The Price of Desire

by PE Kavanagh

  She’d fallen hard for Esteban, although they were taking it slower, sexually, than Marco and me. She wanted to know everything that happened between us, and I obliged. Lizzy was the better listener of my two sisters, less inclined to analysis and more open-hearted.

  When dinner was about to start, and we still didn’t see Nora or Sam, Lizzy and I smiled at the thought of their surprise reunion. Both of us knew we would be lucky to find as much love as they shared, even in their unique way.

  If Nora ever gave Sam any indication that he wouldn't get horribly rejected, he would have been on his knee in a flash. They adored each other in this crazy meant-to-be way. Neither Lizzy nor I could imagine anyone else putting up with her. It was nothing short of miraculous.

  The reunited couple arrived at the very last minute and the awards ceremony went beautifully. Nora was softened by Sam’s surprise visit, thrilled with us that we had arranged it, and came off as beautiful, brilliant, and charming. Her acceptance speech was funny, humble and she thanked each of us individually. She and Sam never stopped beaming at each other.

  Marco never left my mind. If I had to describe what happened to me that morning, that weekend, magical would be be the best word I could find. It had elements of fantasy and wonder and utter incredulity. But it was actually happening. At least I hope it was.

  The audience rose to their feet for Nora, applauding wildly. Lizzy started to whoop and others joined her. My sister was one of the most difficult people I knew, but there was no doubt that she was a rock star in her field. I was so immensely proud of her and wanted her to have everything her heart desired.

  She hugged and kissed each of us two or three times.

  “We love you, Nona. And think you’re the best!”

  “I couldn’t have asked for a better family.”

  Were those tears in her eyes?

  A substantial crowd, eager for her attention, but polite enough to wait for her to finish up with her family, began to form a circle around us.

  “Nora, there's a crowd of people waiting to talk to you. Your adoring fans I believe,” Sam informed her.

  We waited as she effortlessly thanked and greeted those awed by her presence. There was going to be a small reception that we assumed she’d wanted to attend, but she said, “Let's go party at the wedding!”

  Alright! We all agreed. I had filled Sam in beforehand, and gotten him an invitation, so he was ready to go.

  “Whatever you want, my love,” he said to Nora. “You keep getting more and more amazing every minute I know you. However you want to be celebrated, sweetheart, you get it.”

  “I love you so much, Sammy. Thank you for coming, even though I forbade you. This is the best surprise I have ever gotten.”

  “Nora the ice queen has soft spots. Who knew?” I couldn’t help myself.

  “Shall we?” she said to change the subject.

  “Yay!!” squealed Lizzy. “Let’s go get ready!”

  The transition to wedding garb didn’t take long. We had all laid out our new fancy dresses and just had to slip them on. A refresh of the face and hair completed the look. Lizzy insisted we take pictures. We did make a rather stunning group - Sam in his tux, us in our gowns, surprisingly no legs showing, if you didn’t count the slits in our dresses.

  Nora chose a deep violet, Lizzy was in bright pink and I wore a silvery blue silk sheath, that made me look like a mermaid, they said. I liked the compliment.

  Our mouths dropped as we walked into the first room, where the ceremony would be held. We had left Las Vegas and entered heaven, apparently.

  The room was bathed in white and silver, so meticulously done that it was impossible to imagine that this had been a hotel ballroom the day before. A flamenco guitarist filled the room with romance and each guest was more beautiful and elegant than the next. My concern about the formality of our dresses vanished as I noticed everyone in their finest, having taken black tie very seriously.

  Esteban saw us first, even with a room full of guests. He ran over to Lizzy, who was already hopping up and down, and swung her around as if she was a small child. He gave her a dramatic kiss on the mouth and then bends down and gave her belly a gentle little kiss.

  “How is my hot mama?”

  She giggled. “Missed you, baby. This room is so beautiful, Stebby. Oh my God, I feel like I’m in heaven.”

  “Aah, not as beautiful as ours will be.”

  Nora, Sam and I froze. Had he really just said that? It would have been just like our sprite of a sister to get herself engaged this weekend. The funny thing was that we didn’t worry about her. Well, not too much. She always ended up on the right side of things, even with this pregnancy. It was turning out to be the best thing that had ever happened to her. And maybe to all of us.

  Sam put his hand out. “Hello, Esteban. I am Sam, Lizzy's...”

  “Brother-in-law,” I offered.

  “So nice to meet you. Your family has made this an extraordinary weekend. We are so honored that you wanted to share my brother's wedding with us.”

  “Oh, Esteban, it was so kind of you to invite us. This is absolutely amazing,” I said.

  “I am so rude, I am sorry.” He proceeded to kiss Nora and me, on both cheeks. Lizzy stuck her face out, waiting for her turn. He obliged.

  “Are you ready for tonight?” he asked.

  “Absolutely!”

  Nora and I looked at each other. What was happening tonight? Should we have been worried?

  They both looked at us with mischief in their eyes. I had to admit they made a great couple, and his generosity with her pregnancy cemented the deal with me. Even if they announced their engagement, I would be perfectly happy for them. Maybe even a little bit jealous.

  “Excuse me, but I have to get back to my brother now. I just wanted to make sure you were all here.”

  “Can I come with you?” Lizzy asked tentatively.

  “Of course, mi amor.”

  “Okay, we'll see you later,” she said as he whisked her off.

  “And where is your Romeo?” asked Sam.

  “I don't...”

  “Hello.” Marco's voice came from behind me. How long had he been standing there? I turned around slowly, knowing how amazing he was going to look and wanting to savor every moment.

  He didn’t take his eyes off me as I faced him. He reached for my hand and kissed it lightly, still keeping his eyes locked on mine. He moved toward my cheek, I assumed for a kiss, but instead whispered in my ear, “You take my breath away.” And then he kissed my neck.

  I wanted to swoon. I forgot there was anyone else in the room, or that time and space existed. This man awakened something in me that was beyond desire. It was like the feeling a plug must have when it entered a socket.

  He stepped back, introduced himself to Sam and kissed Nora. Sam had studied some Spanish and was excited to use it. Beautiful words rolled off his tongue, to Marco’s delight.

  “Now you are the only one, my darling, who needs to learn Spanish,” he said as he squeezed my waist.

  “Si señor,” I responded.

  “Let me not forget the deep congratulations for our next Nobel Prize winner, Dr. Malone. How do you feel?”

  Even listening to him speak made me giddy.

  “I don't know which was better… winning the award, or having my sisters and my partner conspire to have him here. It was all so wonderful, Marco. Thank you for asking.”

  “Of course,” he said as he nodded gently. “Would you like to meet some people?” he asked.

  “Yes,” I answered for all of us.

  He led us to the groom's family, which consisted of about 150 people as far as I could tell. They each hugged and kissed us, so pleased that we were there to celebrate their family’s special occasion. Some of the English was quite good, some not so much. But everyone was welcoming and festive.

  Sam and Nora got swept into the group, while Marco and I stepped away.

  He stood in front of me and gave me a proper
kiss. “Hello, Bella. You made me wait too long.”

  “Hello darling. You missed me?”

  “I’ve been trying to grow gills all day. Haven’t quite gotten the hang of it yet.”

  He was so clever and funny. “Don't you have to take care of groomsmen things?”

  “All I have to do is stand here and look at you. And maybe some other things a bit later.”

  I couldn’t stop smiling, so he continued. “All I could think of today was you, and our wonderful morning. Was it a dream?”

  “Yes, I think it must have been.” Heat filled my cheeks and I glanced away, hoping to cool down. “Thank you again for inviting us. We are so excited. And it seems that Esteban and Lizzy have something planned for later. Should I be concerned?”

  “I wish I knew, but I wouldn't be worried. I will have to stand at the altar in a few minutes, but for now I am all yours. And I’d like to just parade you around the room for a bit.”

  “Am I just arm candy? Is that all I am to you?”

  “Actually, I prefer my arm candy unwrapped.”

  “Hmmm. I’m afraid this will have to do for now.”

  “I suppose that's fine,” he said, mocking disappointment.

  He introduced me to many more people, whose names I forgot almost as soon as I heard them. He enthralled me as he moved through the room like royalty, so charming and elegant. How had I landed this guy?

  Esteban's other brother found us and let Marco know they were starting.

  He kissed me. “Until I can breathe again.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Taking A Bite

  I couldn’t move for a few moments, so entranced by him. I looked up to find my family waving wildly at me, beckoning me to the seat they’d saved. I floated the whole way over.

  The wedding was as expected. The crowd gasped as the bride entered, looking like a cake topper - petite and perfect, bejeweled from head to toe and beaming like a little girl. Her husband-to-be cried as she walked toward him. Marco never stopped looking at me, even as tears ran down my cheeks. I didn’t mind one bit.

  The wedding party left the room together, and the guests were ushered into the grand ballroom, which made the ceremony hall look like a dingy closet. The decor transformed from pristine white to a festival of colors. Everyone stood awe-struck, just for a moment, at the entryway, disbelieving the grandeur of what they were seeing. Thankfully the ushers kept people moving along.

  The four of us exchanged glances of disbelief.

  “I can't believe we're here,” mouthed Lizzy.

  “I know.”

  I was fully expecting to sit apart from Marco, understanding the tradition to have the entire wedding party together. But we entered and saw a special table for the bride and groom, on an elevated stage, and no other specially designated table. This was a newfangled approach to weddings, I thought, but I liked it if I got to sit next to my man.

  My thoughts were confirmed as we found our names on the table. The four of us, plus Marco, Esteban and Esteban's other brother and his wife, made up the table. The men had not yet arrived, so Sam was our token date for now.

  But his attention was only for Nora. Her response to his arrival, which really could have gone either way, changed something in him. In them. Maybe all this love and lust around us was making all the relationships better. Not that they needed any help, other than my sister being so demanding.

  Even that thought made me laugh, as I remembered her puppy-dog face when she saw Sam in the room. And how they were so blatantly having sex, which my conservative sister would have never done with us so close by. Nora looked nothing short of blissful. I gave myself a mental pat on the back for orchestrating this surprise. Not bad, Nik.

  “Daydreaming again, Bella?” I heard to my right, and there he was. My beautiful man coming to be with me. Things could not have been any better.

  The evening passed too quickly. We ate and drank and danced to the wonderful band, playing a variety of Latin music and contemporary dance tunes. Sam was eager to show off the ballroom dance lessons he and Nora had taken, and Lizzy was happy to be swung around by her Prince Charming. I just wanted Marco to hold me, and that he did.

  “I’m so sorry I had to rush off this morning,” I told him.

  “Yes, that. It’s fine, but only just this once.” He flashed me that smile again.

  “It was a bit frantic and I didn't tell you what an incredible time I had last night. And this morning.” We both smiled remembering how we had woken up.

  “The way you share yourself... how honest you are, even when it's hard... I want you to know that I don't take it lightly.”

  I didn’t know what to say. If only he knew how much I was concealing, how the rush of emotions I had around him nearly drowned me every time I saw him. But I’d never heard a man say the things he said to me and I wanted to let myself take it all in.

  I let the part of me that wanted to say, He's too smooth! You’re being played! Wake up! make it’s way out of my system. Then I closed my eyes and enjoyed him holding me.

  “I feel the same way Marco. It’s been wonderful, these days with you. Maybe I’m just having one of my famous daydreams?”

  “Maybe we both are.”

  We were a well-matched couple, not only in the bedroom, but also on the dance floor. He was the perfect height for a partner, standing just half a head taller than me when I was in heels. Our bodies fit together like puzzle pieces.

  I realized that I didn’t worry about who was leading when I was with him. Being in charge all the time was exhausting, frankly, and this was a breath of fresh air. I released myself into his support, his guidance, and gave him my trust. This was working on and off the dance floor.

  We spent most of the evening dancing, sometimes switching partners. My turn with Sam consisted of us doing the most dramatic moves he could think of, steps that Nora would never have let him get away with but ones he knew I’d be willing to do. We laughed, strutted, dipped, and spun.

  “You look so happy, Nik. It’s about time. And Marco can't stop looking at you, like he can't believe his eyes. You know you've totally got him, don't you?”

  “Don’t you think it's just too good to be true, Sammy? I mean he's too fucking perfect!”

  “No, he's not perfect. But he might be really, really good. You deserve a man who is going to worship the ground you walk on, and also not let you get away with any shit. He might just be it.”

  “Don’t say that Sammy. You’re going to jinx everything!”

  “Do you know who you remind me of?”

  “You and Nora?”

  “Nope. Even better. Claire and Peter.”

  Remembering my parents brought an ache to the center of my chest. It was impossible to not feel the hole they left or to imagine ever having a love affair like theirs. Could what he was saying be true?

  “I miss them so much, Sammy. I can’t really believe it…”

  “Me too, Nik.”

  Sam knew the easiest way to distract me from my painful memories was to move my body, so he spun me around until I crumbled with laughter. I missed my brother too, as if one of my limbs was gone, but Sam was a priceless gift in our family. The older brother we needed. I gave him a huge kiss and told him how much I appreciated him coming.

  “If not for you, sweet Nik.”

  We walked over to the table arm-in-arm, ready to sit and catch our breath. Marco and Lizzy were doing the twist on the dance floor, seeing who could go lowest. Despite her recent top-heaviness, she won by quite a bit. Esteban and Nora, who stood about a head taller than him, appeared to be having a serious conversation. She might have been interrogating him. Uh oh.

  Sam and I had the same thought. “I better go save that poor young man before Nora castrates him,” he offered, while I laughed.

  Marco saw me sitting by myself and came over to grab me. He, Lizzy and I finished the song doing the 3-way bump. I couldn’t remember ever having so much fun, feeling so free, and loving a moment
so dearly.

  The announcement was made that the speeches were going to begin and we should take our seats. I was grateful for the break. A girl who lived in clogs and sandals had a hard time in the stilettos I was pretending I could walk in.

  “I would tell you that you can really move, but I’ve seen you at your best, and know that this is nothing.”

  “Marco!” I was concerned that someone had heard us, but pleased to receive his compliment. “You better stop that, mister. We have to make it through this wedding.”

  “Do we?”

  “Ughhh,” I said, feigning exasperation.

  The speeches were heartfelt and beautiful. The fathers, both of whom spoke, had the whole audience in tears. Apparently, they were childhood friends, reunited when their own children fell in love. I couldn’t stop crying, which left Marco searching for tissues. By the look on his face, he was touched and entertained by my emotional outpouring.

  The speeches seemed to be coming to a close when Esteban escorted Lizzy to the microphone. Nora and I looked at each other, horrified. What is that crazy girl going to do?

  “Hola mi amigos! Me llamo Elizabetta. Sorry but that's all the Spanish I know,” she said with a sweet laugh.

  I didn’t blink or breathe, so surprised and concerned about what was happening. Everyone else seemed fine, but I couldn’t understand. Lizzy didn’t know any of these people. What was she doing up there?

  “I just met the bride and groom recently, but I have to say they define love. This whole room is so full of love. I can't even describe it well. Maybe if I were a poet... but I’m not.” Again one of Lizzy's signature giggles.

  “Since I didn't know them that well, I had a hard time picking out a wedding gift, so I thought something else might work. When I was growing up, my sisters used to dance around the house and sing to me. It kept me from crying, I guess. Since they have shown me what love is I guess this song is for them too. And of course, my Stebby,” and she blew Esteban a kiss.