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Chapter Sixteen

Marcus

I don’t letPoppy out of my sight for the next fivedays.

I’m starting to irritate her, and I’m not sorry, not even a little.

“It wasn’t that big a deal,” she insists, like it matters that he only grabbed her. It’s what could have happened that has me losing sleep at night.

But once we’re in New York for the wedding festivities, my worry lessens. It’s hard not to be happy when Jake and Jana are over the moon and intent on sharing that joy with the world. Instead of separate bachelor and bachelorette parties, they have a big rehearsal dinner followed by a grown-up pajama party, complete with board games that Jana did custom illustrations for—a touch Poppy adores.

Before the rehearsal dinner there’s a riddle scavenger hunt which leads guests around the Plaza Hotel, deftly facilitating a wide cross section of family and friends and acquaintances to meet each other by happenstance.

We end up helping Jana's friend Nina decode a riddle at in the basement, and we're rewarded with shots from her purse flask.

“I like her already,” Poppy says as we head back upstairs.

I squeeze her tight.

The next morning we shower and get dressed together. I leave the tie for last, and watch Poppy do her makeup instead.

She smiles at me in the mirror. “Ready togo?”

“Yeah.”

“Want me to tie your tie foryou?”

“Damn straight Ido.”

Her laughter is still ringing in my ears as we make our way to the ballroom.

“You don’t look comfortable in a suit,” she whispers.

“I’mnot.”

She turns her head toward me. “That’s toobad.”

“Why’sthat?”

Her voice drops. “Because looking at you in a suit makes mewet.”

Jesus.

Well, now.

Just ahead of us there’s a bathroom, and I yank the door open, sliding us in. Good, the door locks. I flip that and press her back against thewall.

“What are you doing?” she breathes against my mouth.

“Ruining your lipstick.”

“Don’t you dare.” But she smiles.

I kiss her lightly. Okay, we’ll do this the hard way. Hovering my mouth right above hers, I pull up her skirt and slide my fingers between her legs. She’s warm and soft and so damn responsive. This is what I needed to ground me. Poppy’s breath against my mouth, her essence on my skin. “Shhh,” I warn her, and she gasps. “I can kiss you if you need that to stay quiet.”

“I’m…oh…okay.” She presses her lips together and closes hereyes.

So beautiful. “Come for me, baby. Ride my fingers.”