Just being silly.
But as I slowly turn I know it’s none of the above.
Dark piercing eyes are on me, scanning me up and down, a smirk of satisfaction at the edge of a chiseled jaw.
He’s huge, his six foot seven frame fills the church entrance, making mom’s fiancé Rhys look like a sickly child by comparison.
Rhys is huge though. His best friend Reeve?
Massive.
And from the bulge in his jeans, as he stands glued to the spot, giving me a moment to study him myself, he’s massive everywhere.
He’s wearing a crisp white T-shirt that looks painted on, and jeans that hug his powerful legs like denim was invented because of him.
Every single muscle in his upper body and torso is visible through the thin fabric, making my heart and core ache just from looking at him.
Like he’s been carved from granite, his whole body is chiseled, strong and in perfect proportion to his size as well as the energy, the man radiates.
He’s been here two seconds and already the church is full of his essence, his power.
Reeve’s skin is smooth, almost ageless but kissed by the sun with a tan that a girl just knows has no end to it either.
His thick dark hair, flecked with the slightest hint of silver near his temples is the only giveaway of his age.
I hear what I think is my mom or her friend groaning at him being late, as I feel the dampness between my legs turn into a river of arousal as it runs down my thigh. But I realize it’s me who is groaning.
Instant longing for the man hitting me like a tidal wave.
My moan is a low, needy sound.
Like a starving wild animal being shown a fresh haunch of meat.
And Reeve Bannon is all meat.
Real man, pure one hundred percent Marine grade-A beef.
I shiver as he marches over towards us, Rhys already making a half-serious reprimand, half-joke about the time.
But Reeve’s eyes are glued to me, pulling something up from deep inside me with the flex and torsion of his massive frame as he gets closer, spelling it out for me silently.
A single word. The most welcome intrusion to my thoughts.
Mine.
If this is what a deer about to be eaten feels like, I can die happy.
But please, please dear lord let him eat me like a girl should be.
Not all dead and bloody like a real deer.
No. Reeve isn’t that kind of wild animal.
He’s a noble, alpha male. Leader of the pack, but something in his softening gaze shows me a part of myself too.
He’s the leader of a pack of one.
A lone wolf. Or he used to be.
Mine.
The word is in my mind again, almost a howl over Rhys’s voice and the others, who all rush to accept his mumbled apologies for being late.
Say what they will behind his back, my mom and her friend, even the priest. Once they’re in front, his imposing figure looking down on them, it’s impossible to be in anything but in awe of the man.
I can see at a glance that Rhys and Reeve don’t need words to communicate. But Reeve’s eyes move to mine again swiftly communicating with me without saying a word.
Mine.
It’s the only word I get, and it’s the only word I care to hear right now.
No one has ever looked twice at me in my adult life, and even before we run through the wedding pre-rehearsal, it’s clear to me that Reeve isn’t just looking either.
He’s obviously a man who knows what he wants.
But could he really want anything to do with a thick set, short girl more than half his age like me?
Dream on, Piper.
I mean look at him. The man’s a freaking god.
Sigh.
Even if it’s just a fantasy, for now, I can’t ignore my own instant attraction to him.
I can’t ignore this instant and obvious feeling inside me, already begging him with my mind to do more than just give me dark, brooding, and intense looks.
Put those huge hands and even bigger pant bulge to work, Marine.
If only it were that simple.
If only there was some way I could get to spend some time alone with Reeve, just enough to fuel this instant and intense fantasy.
Chapter Three
Reeve
“You okay big guy?” Rhys asks, giving me a strange look once we’re done running through the planned ceremony.
Any other time, place, or situation and I’d tell my oldest friend everything. I’d tell him what has me so preoccupied.
And in the best possible way.
But being the only daughter of his soon-to-be bride, and half my age to boot?
I don’t think now’s the time to talk about my feelings towards the young woman who’s obviously more than just a little more grown-up than the last time I saw her.
Little Pukey Piper?
Nah, she’s a big girl now, all grown up.
Everywhere that counts too.
It’s like she’s a different person altogether. Definitely not a kid anymore, and even my limited knowledge of biology tells me that she’s ready.