by Alexa Milne
“No one will see or hear,” she whispered. “Not with the music playing.”
She knew me too well, knew what turned me on and pressed my buttons, and knew I loved danger, within limits. The idea of being caught, of being daring and naughty, fed my adventurous side. I moved my legs apart. No one would see her movements under the table of the booth. She let her fingers trail circles over my stomach then twirled my pubic hair, pulling slightly. I never shaved, believing women should have hair, even if sometimes a person did swallow some. She slipped a couple of fingers lower, pushing between the folds until she hit my clit. She faced me now, stuck out her tongue and ran the tip across my lips with her back to the dance floor. I shivered.
“Oh yes,” I breathed. I could see all the people moving while she rubbed. Being in public like this—seen but not seen—turned me on as much as her actions.
“You’re so wet,” Cass said. “I wish I could get on my knees under the table and eat you out. It wouldn’t be my first time under a desk.” But not with me. Still, just the thought had me squirming on the pleather seats.
“Can you imagine me between your thighs while you took a meeting? My tongue licking you, my lips sucking on your clit while you had to maintain control?”
I kissed her to stop her talking. She rubbed harder and that familiar feeling of something gathering, desperate for release, grew stronger. I breathed in and held each breath, waiting again and again as I thought I was finally there, then wasn’t.
“Come on, pet. Come for me. Come with all these people in the room.”
“At last,” I gasped. The contractions hit me hard. She caught me in another kiss, and I panted and cried into her, clutching at her with both hands, until I could stand no more and shook my head. She stopped and removed her hand before leaning back beside me. Nothing had changed. No one stared. The music continued. People danced. Cass lifted her fingers to her mouth and sucked on them. Shit. Would I ever get enough of this woman?
I let my breathing subside then swallowed what was left of my drink. I needed to freshen up. “I have to find the ladies,” I said.
She grinned at me then winked. “Why don’t we get a taxi out of here instead and take this back to the hotel, my pet? You can wait. It won’t take long then it’s time for my turn.”
Chapter Six
Cassandra
“Wow!” The view in front of us was simply stunning. I couldn’t believe I was going to spend the night there with Ronnie. Somehow, we’d gone from fuck buddies, if that was the right phrase, to a couple attending a celebrity wedding at a fucking castle. “Stop the car a minute. I want to get a photo.” I stepped out of the passenger side and snapped several pictures. The building was symmetrical with towers at each corner, an entrance with a metal gate and a drawbridge over a moat—a goddamn drawbridge. I’d researched the place and found out it had been rebuilt in the fifteenth century during the Hundred Years War. There had been a fortification on the site for many years before that.
“It’s beautiful,” I said, getting back in the car. “Who wouldn’t want to get married here?”
“There are formal gardens at the rear and even a maze you can go in,” Ronnie said. “We have a few hours yet so you can explore the castle if you want.”
Ronnie started the engine again. The clock over the entrance struck ten as we passed under. The ceremony didn’t take place until three-thirty, which gave time for all the guests to arrive. At the gate, a guard asked us for identification. A few of the press hung around outside, hoping for shots of the happy couple. Security was tight, but this was the only available entrance, deliberately chosen to make it easier to maintain privacy.
“They’re still worried there may be drones used,” Ronnie explained. “All sorts of magazines wanted an exclusive story, but Theresa and Marty have decided to give all the press the same couple of photos.”
We were directed to park the car around the back of the main structure then to a side entrance hidden from view by a trellis. Inside, more staff pointed us to reception. Finally, we arrived at our room, which overlooked the gardens at the back. I stared out of the window then around the room, trying to take everything in.
“Bloody hell, this is unreal.” I bounced on the four-poster bed and stroked a pillowcase. “These must have a high thread count, and this throw has silk running through it. And the carpet—that’s a fleur-de-lys pattern, isn’t it?”
Ronnie smiled at me.
“Sorry, I’m rambling. I’ve never been in a place like this before.”
“Me neither—at least not to stay. It is sumptuous, isn’t it?” She opened a door in the corner. “And this is the ensuite. There’s room for both of us in the bath should we want.”
I stood behind her and gazed over her shoulder. “Shame we showered this morning.”
We both turned at a knocking noise. A woman put her head around the door. “You’re here then?”
Ronnie hurried forward and hugged our visitor before turning to face me again. “This is Theresa,” she said. Theresa moved forward and held out her hand.
“Tess,” she said, glaring at Ronnie. “And you must be Cassandra. It’s so good to meet you.”
“Cass, and thanks for inviting me. This is a beautiful place to have a wedding.” Tess and Ronnie shared the same hair and eye color though Tess’s was cut short. She was thinner and taller than Ronnie, but they had the same great smile.
“Would you mind if I whisked Veronica away? I know it’s early yet, but I need her with me to get through this. Seems like there’s still a million things to do.”
“Of course. Don’t worry. I’ll have a mooch around the place before I get changed.”
Ronnie glanced at me, then at her sister. “Give me thirty minutes, Tess, and I’ll be with you. I need to sort something with Cass first.” Was that a wink?
“Sure, of course. I’ll be in room twenty-four around the corner. Mum’s here as well. She’s dying to meet you, Cass, so be warned, she may turn up. If you want something to nibble, there’ll be food in one of the downstairs rooms for early guests. We’ve told everyone else to arrive after one.”
“Where’s Marty?” Ronnie asked.
“His room is on the other side of the castle to keep him from seeing me. His parents are here and his brother and sister.” She turned to me. “His nieces, Carly and Maisie, are the other bridesmaids. So, I’ll see you in a little while, Veronica.”
Once she’d gone, I gazed at Ronnie with a puzzled expression. “What’s going on? You could have gone with her. I promise you I’ll be fine.” Truth was I felt more than a little intimidated by the whole occasion.
Ronnie wrapped her arms around me, and I leaned into her touch. “I wanted to give you a present before I left. Umm, I bought you something from the lingerie shop in Brighton. Now, don’t be cross with me. I couldn’t resist.”
I sat back on the bed while she opened her suitcase and took out a flat cardboard box that she handed to me.
“Can I open it now?” I asked. She nodded, twirling a strand of hair, a sign of nervousness I knew well.
I peeled back the thin paper to reveal the long-line bra and briefs set. I lifted the bra. “Oh my, these are the ones I looked at, aren’t they? They’re so beautiful.”
“I saw you gazing at them. With your coloring, they’ll be perfect under your dress. And I’ll look forward to seeing you wear them later when I take the dress off.”
Butterflies flited around in my stomach at the thought of her touch. “Don’t, or I’ll be wet with anticipation all evening.”
I sat on the end of the bed. She closed the space between us. “And that would be a bad thing?” How the tables had turned. I was well and truly out of my comfort zone. She parted my knees and stood between them before lifting my chin and kissing me. “I’ll see you later, my angel. Think of me surrounded by absolute chaos when I’d much rather be with you. My mum will be like a cat on hot coals. She hardly stops moving at the quietest of times, so being the mother of the bride will send her
spinning like a top.”
I coughed. “What do I say if anyone asks who I am?” I didn’t want to say the wrong thing. My usual confidence was slowly disappearing at the thought of being there on my own surrounded by people I didn’t know or those I’d only seen in the media.
“If anyone asks, the answer is simple—you’re the girlfriend of the bride’s sister. Is that all right with you?”
“That’s perfect,” I said, surprised at the ripple of warmth in my chest. She blew a kiss from the door then left me on my own.
Deciding to be brave, I ventured back to the entrance hall. A small, redheaded woman rushed toward me. I wasn’t expecting an embrace, but I got one. She stepped back and assessed me. “Mrs. Smith?” I questioned.
“Oh, forgive me, my dear. My excitement at meeting you has stolen my manners, and you must call me Marie. I’m Veronica’s mother. She said you’d come here first. I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve organized a tour of the place for us.”
And a clever way to get time to interrogate me? “How wonderful,” I said. A guide appeared as if by magic.
While we strolled through room after room, every time the guide stopped giving us some detail of the decoration, furniture or simply the history, I got a question. Meeting Ronnie’s mother gave me a great insight into the origin of Ronnie’s energy and determination—the woman could have worked for any interrogation agency in the world. Still, I appreciated the straight talking. I explained a little of my past.
“What happened to your mother?” she asked.
I replied truthfully. “She died.” I didn’t elaborate.
“You never attempted to find her, or she find you before then?”
“No. I shut a door and never wanted to open it again. Maybe that left me without closure, but she put drugs before me, and it’s been hard to forgive her for that. I know it wasn’t all her fault…but she let men run her life. I vowed I’d never do the same.”
Marie stopped abruptly. Tears pricked at my eyes until I had to wipe away a single drop sliding over my cheek.
“I understand,” she said simply, letting her hand hover over my arm as if she was unsure whether she should touch me.
“I’ve never said much about the girls’ father to them. When he left, he didn’t attempt to keep in touch. They’re entirely mine, and I can’t tell you how proud I am of them. When Theresa brought home a footballer, I had my doubts, but Marty has a good head on his shoulders. My girls have been raised to believe in themselves and their own ability and judgment. Until you, Veronica has always been focused on her work, and I was so worried after what happened in the US. That’s where you met, isn’t it?”
“Yes, we saw each other across a crowded room.”
The guide coughed and we were silent while he explained more details of the history of people in the portraits. We finished at the top of one of the towers which gave a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view of the country around us.
“It’s beautiful,” I said. “When I was young, I used to fantasize about being a princess in a castle, but I could never work out why I didn’t want a handsome prince to rescue me. Instead, in my dreams, I made friends with the dragon and got out on my own.”
Marie smiled. “You and Veronica have a lot in common. She’s always decided on her own destiny. I simply helped her and her sister along. You must have as much determination as her, but sometimes she needs someone to take the burdens from her shoulders, or she can do too much.”
What the hell? Is the woman psychic?
“When she returned from the US, she worked hard to get back in the game as she saw it.” The guide had left us by now. Marie sat on a seat and patted the one next to her. I sat, unsure what to expect.
“You need to understand that my girls are very close. They tell each other everything.”
Oh! Heat rushed into my face and I stared at the beautiful parquet flooring. She hadn’t told me that.
“I’m not a naturally nosey person, but I overheard them one day. Veronica was talking about someone she’d met in America, someone she missed, someone who’d allowed her to give up control. That person was you, wasn’t it? You don’t have to answer, Cassandra. I’m not naïve. I’ve read about things. I want my girls to be happy, and even though you’ve only been back together for a few weeks, I can see the difference in her. I need to know you feel the same. If this is simply sex for you, I need you to tell her.”
I lifted my head and met her questioning gaze. “I’ve never met anyone like Ronnie in my whole life. And after her, I don’t need to. We fit. We’re not intending to rush into anything, but she means the world to me.” Marie patted my hand.
“Good, that’s all I needed to hear. Now, I’d better let you get changed and grab something to eat. I need to return to the girls and get my own outfit on.” She stood and held out her arms. I rose and stepped into her embrace. I’d never been one for tears, but they threatened again. Thank goodness for waterproof mascara.
Chapter Seven
Veronica
As much as I loved my sister, being stuck in a room with her, even a room in a castle, on the morning of her wedding, proved not to be my idea of fun. First, there was the hairdresser, determined to put my hair up using a band threaded with green foliage and tiny white fresh flowers.
“It’ll be a nightmare to remove,” I protested. My protests were ignored. I got no sympathy.
“Just be glad you haven’t got a veil and train to deal with as well.” Theresa had a point.
The next stage was makeup, something I didn’t wear except for work. Luckily, like me, Theresa hated too much, and I had to admit it was subtle. We took a break for a while, which turned out to be a mistake as the interrogation began immediately the others left. At least my mother wasn’t here, but I didn’t doubt she’d be getting as much out of Cass as she could.
“So,” Theresa said, handing me a glass of champagne, “tell me all about meeting her again. How did the weekend go? You didn’t say much over the phone.”
“Well, you know we met a couple of years ago in the States,” I teased.
“Yes, yes, I know all that and some other things.” Her raised eyebrows said enough of the other things I’d confided during that drunken conversation.
“The weekend was awesome.” I sighed. “We talked and did other things. We walked along the prom, went up the i360—which is amazing, by the way—went shopping and dancing. And she’s here with me. Oh, Theresa, I think I love her. I never expected to see her again, but now we have this chance to have a future together.”
“Are you sure she feels the same?”
Does she? Everything that’s happened over the last few weeks tells me she does. “I think so.”
“You sound doubtful.”
Am I? “Maybe I was, but she’s here, probably being interrogated by Mum at this very moment, which must prove something. I don’t want to take anything for granted. People aren’t always who they think they are. Relationships change.” Heat rushed to my face at the thought of the wonderful sex we’d had and how much I’d enjoyed spending time with her.
Theresa nodded sagely. “When I first met Marty, I thought he’d be one of those typical footballers who’re completely up themselves, but he isn’t. He’s so grounded and his family are wonderful.”
This would be the first time I’d met them, except for Marty’s sister, Helen, who was a staff nurse in London. I’d certainly never met a female firefighter like Marty’s mother.
“His dad is designing the garden at the new house for us. You’ll get an invite to the housewarming when we’re sorted, don’t worry. His older brother, Ally, who’s a social worker in Cornwall, and his middle brother, Steve, who’s also a firefighter, are already here. You’ll like them. I want everyone to get on. Did I tell you Marty’s working with me for this new charity we’ve set up with his club to get kids into reading, especially boys?”
“Sounds great,” I said.
“And Mum and Anna, Marty’s mum, are thick as
thieves. I can’t believe how well everyone gets on with each other.”
“Sounds perfect,” I said.
She stared at me. “I know it’s hard to believe, but it is perfect, Veronica. I adore them all.”
I took her hands in mine. “I’m sorry. I am thrilled for you. Really. I know how happy he makes you.” The happiness did shine out of her. The door opened, interrupting the moment and both mothers came bustling in, already dressed and made-up for the occasion.
“We’ve brought a couple of sandwiches to keep you going. I see you’ve both hit the booze already.” Mum put the plate on the sideboard. “You both need to eat before you get dressed. Anna, this is my other daughter, Veronica.”
“It’s lovely to meet you, Anna,” I said, holding out my hand. Her grip was firm, probably a result of holding all those hoses. “Theresa has told me so much about you. All good, I should add.” I didn’t dare ask how Mum had got on with Cass, but she spoke first.
“I like her,” she said, talking to me while Anna talked to Theresa. “Cass. She has a sensible head on her shoulders. I think she’ll be good for you and give you what you need.” She gazed at me, her eyes wide, and I knew that, somehow, she knew. My face flushed with heat. Had Theresa told her of our conversation? I side-eyed her, and she shook her head, having obviously overheard.
“I’m glad.” I spluttered, nearly spitting out my sandwich. “She’s been though a lot in her life.” I’d told her the basics of Cass’ background.
“She has. You could both do with some fun, and if there’s more to it, all the better. She said she’d pop in before the ceremony to see you dressed.”
I nodded. “Thanks for looking after her. Did you get shown around?”
“We did.” She explained the place and its history to us until it was time to change into our outfits. Once we were done, Theresa and I stood in front of both older women. Tears ran down their faces.
“You look so beautiful,” Anna said.
Theresa had chosen a full dress with longer sleeves in white lace to match the yoke and train. Her bouquet contained white and orange flowers with greenery woven through. My dress, in green, fitted perfectly. The door burst open and two bundles of energy rushed in ready to pounce on the bride until their grandmother held them off. They were already dressed. Their mother appeared and took hold of a hand from each.