Flame and Ink: An Anthology (Happy Ever After #1)(3)

A change that would be the best for her men and herself.

She just had to make sure Rafe and Ian would be up for it.





TWO


Rafe had never been so in love with Sassy as he was right then. She stood tall, her hands fisted at her sides and her eyes bright. She was swimming in a mountain of tulle, silk, and lace and looked hot as hell—even if it wasn’t something she’d normally wear.

But it didn’t matter what she wore, it was all about the fire in her eyes and the look on her face.

She was his.

Ian’s, as well.

She was just…Sassy.

He kissed her, her lips soft and yielding against his firmer ones. She moaned into him before pulling back.

“Hold up there, tiger. No making out with the douchebag still within kicking distance.”

He snorted at her words then shook his head. “No problem, darling. You want me to get security to pick up him? Call the cops? Or just throw him in the dumpster?”

He cupped her face, knowing he was probably f*cking up her makeup, but it was hard enough not to run his fingers through her hair. He loved her hair, all chestnut-hued and soft on his skin. He loved the way it looked with her head thrown back, or as it splayed over his or Ian’s chest while they made love.

“Let’s just leave him here. I’m done with him.” She gave him a shaky smile. He hated seeing it shake. She was just so f*cking strong most days that it worried him when she didn’t look herself. He also had a feeling that her father being here was only part of what was going on in her mind.

He’d seen the way she’d pulled away in the past few weeks. The more Ian’s mother had pushed, the more closed off Sassy had become. Ian and Rafe had both wanted to do something about it, but Sassy had waved them off.

She had dealt with the Steeles for them, and yet, he should have made sure she knew he didn’t need it. Didn’t need the elegance and show the wedding had become. He knew Ian felt the same way, and yet, they hadn’t made sure Sassy knew that.

This was on them as much as it was on the Steeles.

Okay, so maybe it was more on the Steeles.

He moved back then tugged on her hand. “I’m beyond done with him, too. Come with me.”

She grinned. “I’ll come with you anywhere.”

“I wasn’t talking sex, but damn, now I’m just picturing you bent over and this skirt at your hips as I f*ck you.”

“I think there might be too much skirt for that,” she said dryly.

He kissed her again then led her to an empty room that had nothing to do with the wedding; where he was pretty sure Ian’s mother and the crazy intense wedding planner wouldn’t find them.

When he closed the door behind them, he brought her close, wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her. Hard.

She moaned into him and ran her hands down his back.

“I love you, Sassy. I hope you know that. I know I’m not the one marrying you today legally, and most people here don’t understand what having me up there with you and Ian means, but I wanted you to know that. I love you. If we had it our way, I’d be married to both you and Ian legally, and we wouldn’t have to worry about powers of attorney and shit like that, but since we can’t do that, I’m fine being on the side.”

She let out a small sexy growl. “You’re never on the side, Rafe. You’re part of this. I’m only marrying Ian because his parents…well, they’re *s. If I had it my way…”

“If you had it your way, I think you’d have me and Ian up there at the altar so you wouldn’t have to wear all this tulle.”

She smiled at him and he had to kiss her again. “It’s a little much, isn’t it?”

He pressed his lips together, not sure what to say.

“You can be honest,” she whispered, and he caught that same sadness in her eyes.

“If you don’t like it, then why did you say you’d wear it?”

“To make Ian’s mother happy?” she said, but it sounded more like a question.

“Now why would you want to make her happy if it makes you unhappy?” Ian asked from the now open doorway.

Rafe turned toward his other love and had to hold back a sigh. He loved the way Ian filled out a tux—all broad shoulders and sexy as hell. Rafe was one lucky son of a bitch.

“Ian,” Sassy whispered.

“Fuck,” Ian muttered then closed the door behind him. “I hate that we got this far and none of us are happy.”

Rafe took a step back as if he’d taken a fist to the chest. “What the f*ck?”

Ian’s eyes widened and he quickly moved forward, taking both Sassy’s and Rafe’s hands in his. “That’s not what I meant. I was talking about this monstrosity of a wedding. I don’t see a single thing that’s us. I mean, hell, we’re all tattooed, pierced, and like it when the three of us can be naked and together, not shit like this.” Ian met Sassy’s eyes. “Your ink is still on your arms, but I can see the makeup on your back, Sassy. Did my mother ask to have that covered? And I know the dress has a shawl or cowl thing that comes with it. Was she going to cover that, too?”

Sassy pressed her lips together then let out a stream of curses that made Rafe’s eyes widen. He had a mouth on him, but sometimes he forgot that Sassy cursed more than he and Ian combined. Sexy as hell.