CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

He listened. Killian really listened.

Lingering outside Luna's wedding venue, I pat down the chiffon ankle-length he'd had sent to me earlier this afternoon. Black, of course. Almost not wedding appropriate, if not for the small crystal roses scattered all over the skirt of the dress. It matches the sandals he'd chosen for me.

I lift my right foot, admiring the gorgeous black sandal and the crystal rose on the strap.

With my hair pulled up into a high ponytail, I feel like a princess.

You're a queen, Carter's words echo in my head. Their queen.

"Don't you look beautiful tonight, flower girl?" Carter's hoarse voice booms from my left.

"Thank you, Mr. Steele." Ever so slowly, I hide my grin as I twist to him.

Scruff trimmed, hair styled to the side, and his gray eyes gleaming. My handsome Carter in a tailormade black tux takes my breath away. Fucking steals it.

I hadn't seen him when he left the penthouse early. It was the only time since I moved in that he and Killian let anyone else drive me here.

A limo, but still.

He's stunning.

If I had any panties on, they'd be ruined by now.

His eyes roam across my smokey eyes, my smooth ponytail. He devours the sweetheart neckline of my dress shamelessly, eating up my cleavage.

Taking advantage that no one's around, he rubs his jaw, grinding his teeth. Admiring me. Holding back from eating me up.

"Nice heels you paired with the dress." Carter smirks as his attention returns to my face.

"You'll love what I have underneath even better." My whisper is swallowed by the slow metal and rock songs filtering from inside the venue.

He hears me, though.

"Such a dirty girl." Carter checks out our surroundings. I see his hand twitching at his side. "Tell me what you've got under there."

My smile is wide and innocent. Deceiving. "Nothing."

"Fuck, Amara, I know I asked, but you can't say these things." I'm delighted at how hard Carter works to control himself.

"You made it." Killian's comes up to us from inside the venue. "Beautiful gown, Amara."

The older man is the definition of mouthwatering. He's wearing an identical tux to Carter's, but his dirty blond hair is brushed back. He hasn't shaved and his scruff is dark.

His gaze is a million shades darker, though.

My eyes must widen comically as I ogle him because he shakes his head, stifling his satisfied smirk.

You're a hot motherfucker,I try to channel my thoughts over to him, same as he and Carter do. You'll be hotter when I peel the tux off you later.

Not if I peel yours off first, I think his smoldering eyes tell me.

When I slide my gaze to Carter, his gray eyes don't talk. They're thunderous. Predatorial as they peruse Killian and me.

The sound of people chattering from the hallway reminds me we're not alone. I scoot to the side to let them through. Carter surprises me by pressing his hand to the small of my back and directing me into the venue.

"I thought we weren't supposed to do this," I grit out behind clenched teeth so as to not be overheard.

"We're not doing anything." He nods at a random older couple as we enter the venue. "Just escorting flower girl here. Being a decent host."

Killian walks behind us at a safe distance. I twist my head over my shoulder because I'm greedy like that. Behind two blonds I recognize as a part of the staff, I find his intense attention on us.

I'll bury myself so deep into you tonight, your pills will be useless.

Obviously, he doesn't say that out loud. He channels it to me.

I'm sure he does. And I giggle in return.

The two nice ladies furl their brows in confusion.

"Hey." My wave is way too enthusiastic. Both Carter and Killian snort. Handsome assholes. "Perfect day to have a wedding, isn't it?"

"Uh, I guess," the younger one, Kim, I recall now, answers. "We're having it inside, so it doesn't really matter?"

Their stares lower to where Carter touches me.

I improvise, grabbing their attention. "I mean, it's bad luck to get married when it snows."

Total bullshit. I have no idea what I'm yapping about. All I know is they're looking away from Carter's hand on my back.

"My goodness, thanks for telling me. I'll have to mention it to my granddaughter." Natalie, the other one, scours through her purse. "She's getting married next year, and they're aiming for a winter wedding."

Hook, line, and motherfucking sinker.

"Better get on it, then." I stick to the white lie.

Carter's whisper of, "Bad girl," has my heart beating wildly.

Then I catch a glimpse of something rare and beautiful. Killian's smiling. It's blinding, like watching a lunar eclipse. Dark and wonderful.

Another second of that, and I'll dissolve into nothing.

I spin to Carter, my other handsome, amused partner. "About your earlier comment, Mr. Steele."

His gray eyes glint in a challenge as we pass through the doors.

"You're anything but decent." My words aren't an insult. They're meant to be a compliment. Still, I add in case he misunderstood me, "It's one of the things I like the most about you."

"Beautiful, bad girl," Carter says, taking a step to the right.

The lack of his heat on my back is painful. But I understand. More people appear in front of us. Some I recognize, some I don't. Doesn't matter. We have company. Lots.

"Amara, the flowers turned out lovely." Killian flanks me from my other side. His stern tone comforts me.

His lips are pressed tight, his eyes apologetic. Then he's looking down at my cleavage, and they heat up. I bet he's seeing his cock there. Pounding into me. Coming on my throat.

"Mr. Murdock." My wide smile somehow complements his ever-serious scowl. "My pleasure. Opal did most of the work, I just spread them around here."

"That again?" Carter teases me, his voice low. "Maybe we should've invited Opal instead."

"No." My nostrils flare.

"Maybe next time."

His playfulness sparks a fire inside me. I want to tear his tux off, climb him, and bite every single inch of his body.

Later.

The black seats on either side of the aisles begin filling up. The lights begin to dim. The ceremony will start any moment now.

Carter's gaze dares me to be naughty.

Straightening my spine, I turn as if I'm about to leave to take a seat with the rest of the guests.

Right before I disappear into the crowd, I whisper to Carter, "You invite Opal instead of me, and I'm hiding your lube."

I stride off, not sparing him a glance. I don't get to watch the effect it had on him.

Don't need it. I have Killian's surprised cough to tell me I nailed it.