“Fuck, yeah, you get a kiss.”
You’re gonna get a dick too. I might be a virgin, but I know when I’ve found what I’ve been looking for.
And it’s a tiny goth pixie with lips that taste like sunshine.
CHAPTER 2
Milly
So, this is what kissing feels like.
I wonder if it’s different if it’s not a stranger? I doubt it could be better, because, shaaaazam, this is beyond.
The second I saw him coming around the bar it was as though all the noise in the crowded ballroom was sucked into some vortex and all I could hear was my pulse rushing in my ears. My skin prickled and an odd sort of tunnel vision took over.
He’s not a boy, he’s a man. Thick, looming, brooding and hurting. I can sense it, but there was nothing about him that frightened me. Not even the deep, twisting scars that line his cheek and jaw and tug the skin tightly down the side of his neck, disappearing under the immaculate white collar of his shirt.
I barely notice the other guy anymore, the one that was blistering my eardrums, droning on about his Dodge Charger and his most recent trip to Vegas, which is where he met my father. I don’t know a quarter of the people here at this disaster of a wedding, and up until a second ago I didn’t want to know any of them.
But, strike a match and call me tinder, because I want to know this tall drink of chilled vodka—speaking of which, the latter is probably what’s responsible for this kiss that has my girly bits snapping like Pop Rocks.
He’s godlike. Or maybe that’s the vodka talking, but whatever. I’ve never consumed alcohol before, but this seemed an appropriate time to start.
A month ago, my father returns from some business conference on crypto investing without risk.
I expected him to come back with a hangover and some new dumb business ideas but no.
He comes back with a wife.
Named Stacie.
Who is my age.
To say I’m salty about this entire fiasco of a marriage is putting it mildly.
Fast forward to today. Factor in four, or was it five, shots of Stoli and now I’m kissing a tall, dark and dreamy stranger and I don’t give a good god damn.
Fire feels like it engulfs my entire body as his warm tongue winds around mine. I arch my back and neck, my toes aching inside my boots, trying to make myself as tall as possible because this cool drink of water would have to duck to get through most doorways.
I barely notice how fast my heart is beating until we pull away and I look into his silver-gray eyes, then notice a vein on his forehead that looks dangerously close to exploding.
I shrink down and back, pressing my fist over my lips, the delicious taste of his kiss still coursing through me.
“Uhhh…” I start, clearing my throat, looking around to see if anyone I know may be watching. They aren’t, because like I said, I barely know anyone here except my father and Stacie. “I’ve been…drinking…” I stammer, popping my lips together, trying to think of how to appear less crazy right now.
“I have too. Weddings will do that to a person.”
My mouth falls open and I give an enthusiastic jab of my index finger into his chest which is hard and wonderful. “Exactly.” My eyelids feel heavy as I attempt to flutter them but this larger-than-life man seems to be on the same wavelength as me, despite looking like some cross between a heavyweight fighter, a Baptist Minister and a conservative Fortune 500 CEO. “The whole happily ever after thing is just so unrealistic.”
I do believe that, so…weird. Why am I like, vibing all over this guy? He’s not wearing anything black. Not even his shoes, for chrissake.
The liquor is clearly going to my head and my heart.
And other parts.
Parts that are suddenly wildly warm and soaking wet.
It’s got to be Riley’s fault. She’s the one that cursed me when I was talking to her this afternoon, whining and complaining about this whole disaster. The fact that my father didn’t even invite my best friend of, like, a hundred years—or from birth at least—to his wedding, so I would at least have a wing-woman, tells you just how much I factor into his thinking the last few years.
I was going to bring her as my plus one, but neither my Dad or my new step-mom bothered to ask if I wanted to bring anyone. Anyway, Riley was trying to keep me from getting even more crashy about it all, telling me maybe I’d meet the man of my dreams tonight.
Not that I ever had any idea what that might look like, but I can tell you, I never imagined it to be Mr. CEO. But sometimes, we have no idea what we want until it’s thrust into us.