Waiting as she buttoned the back, I already knew this wasn’t the dress either. Not that it wasn’t beautiful. It just wasn’t… it. Taking a deep breath, I thought happy thoughts and smiled my very brightest as I walked through the dressing room door and into the room of many mirrors.

  “Next.”

  Back in the dressing room, my phone pinged. Since I was stuck in the dress until Valerie came back, I dug it out of my purse.

  Kane: How’s it going?

  Just seeing his face on my screen filled me with little butterflies, and I pressed my thighs together to keep them from escaping.

  Me: I’m standing here in a dress with a million buttons. Want to come help me escape?

  Kane: Only if I can use my teeth.

  Hmm… he could use his teeth on me anywhere and had already done so.

  Me: You’re making me horny.

  Kane: You’re always horny.

  Me: Is that a problem?

  Kane: Yeah. It’s a big problem because I’m not there to fuck you right now.

  Me: Later?

  Kane: Absolutely. Do I get your ass tonight?

  Me: No!

  Kane: Today’s opposite day, so yay for me.

  I rolled my eyes. He was such a boy sometimes.

  Me: Maybe I can have your ass tonight? I can grab a strap-on while I’m out. Do you prefer purple or red?

  Kane: Har-de-har-har. Did you take a Benadryl?

  I smiled. I loved that he remembered little details like that. Loved how he seemed to really listen and cared enough to store what I said away.

  Me: Maybe. I’m drinking champagne and eating chocolate-dipped strawberries. I’d like to dip your cock in chocolate and lick it off.

  Kane: Where are you? I’ll be there in five.

  I laughed out loud that time.

  Me: Sorry. Eagle ears Nana is just outside.

  Kane: You sure know how to deflate a guy.

  Me: Lucky for you, I know how to inflate him again. I’ll show you later.

  Kane: Promise?

  Me: Promise.

  Kane: Before or after I take your ass?

  Me: Nice try, mister. You’ll need a penile reduction before that happens.

  Kane: What? I think Godzilla just had a heart attack. Seriously. Can you come perform CPR?

  I snorted.

  Me: Godzilla needs to take a Benadryl.

  Kane: He’s pouting.

  There was a soft knock on the door, and Valerie popped in. I turned my back for her to start on the many buttons.

  Me: Gotta go try on another dress. Tell Godzilla I’ll make it up to him later.

  Kane: Godzilla roared his approval.

  Me: Good luck tonight. Hit the ball… hard.

  Kane: Bye baby. See ya laters.

  Still smiling, I tucked the phone away as the constricting dress began to loosen.

  “You seem happy,” Valerie said, meeting my gaze in the small mirror.

  “That was my fiancé. He makes me happy.”

  She smiled. “I can see that. I hope what the two of you have now lasts a lifetime.”

  I stepped out of the dress, glad that I was now looking down so she couldn’t see my face. A lifetime sounded wonderful. I pushed down that tingle of hope. Kane was with me now because he felt sorry for me when he saw me with my mother. Then fate had a moment of humor and caused us to be engaged. But Kane hadn’t said a word about making what we have more permanent. Of course, neither had I.

  Why?

  “What do you think?”

  I’d been so absorbed in my thoughts that I hadn’t paid attention as Valerie took the next dress from its bag.

  Oh.

  Wow.

  The lace had aged, giving it a champagne effect that only time, not humans, could lovingly administer. Reaching out a hand, I traced my fingers over the delicate silk straps.

  “Is it really my size?”

  Valerie smiled. “Yes, it is.”

  I felt myself holding my breath as I stepped into it, and Valerie pulled it in place. There was no back of the gown to speak of, so it didn’t take her long to close it up.

  I wasn’t breathing. Neither was the kind saleswoman, I realized, as I turned to the mirror… and fell in love.

  It was perfect. If the image of my perfect gown could have been plucked from my mind and handcrafted into something even more extraordinary, this would be it.

  Smiling gently, Valerie lifted a matching veil and attached it to the back of my head. It was also simple, elegant. When I looked in the mirror again, I felt complete.

  Neither Valerie nor I said a word as I stepped from the dressing room and toward Nana and Mom. They didn’t say a word either.

  Stepping up on the dais, I looked at myself and heard Nana whisper loudly, “Told you. Sparkle.” Louder, she said. “Wrap that sucker up.”

  ***

  The next morning, I found myself humming as I chopped celery in Kane’s enormous kitchen, chrome and granite sparkling all around me. I was making food bags for my babies and their humans, and doing so brought me incredible joy. Even though I was farther away from them now, it was important for me to take care of them all.

  I had been thrilled and touched when Kane came home one day with an armload of canvas Beasts bags for the men. Inside them were Beasts blankets, hoodies, and warm woolen hats. There were also thermoses I could use to give them warm drinks or soup when it turned cold.

  Today was thick, homemade chicken salad sandwiches with carrots and grapes. A bottle of Ensure for extra protein and two bottles of water each was accompanied by a couple of fruit and granola bars I baked for them to snack on through the rest of the day. The doggies got high-quality dog food and a treat. I only did their flea meds at the beginning of each month, so there wasn’t anything special today.

  It wasn’t nearly all that they needed, but it was a start. When I was able to do more, I would.

  I groaned when my phone rang, and I looked at the screen, knowing I shouldn’t answer but did it anyway.

  There was no greeting, just… “And when exactly did you plan to tell your own mother you were getting married? And in a few weeks, no less? Are you pregnant?”

  Panic constricted my throat. I was still absorbing the idea of a wedding myself. I wasn’t ready to talk about it to her.

  “How did you find out?” I managed to ask, knowing immediately it was the wrong thing to say.

  “What do you mean find out? Why were you hiding such happy news from me?”

  Because I don’t want this to become the Alize show.

  “No, that’s not what I mean. It’s just that we decided just a few days ago. I can’t imagine how the word has spread that fast.”

  “New York City, young lady, is the biggest small town in the world. If one person knows a thing, everyone knows that same thing. But that’s not the point…” she said through gritted teeth, “you really should be more considerate. I raised you better than that.”

  I blew out a long breath. “I was waiting to share the news personally. I’m sure you would have preferred that to a text.”

  “I would have preferred to hear it from you immediately instead of being blindsided.” She sighed dramatically. “I labored with you for…”

  …sixteen pain filled hours, then raised you on your own after your father died so suddenly. Blah, blah, blah.

  I was able to recite the entire story along with her, I’d heard it so many times. I let her finish because it would do no good to interrupt.

  “Eliana! Are you listening to me?”

  “Sorry. No, I wasn’t. I’m a bit distracted right now.”

  Her voice lowered, and she hissed, “Are you and that baseball player having sex while I’m on the phone with you?”

  “Alize! No.” Good heavens, what a question for a mother to ask her daughter. “Look, I’ve got to go. I have some errands to run.”

  I could almost feel her roll her eyes. “Let me guess. Feeding the homeless. You know, there are shelters and food pantries that operate for that specific reason, but if you insist on walking through dirty alleys, I suppose that’s your choice.”

  “It is my choice, so I need to go. I need to be at work by eleven.”

  “Work? Darling, you don’t need to work any longer. You’ve landed yourself quite the catch.” She lowered her voice. “A billion dollar catch. And on the first attempt no less.”

  “I don’t fish, Mother. Maybe that’s been your problem all along.”

  She ignored me. “I received a call from my insurance company. Seems there was a fire at my apartment. But don’t worry, I’m completely covered. They say it was a total loss and I’ll receive a check within thirty days.”

  I stared at the phone in amazement. “Yes, I know there was a fire because it burned everything I owned. Everything Zoe owned. Two incredibly sweet people I saw every day died in that fire. But don’t worry, I’m fine. Zoe’s fine.” Sarcasm dripped from the words in steaming drops of lava.

  “Well, of course you’re fine. You seem to have nine lives when it comes to tragic fires. I wasn’t worried at all.”

  My heart squeezed. Not just from the reminder of losing my grandparents, but that my own mother didn’t even offer a word of sympathy or concern.

  Taking a deep breath, I kept my voice light. “Yes, I’m lucky that way.”

  I shouldn’t be surprised really. When she’d arrived two days after the fire, at Mamaw and Papaw neighbor’s house where I’d been staying, she hadn’t shed a tear at their loss. And she hadn’t seemed relieved to find me alive. No hug. No kiss. No words of comfort.

  “We need to be strong, you and I,” she had said as I changed into one of the dresses she’d purchased for us to attend the funeral. “Do the hard things. Keep our chin up. Take care of ourselves and watch our own backs.”

  I didn’t know what she meant then, I’d been so consumed with grief and loss… and guilt. I hadn’t been able to get down the hallway to my grandparent’s bedroom. The backside of the house had been totally consumed. So I ran outside and tried to break through a window, but fire was curling out, snarling at me, daring me to come closer. The neighbors must have seen the red glow because a fire truck appeared, then another, and another. I was pulled away, an oxygen mask stuck onto my face, the burns on my hand from where I’d touched the doors treated.

  “Eliana!”

  Her screech brought me back from the bad place I’d gone. “I need to run.”

  “Alright, darling. Keep me abreast of the wedding details. You know I’m happy to help in any way I can.”

  “Will do.”

  Not.

  “And darling. I’ll be bringing a guest.”

  Of course she is.

  “Your husband?”

  “No, silly. That’s water under the bridge.”

  “Wow, that was quick. Is the divorce already final?”

  She huffed. “That’s why I was sharing how important it is to protect yourself during the prenuptial agreement negotiations. I wasn’t as smart and will get almost nothing after sacrificing nearly two years to that man. Receiving the insurance check for the apartment was perfectly timed, or I fear I’d starve soon.”

  She has to be kidding me.

  “Well, you could always sell your jewelry and art if things become desperate. Your bridal set alone would feed you for several years.”

  “Oh, darling, you’re very funny. I’m sure it would never come to that. And now that you’ll have your own wealth, I’m sure you’ll see that I’m taking care of.”

  I gritted my teeth. “I really must go. I need to be at work by eleven.”

  “Darling, quit that job and enjoy your newfound leisure. I’ll set us up for a sisterly spa day soon.”

  I ignored her. “I’ll send you an email with the details of the wedding once everything is confirmed.”

  “I’ll be waiting with bated breath.”

  I ignored her again. “Bye, Alize.”

  “Goodbye, darling. Let’s get together soon.”

  I didn’t answer, just disconnected the call, and finished prepping the bag. My stomach growled, and I realized I was hungry too. I opened the refrigerator door. Bacon. I smirked and pulled it out.

  After tossing a dozen slices into a pan, I scrounged around for the makings of an omelet. I chopped green peppers furiously, taking my anger at Alize out on the innocent vegetable.

  “Smells good.”

  I glanced up, and Kane was there, basketball shorts riding low on his hips, his hair still wet from a shower. Dear heavens, the man was fine. I’d seen his abs many times now, but watching them ripple as he walked toward me caused a puddle to form between my legs.

  “Hungry?”

  His pupils dilated, and he nodded very slowly. “Is Zoe here?”

  I licked my lips. “No, she’s in class.”

  In a flash, I was lifted onto the countertop, my lips taken by his, his fingers gripping me tight. He only broke the kiss long enough to pull my t-shirt over my head, and my panties were destroyed with a single rip.

  “Trust me?” he murmured against my ear, and I shivered.

  “With my life.”

  He grinned and pulled me down from the countertop before turning me around and pushing my head down until my cheek was resting on the cool marble. Circling my wrists, he pulled them behind my back, enclosing both of them in one strong grip.

  Goosebumps rose as his fingertips traced down my spine, then continued down the valley of my ass cheeks, and lower. He dipped one into me.

  “So wet, tight,” he said as he added a second finger.

  I could barely breathe, but it wasn’t because of what he was doing. It was because the edge of the granite was cutting off my air. My breasts were squished, and because my hands were behind my back, I couldn’t relieve the pressure.

  “Feel good, baby?” he asked as he circled my clit.

  “Yeah,” I lied, the word coming out in a breathless gasp.

  He let go of my wrists and slapped my ass. “Somehow, I don’t believe you.”

  Pushing myself up, I pulled air into my lungs. “This position isn’t as sexy as it looks in the movies,” I said over my shoulder. “I’m afraid that once you start pounding, my boobs will turn into squeegees.”

  His green eyes gleamed as he howled. “God, you’re adorable.”

  I yelped as he yanked me backward and turned me as easily as if he was moving a doll. It was sexy being with someone with so much strength, and I watched his muscles ripple as he lifted me until I was sitting on the countertop again.

  “Better?”

  With clearer thinking than mine, he turned off the heat to the bacon before the kitchen filled with smoke. He grinned. “Later.”

  Then those green eyes were on me again as he pushed my thighs apart and stepped closer. There was no time to brace myself, not that it would have mattered. The kiss was deep, and his hands were hard, hungry, as he dug his fingers into my hips.

  “Tell me you want me,” he said against my mouth.

  “More than anything.” And it was the truth. It went further than want or even need. I craved him deeply, desperately.

  He tugged me closer, and his cock nudged my entrance but went no farther. Bending his head, his lips closed over a nipple. The wet heat of his mouth made me shiver, puckering and tightening my flesh.

  I wailed as he sucked hard and shoved my hands into his hair.

  He gripped my hips, his fingers restlessly kneading. Bruising. Adding to all the sensations I was experiencing.

  He moved from one breast to the other, and I wiggled closer, trying to impale myself on him when I remembered. “Condom.” I really needed to get on the pill.

  He looked stricken when he pulled away, his green eyes wide. But he recovered quickly and opened a drawer — why are there condoms in the kitchen? — and watched him roll one on, fascinated by the way his fingers touched himself.

  Instead of giving me what I wanted, he moved away. I whimpered, and his hands ran up my thighs. I spread them, eager for more.

  But he didn’t touch me, just continued to stare down at me as his thumbs moved closer to my sex.

  Panting, I waited, watching him. “Kane, please.”

  Meeting my eyes, he shook his head, his hand coming to my shoulder to push me back. The granite was cold against my bare skin, but I barely felt it because his mouth was hot on my stomach.

  The rough stubble on his chin was a strong contrast to his soft tongue as it circled my navel, then my hip.

  I arched up, whimpering, waiting.

  When the stubble brushed over my clit, I writhed and wrapped one leg around his waist.

  With the flat of his tongue, he licked me, opening me with one long stroke.

  I screamed, but there was no sound.

  He did it again, circling my clit before stroking me back down.

  “Eliana…”

  Even the brush of air over my skin was too much, and I fisted my hands in his hair, trying to draw him closer. I needed the pressure of his mouth, the pain of his teeth. “Please,” I moaned.

  He caught my wrists and dragged them from his hair, pinning them next to my hips. “Tell me what you want. Do you want me to eat you, baby? Feast all I want?”

  “Yes… please… everything. Tongue. Cock. You.”

  He stroked his tongue over me again, raked my clitoris with his teeth and stubble. Letting go of my wrist, he plunged a finger into me, then another, twisting them inside me.

  My orgasm was immediate, forcing its way through me, but he gave me no time to recover before his cock was stretching me wide.

  Blindly, I reached for him and held on when he linked our fingers together, and he pulled me up until his lips were on mine. He snapped his hips, and his cock slid over my g-spot. I keened and arched, changing the angle as he drove harder.

  “I can’t imagine being without you,” he whispered against my lips.

  I caught the words in my mouth, breathed them in, clung to them. I wanted to ask him what he meant and tell him I felt the same, but he was stealing the breath, and I could do nothing but hang onto him or implode.

  My body tightened, another orgasm building to a crescendo, and he growled as I bore down on him. “That’s right, baby. Come for me.”

  I did. There was no other choice.