I felt myself tearing up. Tugging a tissue from my cleavage, I daintily dabbed the corners of my eyes so as not to ruin my makeup. In the front row, Storm’s mother openly cried. When the officiant announced them as husband and wife, Rebel tipped Storm back and kissed her like his life depended on it. A cheer went up from the guests.
It didn’t take long for the ceremony to turn into a wild party. Now that the formal part was over, everyone was ready to let loose and celebrate. We all moved from the park to a hall that Larry had rented. A live band played on the stage. An open bar in the corner kept everyone plied with alcohol.
Most of us had changed from formal wedding wear to something more casual. I’d exchanged my bridesmaid dress for a little black baby doll style dress. Stray ditched his suit for jeans, a T-shirt, and a black leather jacket. A bad boy look that he wore so well.
Several people took turns giving toasts and warm wishes to the bride and groom. Rebel’s parents presented them with thegift of a down payment for a house. As the night went on, the revelry continued until some people were literally falling down drunk.
I danced with the girls until my feet ached. Stray’s watchful stare followed me around the dance floor as he lingered near the bar with his friends. Rebel and Storm were highly sought after as everyone wanted to give their personal congratulations and gifts.
When I finally needed a break, I joined Stray. He held out a drink to me which I readily accepted, downing half of it in one go.
“You should come and dance with me.” I affected a dramatic pout.
“Stray dance?” Auryn snickered. “Now that I would like to see.”
Stray promptly punched him in the gut. “I can dance. I choose not to.”
“Come on,” I whined. “Just one dance.”
The band changed songs as if right on cue. As Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” started, several couples made their way to the dance floor.
I chugged back the rest of my drink, handing the empty cup to Stray. Backing toward the dance floor, I said, “All right then. If you insist on making me dance to a slow song alone, someone else will take your place.”
“Maybe even me,” Auryn taunted, earning himself another punch.
“Hopefully you’re too drunk to remember this,” Stray muttered, shoving my empty cup into Auryn’s hand.
Grabbing my hand, he pulled me onto the dance floor and into his arms. Feeling victorious, I drunkenly grinned up at him. He rolled his eyes before dragging his lips across mine in a teasing kiss.
Stray wasn’t a bad dancer at all. Together we moved to the music, swaying gently while holding tight to one another. Surrounded by other couples doing the same, I felt a little giddy. I also felt a little loopy. More so than just alcohol.
Peering up at Stray, I asked, “Did you do something to my drink?”
My tongue felt heavier than it should have. My entire body began to tingle.
“Would that be a problem?” Stray quirked a playful brow. “You’re safe with me.”
As the drug took hold, I found it more difficult to move my feet to the music. Whatever he’d done, it was hitting hard and fast now. I trusted Stray implicitly. He knew all of my secret fantasies. The strange experiences I wanted to have. Only with him.
Looking back on how our relationship had started, I knew how lucky I was that he’d been at the rave that night. I’d been on a path to destruction. Seeking out sick thrills with sick people. Stray wasn’t squeaky clean. He would never be the romcom hero, and I didn’t want him to be. That would be boring as hell.
Instead, he was the black market criminal. The stalker. The man who held a gun to my head while he fucked me. My perfect match.
When he scooped me into his arms, the room spun around me. I giggled, looping my arms around his neck as he carried me from the hall.
“Don’t worry, strawberry. I’ll take good care of you.”
EPILOGUE
STRAY
“Are you sure you don’t mind if I hang this in the living room?” Codie held up a framed picture of a wild horse painted in galaxy colors.
“Go for it. You can put it above the TV.” I honestly didn’t care where she put any of her things. I was just happy to have her here.
Today was Halloween. The last day of the month. Since Codie had to be out of her apartment before the first so Ripley could move in and take over the rent, we were moving her into my house today.
“Oh great,” Auryn groaned from where he laid sprawled on the couch doing nothing to help. “Now there’s going to be a bunch of girly shit all over the house.”
