Claimed By The Best Man

“Just lay here with me?” she asks, stifling a yawn and snuggling her soft body so close to mine I can’t argue with the idea.

“I could stay like this forever,” she murmurs, and I remind her that we will.

“Soon,” I whisper in her ear, kissing her gently before joining her in sleep as our bodies slot together as though they were designed to fit.

I wake with a start, maybe an hour or five later.

I groan when I look at the clock.

Yep. Most of the day was spent sleeping instead of anything else.

But it’s Piper’s absence I notice more than anything, almost panicked until I hear the shower running.

I huff out a lungful of relief.

This is real. This is actually happening.

A man’s mind has to deal with a lot in active service, and when someone like Piper comes along it’s almost the same.

A total onslaught to my senses, making me doubt everything else until I’m with her again.

Until I feel her, taste her, and hold her close.

She’s like coming home after deployment.

She’s like the sun after that storm that won’t break. The sweet, cool rain after the heat that’s driven you mad for two days straight.

She’s mine. And this is all ours, I think with a smile.

I could join her in the shower, but I figure I can’t spend every single second with her.

Girls and the bathroom, that kind of thing.

She’s entitled to some privacy.

Running a thumbnail over my stubble I make a note to shower and shave.

Getting hot and heavy, sweating like a real man is fine.

For a while. But I also like to be fresh for my girl.

Clean and revived, ready for what battles I know we’ll both have to face soon enough.

Her sudden nakedness in the doorway grabs my attention.

She’s dripping wet, grimacing as she lets me know she can’t find any towels.

“C’mere,” I tell her, opening my arms. Glad to feel all of her cool wetness as I envelop her in my arms.

“I’ll get you some towels, puppet,” I murmur, kissing her forehead.

“Why’d you call me that? Puppet?” she asks, looking up at me. Her eyes wide and innocent.

Not minding my nickname for her at all, but I have to think a moment before I tell her.

“At first, I thought it was me pulling all the strings,” I explain. “Then I realized it’s not only me. It’s us.”

“I may call you puppet but you’re the one pulling my strings.” I chuckle, pulling her closer, melting a little inside when I hear her repeat the nickname back to me.

“I love it,” she purrs.

“I love—” she cut off, tensing up suddenly.

“What is it?” I ask, concerned.

“My dress,” she groans, spotting what should be a pristine bridesmaid dress all crumpled and stained.

My own ragged-looking tux tangled next to it.

“Ah,” I tone gravely, checking the time. “There should be just enough time to drop them off at the bridal shop. They can do what they need and have them ready by…”

I trail off.

“But it's Sunday,” she protests.

“They’re open and they’ll do it for me,” I say, wondering how something so slight, so silly could make her so worried.

I guess it’s her mom.

I’ve only had Clara in small doses, lord knows how hard it’s been on Piper to live with her all these years.

She’s not a bad mom. Just… particular… peculiar about so many things.

“I’ll deal with it, I promise. I’ll drop them off before dropping you home.”

Her wounded look shifts from the dress to me.

“I thought I was gonna stay with you,” she murmurs, her hands flat on my bare chest, her own pressed into me, making me rethink what I’ve just said.

“I know, I know,” I groan. “But just for a little longer,” I add. Trying to make it sound like it isn’t the end of the world.

Both of us are thinking the same thing.

Can we manage to be apart for one minute, let alone another night?

If I spell it out for Rhys and her mom now, if I keep Piper with me it might risk ruining their whole wedding.

I know her mom isn’t going to exactly be thrilled once she finds out.

But If I don’t keep her by my side, it’ll make her fret and worry. And it will put me on edge because I can’t watch over her.

“It’s too long,” she whispers, echoing my thoughts.

“Worth the wait,” I assure her, letting my hand slide between her thighs, drawing a reaction from her I’ll never tire of.

“I’m already counting the seconds.” She shivers, kissing me hard before telling me to go shower while she finds the dress she had on before.

The bridal store is just about to close up when I call but are happy to stay open until I get there.

Piper waits in the truck, where I can easily keep an eye on her from the store. I don’t want her walking around with that flimsy little dress on.