But with Ryan in his Ralph Lauren tuxedo I felt grossly underdressed. Ryan sauntered around the couch, his eyes boring into mine.

Something about seeing him dressed up always took my breath away.

Ryan, forever the gentleman, took my hand and raised it to his mouth for a kiss.

“You look absolutely stunning.” He held me at arm’s length and then his brow furrowed.

“Something’s missing.”

He looked over at Mike. “Is it me or is there something missing from this gorgeous picture?”

Mike inspected Marie from head to toe, even doing a walk-around. “Hmm. Yeah. Something’s off. Like it’s almost perfect but just not quite altogether— there. ” I had to laugh; both of them were examin-ing us like pieces of art.

“Is it the hair?” Mike asked.

Ryan carefully touched one of the curls that touched my cheek. “No. I don’t think so,” he said reverently. “Your hair is perfect.” I smiled. Marie and I had spent almost two hours at the hairdresser this morning getting dolled up.

Ryan was staring at my lips when he said,

“What about the shoes, Mike?”

“Shoes?” Mike echoed. “Let me check.” He crouched down in front of Marie, lifting the hem of her dress to start his examination mid-thigh. I heard his lascivious groan from across the room. His fingers skated slowly down her thigh, pausing while he kissed her knee. I was watching him watching her. By the time he got down to her ankle, it had grown very warm in my living room. “Shoe’s good, Ryan.”

Yeah, their little game was working both of them into a lather.

I watched Ryan’s tongue slowly sweep across his bottom lip: wetting, inviting, taunting. Damn, I wanted to suck it into my mouth and end this teasing. He pulled me in-to his chest, drifting his nose near my neck.

“God, you smell good.” He breathed into my ear. “Delicious.”

I felt his fingertips drift down my neck, following the square-cut neckline, causing my belly to flutter and tighten. He placed a small kiss at the bottom of my throat. “I’m thinking it’s the neck,” he whispered, grazing his teeth over my skin.

He rose up, slowly and deliberately.

“Mike, check her neck.”

I grinned when he resumed his nuzzling.

“You keep this up and you’ll have to make love to me instead of taking me to this wedding.”

I felt him smile. “Promise me you won’t turn crazy when we get married.” I clutched his waist, feeling the liquid heat building low in my panties. “I promise.” He was so close; I could feel his erection. I caressed my hand over it. “Are you happy now? You have all of this and no time to play with it.”

He moaned. “That’s a present for later.

I’m going to do you slowly tonight.” Just as I started drifting off into that blissful image, I heard Marie squeal. She held a flat box.

“I have one for you, too.” Ryan slipped a hand into the back of his trousers and pulled out a thin, flat box with the iconic HW logo embossed on the lid.

My breath caught when I removed the felt covering. “Oh my God, Ryan! This is absolutely beautiful.” I touched the diamond wreath necklace, noticing the small R in white gold, dangling next to the clasp.

Marie’s wreath necklace was just as stunning, though it was a different design. And sure enough, dangling from the clasp of hers was an M.

“Did we just get collared?” Marie teased, touching the diamond necklace.

Ryan smirked. “Something like that.”

“You’ve got a problem being owned?” Mike asked her.

“By you?”

Mike took Marie’s hips into his strong hands, drawing her in. “Yeah. By me. You good with that?”

Her smile was priceless. “Oh, yeah. I’m real good with that.”

I heard a horn honking.

“I believe our ride is here,” Ryan said.

Just as I had expected, my alley was inundated with a swarm of paparazzi, caging in our black stretch limo. Despite what people might think about the luxury of riding in a stretch limo, they were actually a pain to crawl around in—especially with heels and a dress.

“Damn,” Ryan breathed out. “I thought we’d thrown them off with that posted appearance at Chateau Marmont. So much for that.”

Mike was the last one in. “Yep, didn’t work. I figured as much. Plan B is still in place.”

I entwined my hand with Ryan’s. “Plan B?”

He nodded. “We hired event security.

That will keep them out of the church and out of the reception.”