Ten
Bel was walking past the kitchen when the door to a cupboard under the back stairs opened and she was grabbed, one hand around her waist, the other across her mouth. She didn’t have time to scream, and when she did, it only came out as a muffled noise as she struggled against being dragged into the small, dark storage area. It took only a fraction of a second to realise who her abductor was—even in the dark, there was no mistaking that scent—and the fight left her, replaced by a far more powerful emotion: lust.
‘I couldn’t resist. I saw you coming and I found this little hidey-hole the other day. Ever since, I’ve been thinking about you and me in here.’
‘But the kitchen is just there,’ she protested weakly as he began kissing the side of her neck.
‘So we’ll have to be quiet,’ he said in a low voice that did dangerous things to her pulse.
His fingers were already deftly unbuttoning her shirt and moving to her jeans. Within moments, he was skilfully caressing her and driving her to the brink of insanity. Never in her wildest imagination—and she had a pretty wild imagination—had she ever thought she would be having mind-blowing sex in her aunt’s storage room with someone like Tate McBride. This didn’t happen in real life … only itwashappening. She couldn’t believe her world had taken such a huge turn.
As she collapsed against his chest, both of them breathing heavily, she heard voices closing in and instantly jerked upright in his embrace.
‘Honestly, Stanley, do you have to wear those dirty pants inside? You’re supposed to be hosting your daughter’s wedding and you come in here dressed like some … hobo!’
‘I’ve been out moving sheep. What do you want me to wear, a tuxedo?’
‘You have employees for that.’
‘Well, not enough, when I discover most of them have been roped into unloading supplies for this bloody wedding instead of the job they’re actually paid to do,’ Bel’s uncle grumbled.
Bel clutched Tate’s forearms tightly. What if one of them opened the door? Oh, dear God, she would die of absolute humiliation.
She felt Tate chuckle silently and would have hit him if she could risk moving. Finally, the voices began to fade as her uncle, clearly having had enough of his wife’s chastising, decided to take himself off. But Aunt Lois was apparently not done and was close on his heels.
‘You can let go now,’ Tate murmured. Bel released her grip on his arm, blindly searching for her clothes and quickly pulling them on. ‘Bel, calm down. It’s fine.’
‘We could have been caught.’ Now that he wasn’t kissing her and she was able to think straight, the implications of what could have happened began to sink in.
‘But we weren’t,’ he threw back calmly. ‘Come on, admit it. Risky sex is hot.’
‘It’s nerve-racking,’ she said. But, to her astonishment, she realised he was right. She’d been completely into it. This man was bringing out all kinds of strange revelations in her, and she liked it. ‘Larkin will come looking for me if I don’t get back.’
‘Okay. I’ll see you later,’ he said, kissing her once more.
Bel slipped into the downstairs washroom and reviewed herself in the mirror. Her eyes were bright and her cheeks were pink, and she looked exactly like someone who’d just done something naughty—guilty and a little bit smug. She quickly splashed her face with water and smoothed down her hair before shaking her head. This was … well, she wasn’t surewhatthis was, but whatever it was, she’d never been happier.
Bel tried to search for something to distract herself in order to endure another hour of pre-wedding beauty. The assembled bridesmaids were in the home gym, which had been converted into a day spa for the occasion, reclining in chairs and currently sporting god-awful black charcoal facial masks. It looked like they were wearing a weird diving suit hood, with holes cut out for their eyes and nostrils. Bel would much rather be spending the time with Tate. She brought up an image of him standing by the window, naked, to take her mind off the boredom.
‘You’re very quiet, Bel,’ Gigi said, startling her. Being spoken directly to by any of the other bridesmaids was unusual enough, but having them notice something like that instantly put her on guard.
‘I’m just enjoying the spa … thingy,’ she said, hoping she sounded relaxed and appreciative.
‘I guess you’re probably in need of a rest.’
‘What do you mean?’ Bel tried to act casual, hoping the mask would help.
‘I couldn’t help but notice that you’ve been disappearing at odd times, sneaking in and out of your room at night. You seem …happy,’ she said.
‘I’m usually happy,’ Bel replied weakly. Sweat prickled along her hairline and she was starting to feel claustrophobic.How long do these stupid masks have to stay on for?
‘Nothappy, happy. This is …’ the woman sent her a sly grin, ‘… likegood sexhappy. Bel, have you met someone?’
Oh Lord. Here we go.It wasn’t like it was a big deal. She knew for a fact Niki and Oliver had a thing. She’d been telling them all about it for the last two days.
Larkin tilted her head slightly and looked mildly annoyed.
‘Oh, spill the beans already,’ Kelly moaned. Bel glanced over in surprise at the woman lying on her back with her eyes closed. Kelly gave a long-suffering sigh. ‘Larkin, your innocent little cousin has been getting jiggy with Tate.’
