Against his own good advice, he kissed her. When she kissed him back, she whimpered into his mouth. It didn’t feel like she was acting.

He pulled back and looked down at her momentarily dazzled expression, wishing like hell he weren’t leaving town for a few days. Being social at the wedding was going to be hard with this little brat wreaking havoc in his head. “Are you ready to be a good girl for me now, Everly?”

There was a moment where he could actually see her throw off the submissive responses he’d won from her. Instead of pissing him off, it excited him. Just how much dominance would it take to keep her subby? If he ever got her into subspace, how long until she fought it off again?

Mischief sparked in her gaze.

“I don’t know.” She smiled up at him sweetly. “If I’m a good girl, do I get a treat?”

*   *   *

The ocean breeze stirred the white sheers covering the bedroom window. The scent of cool, salty ocean had Ambrose wishing they had time to go for a swim. But no such luck.

“Does my tie look straight?” Banner stared at himself in the full-length mirror in the corner of the hotel room.

“Yup, but your best man doesn’t.” Rook snickered. Konstantin laughed and high-fived Banner’s younger brother.

“Lads, this isn’t the time for tomfoolery. We’re in the middle of a necktie crisis.” Ambrose pointed at Banner. “Look at that man! We can’t send him to his fate looking like that. Kate would leave him at the altar and I’d be forced to marry her, myself.”

Banner arched a brow at him. “Fuck off. You had your chance.”

Ambrose shook his head. “It was always you she wanted, the silly girl. There’s no accounting for taste. Personally, I find you repulsive. And you can’t even cook.”

“I may not be able to cook, but I keep her mouth busy.”

“Hoooo, heyyyyy. TMI. No roughing the listener.” Rook pretended to clap his hands over his ears, but the teenager rarely missed anything. “I still think you should have gone with a bowtie.” He shook his head in disapproval.

“A bowtie is too formal for a beach wedding.”

“It’s your wedding. If you want a bowtie, I’ll go out there right now and mug a concierge.” Konstantin cracked his knuckles. His accent made him sound dangerous, even though he was joking. Maybe.

“Stand down. Ixnay on the bowtie idea. Kate likes a regular tie.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard all about how much she likes you in a suit.” Konstantin laughed. “Your dry cleaning bill must be enormous.”

“Like his dick,” Ambrose shot back.

Rook snorted then went to Banner and straightened the offending tie. “You know, if you guys are into each other, you should probably call off the wedding. We’re keeping Kate though.”

“Which one of us do you think would be the top?” Without warning, Banner tackled Ambrose to the bed.

Ambrose worked at wrestling Banner to his back, but didn’t want to muss him too badly. “There’s no way I’m bottoming to you. I’ll leave the screaming orgasms to Kate.”

“Sixteen-year-old standing here.” Rook grimaced and waved his arms. “Shut up before I need more therapy.”

“If you two destroy your suits, Kate is going to kick your asses.” Konstantin pulled them apart.

Banner smiled and got to his feet, then straightened out his clothes. “Since when did you start caring about what women think?”

Konstantin checked his own reflection then turned back to Banner. “There’s a difference between the ones you play with and the one you marry. Toys are disposable. If you piss them off, there are others to take their place. Your wife is your wife. You don’t piss her off if you can avoid it. Forever is a long time.”

To Ambrose, forever with Kate didn’t sound like much of a chore. She was funny, smart, kinky, and hot, which was why Banner was probably the first guy in history who wasn’t nervous on his wedding day. Excited, yes. But not nervous.

Personally, Ambrose couldn’t imagine trusting forever.

Things with Shae had been so good, so solid. Then, without any warning, she was gone. Not even a note, just the engagement ring he’d given her on his nightstand, along with her public collar. Two days later she’d texted to say it wasn’t going to work long-term, but didn’t answer him when he tried to open a dialogue. They’d run into each other a few times since then, but he’d kept it pleasant even though it was painfully awkward, even years later.

All of the wedding-planning talk with Banner and Kate had been a special kind of torture, taking Ambrose back to the talks he and Shae had about their own. Guest list, menu, flowers—he could remember every detail they’d decided on. Two hundred guests, filet mignon, dahlias.

The ring he’d given to a homeless man downtown. The dress he’d returned to the store to reuse or dispose of. Sitting in the closet, the dress had mocked him, tempting him to unwrap it and wallow in the past. He’d asked Shae if she wanted them, but she’d never texted back.

Did she ever think of him with regret?

There was a knock at the door. Banner’s sister, Meadow, poked her head in to say Kate was ready.

As they filed out of the room, Ambrose did his best to straighten out his head along with his suit. Today wasn’t about him and his shit.

The afternoon was sunny and warm, with a slight breeze to keep them all from frying in their suit jackets. His hair ruffled, the sensation odd after having shaved it off for so long. Maybe when he went home, he’d have Everly buzz it for him. He could do it himself, but she’d do a better job. Plus, it was an excuse to see her again.

Ugh. He would not think about her sassy mouth and the way she gasped when he grabbed her by the hair. The last thing he needed was a boner as he stood in his best friend’s wedding.

Even though it was a destination wedding, there were still about a hundred guests. They’d wanted to keep it intimate, but between family and friends, the numbers had added up fast.

As he and the rest of the guys lined up at the front to wait for the bridesmaids to make their entrance, Ambrose scanned the crowd. Several attractive, single women were in attendance, but Everly outshined them all. A hot girl who could make him laugh was even hotter than regular hot.

He raised a hand to acknowledge their buddy Chris, who was baby-wrangling while his wife, Janine, stood as Kate’s matron of honor. Banner’s business partner, Belle, was there, too, with her wife, Shannon. Banner and Rook’s mother looked like a million bucks, and was sitting in the front row beaming at everyone.

Eventually, the violinist started to play, and the bridesmaids—Janine, Meadow, and Kate’s friend Bethany from work—processed down the sandy aisle, between the rows of chairs. How they walked so gracefully in the sand was a mystery. He knew for a fact he’d be finding somewhere to sit and empty his shoes at the end of the ceremony.

Kate appeared in a simple white shift dress. She wore her public collar, and her feet were bare. She was luminous.

Ambrose glanced at Banner, whose wide grin proved he wasn’t regretting a thing. After all the crap these two had put him through when they were being idiots, they’d damn well better make it work. And the reception dinner had better be fucking fantastic.

As the couple exchanged vows, rings, and kisses, Ambrose looked on, feeling guilty about his cynical thoughts. If anyone could stay married and happy, it was these two.

The day was a blur of standing, posing, and polite smiles. They behaved for the sake of the other guests, but at one point during the outdoor reception, Ambrose and Banner were forced to throw Konstantin in the ocean, after which he pelted Ambrose with wet sand. A melee ensued, which involved Banner jumping in and dragging Rook with him.

Later, the photographer said it was the most interesting photoshoot she’d ever done.

Dinner was delayed while they showered and changed. Luckily, Kate knew them well enough that she’d ordered them to come prepared with a second suit.