He's fucking driving me crazy. Why is he doing this? What is he doing? What the hell am I doing? Since when am I an overanalyzing, nagging drama queen?

"Adisia?" I turn to see my mom just as her arms wrap around me, and I fall apart in her embrace - finally letting my tears fall in their abundant flow.

"Oh, don't cry, honey. Clara is going to be just fine."

It's not Clara I'm worried about... it's me.

She draws back and wipes the escapees from my cheeks. "Now, that's better." Then she turns to take in all my hard work as her eyes shift from one girly decoration to the next. "This place looks amazing. Clara is going to be thoroughly ecstatic with all of your hard work."

I force a smile and cram all of my self conscious bullshit into a tiny box and shove it into a dark corner in the back of my mind.

"She better be," I scoff. "I've killed myself on this place. I spent weeks making the center pieces because she couldn't find anything that 'matched her vision.' "

Mom chuckles lightly, and then I get that Mom stare down. Ah, peachy. Here we go.

"So, your father tells me you have a new boyfriend."

Oh great. Now she's really burning into my eyes.

"Yeah. It appears so," I mumble, not feeling so convinced it's the truth anymore.

"And why didn't I know?" she gripes.

"Because it's very, very new. I didn't know he was going to be here. He just kind of surprised me, and I haven't really had a chance to make formal introductions. You'll meet him though."

A duh look spreads across her face, and she rolls her eyes at me.

"Oh honey, I know I'll meet him. I hate knowing your father beat me to it. He also said you got sick. What happened?"

Her concerned mother look takes over her irritated expression.

"I don't know. It was weird. I'm okay now though. I still have a few things to do before the wedding, so I need to get to rushing. I'll see you later," I say dismissively.

I really don't have anything else to do for the wedding. The only thing I need to do is talk to Devin and find out what the hell is going on. My mind and my sanity have both abandoned me.

I start walking up the steps, my feet feeling light as a feather. They're not making the slightest creak against the old stairs. I've never been so quiet in all my life, and I have no idea how I'm doing it.

My stomach knots when I hear his voice. I'm not even all the way to his room yet, so how can I hear him this clearly?

I stop my stalk and stand perfectly still to eavesdrop.

"It's about fucking time you answered. Where the hell have you been?" he snaps.

Holy crap. I feel sorry for whoever he's talking to. I've not heard him angry before.

"Did you get my messages?... And?... Well find out! I don't want anything like this to ever happen again. She could have been hurt... If it had ever happened before I wouldn't be calling you... Of course I'm freaked out... No. I'm not going to leave her... I'll figure it out on my own if I have to... It can't be an infection yet... Good. Thanks."

Infection? What the fuck?

I shiver slightly. I could hear a faint voice on the other side of that conversation, but I couldn't make out who it was or what they were saying. How could that be possible?

Devin darts out of his room, and his eyes lock with mine at the end of the long hallway. He swallows hard as he stalks toward me while straightening his tie. There are a thousand questions in my mind right now.

His face is soft, not angry like his tone was seconds ago. The heat burns through me the second his arms wrap around my waist, and I shiver again for new reasons as I stare up into his smoky blue eyes.

"You look beautiful. I'm sorry I neglected to tell you that earlier," he says in his sexy voice.

He doesn't have a trace of the fury I just heard bellowing out of him.

"Thanks," I murmur through trembling lips as I try to catch my the stubborn breath he keeps stealing. "What's going on?"

He tilts his head to the side as his lips purse. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, who could have been hurt, and who are you not leaving? And an infection? Were you talking about me?"

"You heard that? I never heard you-"

"Please don't shift the subject. Tell me what's going on," I interrupt pleadingly with small tears teetering.

"Please don't look at me like that. It's heartbreaking," he murmurs while running his hand down the side of my cheek.

"Just tell me. I feel like I'm going crazy."

"I know the feeling. I'm pretty damn addicted to you. It's not a feeling I'm accustomed to. It's as though I can't get enough of you, and I'm quite possibly going mad."

His lips cover mine as he successfully evades my questions, and I surrender too willingly as I give into the passionate entanglement. He pulls me tighter to him, and the frost completely melts and turns to lava.

His hands start sliding up the front part of the dress, sending me into a need for his body, but approaching footsteps quickly break us apart.

He adjusts his suit and tie just as my mother rounds the corner.

"There you are. I've been looking for..."

Her voice slowly trails off as a pool of drool forms on the edges of her mouth. She stares speechlessly at the magnificent creature I'm obsessed with. Her right hand hovers over her heart as if she's worried it's going to flop out of her chest, and her eyes are so wide I'm worried they're going to dislodge from their sockets.

"Hello Mrs. Titan. It's nice to finally meet you," Devin says cordially while proffering his hand.

Finally? He's barely met me.

She shakes it while steadying herself over her wobbly knees. I'm almost worried I'm going to have to intervene when she's reluctant to let his hand go.

He snickers lightly just as she finally releases him from her hold, and her hand returns to its place over her heart.

"Yeah... too you... I mean, you too," she flaps.

I cover my face that is stained with embarrassment for her crude reaction.

Oh good grief. Have some dignity woman.

He wraps his arm around my shoulders and kisses me lightly on top of the head. She smiles foolishly at his action, and then she covers her giddy mouth.

"I'm a little surprised. You're very... different from what I expected. I'm impressed."

I almost feel a little slighted by her gawking disbelief. It's not like I haven't dated hot guys before. Granted, none of them were ever this hot, but then again, I don't know if I've ever seen anyone this hot to date.

"Thanks... I think," he chuckles out while blushing as well.

I roll into his arms and shake my head against his chest. She giggles a little more, and when I turn around, she's staring dreamily into his eyes while twirling her hair.

Really? Wow. My mother is officially fifteen again.

"Okay. Well, I need to get downstairs. I'm sure Clara's flipping out by now," I grumble.

"I'll walk you," Devin says quickly.

With the way my mom is staring at him, he's probably afraid to be left alone with her.

He scoops my hand in his, and I help him escape from the over-aged teenager. I laugh a little as he smirks with a touch of embarrassment revealing itself more prominently in his deeper blushing hue.

"Not used to moms going gaga for you?"

He roars out his laughter and covers his face while shaking his head. He's so cute when he's embarrassed.

"I think it's time for you to join the wedding party," he chuckles out.

"Are you going to find a seat?" I ask while staring up into his eyes.

"Yeah. I'll be watching to make sure your ex doesn't get too clingy down the aisle."

I want to laugh at his jealously rearing its head again, but I'm still worried about... us.

"When do you have to go home?" I ask pitifully.

He sighs out as he rubs my hand between his.

"I'll probably head out first thing in the morning, but I'll be seeing you soon, even if I have to schedule an appointment. You know I'm not above using my influence."

I giggle a little, and he pulls me in for another kiss.

"Go before I decide I can't resist you any longer," he whispers.

My hand slowly falls out of his as I walk to the hiding place Clara has found for the women and herself.

"Oh thank God," Clara squeals as I walk in. "Where have you been?"

I smile at her panicky meltdown proving to be sincerely severe when she downs a shot of tequila. Her eyes scrunch as her nose wrinkles, and she holds her breath for a moment while she tries shake off the strong aftertaste.

"I've been finishing up the rest of the decorations for the reception. I know you wanted it to be perfect, so I made sure to study each detail before I came back here."

She clutches me in her arms and squeals.

"I'm getting married!"

I laugh a little. "I know."

Devin is sitting near the back, and I haven't taken my eyes off him yet. His daring eyes promise to seduce me at all times, and I'm a willing fool to fall prey to his gaze.

I keep smiling at him, and I can't help it. Clara's going to kick my ass when she watches her wedding video.

Suddenly everyone's moving back down the aisle, and I realize I'm holding things up. Oh shit.

I almost stumble off the steps of the altar that Henry had custom built just for Clara's picky tastes.

As soon as I reach the back, Devin is freeing me from the reluctant grasp of Jerry. His lips devour mine as though he's been waiting days instead of an hour to do that. I smile like a goofy teen behind the delicious kiss.

"You're not supposed to distract attention from the bride. She should have chosen a different dress for you," he murmurs softly.

I see Jerry rolling his eyes as he darts on by. I giggle a little as I stand on my tiptoes, and he bends to kiss me once more.

"I was wondering if you maybe you wanted to dance?"

He smiles at my deliberately bumbling question to exactly mimic the first question I ever asked him.

"I find that a very enticing proposition," he growls menacingly.

I smirk a little as I stretch my arms up around his neck.

"I like your answer much better this time," I seduce.

"I know what's at stake this time," he whispers before closing his mouth over mine.

When he pulls back, we walk into the loud reception hall that is already celebrating the union of my best friend and her new hubby.

I feel my body suddenly swaying slowly to the fast song that's playing, and I block out every bit of the chaos going on around me. I pull back slightly, and see a devilish smirk daring me to bring this heat to the next level.

I just roll my eyes at his insinuated suggestion.

"Behave. Clara is going to kill me for smiling like a fool and staring at you the whole wedding as it is."

He bounces his eyebrows up and down mischievously. I can feel the heat inside of me growing, burning, and desperately begging to be set free. I feel a little dizzy, and I stagger slightly in his arms.

He holds on to me to halt the impending fall, and concern cloaks his face.

"What's wrong?"

I force a smile, though all I want to do is lie down and go to sleep.

"I think it's the altitude. I'm not use to high heels," I joke.