The Wedding Date

by Zrinka Jelic

  “I have an ice bucket on the patio filled with beer and wine coolers.” God, not her too. He already dealt with a fair share of women who didn’t heed the message that he was not a free man, or a cheater.

  Eilla followed him to the patio and took the beer bottle from his hand.

  He stepped back, increasing the distance between them and pointed at the glass patio door. “I’m to check for swim trunks for your boyfriend and Neri’s cousins.”

  She chuckled. “Don’t be scared, I’m more interested in your girlfriend.”

  Though her admission should’ve relieved him his uneasiness, it only made it worse. This had to be a first, girls usually expressed interest in him, not his girl. He could handle any guy wanting his woman, but how could he compete against another woman? “I’m not sure Neri swings that way.”

  “That’s too bad,” she said, sliding her pierced tongue over the bottle’s neck. “I like a good ménage once in a while. Helps keep the things fresh. How about you? Do you swing that way?”

  “Nope, just straight, vanilla sex. We’ve been dating for only sh—um—sometime. Sex is still fresh between me and Neri.” Maybe that would deter her, but damn he almost blurted out he and Neri were together only shortly. Even if he were single, no way he would sleep with this girl. She was good looking, and probably intelligent, but not his type. Besides, if Neri kept staging fantasy plays, their sex wouldn’t go stale. “What does Chris think of your ways?”

  “He introduced me to his way, and I like it. Suit yourself, but if you two need to spice it up…” She put her free hand to her ear and mouthed ‘call me’, then took a sip of her beer and left, the scent of her heavy perfume lingered.

  He stood rooted and dumbfounded. Should he mention any of this to Neri? She struck a friendship with Eilla and learning the truth would hurt her. Unless she would like a threesome. The damn thought had a mild appeal, still he couldn’t see her enjoying getting pleasured by a woman. No, it was him who wouldn’t be able to stand to watch it. The job of pleasing his girl was reserved for him.

  “Everyone, we’re ready if you are.”

  Vince’s voice and guitar strumming snapped Mark out of his thoughts. He returned to the party at the pool. Wow, more guests showed up in the last few minutes. They all took their spots either inside or around the pool. A familiar looking lady rocked a fussy baby in her arms. He stepped in front of the small music band. “Everyone, I’m your host, but I’m not a waiter. Help yourselves with anything you’d like. Most of you know where to find my fridge. Now, let’s enjoy the music.” He scanned the faces of his friends.

  Some had their gazes trained on the band, while a few engaged in conversations, but no one bounced impatiently for the show to start.

  Good, everyone seemed clueless as to the kind of treat they were in for.

  Neri stepped in front, took in a long breath, put her violin on her shoulder and plucked at the strings while Eilla joined in with a long and sensual melody until the both girls made their instruments weep, and Chris eventually picked up with the slow rhythm on his drums.

  “Oh, wow!” Someone from the crowd called.

  Others nodded, a few exchanged wide eyed and gaping mouth glances, even the fussy baby calmed down.

  Mark’s insides swelled with pride.

  Neri needed a confidence boost and she shined, as he knew she would. She closed her eyes as music took her and eventually brought the piece to a slow and steady end. A moment of total silence loomed over the backyard, until he started clapping and the rest joined him.

  Neri directed her smile at him, then blew him a kiss.

  He pretended to catch it in his hand and pressed the open palm over his heart.

  “And that was Bach’s Air in G minor.” Vince bowed, motioning to the others in the band to do the same. “Care for more classical or shall we move to modern songs?”

  “Modern,” several audience members shouted.

  “All right.” Vince gave two thumbs up and faced the band. “Let’s roll with Dangerous.”

  Neri grinned and sucked air through her clenched teeth, flipping through the note sheets.

  He felt so excited for her. You can do it, love.

  Each musician played sporadic parts of the song for a few moments, creating a cacophony, then they stilled like runners waiting for the sprint gun to announce the start of the race.

  Chris clicked his drumsticks, counting to three and they started in a harmony until Neri picked up her part of the melody, standing out from the background music and forming a perfect composition. Her fingers flew over the strings, and she glided the bow back and forth. His guests danced in spot, a few spilled their drinks caught in the moment, but he couldn’t care. The party was taking flight. Later tonight, he’d serve her triple dessert. By God, they both needed it after her four days hiatus. Not that her decommission would stop him, but he would always respect her body and mind. It was a relief to find she’d put her lady’s unmentionables away this morning.

  Mark lost the count of songs the band played. The darkness fully settled over the yard by the time he checked his wristwatch. Almost ten in the evening, the party couldn’t go any further without risking someone calling the cops and getting charged with public disturbance. By the number of people in his backyard, he could also be charged with exceeding the safe occupancy. The gate must’ve been left open and passers-by let themselves in when they heard the music.

  He waved at Vince to gain his attention. Vince nodded and Mark made a slicing motion under his chin.

  Vince nodded again, giving him a thumbs up. “For our last song tonight, we chose something slow and romantic. I hope you enjoyed our show. If you want more, check out our YouTube videos. Search for The Brave Premise, our band name. Yes, Neri, you’re in the videos too, by the power of digital editing.”

  The crowd slowly dispersed, until only the band, the empties and crushed beer cans remained.

  Neri set on gathering the discarded bottles and picking up the garbage. “People disgust me.”

  “Leave that now and join us in the pool,” Vince called, removing his clothes.

  “What? Did Mark find you swim trunks?” She placed her hand over a crushed beer can.

  “No, we’re going in nekkid. Woo-hoo!” Eilla laughed then dove in the water.

  Neri’s jaw dropped as she gave Mark a no-friggin’-way look.

  He shook his head and grabbed her arm when she headed for the pool. “Are you joining them?”

  “No, I want to stop them,” she whispered.

  “Well, they are already splashing in there so let them cool off and they’ll be on their way. I just hope they have a designated driver or they’ll have to stay the night.” Damn, he meant to look for something to give them to swim in, but got sidetracked and this was the end result. After all the people dipped their feet in there, and the amount of spilled drinks, the pool would have to be drained and cleaned anyway.

  “Vince never drinks.” Neri grabbed towels from the lawn chairs and set them by the ladder. “Come on guys, it’s getting late and we have to work in the morning. I hope you don’t mind us kicking you out.”

  “Not at all, but we couldn’t leave without taking the dip.” Vince swam up to the steps and waved the rest of his friends over. “Let’s hit the road, guys. We can still catch last call at McCall’s.”

  One by one, they got out, grabbed towels, dried off and dressed, then packed up their instruments.

  Mark shook hands with the guys on their way out. “It’s been a pleasure. Next week, my mom’s tea party. No skinny dipping there, eh?”

  Eilla took Mark’s hand and turned it palm up. “There’s sadness in your future. No matter what Neri does, don’t let her get away.”

  “You got all that from reading the lines on my palm.” Though her words pierced his core, he dismissed Eilla’s prediction, but the premonition remained.

  “No, I’ve got it from reading you. Women are around you all the time and Neri doesn’t know how to handle t
hat.” Eilla patted his cheek in motherly kind of way. “Be good to her.”

  Why was everyone telling him to be good to Neri? He wouldn’t know how to be anything but. “Of course, you got nothing to worry about.”

  Their car pulled away from the driveway and turned down the street.

  Mark snaked his arm around Neri’s waist. “Tonight’s entertainment deserves special reward. Ready for your dessert?”

  A wide smile blossomed on her face. She wrapped her arm around his midsection. “So ready. Eilla taught me something. I’ve brought whip cream.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Neri rested her head on Mark’s bare chest. His heart still raced under her palm. He draped one arm over his eyes and the other cradled her naked form, sticky with the sweat and whipping cream. Since her friend, Eilla, told her about how to use the frosting, Mark had introduced chocolate coulis and brought their dessert to a whole new level.

  Neri lazily traced her fingers down his defined ab muscles. How had she scored such an amazing guy? When she reached below his waist, he sucked in his breath. She cupped his balls. He groaned.

  She let out a deep throaty laugh. “That chocolate éclair was delish.”

  He emitted another deep groan. “I’ll never look at my cock the same.”

  “You’re the one who called it éclair, now you can’t complain about it.” She kissed his chest and rolled onto her back, attempting to get out of the bed.

  His arm around her waist pulled her back to him. “You don’t get to leave this bed just yet.”

  “As much as it pains me to leave you, I have to shower. We’ll be late for your mom’s high tea party.” Neri wiggled out of his hold. If she succumbed, they’d never make it to their appointment and she would stand her band up, and risk never hearing the end of it from Vince.

  “Oh, yeah, that.” Corners of Mark’s mouth dipped in a mocking smile. “We can save time by showering together.”

  How was she to resist that offer? She had to kiss his smiling lips. I love you, you big goof. Would she ever muster enough courage to say it out loud? Not likely, he hadn’t mentioned love either, though he’d shown it to her in more than one way, and it was his pet name for her. Besides, words proved to be cheap. So why did she want to hear them? Maybe because he’d shown his angry side and it though short lived, his temper was not something she wanted to see again. Unavoidable. Unfortunately, there’d be arguments, probably fights too, but it was all part of life and she needed to learn to roll with the punches.

  “Joining me?” His deep voice called out from the adjacent bathroom, muffled by the running water.

  She kicked her feet over the edge of the mattress and crossed the bedroom carpet to the tiled bathroom. Her thighs stuck together with remnants of their wild sex. The frosty glass door slid open before she could reach for the handle and there he stood, his torso covered in suds. The dried out whipped cream and chocolate sauce mixed with white foam that sluiced down his magnificent body. The colorful water swirled in the shower tub before disappearing into the drain, reminding her that their passion could just as easily trickle away. Only time would prove whether their love would survive the cousins’ wedding.

  He extended his hand to her. “Come love. Don’t think too hard. It’s just a shower together.”

  She took his offered hand and stepped under the warm spray.

  He tilted her head so the water slid down her back. Standing behind her, the shampoo cap popped open and he rubbed his hands then ran his fingers through her wet strands. Water rivets washed away his chocolate fingerprints on her skin. “I dreamt of washing your hair, actually, now I want to wash all of you.” His hands slid down her shoulders and to her boobs. He cupped them and pulled her to his chest, kissing the side of her neck. “You like that, don’t you?”

  His nudge made her tilt her head allowing him better access to her neck. He dotted kisses, coaxing a long moan from her. He was pulling her into the moment and she eagerly followed. At her long and loud exhale, he backed away, but continued to soap up her body. “I know, places to go, things to do. I let you finish up, but we’ll be back for another dessert later.”

  He left the shower stall, giving her some elbow room. She rinsed her hair. Though they’d sated their burning desires for each other twice this morning, she could never get enough of him. Damn their prior arrangements, thankfully it’d only take them a better part of the afternoon, leaving evening and the night to themselves. Hopefully, his mother wouldn’t insist they come for dinner.

  Shutting off the water, she put the thoughts out of her mind. Time to get ready. She stepped out, releasing the steam from the shower that fogged up the double mirrors.

  Mark leaned over the sink, white towel wrapped low around his narrow hips. Muscles on his back moved as he shaved, making faces, and running his hand over his neck, checking for any missed spots. “Remind me to thank Eilla for…” He rinsed the razor under the tap. “Making our desserts sweeter.”

  Neri smiled and wrapped her body into a big, fluffy towel. “I will, but speaking of her, do you find her a bit strange? I mean, I’m considered strange, but she’s way out there.”

  He turned to her, lines of shaving cream still on his face and neck. “You’re not strange, you’re one of a kind and I wouldn’t want you any other way. I wasn’t gonna say anything, but now that you mention it, yes, she’s a bit odd. I’m assuming all Goths are like that. They love the dark side and I’m not referring to the Darth Vader kind.”

  Neri fiddled with the corner of the towel, tucking it between her breasts. How should she bring what was on her mind delicately? “I’m talking about something different. I don’t mind her calling me hon, or sweetie, blowing kisses my way, and hugging me, I get that some girls bond that way. What I’m uncomfortable with is her staring at me like she wants to fu—um, if I don’t know any better, I’d say she’s sexually attracted to me.”

  His lips thinned out into a straight line, and he blew a long breath out through his nose, shook his head, faced the mirror and continued shaving.

  Neri waited until their gazes locked in the mirror and he stopped the razor on its way up his neck. “You have nothing to say to this?”

  “Nope.” He inspected his shave job once more and disposed of the blade.

  His unwillingness to talk or look her in the eye made her suspicious. “I don’t believe you. You know something.”

  “I know…nothing.” The pause in his firm voice was unconvincing.

  Neri’s breath hitched. “She came onto you, didn’t she?”

  “Nope. I’m not her type.” He removed the towel and placed it onto the rack.

  Neri couldn’t help but stare at his chiselled midriff, and feel he held something back. Wow, he wasn’t Eilla’s type? He was every woman’s type. “And how did you find that out?”

  His bit on his lower lip as in ‘shoot I spoke too soon’ gesture, then left the bathroom.

  She followed him. “Now, I know you’re holding something back.”

  “She and Chris have an open relationship where they are allowed little escapades. I call that a B.S. Cheating by any other name is still cheating.” He pulled clothes out of the drawer. “Enough about them. Go get ready.”

  “I don’t get such relationships either, but to each their own.” Cheating hurt and Mark seemed to know the feeling all too well. A sudden realization struck her. “Oh my God, Eilla is trying to line me up for Chris, that’s it. It’s him who wants me.”

  Mark chuckled. “Not even close. Go get ready.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “You know something, and I won’t let up until you tell me.”

  His shoulders slouched as if in defeat. “You get nervous before preforming, so I don’t think I should tell you.”

  She placed her hands on her hips, though wearing nothing but a towel the determined look she was going for didn’t quite show. “Now, you have to tell me. What is it?”

  Mark stopped pulling his boxers on and looked at her. “Eilla likes y
ou, I mean, she really likes you.”

  “So?” She shook her head. “I like her too. What’s so terrible about that?”

  He gave her a narrowed eyed look. “Think! She likes you as I like you.”

  “As in—oh God. She’s bi-sexual?” Neri tried to blink, but couldn’t. In countless the hours, they spent skyping and practicing their instruments, it never dawned on her that her new friend could desire her sexually. Then again, this was the first time a woman was attracted to her. She didn’t know if she should be honored. How many women could say that? Putting it mildly, this was surreal.

  “I told her you probably wouldn’t be interested. Am I right?” Mark’s voice once again, penetrated her thoughts.

  A naughty idea crossed Neri’s mind. Maybe she could get him to sweat a little. She tweaked her head as if contemplating the possibility.

  His eyes slowly widened. “You’d like to give it a try?”

  “What do you think?” she asked, just to get a reaction from him. Hopefully, he wasn’t one of the guys who knew what was best for her to the point to take liberty and order her food in the restaurant without even asking if that dish was to her liking.

  “If you want to experiment, I wouldn’t stop you, but I join in, or I’d want to hear all about it later.” He smiled.

  Now, she couldn’t help but feel her called her bluff. “Nah, I’d never be able to look at Eilla the same. We’re friends not lovers, and I hope she gets that.” Neri understood Eilla’s sexual orientation, but she was as straight as arrow. How would she play today alongside Eilla? Well, maybe if they have time, she could clear things with her and make sure her friend stayed just a friend.

  “Good to know. She does it to keep things fresh between her and Chris. Nothing more. It’s meaningless sex to both of them, and I don’t think your friend would want to do that to you.” Mark pulled his arms through the short sleeves of his shirt and yanked the neck opening over his head. “You’re not ready yet.”