Tonight was a mistake. Tragedy opened the bar door and went inside, but she wished she’d never let Julia plan this party. She had tried all week to figure a way out of getting married. Her father was too good at getting his way. She’d finally accepted her fate. Eriq had been aloof. The week had not been one of her favorites.

Aubree grabbed Tragedy’s hand. “Let’s party!”

Julia bought the first round. They were sticking to beer tonight. The fruity stuff went down too easy.

A few beers into the night and a lot of dancing she sat at the bar, resting. Someone sat next to her. The woodsy, fresh scent told her who it was. Eriq. She turned to look at him.

Hot. He was wearing a leather jacket, jeans, and a t-shirt.

She wasn’t used to seeing him so casual. In a split second, she decided. She leaned in, kissing him, hard.

I need to know what it’s like to be with him.

When he pulled back, she picked up her bottle of Miller and took a long pull. The taste of him mingled with the beer, and her flush from the alcohol burned hotter as desire coiled in her belly. Tomorrow he’d be her husband. Some girls would want to sleep with a stranger, but she wanted him. At least one time before they were forced into this bizarre arrangement. She wanted Eriq not as her husband, but as her lover. Her hand shook as she set the bottle down.

“So, you tracked me down. Cell phone towers? Network of spies?” Tragedy cocked an eyebrow.

“Nope. Social media. Julia tagged the three of you in a post. Something like, I D K feeling cute, might have to take over this town?” He grinned.

She hated that her father sent him after her. “I’m an adult and I can go wherever I want. You’re here now and so am I. I want you. Do you want to fuck me, Eriq?”

He inhaled sharply, close to the crook of her neck. The sound of that in her ear drove her closer to primal. “Of course.”

Eriq had the power to make her feral and a little buzzed and a lot anxious. She relished it. “Hmm.” She made the sound just before she kissed his neck.

“You’re drunk.”

“Not yet, but soon.” She took another drink of her beer.

“I think we should go home. You and the girls can finish up the bachelorette party at the house. You’ll thank me in the morning.”

She pulled back to look into his eyes. “Worried that I might want to sow my wild oats before you get a chance to plow the virgin field?”

“You’re a virgin.” His eyes widened and he flushed before his skin took on a sickly pallor. “But—you’re twenty-one?”

He couldn’t have looked more terrified if she’d told him she was a succubus. She was tempted to say “boo” just to see if he’d jump. If she wasn’t buzzed, she’d be pissed.

“Let’s get you home and to bed. Tomorrow is going to be … a challenge.”

“The only challenge I want is you—and me—tonight.