The Worst Best Man

by Lucy Score

He looked pained. “I’ll give you anything you want.” “Newsflash. You don’t buy me, asshole. You earn me.”

I want that smart, wicked mouth of yours wrapped around my cock as you take me to the back of your throat. I want to hear my name from that mouth when I make you come with mine. I want the challenge, the chase. I live for it. You’ll make me work for it, earn it. And I’ll worship you for it.”

“I’m going to kiss you,” he said, his voice low and rough. Frankie slapped a hand to his chest. “Uh-uh. You’re going to kiss me when I say you can kiss me. I’m not a ‘submit to the alpha’ kind of girl. I’m a ‘kick him in the balls and take what I want’ woman.”

“You and your fucking mouth,” he groaned.

“I’m going to kiss you,” he warned her. “And then we’re going to go inside and have lunch. And then I’m going to take you home and fuck you.” The thrill rushed over her as he reached for her. “Fine, but no tongue. You know my pants fall off when you do that.”

Aiden shot Marco the finger, and the table erupted in laughter. Except for May. She very calmly got out of her seat and smacked him upside the head. “Ma!” Franchesca was horrified. “I don’t care if Aiden is a trillionaire. No one flips the bird at my dinner table!” As soon as she glanced down at her plate, six middle fingers shot up.

Aiden: And this is how that conversation would have gone. You: No. Me: Yes. You: Fuck you, Aiden. Me: Fine, but it’s going to be on this nice new king-size. You: *has several orgasms on new bed* Okay, we can keep the bed.

When you’re in a relationship, you don’t live your life to please your partner. But you sure as hell don’t figure out what they like and then run in the opposite direction to maintain some semblance of independence.”

“One of the greatest gifts to give in a relationship is something very small that costs you nothing.”

The most eligible bachelor in the city was in her bed, holding on for dear life, and her heart was doing something funny and fluttery. “Son of a bitch,” she murmured. She was falling for him. And this was not going to be a soft landing.

“Money is different. Money is power and control, and I want my own, not someone else’s.”

It wasn’t just sex. It never had been with Franchesca. He loved watching her. He loved their late-night calls to catch up. He loved knowing he was going to see her and enjoying that painful edge of anticipation. He loved… her. The thought echoed in his head, resonating like the chime of a bell. Resonating like the truth.

“I love him so much it scares me,” she admitted, her voice low and shaky. She brought her gaze up. “I love him so much I can’t breathe because I feel like a piece of me is missing.”

“You need me, Aiden. And damn it, I need you. Not your money. Not your family connections. You.”

“No one’s ever touched me the way you do. No one’s ever loved me the way you do. And I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you.” Her voice broke, and she saw his knuckles whiten as he closed his hands into fists. With a shaky breath, she pushed herself out of her chair and walked around his desk on jelly legs. She knelt down in front of him and held up the jeweler box. His face gave nothing away, so she popped the lid of the box revealing the simple gold band. “It was my grandfather’s,” she whispered. “It’s nothing fancy. But it’s family, loyalty, love. And I can give you all that. So marry me, Aiden. Be with me. Give me forever.”

“I love you, Franchesca,” he whispered against her jaw. “I love you, Aiden, you stubborn son of a—” He covered her mouth with his, shutting her up with a kiss.