Elizabeth smiled at the feel of lips against her bare shoulder. The tickle of his still unshaven jaw made it difficult to finish applying her lipstick. He kissed her in that completely knee-melting spot between her neck and shoulder and she had to sit the gold tube down on the counter. She sighed in contentment at the feel of his arms wrapping around her waist. Dissolving into his embrace.

Lucky smiled into the mirror from behind. Sweeping her hair out of the way to continue his mouth’s sweet brand of torture.

She sighed once more. Feeling the telltale signs of lust creep up her body to take over. If she didn’t stop it now they’d never make it out of the penthouse. And that would be…bad.

‘Yes, bad,’ Elizabeth reminded herself. ‘You have to actually leave here tonight…no climbing under the covers and…’ Her mouth decided it was time to catch up with her thoughts.

"You know Lucky, if you keep that up we’re not going to be going anywhere tonight."

Lucky smirked into the mirror, catching that glint in her eye. He regarded her from beneath his lashes. "And that would be bad right?"

She moaned at the feel of his hands sliding along her abdomen. Warming her up. "Yes…bad."

Nodding as if he understood her completely, Lucky took her dangly clip earring into his mouth and chewed lightly at the lobe. She shivered from head to toe.

The fact that they had to leave in the next 20 minutes obviously was of no concern to him. Yes, in fact even for herself it was becoming less and less important by the second.

Riddled with desire, his voice emerged husky next to her ear and she shivered once more in response. Wanting him to throw her up on the countertop and love her senseless. She was already going senseless, so she might as well get there in an entertaining way.

"Hmm…yeah, we gotta go…" Lucky mouthed against her skin. "But Elizabeth I think you knew when you put on that dress that we wouldn’t be going anywhere……quickly."

She laughed in response and made no pretense about squirming backward into his hips. Letting him pull her even closer with the open press of his palms against her hips. She met him square in the groin.

"Lucky, Lucinda will kill us if we’re late. She was so nervous earlier today…trying to decide what to wear and…" her voice dwindled and she tried to find it as her eyes opened and closed with the gentle shifts of his hands. "It would be…if we got caught up now…"

"Too late," he growled. "I’m already caught up."

And indeed they were both caught up. He caught up in her fragrance, the smoothness of her skin, and the silken feeling of her hair. And she, the hard press of his chest against her barely covered back.

Lucky trailed one finger along the back of her neck and studied the intricate design of her hair.

"What would happen if I just…removed this one little pin?" Because he didn’t wait for an answer, and simply loosened the grip of the small bobby pin. One displaced curl led to the tumbling down of all the others. He watched in sheer ecstasy as it fell to her skin, and his in the process.

She could have been annoyed. It had taken her over an hour to get those curls in exactly the right place. But right then she couldn’t have been more….unannoyed. In fact, she felt down right, pleasant about the destruction of a perfectly good up-do.

Who needed an up-do when Lucky Spencer was hard and ready behind you?

Elizabeth reached behind herself and smoothed her hands up the sides of his black slacks, and all the way up to his tapered waist. He moved around her. His black shirt gaping wide at the unfastened collar as he took her mouth.

She pulled back. Eyeing him with complete and utter lust as the black of his shirt made his eyes stand out with an even more intense shade of blue than usual. She bit her lip. Sensing that she might even feel a bit of guilt at removing such a wonderful article of clothing.

He could put it back on in just a few minutes…Not a problem.

"Have I told you?" She began, sliding her body against his. Her hands slid up his lower back and all the way to his firm shoulder blades as she pressed him into the counter. Their spacious bathroom suddenly seemed very small. A tight fit…

They both thought about him being held tight inside her.

"How absolutely…delicious you look this evening Mr. Spencer?"

"No, Mrs. Spencer I don’t believe you have….Possibly you were distracted by your own stunning appearance."

His eyes swept over her in a wicked dance. Mentally pealing her out of the sparkly red dress like one would peal a banana from it’s covering. It would have been even more stunning lying in a pile of sparkles on the floor.

She could always put it back on…in a few minutes.

Lucky stepped forward to push one red spaghetti strap off of her shoulder. He placed a kiss against he sweet skin. It was like biting into a succulent, ripe apple. "God, you taste as good as you look…I’m gonna have to thank Lucinda for talking you into this dress."

Elizabeth remembered that particular shopping trip and guilt rose inside her again. They couldn’t be late. This event meant too much to Lucinda. She’d been waiting for this opportunity for years.

And since she’d been good enough to forgive Elizabeth for her…ahem…transgressions, the least she could do was show up in time for a party.

But damn it! Lucky looked hotter than…

Well she couldn’t really think of a time when he hadn’t looked hot, so she couldn’t find a suitable analogy. But he looked…..HOT.

Squirming out of his grasp, Elizabeth eased her fingers between their mouths. Prying them apart. She smiled. "Babe we can’t do this tonight."

Lucky groaned like a child being told he couldn’t go out and play. "Aw come on."

Elizabeth shook her head like a reprimanding mother. "Lucky."

"What?" He whined. All he wanted was just a few minutes…just a couple of…

‘Yeah right Spencer,’ he thought quickly.

"You know even better than I do that this is a big deal for Lucinda, Lucky," Elizabeth reminded. "We have to be there on time…for support you know?"

She was right. He knew that. He knew his friend and he knew this meant a lot to her. Didn’t stop him from wanting sex though. He was a newlywed for God’s sake. He shouldn’t have been expected to ever leave his house. Not before like…like next summer or something. It was bad enough he still had to WORK for a living! Now he was expected to attend social functions as well?

Lucky sighed. "Ok….but listen….How about we stay just long enough to –

"To toast our friend congratulations and make sure Wallace doesn’t eat all the hors devours?"

Lucky laughed. She knew his friends well and it made him happy. She was a part of his life now and every day she was proving it more and more. She was his wife…his family. He suddenly couldn’t remember how he’d gotten along without her.

Although he’d never had such a hard time leaving his apartment before.

"You read my mind," he sighed.

"That’s my job."

Lucky maneuvered himself behind her once more and wrapped his arms around her as she continued to get ready. He kissed the side of her face gently. Keeping his mouth there for a few seconds longer than usual.

It was so gentle and loving that Elizabeth placed her lipstick down again. "What was that for?"

"Nuthin’…I just love you so much."

She smiled and angled her neck to kiss him. "The quicker we go – the quicker we can get back…You’re gonna get very lucky tonight Hotstuff."

~~~~~~~

Wallace tugged at her waist and whispered in her ear as they walked up the elevated bridge towards the Vogue yacht. A bit taken aback by all the flashes of light and beautiful people they were approaching. Thinking how funny it was how good-looking people tended to congregate.

"Lucinda…"

His hand smoothed against her bare elbow and she turned towards him with a smile.

Damn. He’d been just about to suggest they run off somewhere for a quickie before she’d actually turned to look at him. He almost fell down she was so gorgeous.

Too gorgeous and too happy for him to suggest that she miss even a second of this.

"What?"

With a shake of his head he just looked at her. Stunning in all black. The sleek hemline fell to the tips of her shoes and a slit rose all the way back up one long luscious leg, to reveal an ample amount of thigh. The neckline came plunging down almost as deep as the slit thrust upwards.

This was the kind of body that men went to war over…and he wasn’t going to be able to see all of it for another few hours. It saddened him deeply.

"I was just…I was just gonna say you look………" Wallace searched and searched his vocabulary. "Sorry – I think I just had a stroke. I can’t seem to form words."

Lucinda smiled at him. Judging by the way his eyes had nearly popped right out of their sockets when he’d first arrived at her loft to pick her up, she assumed he thought she looked good…very good.

It was nice hearing him search for the words so genuinely though. With no motive aside from her happiness. He was wonderful. Finally she had something…wonderful.

"Thank you…You look pretty debonair yourself there ya big stud."

Wallace smirked and looked down at his tux. Doing a slow circle turn. He stopped halfway to check out his own ass, and then waved her off.

"Oh, you mean this old thing?"

Lucinda stopped him when he wanted to turn again and pulled him close by the shoulders. Gazing up at him with adoration. And a healthy load of vanity at the fact that she’d worn 2 and half inch heels and he was still taller…Finally.

"Don’t let Oscar here you say that…he’ll demand it back," she giggled.

"Oscar?"

"Di la Renta," Lucinda informed with a trill of her tongue that Wallace appreciated by staring at her mouth. "That’s where I snagged your fancy duds."

"So some guy is running around here naked?" He shook his head. "Vogue meets Studio 54…"

Nearly drunk with happiness, Lucinda grabbed his face and kissed him full on the mouth. Someone snapped a picture and the flash registered orange beneath closed eyelids, as each of them pulled away.

Lucinda smiled for the camera as she took Wallace’s hand. She laughed at his expression. "Come on…they’re harmless."

Shaking his head, Wallace grabbed a glass of champagne from a stuffy looking waiter and knocked back a big gulp. It was going to be an interesting evening…

Interesting making sure nobody saw anything they shouldn’t with her moving around in that dress.

~~~~~~~

Elizabeth tried wiggling away from him to no avail. Lucky wasn’t letting her out of the photographer’s line of fire. She grit something through her teeth, that sounded like, ‘Lucky they want YOU,’ but he pretended not to hear it and pulled her close. Draping an arm around her shoulders as the camera snapped a huge flash in their faces.

When the man with the camera was out of earshot, she looked up at Lucky and pulled him further inside the yacht. Grabbing a glass of champagne that sat on a tray at the bar.

She was going to need it. She hadn’t thought of all the photographers and reporters that would be here tonight. Hadn’t anticipated them all wanting a shot of Lucky Spencer and his new bride.

"What was all that about?"

Lucky smoothed a hand down her back and led her further inside. Smiling at a couple of people as they pushed their way through.

"That was about you being Mrs. Spencer."

She sighed, and he looked down at her in concern once they’d stopped walking. "You said it didn’t bother you right? I mean…about your parents and –

"It doesn’t," she answered quickly. He wasn’t getting this at all. She wasn’t worried about herself. She was worried about him. As soon as the world found out she was an x-stripper…

She sighed again. "I just…Lucky, Road Fury is being released tomorrow. I just don’t want anything I do to hurt the success or…I just wonder if it’s wise to -

He removed the glass from her hand, wrapped his arms around her and bent her over in a deep kiss. Like that famous photograph taken in Time Square at the end of World War II. A sailor kissing some woman as if he’d never kissed anyone in his life.

Another flash bulb went off before Elizabeth knew what hit her.

When finally he pulled back, he grinned at her and she couldn’t help but grin back. A couple of people actually clapped. Before she could say another word, Lucky brought her close and slung and arm around her waist.

"Let’s go find the guest of honor, shall we Mrs. Spencer?"

Elizabeth blushed profusely. "Let’s"

Lucinda was just breaking out of a crowd of reporters and photographers when they spotted her. She took Wallace’s hand and smiled in relief as they made their way towards Lucky and Liz.

Her friend’s eyes widened with glee and she shrieked. Wallace and Lucky exchanged glances as Elizabeth congratulated Lucinda on choosing the Armani gown.

"It was definitely my favorite of all the ones you tried on."

Wallace and Lucky shook their heads. Getting ready for this thing had been like playing dress-up with a bunch of girls. Elizabeth had even called Leslie Lu for reinforcement. Apparently Lucky had needed yet another female influence in the final decision for wardrobe choice. Then of course his mother had gotten on the line as well.

Ridiculous.

"Watch out," Wallace mumbled. Nudging his friend in the gut when he started to glaze over from fashion talk. "There might be a quiz at the end of the night."

"I’d fail," Lucky sighed. "But I did think of a little way to remember what I’m wearing if anyone asks me…it’s Hugo Boss, and Elizabeth bossed me right into it…so that’s an easy way to…"

Elizabeth elbowed him. "I HEARD that," Elizabeth smiled. Looping her arm through his then, she continued. "We all conferred and thought that the all black would be the best for you…bring out those blue eyes of yours and the nice little honeymoon tan…"

Wallace and Lucinda both rolled their eyes at this. Certainly they wouldn’t be subjected to the wonder that had been Lucky and Elizabeth’s honeymoon again would they? They’d already heard about it more times than they wanted to.

Their friends were decent enough to leave out details - or at least Lucky was - but even talk of sandy beaches was just too much at this point.

"NOT the honeymoon again."

"We’re being mocked, Babe." Lucky said. His mouth hanging wide.

"I told you," Elizabeth said, smiling up at him. "We just sicken people."

Wallace nodded. "Ya got that right…I can feel my chocolate strawberries rising up to the surface…

Lucinda shushed Wallace and then kissed him. Lucky smiled at the gesture. His friend’s were getting comfortable with public displays.

Man, things were seriously just going too well. Maybe Elizabeth was half way right. Maybe he should have been concerned about Road Fury’s release tomorrow, but God help him he couldn’t manage to actually be concerned about anything since he’d come back from his honeymoon. Since before that actually…since he’d met her.

Lucky smiled down at Elizabeth and Lucinda changed the subject back to fashion before she found herself subjected to some more giggly-giggly-lovey-lovey from the two of them.

"I don’t think you two would fail any fashion tests," she smiled. "After all I’m sure you know who designed Elizabeth’s dress, Lucky."

"Only because she kicked my ass when I didn’t know it earlier."

Lucinda and Liz shared a secretive grin. Knowing now that braving Stephanie at Bloomies that day had been well worth all the trouble. The expression on Lucky’s face when he looked at her was enough proof of that. He’d told her a thousand times on the way over that she had to wear red more often.

Grinning, Lucinda turned her attention to Lucky. "Why don’t you take your wife for a spin on the dance floor Spencer…I mean that dress was MADE for dancing."

And indeed it was, with the way it swished around just above her knees.

Lucky bit his lip and nodded. Taking Elizabeth’s hand, and remembering a time not long ago when dancing with her in a public forum would have been cause for alarm. But tonight it wasn’t. He winked at Lucinda for the well placed nudge.

Elizabeth’s brow knit. Wondering what all the cloak and dagger expressions meant. Something fishy was going on. Especially if her man wanted to dance…voluntarily…in public. She crinkled her nose as she glanced from Lucky to Wallace.

Folding his arms cross his chest, Wallace bit his lip. "I don’t know Luce…they look like they might spontaneously combust if they get too close."

Lucky sent him a glare and Wallace held in his laughter. The poor guy had been waiting for this all week, the least he could do was cut him some slack.

Quickly Wallace turned and made a b-line for the band on the small stage, whispering something to the bandleader.

When the salsa beat began emanating from the stage Elizabeth’s face lit up. But she quickly squelched it. Remembering now how Lucky had been mortified that time in Las Vegas.

She touched his forearm. "Lucky we don’t have to dance. We can wait till the next song…something slower," she said with a sympathetic smile.

Lucky’s brows rose on his head in surprise and amusement. "Excuse me? Are you doubting my salsa abilities?"

"No, I just remember –

"Oh ye of little faith," Lucky said. Shaking his head. He tugged her towards the dance floor.

Lucinda covered her mouth and snickered as he pulled her out there and Wallace returned to her side. "She’s gonna die when she sees this."

"She better. I gave up lunch dates with him for this," Wallace stated bluntly.

His girlfriend looked up at him and then back towards the stage. "Sometimes I worry about you two."

Before Elizabeth knew what hit her she was moving across the floor. Lucky’s hand placed open palmed on her hip and the other leading her. Her movements were slowed by absolute awe as his hips swiveled effortlessly with the Latin beat.

"Oh my God…when did you…how did you –

"Every weekday at noon – the Latin dance school on 4th…been skipping lunches for you ALL week my dear."

It was incredible. Her eyes widened in admiration and shock at his admission. She glanced down at his feet.

Lucky tilted her chin upwards. "Ah-ah-ah…remember – no looking down at your feet…just feel it…right here," and he placed his hand on her chest. Right ABOVE the place he really wanted to touch beneath all that red.

It was definitely made for dancing, and it shimmied around her as they moved. He thought about asking her for a private show right about now – sans dress – but that probably wouldn’t have been appropriate.

Elizabeth’s mouth continued to hang wide. He stepped in closer than the dance dictated and whispered low. "If you don’t close that, something might find it’s way inside there Mrs. Spencer."

Right as she was about to comment, she found herself being twirled around and then back again. Her hand collided with his as he led her back a step and then forward once more.

Not only was he moving, but he was moving with confidence. Head up and chest lifted. Looking good enough to eat. She licked her lips and hoped it wasn’t too obvious what she’d been thinking about eating.

"I can’t believe this…I can’t believe how…GOOD you are."

Once again his eyebrows danced. "Can’t believe it huh? What? Was I incapable?"

She shook her head slowly. "You know very well what I mean Mr. Spencer…but you’re good at…everything," she said suggestively. "I should have known you’d be good at this too given half a chance."

The tone in her voice made he growl at her. "Watch what you say Elizabeth…I don’t believe our coach has turned into a pumpkin quite yet…although if you want to leave early…I’m your man."

God, why hadn’t she taken him up on that offer to make a little lovin’ before they’d come here? Maybe then she wouldn’t be so insanely hot for him right now.

‘Yeah right,’ she thought briefly. ‘With the way he looks…and the way his hips are….’ Her eyes drifted down again to stare.

"Damn," she said aloud.

"Something you wanna share Elizabeth?"

She shook her head. "No…just admiring the um…view."

"Well if you don’t quit ‘viewing’ my package, I’m gonna have to take you by the hand and find someplace where you can get a better look."

Elizabeth bit her lip mischievously. Leaning in closely. "How can I possibly help but STARE at it Mr. Spencer…I mean it’s so big and -

Her words were cut short, as he stopped dancing and led her away from the dance floor. She smiled and suppressed her giant need to giggle as he led her through the crowd to God only knew where.

Lucky couldn’t wait for the song to end. She was driving him insane. She looked like a red Tootsi-pop and he wanted to lick until he got to her center…and then she’d gone and made that crack about his package…Well, a man had his limits.

God help her now.

It had been hours! Hours since she’d been trying to get him to learn the name of her dress designer. He’d purposely played dumb over and over so that she’d have to ‘punish’ him for not getting it right.

Elizabeth followed quickly behind Lucky, being steered through various throngs of people as they made their way outside on the deck. She squealed as he stepped over the roped off section and turned to lift her over it.

"Where are we going?" She giggled.

"To find a better spot for the view."

She laughed and he turned to kiss her hard on the mouth. The air made her shiver and he pulled her tighter against him. It was a clear, cold night and the water lapped quietly at the side of the boat. The music seemed distant now and muffled…Perfect.

When Lucky pulled away breathless along the narrow aisle around the yacht, he slipped his fingers through her flying hair and pushed them back behind her ear. He knelt slightly and kissed her collarbone, and her hands pushed against his shoulders. Easing him down towards her waist.

The rocking of the boat at the heady pulse of her own heart, made her groan. He lifted her dress slightly and kissed the inside of her thigh, and she sucked in a deep breath.

Lucky locked his hands around her waist as she started to move her hips away from the wall, keeping time with the rhythmic thumping of his heart. The throbbing of his stiff member.

What if he took her right here on the deck? There was no one around. No one to watch them but the twinkling night stars.

He rose slowly to his feet. Wrapping his arms around her again as she moaned about finding someone place inside. That it was too cold.

There went that idea. He wasn’t cold by any means, but he listened to her words. Taking her hand once again. She stumbled to the side of him, intoxicated by lust as she pressed against him. He moved her in front to kiss her as they walked.

There had to be a door somewhere on this side of the boat. A room somewhere…

Lucky trailed his hand along the wall until at last a knob slipped between his fingers. Lucky turned it and smiled against her mouth when it swung opened.

It was a tight and cramped little broom closet, but he couldn’t imagine that would stop them from what they both wanted and needed so desperately right then. Lucky started easing her up against the back of the door before it was even fully closed. The weight of them both, causing it to slam.

She giggled and gasped his name as he pushed up her skirt and found her underwear. Yanking them off of her in one swift move. Neither of them paid attention to the rip of fabric or where they landed as he tossed them aside.

Her hands searched for that hard package she’d felt against her thigh when they’d danced. Unbuttoning and unzipping as if life depended on it as he pressed her thighs open with the width of his own body.

Visions of their kitchen and their own refrigerator danced in Elizabeth’s head upon his first thrust. At least there weren’t any eggs to break this time. No bottles of wine to replace.

Elizabeth wrapped her arms and legs around him and held on for dear life as they made love against the door. Giggling from deep inside herself as he shushed her. The music was pretty loud inside, but not loud enough to keep someone from hearing if they just happened to be taking a stroll around the perimeter of the yacht.

Lucky smothered her mouth with a deep kiss. Unable to believe how hot he got for her each time. She started to fall and he hitched her up by her thighs plunging deeper. Longer this time. Staying inside until she started to tremble around him.

He groaned against her shoulder as she mumbled things that drove him crazy. About love and how much seeing him dance had turned her on. How amazing he felt inside her.

And there he’d been thinking there wasn’t anything she could say that would turn him on any more than he already was…but there it was.

"Amazing?" He panted. Stretching her with his fullness.

"Unbelievable," she panted breathlessly, feeling herself begin to tighten all over. Every muscle in her body responding to him. "Oh God…you’re…oooooh…."

Lucky grinned, cloaked inside her heat, desperate to hear the rest of her sentence but even more desperate to hear that mewling, whimpering thing she was doing right then.

He whispered that he loved her. His voice drenched in lust and passion as he came and she burst around him. An orgasm of monumental proportions shaking everything around them. A broom and a bucket fell somewhere to the side of them and they were sure the rocking of the boat hadn’t caused it.

Spent, Lucky stood there. Still pinning her between himself and the door as he tried for breath.

"You’re the one," he sighed. "You’re the one who’s amazing……I love you so much…have I told you that lately?"

She nodded in contentment against his shoulder as he slowly slid out of her. Elizabeth slid her leg down the side of his. Lifting it time and time again to smooth it’s way down his flesh.

A grin slid over Lucky’s face when he finally pulled away from her, and Elizabeth laughed again as she pulled down her dress and watched him ease his underwear back up towards his hips. He glanced over his shoulder and Elizabeth bit her lip.

"Do you see them anywhere?"

Elizabeth covered her mouth to keep from laughing too loud. The closet was too dark. They’d barely been able to see each other. Let alone a pair of skimpy underwear on the floor.

He smiled back at her over his shoulder as he bent to look. Fastening his pants as he did so. That grin of his made her want to jump him all over again. But she knew they had to get back. There’d be time for more of this later.

Slower next time.

"Not yet," he said with a smile in his voice. "But I’ll keep looking…wouldn’t want you to catch a draft."

Elizabeth spotted one of her strappy red heels in the corner and reached for it. Dangling it around on one finger when Lucky turned. "It’s not that cold. You’d just have to keep me warm…it’ll only be a little while before we go home anyway."

Lucky shook his head. "I shouldn’t have used the ‘draft’ thing as an excuse…Really – knowing you’re running around this boat with no knickers on would not be feasible for me…It’d drive me insane."

He said it with such seriousness that she laughed out loud. Only Lucky Spencer could say the word ‘knickers,’ and have it sound sexy.

Closing in on him, she eased her hands up his shoulders and pulled him back towards her. Standing on her tip toes to reach him. "Go ahead back into the party and I’ll find them."

Lucky took her hand and fiddled playfully with her fingers. Gasping when her other hand reached around to the inside of his pants again. "You want me to go inside while you’re doing THAT?"

Elizabeth laughed and released him. "Sorry."

"Oh never apologize for that," he grinned. Turning back to her. "It’s only right that I help you look though…it’s my fault…anxious and all."

"Believe me," his wife sighed seductively. "They definitely needed off at the time.

"Go on ahead," she continued. "If we both walk in at the same time looking……

"Like we did it," Lucky allowed.

She laughed again and eased her body up against his. Kissing the spot where she apparently had opened his shirt a bit to get at that wonderful neck of his. Funny, she hadn’t even noticed in her haste. But now that she was tasting him. Salty skin and firm body beneath all that fine fashion…

Lucky removed her roaming hands from his ass, and the separation was almost painful. "I think you’re right," he said with a smile. "I should probably go on ahead."

Elizabeth smiled and watched him button his top button. He then leaned in to kiss her firmly on the mouth. "Don’t be long……I’ll tell ‘em you were in the powder room."

That was pretty much the truth. She’d have to make a stop there and freshen up. Knowing her skin glowed with simmering horniness.

"Ok," she sighed. Wanting him again. "I’ll be there in a minute."

Smiling, Lucky shook his head as he slipped out of the door and back along the deck of the yacht. If he didn’t find a way to stop smiling soon everybody would know what they’d just been up to.

He pressed his fingers to the sides of his face, but it didn’t work. He was just too damn happy. Too happy to notice the movement in the shadows behind him.

~~~~~~~

Lucky moved back inside through the party revelers and lifted his head over the crowd in search of his friends. He spotted Lucinda in the midst of the newest herd of cameramen and his gaze finally settled upon Wallace watching her from a small corner.

Shaking his head, he started to make his way over. The lights and music caused almost a dizzying effect as he moved through the glitzy crowd. Or maybe that was simply fuck fatigue…one never could tell.

Wallace was probably going crazy. A real best friend probably would have been keeping him occupied while his girl was hounded by the press. But this good friend had found it more pressing to press his wife against the door of the nearest broom closet for a few outstanding moments.

Only slightly ashamed of himself, Lucky tried suppressing his grin once more and got closer to where his friend stood when a voice halted him in his tracks. A feminine voice that wasn’t Elizabeth’s.

He turned…Stephanie.

"Shit," Lucky muttered under his breath. Not ready for this yet. He didn’t want to see her damn it. Not tonight. Not when everything was going so great.

When their eyes connected across a two-foot space, Lucky waited for her to speak.

‘Take the offensive, Spencer…just jump right in there – say hello – be nice…try and at least leave this meeting without wanting to choke her or vice versa…’

"Hi Steph, how are –

Her eyes widened at the sound of his voice and she turned before he could even get the words out of his mouth. This would have been a good thing under any other circumstances – her leaving before opening her big mouth - but something about the look in her eyes before she turned made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.

The expression had looked almost like fear. And for some odd reason her fear made him feel the same.

Lucky shook his head and turned slowly at the hand on his shoulder. His eyes met Wallace’s, and he cleared his throat. "Hey man……H- how ya holdin’ up?"

Wallace held his eyes. "Looks like I should be the one asking that question…Why do you look like you’ve just seen a ghost?"

"Did you know Stephanie was gonna be here?"

With an expression of woe, Wallace shook his head. "Damn it who the fuck invited her?"

"Probably somebody’s date," Lucky said with a levity he didn’t feel anymore. "You know how she is. Manages to get on the arm of anybody who’s anybody or potentially anybody."

Wallace nodded. They both knew how true that was. Lucky had been a victim of it himself. He could remember plenty a shin-dig that Lucky had attended simply because Stephanie had begged him to take her like the shameless little bitch she was.

"I didn’t see her with anybody though," Lucky said then. Out of nowhere.

"Lucky that girl is not going anyplace stag…She probably just dumped the poor schmuck – whoever he is – as soon as she made her way on the VIP list."

Taking a deep breath, Lucky took a glance around the room. "You remember that comment Jack made the other day?"

"The one I told you to forget about? Yeah…Man, don’t waste another thought on that guy. He’s not worth it…that’s what I’m finally figuring out."

Lucky bit his lip. "Do you think maybe there’s something going on there though? With them, I mean? Why else would Jack even know what’s going on with her? He doesn’t do ‘friendships,’ with women as far as I know."

Wallace shifted his weight uneasily. "I don’t know what the fuck either of them are doing…but I know that asshole isn’t here, because if he was I would have thrown his sorry ass overboard already."

He hadn’t meant to get his friend all riled up, so Lucky placed a hand on his back and patted. "Hey don’t worry about it –

"Don’t worry about what?" Lucinda asked. Having appeared beside each of them. She placed one hand on Wallace’s shoulder and one on Lucky’s. "What do my two favorite men have to be worried about?"

At the look that passed between them, and the quick silence Lucinda bristled. "What’s going on gentlemen?"

Wallace shrugged. Lucinda didn’t need to be upset by Stephanie’s appearance on her special night, and most assuredly didn’t need to be upset by a hypothetical appearance by Jack.

"Just worried about those little black bugs on the buffet table. You’d think Vogue could afford some pest control."

Lucinda’s brow knit and she craned her neck to see. "That’s CAVIAR."

"Oh," Wallace smiled. Leaning down to kiss her. He made sure it was a good one. A ‘forget about your suspicion,’ kind of kiss.

Lucky looked down at his feet to be polite and to think about Stephanie and what the Hell she’d been doing here. Pest control was right…Someone needed to spray Stephanie’s ass with some roach poison.

He glanced back up again when his friends broke away from one another. Lucinda wrapped her arms around Wallace’s mid-section.

Scruching her nose at Lucky, she asked. "Where’s your better half?"

"In the ladies room," Lucky answered quickly. But just as quickly he glanced down at his watch. It had already been about eight minutes.

‘Elizabeth if you haven’t found your panties yet, I’m afraid it’s a lost cause Sweetie…just come on out and we’ll think of an excuse to go home and not worry about your panties…or Stephanie.’

"She shoulda been out by now though."

"Aw, too much wine and not enough rum and coke?" Lucinda joked. "I’ll go check on her."

At Lucinda’s comment, Lucky came out of his haze. "Oh no…that’s ok. I’m sure she’ll be out in a minute…but I think I’m gonna go snag her one of those chocolate covered strawberries…she loves those."

And with that he was gone. Sweeping through the crowd once again on his way back outside. Wallace craned his neck to watch him go and scanned every head in the place for one particular blonde one and another dark brown one. Knowing that that was why Lucky was suddenly so eager to find Elizabeth.

As far as Wallace could see there was no sign of either one of the troublemakers. A simple appearance from the She-Devil shouldn’t have ruffled Lucky’s feathers so badly. Especially when he was floating around on Cloud 9…

"Hey," Lucinda said looking up at Wallace. "It shouldn’t be long now. They’re just getting ready to unveil the cover and then we can blow this joint."

Wallace nodded and kissed the top of her head. "Good...this place is getting too crowded."

~~~~~~~

Elizabeth searched in disbelief over how a pair of underwear could simply disappear into thin air. She’d found the light switch in the broom closet and still her underwear hadn’t turned up. She was beginning to think maybe her wily husband had slipped them into his pant pocket just to mess with her mind.

Finally giving up, she shut the door behind her and leaned against it to catch her breath in the night air. Not wearing underwear would provide a good excuse to go home anyway.

It made her smile.

"Couldn’t find ‘em?"

Startled, Elizabeth caught her breath and spun around. The voice in the darkness was male, but not her husband’s. All she could make out against the stars was a silhouette. When one of his feet moved forward, she moved back and down the length of the wall.

Pressed against it as the stranger moved closer. But after a moment she let out the breath she held. Jack’s face coming into view.

"Oh…Jack…What are you doing? You scared the living shit out of me," she rambled the words quickly on no breath. What was he doing here? And how the Hell did he know she’d been looking for something?

"Oh you know," he said pushing his hands into his pockets nonchalantly. "I just came here to support my girl."

Elizabeth squelched her desire to smack him. This guy was absolutely infuriating.

"You’re girl? You couldn’t possibly mean Lucinda…does she even know you’re here?"

He shrugged and moved a step closer to Elizabeth. She stepped back.

"Who knows…It doesn’t really matter anyway…Now that I figured out I had the wrong girl all this time…the real fun is right here isn’t?"

The way that he leered at her – his eyes moving over her – made her uncomfortable.

He grinned as Elizabeth slid away from him. "Oh come on. Don’t tell me your gonna be shy about me looking at you…not you of all people."

She tried to keep the fear out of her voice. There was no reason to be afraid anyway. She’d dealt with a lot worse than Jack. Besides, he was just a bag of hot air anyway. He liked the sound of his own voice.

Deciding to ignore his comments, she opted for logic. Maybe he was just drunk, and not stupid.

"Listen, Jack I think you should just leave. All that your presence is gonna do is upset everybody. Lucinda, Wallace, Lucky –

"Lucky?" Jack cut in. "What’s he got to be upset about? He just got fucked by a stripper in a broom closet. He should be happy as a clam."

The effect that his words had on her were the same as if he would have thrown her down and knocked the wind out of her. She couldn’t seem to do anything but stand there and stare at him in shock. Her words wouldn’t seem to make the trek from her brain to her mouth.

She felt sick, and suddenly clutched at her stomach. The sound of someone else’s voice whispered gruffly in her ear and she shut her eyes to will it away.

Jack took the opportunity that her daze presented, bending closer. His breath on her neck when he placed one arm on either side of her head. Trapping her against the wall.

"So you didn’t find your panties?…You want me to help you look?"

He reached for her thigh and Elizabeth snapped out of her trance. Pushing at him and screaming. "What the fuck are you doing?! Are you insane?!"

"Oh come on," Jack barked. Grasping her wrist, he pulled her back towards him. "You think I don’t know about you? Where you came from? All the things you used to do…even before the stripping? I know all about you and where you’re from Elizabeth. And you’re still the same little tease aren’t you? The same little tease that made her step dad out to be some pervert when really it was probably the other way around…You probably got it on with him in a few closets too huh?"

She reached up to slapped the Hell out of him, feeling the sting against her own palm when it connected. But when she turned to run, he grabbed her wrist again. Swinging her around.

"So we like it rough huh?" He asked with a sick grin. Pressing her up against the wall.

Before she could even voice the scream, two hands reached out and Jack was swung away from her. Yanked backwards towards the railing of the deck. Her scream finally released itself when Lucky’s fist connected with Jack’s face.

Elizabeth screamed again. Watching in horror as Lucky grabbed Jack by his collar. Forcing him against the railing that separated them from open sea. Jack had the nerve to laugh, even as blood trickled from his nose from where Lucky had hit him, and Lucky drew his fist back again. Punching once more and then hoisting him up further along the railing.

Timidly she moved forward, though her legs felt like shaking pegs of lead. She placed a hand on Lucky’s shoulder and he pushed her back. Not near finished with what he had to do.

He didn’t even seem to hear her when she started begging for him to stop. Started crying even more than she had already been when Jack put his hand on her.

"Lucky please…"

His rage was too loud in his ears to hear her pitiful pleas and even if he had, he probably wouldn’t have been able to stop hitting him. Jack had to pay.

And even as Lucky hit him, he knew he wasn’t hitting him for only what he’d just done to Elizabeth. But he was hitting him for every time her stepfather had touched her. He was hitting him for every guy that ever leered up at Elizabeth on stage. He was even hitting him for what his own father had done to his mother so many years ago.

Jack was gonna take the heat for all of it.

It may not have been fair, but at that moment Lucky didn’t give a shit.

Too scared to leave them to go for help and too scared to stay still, Elizabeth followed Lucky as he dragged Jack down the deck. Consistently pleading with him to stop before he killed him. The guy wasn’t even fighting back. He’d yet to throw a punch.

"Lucky…please…"

Wallace suddenly came running outside trailed by Lucinda. Tripping along in her heels. She immediately went to Elizabeth as Wallace grabbed Lucky from behind. He pulled hard on his friend’s shoulders.

"Lucky let go of him…I swear to God Lucky if you don’t let go of him I’m gonna throw both your asses overboard."

When he finally succeeded in working Lucky’s hands off of him, Jack fell to the floor. Thinking everything was calming down, Wallace backed up a step only to watch as Lucky kicked Jack in the gut. He kicked him again and told him to get up. As if he could.

Jack rolled to his side with a grin even through the blood on his face.

"I swear to God…I swear to God, I’m gonna fucking kill you…"

"Stop it," Wallace hissed. Spying two cameramen who’d followed he and Lucinda outside to all the commotion. He pushed Lucky away from Jack. "It’s not worth it man…he’s not worth losing everything you’ve got."

"You didn’t see what he did…" Lucky stared menacingly at the heap on the floor that was Jack. Bubbles of blood popped out of his now crooked nose as laughter rumbled in his chest.

Lucky went for him again, infuriated by his laughter and Wallace shoved him backwards.

Elizabeth shivered in the cold and drew away from Lucinda’s embrace. Walking over to Lucky. She placed her hand in his and pulled him close. She reached for his chin to turn his gaze to her, but he fought her. Continuing to burn ice blue holes into Jack.

"Lucky stop…look at me…please."

A camera flashed somewhere across from them, and Elizabeth started to cry. This was her fault. All of it. Now they’d have pictures of Lucky attacking Jack in the newspapers tomorrow instead of news about his video game.

Elizabeth’s worst fears had come true. She’d caused Lucky problems. Something that he’d worked so hard for, would be tainted now.

Someone to the side of them called for a medic, maybe it had been Wallace.

Elizabeth sniffled. "Baby…come on let’s go."

Her words finally penetrated the angry haze that held Lucky in its dark grips. His eyes glassy when he turned to her. Hesitantly he reached up to touch her face. "Are…are you ok?"

She nodded quickly, her brow knitting at the state of his knuckles. Bloody and swollen. She didn’t know if it was his blood or Jack’s, but she wanted it off of him.

"Let’s just go home…Let’s just go."

Slowly Lucky took off his jacket and draped it around her shoulders. Pulling her towards him as they got ready to leave. But he was rendered immovable once again, by the expression on Jack’s face.

Jack who rolled himself along the deck as if in real pain now. He played it up for the cameras. Hamming up the agony.

Wallace took a deep breath and moved past Lucky and towards the photographers.

"Come on…give it up," he said gesturing with his hand. "You came here to cover the release of a friggin magazine, not to scope out the fight on the deck. Give me the damn film,"

When the cameraman refused, Wallace reached out to grab it. Yanking the expensive equipment from around the guy’s neck. As if things weren’t bad enough, Stephanie stepped around him suddenly. Covering her mouth in horror as she looked down at Jack.

Rolling his eyes, Wallace turned to her as she walked towards the bloody heap that Jack presented. "Stephanie nobody needs or wants you here…go home."

Lucinda sighed and caught her breath as Stephanie moved past her. The scent that wafted through the air called to mind a memory…It was Chanel.

"What the Hell are you doing here?" She asked. Blinking away the realization that had just settled in her mind.

Ignoring them both, Stephanie knelt next to Jack. Turning on the tears. She turned to shoot daggers over her shoulder at Lucky.

"You did this didn’t you?" She hissed.

She shook her head at Lucky’s silence and turned back to Jack. Pushing his hair off of his face. "Did someone call a doctor?…For God’s sake Lucinda, I know he doesn’t mean anything to you…but call someone! He could die out here."

Lucinda bit down hard on her tongue. Certain now that Stephanie was the one. He’d been cheating on her with Stephanie.

"They’ve been called. They should be here any minute…he’ll be ok."

‘Unfortunately,’ Lucinda thought to herself.

Lucky shook his head in disbelief. Staring down at the woman he used to date. A woman he thought had been an ally once upon a time.

"Didn’t Lucinda ask you what you were doing here?" He turned his gaze back to Jack. "I wouldn’t even wish this piece of shit on you, Stephanie."

She turned to him with pure hatred in her eyes and venom in her tone. "You’re such a bastard. Is this what you have to resort to every time? Violence?"

Elizabeth squirmed and looked up at Lucky. She wanted to get out of here. She wanted to leave now. Her body started to shake and she curled both of her hands around Lucky’s forearm. Trying to take in some of the warmth that he usually radiated, but his entire being felt cold just then.

"What did he do?" Stephanie continued. Holding Lucky’s attention. "Refuse to give you something you wanted…so you hit him? Just like you did with me that night…"

Stephanie’s voice trailed away. Waiting for the exchange of looks along the deck. When it happened she waited for Lucky’s response.

Just as she thought, he narrowed his eyes and took a step closer to her. "Stephanie what the Hell are you talking about? I’ve never ever hit you. I’ve never laid a hand on you."

"No!" She said angrily. Turning towards him again. "My mistake…You never hit me. You just forced me to do what you wanted. Just forced me to have sex with you the night your dear little Lizzie made out with your friend Wallace there…"

Elizabeth’s eyes widened in horror and Stephanie stared straight into them. Aiming directly at her now.

"That’s right Elizabeth. While you were off God knows where, your future husband was raping me in my own home…and now," she paused. Working up a sob. "He’s gone and almost beat a man to death…Now do you people understand what he’s capable of?"

She shook her head and stared down at Jack, as if oblivious to how much pain she just caused an entire group of people. She held Jack’s hand and whimpered.

"I never wanted anyone to know but…it’s time someone put a stop to it all."

Stephanie had succeeded in putting a stop to everyone’s heart and causing a few hungry reporters to salivate at the mouth. Shutters clicked and pens were drawn from coat pockets to catch the next quote.

And Lucky felt the world that had been at his feet, sink away. As if he were standing on pile of sand in the middle of the ocean and not a yacht at all. He could have been dead for all he knew, because he could no longer feel the beat of his own heart.

He tried to find words. Something to say. Something to make this entire scene look a little less gruesome, the whole scenario less grotesque. He felt alone in the world all of a sudden, even though he knew Elizabeth stood next to him.

Her fingers felt faint against his arm though. Her grip no longer so tight.

What was happening? What had Stephanie just done? She might as well have dropped an A-bomb on the entire world, because everything felt shattered.

"Rape," he said the word aloud for the first time like it was foreign.

He didn’t…he wouldn’t. He hadn’t even touched her. Never…this was stupid. This was unreal. It had to be a dream. A nightmare. This wasn’t happening.

"You know exactly what I’m talking about Lucky," Stephanie barked suddenly. Getting ready to spew that evil word again. "You raped me…and now everyone else knows it too……I can’t let you go on hurting people."

Lucky could feel Elizabeth looking at him. Staring up at him…waiting for something – some pronouncement to come out of his mouth, but he felt paralyzed.

"I didn’t…I didn’t do anything to you. That’s…" he shook his head. "What the Hell are you doing Stephanie? Why are you…

"I’m telling the truth!" she shouted then. Furiously standing to her feet as the medics finally arrived to assess Jack’s injuries. She reached out to hold his hand as they placed him on the stretcher. "For once I’m telling everyone the truth about their favorite video game designer…the rapist."

"STOP!" Lucky shouted. "Stephanie, I don’t know what you think -

Unable to take anymore, Wallace moved back towards them. Coming to stand next to Stephanie. He took her by the elbow. "Come on…you’re leaving, and you’re leaving RIGHT NOW."

Stephanie shrugged him off. Before she left this damn yacht everyone on it would hear what she had to say about Lucky ‘Golden Boy’ Spencer.

"I will NOT be man handled by you too. I got enough of that from your friend when we were together…no more."

Lucinda glanced at Lucky and then Elizabeth. Her mind reeling. The only thing she knew for sure was that her friends needed a moment alone without this bitch rambling about whatever the fuck she was rambling about. And she needed to get the vultures with the cameras off of the boat.

"Fine, don’t be man handled…..just come with me," she blurted. Grabbing Stephanie. She practically pushed her back inside. Wallace watched them leave and watched as the medics rolled Jack down the side of the yacht and towards the bridge. He stepped in front of a reporter when he came forward.

"Ask Mr. Spencer a question right now and I swear to God you’ll find yourself in a worse predicament than that asshole on the stretcher."

They all wanted a statement now. "Is that a threat."

"You’re damn right it is," Wallace answered quickly. "You want something, go ask the barracuda that just blew the world apart. She’s obviously got all the answers! But you fuck with my friend tonight and you’re gonna have to answer to me."

"Wallace it’s ok," Elizabeth said quickly, squeezing Lucky’s hand. It felt clammy in hers and limp. She lowered her voice when Wallace turned. "We’re just gonna try and get out of here…"

Nodding, he stood between them and the reporters as they took off in the opposite direction. Trying to get home before things got worse.

Minutes later, by the time they managed to get off of the boat and through a waiting group of reporters, a limo waited for them. Thank God for Lucinda.

Elizabeth searched for words, once they were tucked in the backseat. But the way he was staring straight ahead. That blank expression he wore…

She couldn’t seem to find a single thing to say that wouldn’t sound lame. Gently taking his hand in hers she tended to it with a makeshift icepack that she’d constructed from the ice in the wine bucket and a towel in one of the backseat compartments. Quietly she dabbed at his knuckles as he continued to stare ahead.

"It’s gonna be ok," she whispered. Willing him to look at her. "I promise it will be."

He shook his head as a flashbulb popped right outside their window, and she rested her head on his shoulder.

"No…it’s not."