Epilogue #2
I do a double-take when my eyes catch on a tall man dressed as Shrek as he twirls someone in a brown furry horse-like costume. “Is that… Leo dressed as Shrek?”
Luka bursts out laughing as he spots them. “Yep. My brother Shrek and his ride or die sidekick, Donkey.” He shakes his head. “That’s hilarious as fuck and actually quite fitting.”
He gives them a wave, and as soon as they see us, they make their way over.
“Oh my God, I can’t believe I’m finally meeting you!” Ivy squeals, pulling me into her furry arms as soon as she sees me.
When we break apart, I look between them and back at Luka. And the genuine smile on his face has my heart bursting. He places a hand on the small of my back in that calming, present way of his, like he’s trying to nip my anxiety in the bud before I overthink too much.
“It’s so nice to finally meet you, too,” I say, leaning a little closer to Luka.
“I can’t believe you made it,” Luka says after breaking his hug from Leo. “I know you’re already planning on coming in for Thanksgiving, so I wouldn’t have blamed you if you didn’t want to make an extra trip.”
“Are you kidding?” Leo pats Luka on the shoulder as Ivy snuggles into his side.
“How could we miss your wedding reception?” He looks down at Ivy, who’s somehow managed to look hot as hell in her Donkey costume, and they share a heated look before he finally says, “We’re actually going to surprise mom and dad tomorrow and let them know we’re staying through Christmas.
” He nudges Ivy, who’s beaming with excitement.
“Ivy’s program is allowing her to take a little vacation time while she studies for a few certifications.
And I’m the boss, so I can do what I want. ”
Ivy spins to face me and grabs my hands, letting out an excited shriek.
“Which means, we’re going to be best friends!
I can’t wait to have sleepovers, and you can teach me how to paint…
” Her eyes go wide, and she looks at Leo over her shoulder.
“Maybe we can even go camping together like we did last summer!” She whips her head back to me, and her voice turns serious.
“Do you like drinking games? I bet you’ll be amazing at telling ghost stories?—”
Leo’s hand covers her mouth as he pulls her away. “Okay, why don’t we give the Frankenstiens a little time to make their rounds before we start filling up their calendars?” he says with a chuckle, then he pulls his hand away with a sigh as he wipes his palm on his pants. “Such a fucking brat.”
Ivy licks her lips, staring back at him with a smirk on her face. “What? What’d I do?” She asks, her voice feigning innocence.
Leo just shakes his head, muffling something under his breath as he pulls her away.
“Okay, I think I love her,” I say as we watch them make their way over to Jett, who’s decked out in all black, wearing a Scream mask as he stands over the food table, ordering servers to refill drinks and plates of food.
“I knew you would. Ivy’s a good time and she’s as genuine as they come,” Luka agrees, as we watch their exchange. Leo goes in for a hug, which Jett tries to deflect, but then Ivy hits him with an unexpected hug around his midsection, and he seems to let his guard down.
There’s a tap on my shoulder, and I turn around, expecting to come face to face with another unlikely monster or character, but instead, I’m met with my mother’s stern expression.
She stands there awkwardly in a soft grey pencil skirt, modest heels, and a silk blouse, her perfect posture somehow more rigid than I remember, making her look more like a mannequin than a human.
She looks over the small, half-moon golden glasses set on her nose.
“Sorry, it took me longer than expected to identify you amidst the gregarious cast of characters.” She blows out an annoyed huff and looks around.
“Not to mention this dim lighting. I don’t know how anyone’s managed to see where they’re going in here.
” She waves a plume of fog from in front of her face dramatically.
“I can’t imagine going through so much…effort…
for one’s home to appear abandoned…” She plasters on a fake smile and shrugs. “But I guess I’m no fun?—”
“What are you doing here, Mama?” I cut off her pitiful attempt at a backhanded compliment.
Her shoulders stiffen, and she blinks several times, like she wasn’t expecting me to be so blunt. “Well, I was invited. I couldn’t miss my only daughter’s wedding reception, now, could I?” She slides her glasses down her nose, adjusting them. “I even dressed up for the occasion.”
At that, I tilt my head, my brows raising in question.
She holds out a hand to introduce herself, and I just stare at it. “Samantha Sinclair, PhD of Literature.”
It’s Luka who takes her hand, shaking it. “Nice to meet you, Samantha.”
The warmth that spreads through my heart at that simple gesture, when he has more reason than anyone to hold a grudge, melts me from inside out.
Since everything went down at the festival and my father’s crimes surfaced, he was sentenced to five years in prison. While Jimmy’s actions as his accomplice landed him three years.
My mother was spared ?any backlash after she and my father both admitted on the record, she had no knowledge of any of his business dealings.
I wasn’t sure if I believed her at first, but now that she’s had some separation from my father, many of her neurotic tendencies have seemed to decline.
I’ve tried to give her as much grace as I can, while still holding her accountable for the harm she’s caused me.
I think she’s still confused, trying to figure out who she is for the first time in her life.
“Well, it was good to see you, dear. You look… beautiful,” she says, her nasally voice strained like she forced the words out.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me. I should probably make my rounds.
I hope you make time to say your thank yous…
” Her words trail off as if catching herself, and she folds her thin lips into a flat line, then nods goodbye before heading off to start up a conversation with Paige, Hazel, and Lucy, who seem to be dressed as Charlie’s Angels.
“That was…”
“Awkward,” I say, finishing Luka’s sentence.
As awkward as she may be, I suppose there’s some merit to her trying . I can’t say that our relationship will ever go back to a normal mother-daughter dynamic. But if she’s willing to change, then I can be patient while she figures things out.
I’m just glad Luka’s on the same page. This man never ceases to amaze me with how big his heart is.
“Is that the couple of honor?” We turn around as Miss Scarlett waves a purple pompom before walking over. She’s dressed in what appears to be her high school cheerleading uniform, though probably a bit snugger than it originally fit.
“Hey, Miss Scarlett. Thank you for coming.” Luka greets her with a warm hug. “You’re looking sexy as ever this evening.”
She waves a pompom and flicks a bright red, curled strand of hair off her shoulder.
“Of course, dear. I wouldn’t miss a chance to celebrate you two love birds for the world.
” She gives me a hug, kissing each of my cheeks, and whispers so only I can hear her, “You gotta keep things exciting, dear. Never stop dressing up. The fellas love it.”
I try to hold back a laugh as I nod in understanding when I hear a man’s voice yell over the music.
“Scarlett? Where’d you go?” Fergus looks around the room.
And it’s hard to take him seriously with his ruffled, poofy white shirt and the giant parrot bobbing around on his shoulder.
“Has anyone seen a red-headed cheerleader?” He calls again.
Scarlett gives him a pompom’d wave. “Over here, Gus!” She turns back to Luka and me and shrugs. “Looks like I’m being summoned. I’ll catch back up with you two later!”
We watch Miss Scarlett jog back over to Fergus, who’s resorted to using a collapsible telescope to find her. But when she accidentally collides with a football player, we both burst out laughing.
“Who is that?” I ask as my eyes follow them.
Luka squints as he studies the pair as Miss Scarlett playfully slaps a pompom against the football player’s chest. She’s leaning in as he whispers something in her ear.
Then, as if everyone seems to realize it at the same time, the collective mumbles fill the air.
“Dr. Drizzle!” Mrs. Kingsley’s shrieks, her voice a pitch higher than usual and sounding nothing like Morticia. “I’m so glad you were able to make it!”
Luka chokes on a laugh as a moment later, Mr. Kingsley stands beside his wife, his arm wrapped around her possessively as he gives the guest a curt nod.
Across the room, all the men seem to follow suit, pulling their partners in a similar possessive hold.
Even Guy and Roman sneak to get a closer look.
They think they’re being inconspicuous, hiding behind a table, but the sexy cowboy in chaps— Guy —and the Roman soldier— Roman —have a way of standing out in a crowd.
“I guess the Drizzle-effect is no joke,” I laugh.
Luka takes my hand and leads me to the dance floor as the band begins playing a slow song. “Then I’m not going to tempt fate.” His hand wraps possessively around my low back as he pulls me flush against his chest.
We sway to music
I take his hand as he twirls me around, our bodies swaying in rhythm like we’ve done this a million times. You wouldn’t guess by Luka’s tattooed exterior that he’s such a graceful dancer, and despite the years of training of my own, I still find myself struggling not to step on his toes.
I used to hate ballroom dancing. All the cotillion lessons my mother insisted I needed growing up felt like such a waste of time, so robotic and pointless.
But dancing with Luka feels more like kissing.
The way our bodies move together, the give and take of each movement.
It’s intimate, and time seems to stand still as I let myself fall into that blissful, sated state where I know Luka will be there to catch me.
I feel the vibrator start to buzz inside of me, and I nearly lose my step, but Luka’s arms are already prepared to catch me. He steadies me, his palm on my lower back, keeping me upright when another burst of vibrations hits me.
This time, I have to stop, doubling over for only a moment to catch my breath. When I snap my gaze up, I find Luka wearing a devilish grin. “Don’t worry, baby, just follow my lead.”
I let out a huff, letting Luka twirl me and quickly realize the buzzing matches the beat of the music… I don’t know if I want to know how he managed that, but I use my new knowledge to brace myself when the beat drops once more.
By the time the next song plays, a much more upbeat song, I’m stumbling so much I don’t know how my legs are still holding me upright. I keep stepping on Luka’s feet, which only seems to make his grin wider, as I grit my teeth and try to hold myself together.
The rumbling vibrations feel so good inside of me. They're not as intense and buzzy as the other vibrator Luka’s used on me. I find myself wanting to press my legs together and let the sensation move through me. It’s like being touched just beside where I need it… if I could just shift a little…
“Fucking hell, Scout. You’ve got that dreamy look in your eyes. You’re getting close, aren’t you, baby?” Luka croons in my ear, his low, gravelly voice feeling much like the rumbling vibrations inside me.
“Yes,” I manage to whisper, my eyes silently pleading for him to let me come.
He must find my desperation amusing, because the smile that stretches across his face is absolutely sinful. “You want me to let you come? You know what to do…”
I swallow thickly as my racing pulse pounds in my ears, feeling the sweet fluttery sensation begin to build. “Please, may I come?”
He tilts his head like he’s considering it, then spins me around before pulling me back to his chest.
I let out a breathless gasp, my orgasm so close now… just a little more…
The music comes to a stop, and so do the vibrations. I let out a heavy breath, half relieved and half disappointed.
He kisses me on the cheek and whispers, “Look at my little whore, getting fucked right here in the middle of this party. Don’t look so disappointed. You know I always make the teasing worth it.”
“That you do,” I say, as the buzzing intensifies, and I have to grip onto Luka to keep my knees from buckling beneath me.
If you’d have asked me the perfect way to celebrate our marriage, I don’t think I could have planned it any better if I tried.
Thank you for reading Don’t Make Me Beg!