Ready to be claimed. Ready to be given the life she deserves.
But now’s not the time to play show and tell with the aching fucking tent pole in my pants either.
‘See! See what she does to me, Rhys? Hey everyone, come see what a girl half my age is doing to me at first glance. I could cut a diamond with this thing…’
Not exactly wedding pre-rehearsal banter, is it? As much as I would like to do more than just show it to Piper.
I’d like to watch her ponytail bounce in time with her pussy being filled until her cream flows over my balls as they fill her with my seed.
But I don’t even know enough about her for my own satisfaction either, not yet.
I need Intel.
I need data.
I need to get her alone, just to talk. To be closer without the focus being on the salami storefront in my jeans.
Not right away anyhow.
“Just a long day,” I tell Rhys, but I’m sure he can tell I’m not giving him the whole story.
Not lying. Just not telling the whole story.
He eventually shrugs and slaps my back, hard.
“You gotta work smarter, not harder my man,” he quips. Making me breathe with some relief, but sore inside because I can’t even look at Piper right now without giving myself away in front of Rhys.
He can literally read my thoughts, and me his. But right now he’s so tied up with his wedding, with Piper’s mom that I get a pass.
For now.
“Listen,” he continues in a lowered voice, guiding me off to the side of the group.
“Clara and I are gonna drop Denise off on the way back to hers… And we both have… something we’d like to run by you,” he says hesitantly in a near whisper.
My heart skips a beat. My mouth is a bale of cotton in a field on a hot day.
He knows. Of course, he knows.
How could anyone not notice this fucking tower in my pants?
“Run what by me?” I rasp, needing to clear my throat. Needing some air when I turn my head just enough to catch a fine view of Piper from behind again, making me stifle a groan.
God, but she’s beautiful.
Perfect.
“Nothing like donating a kidney, bro,” Rhys says and laughs at his own joke, slapping my back again.
“Just meet us at Clara’s in a half-hour?” he asks, watching my head nod in silence until I feel it about to roll off.
“What about Piper?” I blurt out, gripping him by the arm and making everyone turn to look because I’ve practically shouted her name.
Fuck.
May as well just confess everything right now.
And as unlikely as it could be, it’s actually Clara who rescues me.
“You’re right,” she says, shifting her eyes to Piper, giving me the chance to do the same.
“Maybe you could give Piper a ride?” she says. “I think she’d rather just get home and outta that dress. Denise’s place is out of the way.”
I can see and feel Denise shrinking a little. Suddenly an imposition rather than a friend, but that’s just how Clara is most days.
“Give Piper a ride?” I parrot back, sounding like a moron, but feeling a crazed smile spread across my face as my eyes meet Piper’s again.
She’s flushed, her chest vibrating as she shivers a breath.
I’ll give Piper the ride of her fucking life given half the chance.
“I mean, sure. Piper can ride shotgun with me. We’ll see you soon,” I add calmly, casually.
Firmly.
Back in control of the situation, and fucking winning.
Nothing to see here. Just an old family friend taking the young lady home and then discussing something with her mom and my friend, Rhys.
Then why does it feel like I’ve just won the lottery? Feel like I’ve just been given a fucking hall pass from my successful but desperately lonely life.
Yes. Even a Marine gets lonely.
Even a Marine has needs.
Desires.
The group stays pretty tight for one about to break up and go their separate ways, but it only feels like that because I’m in a hurry now.
Urgent to get Piper alone, to talk to her.
To be closer to her.
There’s mention of a final, full dress rehearsal before the big day next week and again I hear my voice almost shout over everyone else.
“Only one?” I ask, making Rhys cover his mouth, laughing. Giving me that I told you not to mouth off look.
But I mean it this time.
Will I only get to see Piper one more time before the wedding?
It’s not enough.
I already crave her and she’s standing four fucking feet from me.
“A final rehearsal before the ceremony,” Denise says icily, narrowing her eyes on me before giving a different kind of look at her friend, Clara.
The look of someone who just wants to get home but is dependent on someone else to get them there.
“We’ll see you two soon, buddy,” Rhys says, reaching up slightly as he pretends to choke me with one arm.