Page 117 of Tattletale

Quicker than I’ve moved in days, I spin around and drop to my knees. Tongue flat, mouth open wide, I tell him where to unleash. “You’re my angel, you know that? So eager to swallow my cock. You’re so good to me.” He strokes himself faster until he spills onto my tongue and down my throat. I eagerly gulp him down. When I’ve swallowed, I hollow my cheeks around his tip, draining every last remnant of his cum.

“You take that like you love it.”

I look up at Lance through my lashes and give him a sexy smile. “You taste like cake.”

Scooping me up by my elbows, Lance plants soft, tender kisses on both of my cheeks, my lips, and my forehead. Then he moves to my neck, collarbone, and down my chest. Every kiss heals a tiny broken fragment. Only his love can piece me back together like this—bit by bit.

Lance pulls down my dress, smoothing the wrinkles in the skirt. Then he lifts the top, tucking each of my breasts into its designated cup. “This dress you wore for me, right?” he asks.

“Yes.”

He laces his thick fingers between mine and pulls me to the door. “Good. Let’s go home. I want to take it off again.”

EPILOGUE

LANCE

THREE MONTHS LATER

Cricketand I sit on the stone bench in the garden, still in our wedding attire, waiting. She’s got her beautiful, white lace dress dirty at the hem. I tried to hold up her train so it didn’t get dirty on the sidewalk, but she shooed my hand away. She insisted it’s just a dress.

It’s not to me. Just hours ago, we exchanged vows in front of our family. Linc walked Cricket down the aisle in her wedding gown, which clung to her figure like a tight hug. She wore her hair down and wavy, with a halo of flowers tucked into the back. She looked just like an Irish princess.

I’m sure whatever Vesper said and prepared was beautiful, but I honestly didn’t hear a word of it. I was fixated on my beautiful bride, wondering how the hell I got so lucky. My life of misfortune turned around.

Make no mistake, I’d redo everything in my life, the exact same way, all the pain, all the suffering, if Cricket was my prize.

“You look incredible,” I say.

She beams at me as she straightens my black tie. “So do you. I was a little iffy on the black on black, but this is a good look for you.”

I smooth the vest of my tux. “Vera Wang—not just for women.”

She chuckles and shakes her head. “Hey, is that her?” Cricket asks, throwing her hand over mine.

“Yeah…”

I study the woman being escorted to us by a nurse. It’s been over ten years since I’ve seen my mom. She looks so small. Not weak, just…small. Her shoulder-length hair, the exact same shade of brown as mine, is pulled back into a low ponytail. She’s wearing loose-fitting jeans and a zip-up sweatshirt.

When Cricket notices my left knee jiggling out of control, she uses her free hand to rub soothing circles against my back. “Oh, she’s beautiful, Lance. You look just like her.”

“Christine,” the nurse says when they are mere steps away, “these are my friends, Lance and Cricket. They just got married today and wanted to say hello. I know how much you love wedding dresses, so I thought you might want to see.”

Mom smiles so wide her teeth peek through her lips. “I used to design wedding dresses,” she clarifies. “Yours is absolutely beautiful. Look at the lace detail.”

That part is actually accurate. My mother once worked for a designer who has taken the fashion industry by storm. They used to sketch together. Had my mother not married my father, perhaps she’d be the one with pieces being shown off at Fashion Week in Paris. Instead, she’s here in a scrambled reality, and unable to recognize me.

“May I hug you?” I ask, standing.

Mom takes a small step backward, a little startled at my sudden movement. “My, don’t you look dashing.”

“Thank you,” I say with my hands out. “My new bride didn’t think the black on black could work.”

Mom reaches out and touches my bow tie. “Especially with the black bow tie on top of it. But this is sharp. Very handsome. Although…” She tilts her head to the side.

“What?” I ask.

“You kind of look like an assassin.”

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