When my princess started crying, I captured her lips with mine. She wrapped her arms around me and held on to me so tightly. My chest felt like it was going to explode at any moment with all the love I felt for this girl.

I’ll always love her. I’ll always protect her. I promise you.

She pulled away from my lips and smiled as she let out a little giggle. “I kinda think you got Gunner beat in the whole romance department.”

“Fuck yeah, I do!”

We both laughed as I glanced over at Gunner. I looked back at her and put my hand on the side of her face. “I love you. I’ll always love and protect you, princess.”

“Forever?”

I pulled her closer to me. “Forever plus infinity.”

“Well, I’ll be goddamned. I think that boy just outromanced you, Gun,” Jeff said.

I looked over at Jeff and Brad as they were both laughing. I shook my head. “I taught his ass everything he knows, damn it!”

Jeff threw his head back and laughed. “Little fucker. Wait until she finds out she’s going to Italy.”

Brad slapped me on the back. “I’m gonna ask my girl to dance with me. Excuse me, y’all.” He walked up and swept Amanda away from Sharon and Alex.

I smiled, watching as Sharon carried a sleeping Alex around. I looked for Ellie.

“Where are the girls?” I asked.

“They went to the ladies’ room with Jessie. What in the hell happened between Jessie and Scott?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Fuck, I don’t know. Something about Jessie going back to Scott’s house, and Chelsea, his ex, was there, waiting inside.”

“Hell, I could see why that would make a girl mad.”

Scott walked up and sat down with a sigh.

“Speak of the devil,” I said.

Scott looked at me, confused, and then looked out at Josh and Heather cutting up on the dance floor. “I want that. I want what y’all have.”

I was shocked by what he’d said. Ah fuck. How much has he had to drink?

I glanced over at Jeff as he gave me a concerned look.

“Scott, how much have you had to drink?” I asked.

Scott gave me a confused look. “One beer, you asshole!”

Jeff started laughing.

I glanced up to see the girls dancing on the dance floor. Jessie was smiling while she was talking to Ari about something.

“Don’t let her push you away, Scott.”

He shook his head. “I’m trying, Gun. I’ve asked her, like, five times to talk to me, to dance with me, to kick me…anything. She won’t even let me explain.”

“Dude, from what I could make out by all the talking on the way here, you didn’t kick the ex out. You don’t bring a girl home and then ask her to step aside for the ex.”

Scott sighed as he pushed his hands through his hair. “I know that. At the time, I didn’t think I was doing anything wrong. Fuck, I was just surprised that Chelsea was in my house. Then, when I was talking to Jessie, I accidentally called her Chels.”

“Oh…ah hell, dude. You done fucked-up!” Jeff said.

“Tell me about it. As soon as I got back home from dropping off Jessie, I had Chelsea leave.”

“Wait, we ran into Chelsea on the way here, and I overheard Ells and Jessie saying how Chelsea had said she’d spent the night with you.”

Scott’s face fell. “What the fuck? No, she didn’t! I made her leave. I mean, her ass was naked in my bed when I got home, but I walked away and told her to leave. I have to talk to Jessie.” He jumped up.

Jeff got up and grabbed his arm. “Dude, don’t mention the fact that she was naked in your bed. Since nothing happened, Jessie doesn’t need to know that.”

Scott grabbed Jeff on the shoulder and smiled. “Thanks, Jeff, and dude…I really have just been fucking with you about Ari. I know how much y’all love each other. I’d never get in the way of that.”

Jeff nodded. “I know. I trust Ari. Besides, I’d kick your ass and put you in the hospital if you ever touched her.”

Scott nodded. “Ah…right.” He turned and started walking toward Jessie.

“You know Jessie, Gunner. What’s your take?”

I looked at Jeff and then back out toward Jessie and Scott. “Shit, I know they both really liked each other in high school, but Scott was freaked out by how much he liked her. Once Chelsea Mason gave him some attention, he used that as an excuse, and he went after her. It was always about sex with Chelsea though. I just hope they don’t pull a Jeff-and-Ari.”

Jeff shot me a dirty look. “Fuck off, you fucker!”

I watched as Scott went right by Jessie and up to the DJ. Scott talked to the DJ for a good minute before turning back and walking up to Jess.

Hunter Hayes’s “All You Ever” started to play. Scott took Jessie’s hand and pulled her closer to him as they started dancing. Ellie turned to me and smiled.

I stood up and headed over to her. “Dance with me, sweetheart?”

“Always.”

I took her into my arms as I started to dance with her. I held her close to me and whispered in her ear, “I love you, sweetheart.”

She held on to me tighter as I moved her around on the dance floor. I glanced over at Scott and Jessie dancing. My heart broke when I saw Jessie quickly wipe away a tear.

“Gunner?” Ellie asked.

“Yeah, baby?”

“When can we go back to our room?”

I laughed as I kissed her on top of her head. “We could try and sneak away now. Your mom hasn’t let go of Alex since we got to the reception. I don’t think she’d even notice if we were gone!”

Ellie looked around me at her mother. She gave me the most beautiful smile as she looked up into my eyes. The passion filling her eyes had my dick jumping. I grabbed her hand and started leading her off of the dance floor. I took one look at Jeff, and he just smiled and shook his head.

“Holy hell, Gunner. You’re going to pull my arm out of its socket if you don’t slow down.”

“I want to take you out of that dress right now. If we don’t hurry, we might be having sex in the elevator.”

Ellie started giggling. “That sounds like fun!”

I turned to her as the elevator doors opened. I grabbed her and started to kiss her as I walked her into the elevator. When the doors shut, I pushed her against the wall, and I quickly hit the button for our floor.

“I want you so badly, Ells.”

“I want you, too, Drew.”

By the time the elevator doors opened, I was ready to take her right there. I scooped her up into my arms, and I walked to our room. She laughed when I had a hard time getting the room key out to open the door.

Once we got in the room, I slowly put her down while I kissed her with as much passion as I could.

“Drew…”

“I love you, Ellie.”

I reached around her back and started to take the top of her dress off. She lifted up her arms, and I slowly pulled it up over her head and then tossed it to the floor.

She laughed and hit me. “I have to put that back on, you know!”

I slid the zipper on her skirt down and then let it fall to the ground. I held her hands while she stepped out of it. I let my eyes move up and down her body. She had on a white lace bra with matching panties, and she looked breathtaking. I put my hands on her shoulders and turned her around. I started to take off her bra, and then I dropped it to the floor. I kissed her back and made my way down until I was on my knees. I slipped my thumbs into her panties, and I slowly started to take them off as I kissed her everywhere on her body. She let out a low moan as she lifted her feet, and I tossed her panties on top of her bra.

“Turn around, Ellie.”

She did as I’d said, and then she started to take off her shoes.

“Keep your shoes on, sweetheart.”

She sucked in a breath of air as I kissed right below her belly button.

“Lean against the wall, Ellie.”

She barely whispered, “Okay.”

I picked up her right leg and put it over my shoulder as I started to kiss the inside of her thigh.