Lust and Honor
Page 2
***
The laughing, chattering bridal party, sans newlyweds, piled into two gleaming black Mercedes limos that would take them from the church to the reception at Boston’s swanky Copley Plaza Hotel. Diego wasn’t sure where the opened bottle of champagne came from, but he parted his lips when the luscious bridesmaid who’d landed on his lap offered some to him. She overestimated his mouth’s capacity and, as the bubbly overflowed, she licked the excess away. Diego didn’t miss the promise of other delights being offered as the girl’s — what the hell was her name? — body met his and the strapless bodice of her dress shifted.
When the car jerked to a stop, he grasped her waist to prevent her from sliding off his lap. “Thanks,” she breathed into his ear.
“My pleasure,” he replied.
“It could be…later.” She raised her eyebrows in question.
“Perhaps,” he told her, although he thought it unlikely. She was making it too easy and Diego Navarro was the kind of man who preferred a challenge.
* * *
Will and Alex graciously received the hundreds of guests invited to the reception by his socialite parents. The two couples stood just inside the hotel’s grand ballroom, an opulent space with mirrored and gilt-edged cream-color walls, thirty-foot ceilings, crystal chandeliers and balconies overlooking the entire scene.
The bride and groom reserved their warmest greetings for their friends. Diego clasped hands with Will, then they thumped each other on the back in a very male one-armed hug. When he found himself mere inches in front of a radiant Alex, the confidence that Diego was born with deserted him and he hesitated. She extended both hands toward him and he let out a breath. “I’m so happy for you,” he said, smiling broadly.
“Thanks. And you, Señor Navarro, look so yummy in that tux that I’m sure you can have your pick of any woman here.” Alex was grinning and hadn’t let go of his hands.
“Any woman?” he asked flirtatiously and raised his eyebrows as he brought one of her hands to his lips. His dark eyes sparkled with delight as they met her equally amused green ones.
She laughed. “Well, not any!”
“Go get your own playmate, Navarro! This one’s mine,” Will said and wrapped his arm around his wife’s slender waist. He shoved his laughing best man toward the ballroom where waiters were circulating with glasses of champagne. Diego grabbed two and went in search of the willing bridesmaid. At that moment, he needed uncomplicated sex, not a challenge.
She was flirting with one of the groomsmen when he found her, but that man was quickly abandoned once she spotted Diego heading in her direction. She took the flute of champagne he held toward her.
Did you change your mind?” She tilted her head as she whispered the question and they both understood what she was asking.
“A promise of pleasure is hard for a man to turn down.” His gaze slowly explored her lush body and he grinned when she shivered. “We can meet in my suite once the dancing starts.”
“Or it might be fun to sneak up to one of those balconies. No one would see us,” she said.
“I prefer a bed. And privacy,” he murmured and nipped her earlobe. She smelled like vanilla, good enough to eat. But that would come later.
Diego continued to circulate until dinner was announced and everyone was finally seated. He pushed back his chair, got to his feet and gently tapped his wine glass with a knife until there was quiet.
“For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Diego Navarro. Will and I met at school when we were eight years old and became best friends. I think of him as my brother and I’m thrilled he found the kind of love he and Alex share. We should all be that lucky.” He let his eyes rest on the bride and groom as he turned toward them and raised his glass. “I like to think I’m too much of a gentleman to embarrass Will on such a special day with stories about…how shall I put it...adventures he and I have had.” This was greeted with laughter and shouts of encouragement. Will covered his face with a cloth napkin. Diego guessed that his friend expected the worst and held up his hand until everyone was quiet. “Wedding toasts aren’t a custom in Argentina, my home country, but I’d like to offer one to Will and Alex that I learned from my parents. Please raise your glasses.” He paused dramatically and then began, “Salud, amor y alegría y el tiempo para disfrutarlas. It’s a simple toast, but it’s what my heart wishes for them. Health, love and happiness and the time to enjoy them.”
No one who saw the happiness on the bride and groom’s faces could have guessed that an ancient Scottish oath would make time the one thing Will and Alex didn’t have.
THE END
I hope you enjoyed reading about Alex, Will and Diego as much as I enjoyed creating them. Their story continues in two full-length novels: LEGACY OF THE HIGHLANDS https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/legacy-of-the-highlands-harriet-schultz/1108337176
and A LEGACY OF REVENGE https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-legacy-of-revenge-harriet-schultz/1114831891
The third and final book of the series, LEGACY OF LOVE, will be published in the summer, 2014.
You can read the start of LEGACY OF THE HIGHLANDS below.
Please send me an email if you want to be among the first to know when LEGACY OF LOVE is available: authorharrietschultz@hotmail.com