“Good evening family and friends. We appreciate everyone gathering here tonight in support of these two young people. We ask that you continue to support Antonio and Macy as we deviate from our plans and postpone the ceremony.”
His palm abruptly raises to cease the murmurs and mumbles. Thin strands of white hair fluttering from him nodding profusely. Conveying that he understands the surprise. “Everything of course will be figured out in due course, but in the meantime we invite all of you to go ahead and make your way to the reception area at this time.”
Mims inhales just as sharply and turns to me. I shrug. Safer than saying a word and to keep from laughing. She huddles with her sister, speculating in low tones, while Antonio’s parents rush to the cleric for further explanation. Clarification. Rationalization. Anything to understand why their stupid son bolted.
Music fills the air again, less joyous this time, and the pastor waves to the groomsmen, directing them to reverse the process. Traipse back down the aisle accompanied by the shocked bridesmaids, attempting to lead the astonished congregation out of the church. Shock finally subsides and the guests hesitantly depart, gradually rising and following the couples out to the vestibule. Knowing the right thing to do in the situation but slow to act. Unable to move quickly while gossiping and hypothesizing and conjecturing.
While I, on the other hand, take my role as Mims date very seriously and remain glued to her side. While watching my magnificent bride nod earnestly as the reverend continues to counsel and console her. Although from the expression on her lovely face, I doubt she needs either. No shame or fear or doubt. Just wonderful relief. Confirming that not only did I do a selfish thing, my interference is the right thing. A rarity that others benefit from my greediness. But I’m happy for my girl to be the recipient of this generosity. I’ll be even happier when she shows me later how grateful she is for my altruism.
A standing ovation.
Macy earns the well-deserved accolade as she walks into the reception. Arm in arm with one of the bridesmaids although I don’t think she really needs the support. Pink flushes her glowing face while her lithe body still trembles. Yet she holds her head up high. Almost defiant. Definitely glorious.
I clap too. Not because she stands tall after the shame she suffered, at least seemingly to the guests. But because she’s finally here. The last forty minutes have been fucking torture without her. At least the wait gave me time to learn everything my guys could find out about the twenty-one-year-old fitness instructor working on her degree in physical therapy. Except why in the hell an incredible woman like her would marry a loser like Antonio.
But I’ll find that out later. Right now I want her. I’ve waited too long to see her. Too long to talk to her. And hell, too damn long to touch her.
The girls wind their way through the tables and across the dance floor, making their way up to the band who plays Girl on Fire in her honor. Chords fade away as she smiles at the lead singer and accepts the microphone he offers. She blows out a deep breath, garnering her some appreciative laughs and shouts of encouragement. Which seems to bolster her confidence as she rolls back her narrow shoulders.
“Hi everyone.” She gives a half wave with her graceful hand that I’m already imagining curled around my headboard. “This night didn’t go exactly as I planned. But I guess that’s what life is all about. I’m not sure where I go from here. But I’ll worry about that tomorrow. Tonight I want to enjoy this opportunity to spend time with the people I love and who I’m blessed to have love me.”
Her soft voice cracks but she smiles from her friend’s arm winding around her shoulders and faces the crowd again. “Now can someone please get me a drink?”
Fucking marvelous. Her resiliency and humor earn her another boisterous round of applause and a double thumbs up from the performer as he takes back the mic and the inspiring notes of Firework fill the ballroom.
Surrounded by a small crowd, she nods and hugs and grins some more. Accepting a topped off flute of champagne as well as their admiration and sympathy and praise. Until finally they all drift off. Singles and couples, heading to the bar or buffet. More worried about their bellies and their beers than her, now that’s she proven her tenacity. Except for the red-haired best friend, who guards her with a loyalty I respect. Especially when I step closer and the young woman’s hold tightens. “May I have this dance?”
Macy slowly looks up to me. Straining between our height differences, she leans her head back as far as her delicate neck allows. Filling my head with images of her on her knees staring up at me in adoration and lust.
Pointing to the empty space around us, she shakes her head. “But…no one’s dancing.”
My cock jumps again from her confused whisper. “Then we’ll be first.”
“Mr. Diavolo, I don’t think…”
Good. She knows who I am and is sufficiently scared. But she’ll soon learn she needn’t be because I’ll never do anything to her but please her. I slide the empty glass out of her fingers and hand it to her friend who seems just as hypnotized. “Call me Reece, beautiful.”
My attempt to be charming fails. The racing pulse in her throat pauses as she swallows hard, then frowns, then smiles. Emotions all over the place in her fear. “Reece, I’m not sure–”
“I’m always sure….” I shut her down. Already hearing the protest in her cautious tone that I don’t like and refuse to allow. “…that you should never tell me no.”
Unwilling to give her another opportunity to resist, I slide one hand around her tiny waist and the other entwines her fingers, curling them against my chest. Proper and respectful except for my dick lifting in greeting to welcome her sweet body pressed against mine. She’s even more striking up close and in my arms. Despite how stiff and hesitant she remains.
Nodding to the band leader who’s been watching as well, I confirm what I want from him. He understands and raises his hand to the men behind him. The first deep notes from the bassist fill the huge space with a standard that keeps us respectable in our touch despite the attention we’ve drawn from the guests again. Although I don’t give a damn what they think, I don’t want her to worry. So I distract her. “You seem to be holding up okay.”
“Game face, right?” She gives me an uneven smile that probably has more meaning behind the grin than I know yet. “Have to be brave tonight and then tomorrow I can break down.”
I tip my head closer to hers and whisper against her temple. Low enough so no one else can hear yet obvious enough to make them wonder. I don’t have to wonder at all my impact on her as she shivers from my lips against her soft skin. “Are you really going to break down? Or are you relieved?”
Yeah, I’m too damn bold for my own good. But I hate small talk almost as much as I hate lying. No reason not to be anything but candid with each other.
“I…” Her gaze falls from mine. Staring at the lapels of my jacket. “This isn’t…”
“No worries Macy. Your secret is safe with me. I swear I won’t ever tell anyone that you’re happy not to be marrying that stupid bastard.”
She jolts against me, reviving my cock, and looks around. Concerned someone might have overheard my assertion. Or worse yet that she didn’t deny my allegation. Sure people are staring at us but I know they can’t hear. I’d never fucking jeopardize her reputation like that. I only receive a nod in return.