Grayson POVThe party is going well, better than I expected. I’ve been trying to keep a little distance from Sammi, though that’s been harder than I thought. We’ve danced a few times, and each time, I found myself getting more and more distracted by how incredible she looks in that dress. It’s like she chose it specifically to tease me, and it’s working. Watching her now, laughing and dancing with Willow, I can’t help but admire her happiness. It’s such a stark contrast to how she was when I came back—when she looked like she was struggling just to keep herself together. Seeing her so carefree, so radiant, fills me with a kind of joy I can’t quite put into words.“So, the wedding?” Joel’s voice pulls me from my thoughts as he sidles up beside me, a grin on his face.“I’m thinking here,” I tell him, nodding toward the grand setting of the castle. “But she’s set on Christmas Eve.”Joel raises an eyebrow. “Christmas Eve, huh? Based on how the house is usually fully decorated, with presen
Grayson POVI lift her gently, cradling her soft body in my arms as I lay her down on the large, plush bed. Her dark, mesmerizing eyes lock onto mine, full of trust, desire, and a depth of love that hits me straight in the chest. Tonight feels different, in so many ways. The air around us is thick with emotion, anticipation, and something even more powerful—connection. My heart races as if it’s trying to match hers, my breathing shallow as I lower myself beside her.I reach for her hand, taking it gently in mine, and let my fingers trail slowly, reverently over her skin, tracing the graceful curves of her body. She feels like the most delicate work of art beneath my touch, and I want to memorize every inch of her tonight. My lips follow where my fingers lead, beginning at her neck and trailing downward in feathery kisses that make her shiver beneath me. Her skin is warm, soft, and so incredibly inviting, and each time I kiss her, I feel like I’m falling deeper.As my mouth moves acros
Grayson POVI sit in the quietest room in existence, or at least it feels like it. The past four weeks? Gone. Just like that. Vanished into thin air as if time had a personal vendetta against me. Somehow, amidst the endless to-do lists and late nights, the days slipped away faster than anything in history. And now here I am, sitting, staring at the walls, contemplating the fact that I feel like I’ve missed most of it.“You look like you’re radiating pure sunshine,” Zade chuckles, breaking my moment of zen with his annoying voice.I groan, leaning back dramatically. “I’m in desperate need of a nap. Like, a year-long one. Maybe two. With no alarms or human interaction.”“Stop whining,” Joel pipes up, plopping down next to me with the grace of a hippo. “You’re getting a night off. Drinks, party, strippers. Heck, we might even tie you to a post somewhere and leave you to escape. You know, keep things exciting.”I shout immediately, glaring at him. “NO. Absolutely not. I am not participati
Grayson POVI walk downstairs in all my bridal glory. “You guys are messed up, you know that, right?” I say as I take in their own outfits, which are even worse than mine.Evan shrugs, looking utterly defeated in a cheerleader’s uniform. “I didn’t have a choice.”“At least I’m not the only one getting tortured,” I mutter as we head out into the night.The night starts off innocently enough, drinks and laughter. But it quickly takes a turn when Zade stands up, a wicked grin on his face. “Ladies! Gather round! We’ve got a special auction tonight,” he shouts, pulling me to my feet.I stare at him in horror. “No. No. No, Zade. Absolutely not.”“For one dance only! Who wants to take the groom-to-be for a spin?” Zade continues, ignoring me entirely.Women start bidding, and before I know it, I’m being pulled onto the dance floor by the highest bidder, who clearly has no concept of personal space. She touches me in all the wrong places, and I just pray for the sweet release of death.When I
Sammi POVSandra, Grayson’s mother, is nothing short of amazing. Over the past four weeks, I’ve spent more time with her and Izzy than I ever expected. From brunches to spontaneous shopping trips, they’ve made me feel like part of the family. They were there with me when I went dress shopping, and Zade, bless him, tagged along too. He kept rolling his eyes, pretending he wasn’t interested, but I caught him sneaking a glance at the gowns. It still feels surreal that I’m getting married tomorrow. Tomorrow. Just thinking about it sends a wave of excitement—and nervous energy—through me.Grayson and I have barely had any alone time lately. Between wedding planning and preparing for Christmas, not to mention his long hours at work, we’ve been like two ships passing in the night. It’s not his fault—life just got hectic. So, I wanted to do something special for him. Something memorable. Something he’d hate at first... but end up loving, because that’s how we are.None of this would be happen
Sammi POVMy body presses against his, and I can feel the heat radiating from him.He tugs at the cuffs, his muscles straining against the metal. “Who punishes their fiancé for not having strippers?” he asks, his head tilting as if he’s trying to figure me out.“Maybe I wanted to surprise you,” I whisper, my lips brushing against his ear as I grind my hips against him. “Consider this my gift.”Grayson’s breath hitches, and I know I have him exactly where I want him. His eyes are dark with lust, and the raw energy between us is amazing. “You’re insane,” he growls, his voice thick with need. “But I’ll admit, this is one hell of a surprise.”Laughing softly, I lean in close, my lips brushing against his. “And I promise, you’ll love every second of it.”The moment my tongue traces that sensitive spot just beneath his earlobe, Grayson shudders beneath me. I feel a tremor course through him, his muscles tense, anticipating what’s coming next. His heart pounds so hard I can feel it through h
Sammi’s POVI woke up in my bed, the space beside me noticeably empty. Grayson wasn’t there. I must have fallen asleep on him last night, back at the police station. That definitely wasn’t part of the plan. I wanted him to go out, have some fun, and enjoy the rest of his evening. But he stayed—there was still a lingering warmth on the other side of the bed, meaning he hadn’t been gone long.“Morning!” Izzy’s voice cuts through the quiet, making me sit up. I’ve been watching her closely these last few weeks, and I’ve noticed how hard she tries to catch Zade’s attention. Every effort she’s made so far has fallen flat.“Guess I’m getting married today?” I ask with a soft smile, trying to inject some lightness into the morning. Izzy laughs, her energy contagious despite the early hour.“You are! Zade said he’ll be back in time to take you, but he’s with Grayson right now. He told my mum he feels torn between being here with his little sister and sticking with his best friend.”I roll my e
Sammi POVStepping out of the shower, I dry off and slip into the lingerie I picked for today. My hands shake as I grab my phone and type out a message to Grayson.You knew and didn’t say anything?I hit send, waiting for the reply. Moments later, my phone buzzes.This is Zade. Grayson’s not allowed to read your messages right now. Seriously, you’re going to text him about this on your wedding day? Urgent messages only, Sammi.I narrow my eyes at the screen. He didn’t deny it. Zade knows everything. There is no way Zade wouldn't ask what Gray was hiding from me, and now Zade’s guarding his phone to make sure nothing interrupts today.Fine, I reply, feeling a mix of frustration. Grayson knows I'm hurt. He didn't tell me. But I’ll be having a serious talk with Willow later.Focus on today, I will speak to you about it later.Setting my phone down, I take a deep breath and pull out the pregnancy test and go to the bathroom to take it. Willow might be right—maybe the new birth control is