“What is it, sunshine?”
He flinched. Ah, so he didn’t like my new nickname for him, either. How convenient for me. He sighed, his breath crashing against my neck and sending shudders down my back. “Please tell me that you’re not attending in sweatpants.”
He was mocking me? So freaking smugly, at that!
He laughed when he started to pull away. I grabbed his tie and pulled him back. “Don’t make me undo this tie.”
His amusement vanished faster than a blink. Sunny’s crooked half smile now a straight line of pressed lips; the laughter in his eyes melting into intensity. There was a need there, deep and ruminating.
With that sultry gaze locked on mine, our chests only inches apart, my hand still wrapped around his tie, Sunny said, “Don’t start with me.”
I scowled. “What?”
“Don’t say things you don’t intend to do.”
I bit my lip.
His gaze dropped to my mouth, then eased down to the fist around his tie.
I released the tie and smoothed it down over his chest. “Too bad you have a wedding to get to.”
He grunted, “I’m about five seconds from ditching this wedding.”
I kissed his cheek and stepped aside. “You don’t want to be late, sunshine.”
Twenty-eight Sunny
I hurried to the venue, briefly considering picking up protection. But I thought better of it. If we didn’t have protection, Bane and I wouldn’t cross the line. Well…another line.
My phone rang, and Papa’s name flashed across the screen.
“Papa?” I answered on the second ring, my heart spasming. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, yes, beta! No need to worry so much over me.”
I blew out a breath. “You’re doing well?”
“Yes. Everyone is fussing over me, but I’m doing everything the doctor told me to do. I just wanted to say, please give Sam and April our congratulations on their big day.”
“Ah. Yes, of course, Papa.”
“Are you there?”
“On my way.”
“You sound like you’re hurrying.”
I was walking faster than I had all week. Once I knew my dad’s affirmative update, we hung up and I focused on the wedding. There wasn’t much to do except keep the groom calm and know when to walk down the aisle.
Yet despite the whirling conversations around me and the flurry of excitement, my thoughts kept meandering back to Bane. No matter how hard I tried to stop myself. There she was. Implanted in my memories like a delicious treat to savor for eternity. Her smell, her kisses, her skin, her dumb jokes.
Damnit. I was so fucked.
Twenty-nine Bhanu
Despite having a good amount of time before the wedding started, I didn’t risk taking too much time getting ready.
A thorough shower, hair washed and dried, shaved, and in my robe, Diya arrived armed with a box in one hand and a friend just outside the door talking on the phone.
“Oh, hello,” I said, ignoring the mischievous grin on my little sister’s face.
“How was last night?” She wagged her brows.
“Amazing…just like this morning.”
“Yayes! Hey, FYI, I’m going to crash at my place tonight, so ya know…” She double-clucked her tongue.
“I only have a couple of days left. I didn’t mean to ditch you! I’m such a horrible sister.”
“Shut up. I love you and we see each other throughout the year, but you haven’t had a man in a while and it’s Sunny. I will never cock-block my sis.”
“Well, we didn’t actually, ya know, the whole thing.”
“Why the hell not? What were you two doing all night, then?”
“Other things. We didn’t have protection…which is for the best.”
“You better get some. He leaves tomorrow, right?”
