I pushed my plate away and checked my watch — less than twenty-four hours to go and I would be hers, she would be mine. I gripped her hand under the table.

Nat’s cheeks turned pink as she squeezed my hand back. I’d really been trying to be the good guy — you know, the one that even though he got his girlfriend pregnant, waited until she had a ring on her finger to touch her. Needless to say I was slowly, and very painfully, losing my mind. I’d gone from sex addict to celibate all in the course of three months. Tomorrow night would probably be over before it even started.

As long as she found her pleasure, I was okay with it. I just wanted her to smile, I wanted her to scream, I wanted her to laugh, and I wanted her to give her heart to me piece by piece until there was nothing left in her possession.

Chapter Eight

Alec

“Hey, where you going?” I gripped Nat’s hand as she stood. Damn but her dress was low in the back, if I were to stand directly above her and — her hand smacked me on the shoulder.

“Done staring?”

“Nope,” I said honestly. “If you don’t want me to stare maybe you should remove the temptation.” I thumbed the dress with my fingers and ran my hand up the side of her thigh.

She giggled nervously and shivered. I loved it when she did that — as if she couldn’t control her body when she was around me. At least it made me feel like I wasn’t alone in that regard.

“I, um, Alyssa and I have to check on some things for the party, we’ll meet you back at the beach house.”

“Okay.” My eyes narrowed as I watched Alyssa, Nat, and Priscilla saunter out of the room in their killer high heels and sexy, short dresses. First thing I thought was, ’Nat better slow down before I smack her ass for disobeying me,’ and the whole keep the baby safe thing, second thing I thought—

“They’re up to something,” Demetri said in my ear, scaring the shit out of me. I almost spilled my wine all over my white shirt.

“Yeah they are.” I put the wine down. “But what? You think they have a surprise at the party?”

“Jaymeson,” Demetri called without looking to the left to even see if Jaymeson was there. “Come here.”

Jaymeson plopped down next to us and stole my wine. “Gentleman, how can I be of service?” He took a long sip.

“What do you know?”

Jaymeson began to choke.

“Come on, England.” Demetri smacked him on the back. “Bros before—”

We all sat in silence tilting our heads.

“Women?” I offered.

“It should be ‘hoes’,” Jaymeson said dryly. “But I figure the first time I say that around you guys or the girls I’ll get run over by my own car, so let’s just leave it at that, shall we?”

“Spill.” I demanded.

“Nothing to spill.” He looked away. “The girls have a surprise for you — they needed my help, and I never say no to a damsel.”

“That we know.” Demetri snickered. “You never say no to any chick, or is it that they never say no to you?”

“Both ways.” Jaymeson waved us off. “It works both ways.”

I rolled my eyes. “So we find out tonight.”

With a laugh Jaymeson shook his head. “Ah, well, let’s just say you guys owe me big for my help in the matter, and that’s all I have to say.”

“Why?” we asked in unison.

“You’re welcome.” Jaymeson stood. “Now, we should get going if you want to see what your girls have been up to for the past few weeks.”

“Oh that.” Demetri stood and stretched. “Alyssa’s been studying at the library for some — Damn, I’m an idiot.”

“Yeah, I was waiting for that one.” I chuckled, then paused. “Wait. Does that mean Nat hasn’t really been going to yoga?”

Jaymeson grinned. “You’ll see.”

I pushed both guys out of the way as I made my way out the door. Cameras flashed, I smiled, and by the time I finished answering questions, thirty minutes had passed. Sweating, I put the jeep in drive and made a beeline toward the beach house. Jaymeson had been deathly silent, but if his smirk was any indication of what was ahead of us, he’d either be at the bottom of the ocean in a few minutes or handing out high fives.

“Maybe,” Jaymeson whispered so I almost didn’t hear him, “If I ever found a girl who would do this for me… maybe then.” His smile fell. I put the car in park and opened the door.

“You never know, Jaymeson.” I slapped his back.

“But I do. And that’s alright.” He nodded and then the old Jaymeson was back as he laughingly led us into the house.

What the—? The entire house was pitch black.

I couldn’t see a thing. Demetri ran into me and then all of a sudden Jaymeson was gone.

“Are we going to get murdered?” Demetri whispered.

“Yes, by the girls we love. I can see the Hallmark movie now.” I said it with more conviction than I felt, because to be honest, I was freaked. They said ’after party’. I thought dessert and wine or something, not a pitch-black house with an eerie feeling about it. I moved to turn on the lights when I heard a loud noise. Holy hell, did I just get caned?

Chapter Nine

Nat

Holy crap I just caned my future husband! To be fair I wasn’t aiming for his hand but it was really dark and I misjudged how far away Alec was, so I’d hit him really hard. I heard him cursing in the darkness.