MR. & MRS. FRANCIS BINGHAM

REQUEST THE HONOR OF YOUR PRESENCE

TO WITNESS THE UNION OF THEIR DAUGHTER

Suzanne Bingham

to

Dustin Henderson

on Saturday, the thirty-first day of August nineteen ninety-one at five o'clock in the evening

at

The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints — John Street Meetinghouse

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

reception to follow

Salt Lake City, Utah

From the sky, Salt Lake City was much nicer than Max had expected. The vast, shimmering expanse of the lake to the north, the massive white temple nestled in the middle of the city, spires reaching skyward like stalagmites, the rugged mountains running along one side providing a dramatic backdrop to the sprawling suburbs.

And Max hadn't been able to admire any of it, because her fucking flight had been delayed four hours, leaving no time to stop at the hotel before the wedding and forcing her to change in the tiny airplane bathroom, trying not to let her clothes touch the suspiciously wet floor while simultaneously attempting to remain upright.

Now she was in a taxi tearing her suitcase apart trying to dig out her shoes, swearing under her breath as she tossed balled-up pairs of socks onto the seat next to her and earning an eyebrow raise from the taxi driver in the rearview mirror. She finally felt her hand close around her black flats and pulled them out, slipping them on before straightening out the elbow-length sleeves of her boxy, calf-length mauve dress. The unflattering garment had been a last-minute department store clearance rack purchase she'd been forced to make when she'd been packing and realized she didn't have any modest formalwear to bring as the invitation had requested.

Max checked her watch and noted it was quarter to five, just fifteen minutes before the ceremony was supposed to start.

"How much longer?" she asked the cab driver.

"Should be just under ten minutes if there's no traffic."

She breathed out a sigh of relief and let herself relax for the first time since getting on the plane that morning. Well manicured suburbs flashed by in her periphery but she didn't even look, because the word "MIKE" had materialized in her brain in giant neon letters, flashing in time with the pounding of her heart. She was finally going to see him again after four agonizing months apart. He was in the wedding party so they wouldn't get a chance to reunite until after the ceremony, but just being in the same room with him would be enough for now.

Max wondered if he looked different at all—if he'd gotten a haircut or let his dark curls grow out to his shoulders again; if there had been enough sun in Seattle over the summer to bring out the faint freckles on his nose…

A wave of nervousness suddenly washed over her, and she became acutely aware of the fact that her hair was frizzy and her skin felt a little greasy from the plane and oh god, it's been months since they'd seen each other and what if he's somehow not attracted to her anymore? And oh no, were her armpits sweaty? Damn it, why didn't I take out my deodorant while I had the chance? She ran a hand through her hair and surreptitiously sniffed her underarm. Okay, not bad. She needed to calm the hell down; she knew Mike was excited to see her too, they'd just talked on the phone yesterday after he'd checked into the hotel.

"Alright, here we are," the driver said as they pulled into the parking lot of the church. Max's stomach gave another anxious swoop as she stepped out after paying, her suitcase bumping against her calves when she yanked it out.

She took a deep breath. Utah in the summer was hot and dry in a way that reminded her of the interior of California.

Quickly making her way toward the church's open doors, she tugged down the sleeves of her dress again, frowning at the way the material kept bunching up. One of these days she'd go to a wedding where she actually wore something she liked.

A large white tent had been erected on the freshly mowed lawn, where people were setting up tables and chairs for the reception. The church itself was a rather plain-looking single-story brown brick building with a lone white spire emerging from the middle.

After Dustin's bachelor party in Montreal, Mike had explained that since Dustin wasn't Mormon and he and Suzie wanted all their friends and family to be able to attend, they couldn't get married in one of the fancy temples. Having a civil ceremony at the Bingham's local chapel had been a compromise to appease Suzie's parents.

Max entered the building and glanced around the modestly decorated lobby, spying a coatroom in which she quickly stashed her suitcase. When she came back out, a teenage boy with Suzie's facial features was beckoning her over to the far side of the foyer.

"The ceremony is about to start ma'am." Ma'am? Good lord, she thought to herself. This dress must be even less flattering than I thought. "Bride or groom?" the boy asked.

"Uh, groom."

"This way please." He gestured to the door on the left and grabbed the handle. Max's heart was pounding as it swung open and she took a step inside. She vaguely registered a large, high-ceilinged room with wooden pews on either side, but her eyes zeroed in on the group of young men standing at the front.

There he was.

His hair wasn't as long as the last time she'd seen him, back to just past his chin, shorter pieces curling around his ears. His head was turned to the side, laughing at something Lucas said. Fuck, he's gorgeous.

And then he looked up and it felt like everything was moving in slow motion as their eyes met. Max felt frozen in place, momentarily paralyzed by the completely surreal experience of standing in an aisle that Mike was at the other end of. And the way he was looking at her, the megawatt smile that spread across his face and made her blood whoosh in her ears. She could only manage a small wave, suddenly feeling weak in the knees.

She wanted to sprint across the room and tackle him to the ground but the young usher was tugging on her elbow, murmuring something about how she had to take her seat now. Reluctantly, she tore her gaze away from Mike and found a spot at the end of the long wooden bench next to a kind-looking elderly couple.

She'd barely sat down when soft, instrumental music started playing over the sound system. Everyone turned to look at the bridesmaids making their entrance but Max's eyes were glued to the front of the room. She could tell Mike was trying to be polite and watch the bubblegum pink-clad women coming down the aisle but his gaze kept flitting back to her every few seconds.

He shot her a quick wink that made her mouth go dry and her tongue darted out reflexively to wet her bottom lip. His eyes caught the movement and turned to smouldering coals, burning every inch of her with his stare.

She crossed her legs and the feeling of lace rubbing against her skin reminded her of what she was wearing underneath her Little House on the Prairie dress. During her rushed trip to the department store to procure an appropriate dress, something had caught her eye on the way to the check out—a mint green lingerie set that consisted of a lacy bustier type bra, barely-there thong, and matching garter belt. She'd never worn anything like it before but she couldn't get the image of Mike seeing her in it out of her head. She'd decided she had to have it and grabbed a pair of white thigh-high stockings as well. It had been a bitch getting into the whole get-up in the cramped airplane bathroom, but it would completely pay off once Mike got her out of the dress. He was going to lose his mind.

They were forced to look away from each other when the song that had been playing faded away and the wedding march began to play. Everyone stood to watch Suzie enter on her father's arm. Her dress was more traditional than Nancy's had been, a bright white satin with a full skirt, high neck, and long sleeves with poofy shoulders, beading and glitter sparkling in the light along with the long matching veil secured in her elaborate updo. Max looked over at Dustin and smirked when she saw him wiping away an errant tear. Such a sap.

Once Suzie joined Dustin at the front of the room the bishop stepped forward and requested everyone bow their heads in prayer. But Max being the heretic that she was, let her gaze drop to her lap for no more than five seconds before it flickered back up towards Mike, admiring how nice he looked in his charcoal grey suit. After a few moments, his gaze lifted and met hers, almost as if he'd felt her eyes on him. She felt her face turning warm and red, embarrassed at having been caught eyeing him so hungrily. She forced her gaze back down to her lap and clenched her fists, mumbling "Amen" along with the rest of the room when prompted.

"Please take each other by the right hand," the bishop instructed Dustin and Suzie. "Dustin Henderson and Suzanne Bingham, you have taken one another by the right hand in token of the covenants you will now enter into in the presence of God and these witnesses.

"Dustin Henderson, do you take Suzanne Bingham as your lawfully wedding wife, and do you of your own free will and choice covenant as her companion and lawfully wedded husband that you will cleave unto her and none else; that you will observe all laws, covenants, and obligations pertaining to the holy state of matrimony; and that you will love, honour, and cherish her as long as you both shall live?"

Max raised an eyebrow at the overtly religious nature of the vows. Dustin was very much an atheist, and she knew that he'd mostly proposed this quickly because he and Suzie wanted to live together during grad school and her family wouldn't allow it without being married. Max would be lying if she said she'd never thought the couple's differences of faith would potentially be a problem in their relationship down the road.

But now as Dustin grinned and confidently replied "I do," she did have to admit they truly looked happy.

The bishop repeated the same vows to Suzie, and once she'd also eagerly accepted, he pursed his lips and looked down at his notecards.

"In addition to these holy vows, Dustin and Suzanne have prepared a performance of "One Hand, One Heart" from West Side Story," he said with barely concealed disapproval.

Max immediately looked at Mike and raised her eyebrows. He shook his head and gave her a resigned shrug in return as if he was saying there had been no convincing them otherwise. Dustin took the microphone and began his serenade while Suzie's eyes shone with unshed tears, and Max bit back a laugh. They were truly musical theatre geeks to their core. She knew she couldn't chance a look at Mike because one look at his face would have her bursting into laughter for sure.

Okay, they do have pretty nice voices, she admitted to herself begrudgingly as they launched into the final chorus and harmonized with each other while they exchanged wedding rings.

When the song finished the guests gave a tepid round of applause, as if they weren't sure whether it was an appropriate time to clap or not, except for Dustin's mom, who looked ready to jump out of her seat with joy.

The stone-faced bishop took the microphone back and cleared his throat. "By the virtue of the legal authority vested in me as an elder of The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, I pronounce you, Dustin Henderson and Suzanne Bingham, husband and wife, legally and lawfully wedded for the period of your mortal lives."

As he continued with further blessings and prayer, Max looked away from the sickeningly in-love couple and let her gaze drift back to Mike, only to find him already staring at her. Her heart started racing and she felt the heat of his gaze ignite something deep in her core. Waiting until they got to the hotel tonight to get him alone was going to be torture. Her teeth scraped over her bottom lip and she crossed her legs tightly again. She felt like some kind of feral animal with the way her body was viscerally reacting to him, and by the way she could see the muscle in his jaw twitching from where she was sitting she knew she was affecting him in exactly the same way.

A wicked impulse suddenly came to mind, but her musings were interrupted by the crowd breaking into applause as Dustin grabbed Suzie and dipped her backwards dramatically as they shared their first kiss as husband and wife. Max stood quickly and joined the guests in clapping and cheering as the newly wedded couple strode hand in hand down the aisle followed by their wedding party.

She knew they would be occupied with taking pictures before the reception, so as soon as the guests began to filter out of the chapel she pushed through the crowd and found the restroom. Once she got into a stall she quickly slipped off her underwear and balled it up in her hand, grinning to herself as she adjusted her stockings and garter belt and pulled her dress back down. She didn't know what had come over her, but seeing the unconcealed desire in Mike's gaze just made her want more. She wanted him completely desperate and undone.

When she came back out into the foyer she was surprised to see him leaning against a wall next to the coatroom, scanning the crowd for her.

Heart thudding, Max swallowed past the dryness in her throat and sauntered up to him, her previous confidence gone in an instant as her nerves took over. She felt like a teenager with a big fat crush on her best friend all over again, not like a grown-ass woman in a five-year relationship.

She tucked her hair behind her ear as he grinned down at her. "Hi."

"C'mere," he said, his hands wrapping around her waist as he tugged her towards him. Their lips connected in a chaste kiss, shorter than either of them wanted so as not to scandalize any of the conservative people milling around them.

But in Max's tightly strung state, even a quick closed-mouth kiss was enough to knock her off her feet, the soft press of his lips and his familiar smell making her melt in his arms.

They pulled back from each other but he leaned his forehead against hers, keeping her close. "Hi."

Max swallowed again, her face heating up as she became aware of the disapproving stares of some old people on the other side of the room. She let her heels drop back to the ground and took a step back, smoothing down her hair as she willed her racing heart to calm down.

"It's um, good to see you," she said lamely. Nice one, loser.

Mike chuckled, clearly amused by her frazzled state. "It's good to see you too." He looked her up and down blatantly, and she blushed even harder. "You look really nice."

She glanced down at her shapeless dress and raised an eyebrow. "I highly doubt that, but thank you for lying."

He shook his head and stepped closer to her again, forcing her to tilt her head back to look at him as he leaned in close. "Then how come I couldn't take my eyes off of you for more than ten seconds?" His husky voice sent a shiver down her spine and her earlier lustful feelings came roaring back tenfold.

Before she could make a retort, a middle-aged woman who Max assumed was Suzie's mom made an announcement requesting all guests make their way outside and find their seats for the reception.

Mike straightened up and adjusted his dark purple tie. "I better go find everyone for pictures."

"Wait," Max said, grabbing his arm before he could leave and shoving her crumpled underwear into his hand.

A bewildered expression crossed his face as looked at the damp scrap of lace in his hand. "What is thi–"

"Shh," she hissed, covering his hands and closing his fingers. "Don't show it around."

Mike's eyebrows raised comically high. "Max, are these your fucking–"

"Well, I better go!" she cut him off, raising up and giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. "See you out there," she murmured into his ear before pushing past him and making her way towards the side door of the church with the other guests.

A grin broke out over her face at the thrill of her brazen actions. If this didn't reduce him to a helpless puddle of horny goo then nothing would.

Outside, the sun was beginning its descent towards the horizon, casting long shadows and bathing the landscape in a golden hour glow. Max strolled across the grass to the large white tent. Several long tables were decorated with tapered candles and blush pink peonies. She walked the length of them, squinting at the name cards until she found her own.

She'd been placed between Julie Harrington—Steve's wife—and Lucas's girlfriend Justine Freeman, who he'd met in his kinesiology program at Michigan State. Max smiled as she greeted the two women. She'd met Justine in Hawkins last Christmas and found her to be outgoing and extremely funny.

Julie was a little quieter but she was very sweet. She was an art teacher at Hawkins Middle, where Steve taught phys ed and coached basketball. She was in the process of showing Max and Justine the latest wallet photos of her and Steve's two sons—who somehow both already had their father's legendary hair at just two and four years old—when Suzie's father turned the microphone on and requested everyone's attention.

Max was surprised to see that Mike and the rest of the wedding party had already taken their seats at the head table; she'd been so focused on catching up with the girls that she hadn't even noticed them come in. And from the looks of it, her little panty-removing scheme from earlier had thoroughly rattled him. The two bright pink patches that had appeared high on his cheeks as he glared at her darkly were ridiculously satisfying.

She smirked, feeling victorious over turning the tables on him after how pathetically off-kilter he'd rendered her during their initial reunion.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming for the first time as husband and wife, Suzanne and Dustin Henderson!" Mr. Bingham announced, the guests breaking into cheers and applause as the newlywed couple entered the tent, smiling widely as they waved to their family and friends.

They stopped in the middle of the parquet dancefloor that had been set up at one end of the tent. A song that Max was pretty sure was from a musical began playing over the speakers and the couple spun around the floor in what looked to be a choreographed waltz.

She looked back at Mike who seemed to have not taken his eyes off of her. Max felt her insides liquifying under the heat of his gaze, her palms itching with the desire to touch him.

The tension between them felt so thick she swore everyone in the room could feel it, but a quick glance around confirmed they were all too busy watching the bride and groom. She crossed her legs, hoping to ease the throbbing between her thighs as his eyes bore into her.

Maintaining eye contact, she took a long sip of the sparkling cider in front of her, slowly and deliberately licking a drop from her upper lip when she finished. Mike's gaze darkened even further, his throat bobbing as he swallowed and loosened his tie. Max smirked. This is exactly what she'd wanted. She loved getting him so visibly riled up and needy for her. It guaranteed their reunion later tonight would be hot and rough and frantic.

There was another round of applause once Dustin and Suzie finished their dance with a fairytale-like dip. Everyone's glasses were refilled with more cider as the toasts began, starting with Steve, the best man, who gave a surprisingly moving speech that ended in both him and Dustin wiping away tears as they embraced tightly.

Once Suzie's sister and all the parents had given their own toasts, Dustin took the microphone. "Um, hey everybody. Thank you all so much for coming to our wedding, wow that feels crazy to say," he chuckled as someone yelled out a "woo!". "We won't take up a lot of your time but before they open up the buffet we did want to ask that all the couples in the house join us in getting the dance floor going!"

Max finished her drink, wishing that it was actual champagne and not just cider, and followed Justine and Julie towards the groomsmen. She hugged Lucas and Will tightly, promising to catch up with both of them later that night.

Mike watched her as she walked over to him, tugging his tie loose and tossing it over the back of his chair as he wordlessly grabbed her hand and pulled her to the dance floor.

She rolled her eyes when "True" by Spandau Ballet started playing as she brought her hands to rest on his shoulders. "They would pick this song, wouldn't they?"

Mike chuckled but didn't say anything, his hands coming to grasp her around the waist. Max's blood felt like molten heat running through her veins at the feeling of his fingers splaying over her, pressing into her waist as he resisted pulling her closer. They both knew they had to behave respectfully in the presence of Suzie and Dustin's families.

Max brought her hands around Mike's neck, scratching gently through the long hairs at the back of his head and sending a visible shiver running through his body. She felt dizzy with longing at not being able to touch him like she wanted to.

They swayed back and forth silently, lost in their own little world as his gaze flickered back and forth between her lips and her eyes. She felt herself blushing, her previous shyness suddenly returning as her heart thundered in her chest.

"Stop looking at me like that," she said softly.

"Like what?" he murmured, lightly squeezing her waist.

"Like you're going to eat me."

"Hm, don't tempt me."

"Mike," she scolded, feeling his laugh reverberating in his chest as she leaned her flushed face against it. If they kept gazing into each other's eyes like that, she was going to tear his clothes off in the middle of the damn dance floor.

Her breath hitched as his hands moved around her back and slid as low as he dared while still being appropriate. Max was certain she was about to burst into flame. How much longer is this fucking song?

It came to an end a minute later, but before she could pull away he tightened his grip on her and leaned in next to her ear. "Did you see the hallway on the opposite end of the lobby from the one we came out through?"

She nodded, her knees almost giving out at how rough his voice sounded. "Go there in five minutes," he instructed before straightening up and letting her go.

"Bossing me around, Wheeler?" Max managed to reply, crossing her arms and raising a brow.

"I'm fucking serious, Max," he said with an unamused expression on his face. She swallowed and nodded silently, a spark of electricity running straight to her core at his intensity.

Her eyes followed him across the room as she watched him take off his suit jacket and drape it over the back of his chair before making his way back into the church without glancing back.

"Oh my god," she muttered under her breath as she shook off the heavy fog of desire and made her way back to her table. Her drink had been refilled and once again she wished it was alcoholic so she could at least ease her nerves with some liquid courage.

"Are you okay, girl?" Justine asked when she came back to her seat and grabbed her shawl, wrapping it around her shoulders. "Your face is all red."

"Um, I'm fine!" Max said, putting her glass back down forcefully. "Just warm. In fact, I think I'll just go inside and… splash some water on my face."

"You do you…"

Peering around to make sure no one was watching, Max slipped out of the tent and crossed the lawn to the propped-open side door of the church. Her palms were already sweating in anticipation. Were they just going to make out a little or were they going to...? She shook her head as she entered the building, not wanting to get ahead of herself.

Before walking by the restrooms, she paused to make sure no one was about to come out and see her. Once she confirmed the coast was clear, she made her way down the hall and out into the lobby of the church.

She squinted down the darkened hallway on the other side, unable to tell if Mike was already there. Her heart was in her throat as she drew nearer, head swivelling back and forth between the open doors on either wall. Then a large hand wrapped around her arm, causing her to yelp as she was tugged into the room on the left.

Mike shushed her as he pulled her against him. "You'll have to be quieter than that."

"You scared me," she whispered, her heart fluttering in her chest in equal parts fear and arousal. A quick glance around the room informed her they were in some sort of administrative office-slash-storage room—filing cabinets and boxes lining the walls and a large mahogany desk in the middle. The setting sun shone through the stained glass window, softly illuminating the room. Mike pulled the door closed behind her and she turned around to see if it had a lock. It didn't.

Then the air was pushed out of her in a sharp gasp as his body pressed her flat against the door, forcing her to turn her head to the side and quickly answering her question as to what kind of encounter this was going to be.

She felt him winding her hair around his hand before firmly tugging it back and to the side. "Do you think your little stunt was funny?" he rasped against her temple.

Max swallowed around the tightness in her throat, momentarily overwhelmed by the musky scent of the expensive cologne he only wore on special occasions. "K-kinda, yeah," she replied breathily.

"Well I wasn't laughing while I was trying to hide this," he pushed his unmistakable erection against her lower back, "throughout the entire reception because of your wet little panties in my pocket. And having to know that you're just sitting there with nothing underneath your dress, looking at me with those eyes."

Max panted against the wood of the door, nearly delirious with want at his words. She couldn't resist pushing him just a little bit more. "What are you gonna do about it?"

He spun her around and kissed her fervently, his tongue plunging into her mouth with zero hesitation. She moaned at his taste, her shaking hands reaching up to tangle in his hair as she kissed him back with equal enthusiasm. His thigh slid between her legs as he pushed her against the door, and she couldn't stop herself from grinding down against it as she bit at his full bottom lip. She could already feel her wetness on her inner thighs as if they'd been engaging in foreplay for hours—which she supposed they had been.

The top few buttons of his dress shirt had already been undone so she made quick work of the rest, sliding her palms over his chest once the shirt was fully open and pressing her lips against the "M" tattoo below his collarbone.

Mike pulled her off the wall and turned them around, backing her up towards the desk in the middle of the room. They broke apart panting, barely taking time to gasp for air before his teeth were scraping over her chin and across her jaw. She let her head tilt back and eyes fall closed as he latched onto the sensitive skin of her neck, sucking hard in a way that was guaranteed to leave a bruise.

His hands had been travelling all over her body, but now one was drifting over her hip and then lower, grasping at the fabric of her dress and bunching it up. His other hand reached down and grabbed the back of her knee, hooking her leg around his hip as he mouthed at her earlobe.

Max arched into him, eager for his hand to make its way between her legs. His fingers spread over her thigh as they slid upwards over her stocking, freezing when he reached where the garter was clipped to the lacy edge.

Mike detached himself from her neck and leaned back slowly. "What–?"

Max pried open her eyes and lifted her head, smiling at him coyly as he stared at the mint green strap running down the top of her thigh. He swallowed audibly as he stepped back from her completely, the hand that had been clutching her dress pushing it up further until it was scrunched up below her neck, her entire lingerie set—minus the underwear—on display to him.

He rubbed his hand over his mouth as he took her in. She felt like her skin was on fire from the way his eyes were running hungrily over every inch of her. Max didn't think she'd ever felt more desirable leaving him speechless like this. She wanted to take her dress off completely but the risk of someone stumbling upon them was too great.

Then he was on her once again as he grabbed her hips and spun her around. She leaned forward and braced her hands on the surface of the desk, her dress falling back down to her waist.

"Jesus, Max," Mike murmured from behind her. He ran a finger under one of the garter straps on the back, pulling it back and letting it snap over the curve of her ass; the sharp sting making her gasp breathlessly. "You wore all this for me?"

"I did," she breathed as his hands roamed over her hips and up to cup her breasts over her lacy bra. She pushed back against his hardness impatiently. "Now hurry up and fuck me before someone comes looking for us."

He groaned and ground back against her, and she was certain she was leaving a wet spot on the front of his dress pants. His foot came between hers, kicking her legs a little further apart. Then she felt his long fingers grazing against the skin of her inner thighs and she could feel herself nearly vibrating with anticipation.

When he finally made contact with her swollen folds she let out a high-pitched whine, her head falling forwards at the exquisite relief.

"So wet," he whispered against her shoulder as he applied more pressure, sliding back and forth through her slick fluids.

The next time his fingers slid back he slipped two of them inside of her, and she had to swallow the loud moan that threatened to escape her at the pleasurable stretch. God she'd missed this, and she told him as much.

"Yeah?" Mike chuckled as he slowly dragged his digits in and out of her. "I missed it too. Thought about it all the time."

Then his other hand, which had been groping her breast while his thumb flicked over her hardened nipple, slid down over her abdomen until he reached her clit, pressing down on it firmly with his fingertips. Max swore she died a little just then, the papers under her hands crumpling as she gasped and curled her fingers.

He started to rub in tight circles while the hand that was behind her pumped into her faster. Her orgasm built steadily, the onset of the familiar tightening in her core as he burned her with his touch. She felt so completely surrounded by him, his hot breath fanning out across her neck as he draped himself across her back.

"Fuck," she gasped, her eyes squeezing shut as she felt herself start to spasm around him in what she was certain would be an earth-shattering climax. But then he stopped, his fingers slipping out of her and leaving her feeling cold and empty.

"God– damn it, Mike," she choked out brokenly. She'd been so close, and now the waves of her orgasm were receding like a low tide.

"Not yet," he murmured, palming her ass and squeezing it roughly, leaving a streak of wetness behind. Then she felt him step away and heard the clink of his belt being undone followed by his zipper. She took a moment to try and catch her breath. Her heart slammed frantically against her ribcage and her lungs ached for air.

She was about to admonish him for taking so long when he pushed up against her again and his hand appeared in front of her face, palm up. "Spit."

Max drew saliva into her mouth, letting it pool on her tongue before spitting it into Mike's waiting hand. A small amount snapped back up, trailing down her chin as he pulled away.

She could hear the wet sound of him smearing it over his dick behind her, and she tried to turn around to catch a glimpse but he was already pressing up against her, urging her forwards so he could line himself up between her legs. She lowered herself onto her elbows, arching her back and standing on her tiptoes so she would be at a better height for him.

One hand grasped at her waist, sliding under her garter belt, while the other hand covered hers on the table, fingers intertwining as he slid into her in one smooth motion, solid and hot and thick. They let out twin groans at the blissful sensation. He didn't give her any time to adjust before starting to smoothly thrust in and out of her, but she savoured the burn of him filling her up after so many months apart.

"Shit," Mike muttered when Max arched her back a little more so she could push her hips back against him, meeting his thrusts halfway and forcing him even deeper inside.

She was so turned on. She wasn't sure if it was the fact that they were in a church or that someone could catch them or just because it was Mike and it had been so damn long. She could feel her orgasm building back up slowly, spiralling closer and closer to the peak with each stroke of his length inside her. He was panting loudly behind her and she desperately hoped he could last long enough for them both to get there.

Max gasped in surprise when he thrust in deeply and stayed there while one arm wrapped around the front of her torso and pulled her up against his chest.

"Oh god," she whimpered as he resumed fucking her. He wasn't as deep this way but the angle was incredible, the new position making her mouth fall open in sheer pleasure. Her head fell back to rest against his shoulder and he took the opportunity to run his tongue over the exposed skin of her neck where her dress had fallen to the side.

"These freckles," he breathed, scraping his teeth over her shoulder. "Do you have any idea how much I thought about these fucking freckles? I've been counting the days." He punctuated his sentence with a sharp bite that she felt all the way down to her toes.

Max smiled through the moans she was trying and failing to suppress, her stomach fluttering at knowing he'd been wanting this just as much as she had.

Then the hand that had been gripping her hip slid forward to splay over her abdomen, and she wasn't sure if it was an accident or if Mike had learned some new tricks while he'd been away, but the slight pressure against her pelvis did something inside her that made her almost come on the spot, an embarrassingly loud cry escaping her as eyes flew open in surprise.

And Mike had the audacity to fucking chuckle as his other hand left her sternum and covered her mouth, muffling the obscene moans she was completely unable to control. It took only a few more thrusts for the volcano inside her to explode, lava flooding her veins as she pulsed around his length.

She felt herself go limp in his arms when her muscles finally relaxed, still floating through euphoria as he lowered her down so her chest was flat against the desk. She was vaguely aware of him lifting her right leg so her knee was on the edge of the desk, perfectly content to let him manhandle her while she recovered.

This time when his cock slid into her it went even deeper than before, and she had to bite her lip so hard to stop from screaming that she tasted blood. Mike's hands grasped bruisingly at her hips as he pounded into her, his harsh pants turning into soft grunts as he approached his own climax.

Max turned her head to the side, her cheek resting on what she was pretty sure was a book of religious scripture. Her unfocused gaze sharpened when her eyes landed on the massive painting depicting a blonde-haired, ivory-skinned Jesus that hung on the wall; his mournful blue eyes boring into hers as he watched her get absolutely railed. She felt a wicked thrill go through her. Was fucking in a church an act of desecration? It felt like sacrilege at the very least.

The unyielding rhythm of Mike's thrusts combined with the sensitivity from her previous orgasm had another one building up shockingly fast.

"Don't fucking stop," Max groaned, biting down on her forearm to silence herself as he sped up even further. This time there was almost no warning when she was pitched headfirst into pure ecstasy, her vision blacking out around the edges as her nerve endings flared with electricity.

She heard Mike gasp out her name as his hips faltered, his fingers digging into her ass even harder, and then he was falling forward against her, groaning between her shoulder blades as he finally let go, his shaft throbbing inside her for what felt like a full minute.

Max turned her head to the side again as she caught her breath, laughing weakly at the deep bite marks she'd left on her forearm. "We are so going to hell for that."

Mike exhaled a laugh against her back, pressing a sloppy kiss to her spine before straightening up and sliding out of her. She dropped the leg that was on the desk back to the ground but stayed where she was, still feeling completely boneless and spent. He reached over and grabbed a tissue from the box on the desk, gently wiping up their combined fluids from where they'd already started dripping out of her. The corners of Max's lips twitched up in a dreamy smile. He was always so sweet to her afterwards when they'd been a little rough.

When she heard the rustle of him straightening out his clothes she forced herself to get up, turning around and letting her dress fall back down past her knees. It was so wrinkled it looked like she'd slept in it, but there was nothing to be done now. She realized the sun had completely set while they'd been fucking, leaving them in almost total darkness save for the yellow lights from the parking lot.

"Can I have my underwear back?"

Mike smirked as he pulled the lace thong out of his pocket and slingshotted it over to her. Max grabbed it out of the air and rolled her eyes, smiling as she stepped into it and tugged it up before adjusting her stockings and garter belt.

Once they'd put themselves back together and straightened up the items that had been knocked over on the desk, they met in the middle of the room and he gathered her up in his arms.

"I missed you so much," he mumbled into her hair. "Let's not be apart for that long ever again."

Max made a fake gagging sound at his saccharine words but he just chuckled and hugged her tightly. "I missed you too," she whispered against his neck, nuzzling him with her nose before pressing a soft kiss there.

They held each other for another minute, basking in the long-awaited comfort of being reunited, and she couldn't believe she was ever nervous about seeing him again.

Eventually, Mike pulled back, looking down at her and tucking her hair behind her ears. "We should get back."

Max sighed and leaned her forward against his chest. "I can't believe we have to endure all those show tunes sober."

Mike went out first after making sure the coast was clear. She followed after counting to thirty, making a pit stop to use the restroom and take a look in the mirror. She did her best to make herself look less dishevelled, but her flushed face and swollen lips were sure to give her away.

She emerged into the balmy night, picking her way across the darkened lawn. The strings of white lights that crisscrossed the ceiling of the tent had been turned on and the tapered candles on the tables had been lit, lending a romantic quality to the boisterous party.

Guests were dancing to the upbeat music, as well as Dustin and Suzie; children were running around playing tag, ducking under tables and behind people's legs while ignoring their scolding parents; chairs had been rearranged so people could mingle more freely.

Max spotted Mike sitting with the rest of the group at the end of one of the tables. She grabbed her glass of sparkling cider and strolled over, hoping she didn't look like she'd just been thoroughly fucked. Thankfully, most of the group was distracted by Steve showing off pictures of his sons, but Lucas looked over at her as she dragged a chair over, and she was unable to hide the wince at the soreness she felt between her legs.

He gave her a once-over and then rolled his eyes. "I see you two haven't changed since high school." Max raised an eyebrow questioningly. "Still sneaking away to maul each other every chance you get," he supplied.

"I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about Lucas," she said primly, smoothing down the skirt of her dress.

Lucas laughed and shook his head. "Well you guys missed the first round of the buffet, so you'll have to settle for the unpopular dishes."

"Worth it," Max shrugged, causing him to nearly choke on the drink he'd been sipping.

They spent the next several minutes catching up with each other, and Max learned that Lucas was planning to pursue physical therapy after finishing his last year of college. Justine had decided she wanted to apply to grad school, so they were holding off on moving in together for the time being.

After a while, Max realized she was starving and made her way over to the buffet, frowning as she surveyed the leftover food. Eventually, she decided on the vegetarian lasagna and the remaining scraps of the garden salad. When she got back to the group she saw that Lucas and Justine had gone to the dance floor, so she took a seat at the table next to Mike and Will, who she'd learned had been single for a while and hadn't been dating anyone seriously.

"Babe, you won't believe what Will just told me," Mike said when she sat down and unrolled her cutlery.

Will chuckled as Max raised her eyebrows. "I was just telling Mike about how my mom's on her honeymoon." Max gasped around the forkful of lettuce she'd just put in her mouth, coughing as it went down the wrong way. Will's eyes widened in alarm and he patted her on the back while Mike laughed.

She shot him an unamused glare once she regained her composure before focusing back on Will. "Who the hell did she marry?"

"Hopper."

"Shut the fuck up!" she exclaimed, sharing a knowing look with Mike who grinned and nodded.

"Yeah," Will continued, "it kinda came out of nowhere, but El and I were both home for a bit in July and they sprung the news on us that they were together. And then the next day we went to the courthouse and they signed the paperwork. Now they've been in Hawaii for the past month."

"Wow," Max shook her head. "I can't believe they finally did it."

Will furrowed his brow. "What do you mean 'finally'?"

"Um…"

Sometime later, after the cake had been cut and countless glasses of apple cider had been consumed, Max found herself sitting with Dustin, Steve, and Julie, who was telling them about all the hoops she'd had to jump through to get her last name changed on all her official documents when she and Steve had gotten married.

"Suzie might hyphenate her last name," Dustin said. "Apparently it's a new thing some women are doing these days."

Steve wrinkled his nose. "Bingham-Henderson? Doesn't exactly roll off the tongue. But I guess it will help with distinguishing which Henderson I'm talking to."

Dustin shrugged. "Happy wife, happy life, am I right buddy?"

Max and Julie shared a look and rolled their eyes. Then Steve's scrutinizing gaze landed on Max and he leaned back and crossed his arms.

"So Mayfield," he started, "you and Mike must be next, right?"

"Next what?" she asked, playing dumb as she pressed the tip of her finger onto the cake crumbs on her plate.

"Down the aisle. You've been together almost as long as Dustin and Suzie haven't you?"

Max chuckled nervously. She'd been hoping to dodge these types of questions for at least another year. Just as she was about to come up with some non-committal reply, she was saved by the arrival of Mike, Will, Lucas, and Justine, who were each devouring one of the mini cupcakes that had been set out earlier.

"Hey Max," Justine whispered, leaning in close. "Do you have any pot?"

Max shook her head. "I wish. I didn't want to risk bringing it on the plane though."

"I have some," Will spoke up, chuckling when everyone whipped around to look at him in surprise. "What? I'm not a total square you guys. And I took the bus here so there wasn't that much risk." Will had been in New Mexico over the summer doing an artist residency at some hippie-dippy artist's compound near Santa Fe.

"My man!" Lucas exclaimed, giving him a slap on the back as he stood.

Dustin crossed his arms in faux irritation. "Wow, you guys are really gonna get high at my wedding?" He laughed at the pleading stares the group gave him in return. "Oh go ahead, just don't get me in trouble with Suzie's family. They already think you're all a bunch of heathens."

"I'm out too, I promised Jules I'd abstain in solidarity this ti– ow!" Steve looked inquisitively at Julie's death stare before he realized what he'd said. "Um, oops?"

"Dude!" Dustin exclaimed, standing up to pull Julie and Steve into a bear hug. "You're having another one?"

Julie grinned and rested her hands on her still-flat abdomen. "We're only about two months in."

"Holy shit, you weren't kidding about having a whole basketball team," Lucas chuckled as he patted Steve on the back.

Max smiled and murmured her congratulations to the couple, although privately she thought they were insane for having three kids in less than five years. As they walked across the grass to a dark corner of the church lawn she shared a look with Mike that let her know he felt the same.

Will produced a joint and a lighter from the inner pocket of his suit jacket and took a long hit before passing it to Justine. "They grew this weed on the compound I was living on over the summer. It's pretty strong so pace yourselves."

Justine coughed when she exhaled and handed the joint over to Max. Max inhaled a lungful of smoke, impressed at how mild it tasted compared to what they got in Chicago. She quickly felt the familiar high wash over her, and she became mesmerized by the green flashes of fireflies blinking in the darkness.

An odd, bittersweet feeling settled in the pit of her stomach, and she was overcome with the notion that they were about to leave the current stage of their lives behind and enter into something more akin to true adulthood.

Before they knew it some of them would be graduating college and getting married and having kids and who knows what else. Max felt a sense of reluctant trepidation about it all; like it was all passing her by too quickly. She wasn't sure what the future would hold for her and Mike, but she was certain that she wasn't ready for any drastic changes yet—she'd just barely gotten comfortable with where her life was at right now.

When the joint was done the group returned to the tent, eyes red and hooded as they snickered over some nonsensical joke Lucas had made, earning some eyebrow raises and disapproving stares from the older adults they passed by.

Max realized Mike wasn't behind her anymore and looked around to see him coming over from the DJ booth with a devious grin on his face.

"I just did something hilarious," he whispered in her ear as he reached her and threw an arm around her shoulder.

She was about to ask for details but then the DJ turned down the music and grabbed the microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen, this special request goes out to the happy couple courtesy of Mike Wheeler."

Dustin whirled around from his spot on the dance floor and searched for Mike, eventually spotting him with a look of confusion on his face.

Then the opening notes to "The Neverending Story" started playing and he threw his head back in exasperation as the group fell apart laughing. Suzie looked elated as they all bounded over and began dancing in a circle around the newlywed couple, singing the lyrics at the top of their lungs.

"Really?" Dustin whined as he let himself be twirled around by his wife. "On my wedding day?"