers in my mind. Hayes dives in and delivers more carnal kisses until we’re panting and gasping for air. I’m so aroused I can barely think about the sound of the lock slipping into place.

But somewhere in my mind, a voice tells me to pay attention.

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