“Can I get the happy couple some drinks?” I offer when I catch Aisha’s eye.
“You can give the bride a hug!” she demands, as she unwraps herself from her husband and steps towards me.
I squeeze her back as tightly as she grips me.
“I’m so pleased Mina took a chance on you!” she says into my ear as we hug.
“Not as pleased as I am,” I tell her as we pull apart.
“I really didn’t think you’d go the distance, you know,” Aisha tells me with big, brown sparkling eyes and animated hands. “I was worried she’d have chewed you up and spat you out by now.”
“Who says she hasn’t?” I joke. “She just didn’t spit me out far enough.”
We laugh together until Nick decides to join in and say something that silences us both.
“Maybe it’ll be you and Mina walking down the aisle soon,” he booms. Aisha’s mouth snaps shut and she gives Nick an admonishing look.
“They only just moved in together.” She swipes at his chest. “Besides, he needs to survive next weekend. Are you sure you’re ready for that?”
She’s referring to their Hindu marriage ceremony next weekend and the three days of rituals and celebrations. Mina has briefed me on what will happen and what some of the activities will represent, but mostly she’s warned me to expect a lot of food and a very busy few days of friends, family and some acquaintances even she will hardly know.
“I’m excited,” I tell Aisha, and I am. I can’t wait for it. I can’t wait for any day when I wake up and get to be Mina’s boyfriend. “I’ve got my angarkha ready and I’ve even asked Mina if she will do some henna on my hands. A small piece of course. You are the bride after all.”
Aisha’s grin stretches wider as she grabs my forearm. “You will have your own mehndi together? That is too cute!”
I open my mouth to agree but am promptly silenced by a jolt of pressure buzzing into my core from my…
“Arghsh,” I exclaim, leaning forward and gripping Aisha’s arm to find my balance.
“Are you okay?” she asks.
I straighten up as much as I can, which is not very much at all.
“I’m fine,” I squeak.
“Seriously, Charlie, are you in pain?” Nick asks from my other side.
“No! Not in pain,” I say and that much is true. What I’m experiencing is not exactly comfortable but it’s not painful. In fact, it’s worryingly pleasurable. Why, oh, why did I agree to wearing this godforsaken toy. “I think I just ate something funny last night.”
After shifting my weight from one foot to the other as subtly as I can, I’m able to stand a little straighter and offer Nick and Aisha what I hope is a reassuring smile.
“Maybe you need another drink?” Nick asks.
“Excellent idea.” I nod and shakily step closer to the bar.
By the time I’ve ordered drinks for myself and Mina, I’ve just about adjusted to the buzzing which is relentlessly vibrating up my spine and through my groin. I’ve just about got used to the pressure building behind my balls and while it’s taking more concentration than I know I can maintain, I’ve managed to avoid getting fully hard. And surely, surely, Mina will turn it off soon, or show up so she can hear me beg her to turn it off. I know how much she likes to hear me beg.
When I have the drinks in front of me, I waste no time bringing my glass to my lips. I’m halfway through my first sip when the buzzing stops. And then starts again. Then stops. And then picks up again for a while before stopping again.
Short, short, long. Short, short, long.
It’s a devastatingly delicious rhythm and Mina knows exactly what she’s doing in choosing it for me.
When I swallow my brandy and lemonade, I am also swallowing down a giant lump of panic, because I really don’t know how I can hold a normal conversation with Aisha and Nick. Nor do I know how I can turn around from the bar without revealing just how much more this new rhythm is affecting my body.
“Is that your phone?” Nick asks from behind me.
Oh, God. Can they hear the vibrating? Please, no.
