And not only that, but there’s the promise of meeting up again with Clio later on in the day. The thought makes my stomach flutter with excitement. And interestingly, not just because of the thought of getting laid. But I’m looking forward to seeing her again. To spending time with her, maybe having a dance with her later. I’m glad that Noah didn’t frown on the thought of us together. Not that we need anyone’s approval, and I know Leon would blow a gasket if he found out, but even so, it’s nice that Noah wasn’t upset.
“I’d better get changed,” I tell the others, and give them a wave as I head off toward my room. I know Clio will be wearing a similar gown to the rest of the girls, who are all bridesmaids at the wedding. I look forward to seeing her in it.
And finding out what’s underneath it.
Chapter Fifteen
Clio
“This place is amazing.” I’m sitting in Nix’s dressing room, having my hair done while I look out across the Alice Garden where she’ll be saying her vows in an hour’s time. It’s a beautiful day, and the sun is bouncing off the roofs of the Lodge and the Stables, turning the garden to a riot of color.
“I’m so glad we decided to get married here,” Nix says. “When I first suggested it, Leon thought it would be too much like hard work to get everything organized, but actually it’s been really easy.”
In the mirror, I watch Rona, the organizer in charge of dressing the bride and bridesmaids, fiddle with Nix’s dress. The gown is so beautiful it makes me want to cry. Nix bought it from the Bay of Islands Brides shop and had it transported down here. It’s handmade, and the satin dress has a sweetheart neckline and a low back, but is covered in lace so she has lace sleeves and a lace-covered back, as well as a long train. The lace is embroidered with thousands of tiny pearls. It’s just gorgeous.
“Don’t cry,” Nix says, meeting my eyes in the mirror, “or I’ll start, and I’ve just done my mascara.”
“And if you start crying, we’ll all be at it,” Summer points out, and we all laugh.
Everyone’s here—Izzy, Remy, Summer, Jules, Poppy, and Abby with baby Ethan, who’s dressed in an adorable tiny suit. Nix’s sister, Louise, and their mom are also here. I know Nix’s dad refused to come. How awful is that? He and his daughters had some kind of argument a few years back, and they’ve not been home since then. I can’t imagine Nix doing anything so bad that it would force her father to disown her. But at least her mother came.
All the girls are bridesmaids, and we’re all going to be wearing the same style of dress—a mulberry-colored A-line tulle gown with a sweetheart neckline to echo Nix’s dress, sleeveless, with cap straps. It’s really flattering considering we’re all shapes and sizes. The others are all ready, but as I was late, I’m just having the finishing touches put to my hair before I slip into the dress.
I study my reflection, watching the hairdresser curling the strands she’s left to frame my face. She’s rolled the rest into a neat chignon and slipped a few fresh flowers into the side. As she finishes and gives a final spritz of hairspray, the lady who’s doing our makeup takes her place to finish making me up.
Nix blows out a long breath. “What’s the time?”
“A quarter past one,” Izzy says.
“How’s it all going out there?” Jules asks, gesturing at the window from her seat in front of the mirror, where the hairdresser is now spraying her hair.
Izzy, who’s sitting on a seat by the window, looks down. “A few people have turned up. Hal’s there, talking to the celebrant. Wow, he looks so good in that suit.”
We all chuckle. “Those morning coats were a super idea,” Remy tells Nix. “You have turned all the guys into James Bond.”
“I can’t wait to see Leon.” A touch of color appears in Nix’s cheeks. “I so hope he likes the dress.”
We all exclaim that of course he will—how can he do anything but? She looks absolutely amazing, with her blonde hair carefully curled and pinned, her makeup immaculate, and her beautiful gown.
“I can’t believe you’re wearing those, though,” Izzy comments, gesturing at the shoes sitting to one side, ready for Nix to slip her feet into. They’re white and satin with pearls, and they have four-inch heels. “I’d break my neck in anything higher than an inch.”
Nix laughs. “I wear high heels all the time though; I’d feel odd in anything else. And Leon likes them.” Her lips curve up, and I know she’s imagining getting back to her room tonight.
I also have high heels, as I have no trouble walking in them. It makes me think about Ryan, and what might happen this evening. Will we be able to hook up again? If so, I wonder if he’ll keep his suit on. I just know he’s going to look amazing in that morning coat, and I’d love to do him in it. Just thinking about it makes me smile.
“What are you thinking about?” Poppy asks me.
Nix meets my gaze in the mirror and her eyes twinkle. “Are you thinking about Ryan?”
“Nope.” I lift my chin as the makeup lady puts the finishing touches to my lipstick.
“Oh God, yes, I almost forgot,” Jules says. “How did the trip go?”
“Great,” I reply. “Very scenic. Lots of mountains.”
“And you had a whole night together in Queenstown,” Jules comments. “Did you make the most of that opportunity?”
“Might have,” I tell them.
The room erupts with cheers and whoops, and I chuckle, then put a finger to my lips and shush them. “I don’t want Leon finding out, though. So Nix, no telling him.” She mimes zipping her mouth shut. “And no telling any of the other guys,” I continue. “Albie can’t keep a secret, Hal won’t be able to stop laughing, and Stefan will take it upon himself to be my conscience and berate me for my loose morals.”
Everyone agrees to keep the news to themselves. “But you had a good time?” Jules asks.
“I did, thank you. Most enjoyable.”
“Is he insatiable?” she asks with a grin, referring to the time she overheard his ex complaining.
I think about the way he made me pull over on the side of the road so he could take me there and then. “Oh I’d definitely say that accusation was spot-on.”
They all cheer again, except for Jules, who pouts. “I can’t believe you’re getting some. I’m so green with envy I’m positively Hulk-like.”
“Aw,” I say, “get Stefan drunk tonight and seduce him. It’s the perfect opportunity.”
“Jesus.”
“You know you want to.” I don’t understand quite why she’s into the bossy Viking, but I know she likes him. Unfortunately, I’m not sure Stefan returns her affection. Her tentative attempts to suggest a date have met with a blank wall, and she’s not brave enough to come out with it outright.
“We were talking about you,” she points out. “What happened—did you make the move or did he?”
“Oh, it was all me. But he didn’t need much persuading.”
“I bet he didn’t,” Summer says. “He’s always had a thing for blondes with big boobs.”
“Why’d he marry Samantha then?” I ask, puzzled. “She’s flat as a pancake.”
“Hypnosis,” Summer says. “Or possibly magic. I never did understand that relationship.”
“So… was it a one-off?” Jules wants to ask.
“No,” I say. “Three times so far, and counting.”
“Christ,” Jules says as the others laugh, “TMI, Clio. And three times in one evening?”
“Once in the evening. Once in the morning. And in the car on the way here.”
“Oh my God, I don’t want to know, I’m going to explode with jealousy. And anyway, I meant are you going to see more of him? And before you say anything, I don’t need a breakdown of how much of his body you’ve already laid eyes on.”
I chuckle. “Nah, it’s not a long-term thing.”
“Aw,” Abby says, “why not? He seems like such a nice guy.”
“He is,” I agree. “He’s lovely. But we’ve different plans, you know?
He’s just been offered a job in Wellington at the Ministry for Children, developing his app for the adoption agency.”
They all stare at me. “Seriously?” Jules says.
“Well, it’s in the offing. I probably shouldn’t have said anything. I don’t know if he’ll take it. But he’s thinking about it.”
“Noah mentioned it was a possibility,” Abby says. “He’ll be pleased for him, but gutted to let him go.”
“You’re staying though, aren’t you?” Jules asks hopefully. “I’d miss you awfully if you went anywhere.”
“She’s only just finished her course,” Nix points out as she slips on her shoes. “And she has a job waiting. It would be crazy to leave now.”
Thankfully, my reply is waylaid, because Rona suggests it’s time for me to get my dress on, and she leads me over to behind the screen. I slip off my clothes and change into my special underwear while I listen to the others talking about the wedding. I’m wearing a sexy pink satin corset today, with a matching pair of tiny panties and stockings attached to the garters. I slide them on, imagining Ryan’s hands stroking down them. Does he like sexy underwear? I can’t imagine he doesn’t. Will he want me to keep it on? I feel all hot and tingly at the thought.
As Rona helps me step into the dress, I think about Abby’s comment, when Jules asked if I was going to see more of Ryan: Why not? He seems like such a nice guy. He is a nice guy. Of course he is. He’s gorgeous, kind, funny, sexy. But we’re not compatible, not long-term.
Are we?
Rona turns me around, zips up the dress, then adjusts it until she’s happy. Finally, I step out from behind the screens, and everyone cheers and claps.
“We all look so amazing,” I whisper, overcome with sudden emotion. “You especially,” I say to Nix, who’s standing in the middle of the room as Izzy adjusts her veil. “You look so beautiful.”
“Don’t make me cry,” she squeaks.
“Matt will be bawling his eyes out,” Jules comments, holding back her own tears. As Nix’s own father refused to come, my father will be giving Nix away today.
“Jules is right,” I tell Nix. “He’s a complete wuss. You’d better stow a tissue in your cleavage in case he sobs on the way to the altar.”
She laughs, as she was supposed to, and reaches out a hand to us. “Thank you all so much for being here.”
“Where else would we be?” Jules says softly, squeezing her fingers. “We’re a team, aren’t we?”
And that’s how it feels—as if we’re a team. We’re not all blood related, but we are all connected, and it’s a lovely feeling to know you’re surrounded by people who love and support you, and who’ve got your back.
I would be stupid to leave the Ark, wouldn’t I? To give up my friends and family, just because I felt the need for adventure?
“It’s one-thirty,” Izzy says. “We should start making a move to the lobby. I’ll go and make sure it’s all clear down there.”
While we wait for her to return, we collect our flowers—beautiful little posies of white and mulberry-colored roses. Everyone’s excited, and there’s a lot of laughter and chatter as we head for the door. Izzy returns to tell us the lobby is clear and all the guys have headed out to the lawn.
I feel oddly nervous at the thought of seeing Ryan again. Jesus, why? I only saw him, like, an hour ago. But I’m looking forward to seeing him in his suit. I hope he thinks I look nice in my dress. From the look on everyone else’s faces, everyone is thinking the same.
We leave the dressing room and head for the lobby. As we enter, I see Dad standing there talking to Jackie, the organizer. He turns as we come in, and a huge smile spreads across his face as he sees us all. He looks gorgeous, too, in the morning coat, his dark hair threaded with gray freshly cut and fashionably styled, as always. I’ve always teased him about it, but I like that he takes care of his appearance.
“Hey, Matt,” everyone calls out.
“Hey, gorgeous girls,” he says, walking up to us. “Don’t you all look amazing.” To my pleasure, he comes up to me first and places a soft kiss on my forehead. “Hello, beautiful,” he murmurs.
“Hey, Dad.”
“Glad you got here in time,” he says, without any hint of sarcasm. “I was worried about you.”
“Aw, I’m fine. Ryan took good care of me.”
Behind me, Jules snorts. Dad’s gaze flicks to her, then back to me, and humor lights his eyes, but he doesn’t say anything. Instead, he moves on to Nix and tells her how amazing she looks, while I throw daggers at Jules, who pokes her tongue out at me.
It’s not long before it’s time for us to head to the lawn. Jackie gets us all in line, makes sure Nix’s train is displayed properly and that her veil hangs nicely when she takes Matt’s arm, and then as the music starts, Matt and Nix walk slowly to the lawn, with the rest of us following.
It’s such a beautiful day. It makes me tearful, and I don’t know why. The lawn is surrounded by trees that cast a dappled light on the rows of chairs and the altar at the end. We’re behind the castle, which forms an amazing backdrop. It’s going to look so impressive in the photos.
The chairs are filled with people who all turn as we walk forward—I see Stefan and Fitz, Noah and Zach, Brock and Erin, Charlie and Ophelia. I can see Leon and Hal at the front, and oh my God, I’ll never forget the look on my brother’s face as his bride-to-be approaches—pure wonder and love, which makes my throat go so tight I can’t breathe for a moment.
In front of him, Mom catches my eye and smiles, and I smile back, knowing she’s thinking about the day I’m in Nix’s place, getting married. Will it ever happen for me? Will I ever be promising to love a man till death parts us? I can’t imagine it, but the thought sends tingles all the way down my spine.
And then, as Nix reaches Leon and the rest of us stop walking, I see Ryan standing at the end of the front row. As I glance at him, our gazes lock, and again I find myself breathless. Jesus, he’s so handsome. Like the others, he’s wearing a silvery-gray waistcoat beneath his morning coat, with a crisp white shirt and a gray tie. He looks amazing.
He winks at me. I try not to smile and tear my gaze away to where the celebrant is addressing everyone, welcoming them to the wedding. But I can feel Ryan’s gaze on me still. It burns into me, so hot I’m surprised the dress doesn’t disappear in a puff of smoke. My whole body tingles, and I swear I can feel my nipples tightening in my bra. Oh God, I want him. I hope that tonight he drags me off to his room, pushes up my skirt, and thrusts me to ecstasy. If he doesn’t, I think I might, literally, die from longing.
Chapter Sixteen
Ryan
The ceremony is surprisingly touching. Like most guys, I’m not particularly into weddings. It seems like a lot of fuss and money for one day. But today feels special. The location is sublime, and with the guys in morning coats and most of the women in floor-length dresses, it feels as if we’ve been transported back to the nineteenth century.
Nix looks beautiful in her glittering gown, and the bridesmaids are all breathtaking in their plum-colored dresses.
But one woman stands out from the rest, and I have trouble keeping my eyes off her as the ceremony begins.
I’m going to make love to Clio in that dress. I make that decision the moment I lay eyes on her. She looks curvy and feminine, the layers of frothy material clinging to her bust and waist and then falling to the ground like a princess’s skirt. The flowers in her hair bring out the flush in her cheeks. Her blonde hair shines in the sunlight. She looks happy and beautiful, and I can’t believe I’ve been lucky enough to have her in my bed.
I listen to the celebrant, trying not to think about having sex with Clio because it doesn’t seem appropriate, but I can’t help it. All I can think about is pushing her up against a wall, lifting up those voluminous skirts, sliding my fingers down into her, and stroking her until she comes. Or maybe I’ll lie on the bed and get her to sit on my face, with those skirts all around us. Oh yeah, that would be amaz
ing, plunging my tongue inside her and sucking on her clit as she moves on top of me and cries out her pleasure.
I shift in my seat, prompting a glance from my mother, who’s sitting beside me. How come Mom can still make me feel like I’m fifteen, even when I’m more than double that? Conscious that the last thing I want is an erection, I force myself to concentrate on the words the celebrant is saying.
She’s talking about marriage, and how it is: “a challenging adventure within human relationships. No ceremony can create your marriage,” she goes on to say, “you do that through love and patience, and through talking and listening to one another. Through believing in and helping and supporting one another. And through learning to forgive, to make the important things matter, and to let go of the rest.”
For the first time in a long time, I think of the vows I took. Samantha was religious and wanted us to get married in church, and I went along with it because I wasn’t bothered either way and, well, that’s what I did, went along with whatever she wanted. We had the standard ceremony, and said the traditional vows, which meant that we both promised to love and cherish each other till death parted us.
I meant them at the time. I’m sure she did, too. Now, though, they seem meaningless. What, ultimately, is the point in marriage, even if you’re religious, if you don’t intend to see it through? We lived together for a year before we got married, and nothing changed when we tied the knot, except that we both wore rings, and she took my name. I suppose there’s a small measure of ownership that comes with it, but then in a good relationship you tend to have that anyway—that warm, contented feeling of having someone in your corner, fighting for you, and knowing and trusting they will always be at your side.
In the end, all getting married did for us was make it a long, drawn-out process when we eventually made the split. If we hadn’t been married, we could have just walked away. Okay, so the house would still have taken time to sell, but that break would have been immediate, instead of the slow, lingering death it became.
My Wicked Billionaire (The Billionaire Kings Book 6) Page 11