‘Really, that’s fine.’ I smile—probably grimace—through my humiliation with a sort of half shrug, pulling away from his attention and his fingertip. ‘As it happens, I’m in the market for making mistakes tonight, so I obviously just need to find someone willing.’ I laugh despite myself. ‘Because onlyIwould find the one man at a wedding who didn’t want to fuck.’
‘That’s not it,’ he growls, stepping into me again and taking my face in his hands. ‘I’d like nothing more than to take you upstairs and fuck you so solidly, the whole floor would hear you come.’
My eyes widen with shock, his words like sudden fingers thrust between my legs. In response, my core clenches as my cheeks begin to sting. I force myself to giggle—laugh—only it feels strange, almost as though the sound requires more lung capacity than I currently have. Maybe because all the blood in my body has drained to other places. Places that have no business to be pounding like the beat of a drum.
‘You think that’s funny, do you?’
‘A little.’ And not at all.If anyone is being ridiculous, it’s me.‘It’s just, I’ve never done this before. Hooked up, I mean.’
‘You’ve never had a one-night stand.’ It’s not so much a question as an assertion. One that causes me to straighten my shoulders as I shore up my defences against a second attack.
‘No, I haven’t. And that’s why this has just struck me as ridiculous. You don’t know me. How could you? And if you did, you’d know I’m not the kind of girl who screams. Ever.’ I sound snarky. Bitchy, probably.
Keir’s expression clouds as he attempts to process the verbiage I’ve just spewed. Or maybe I’ve needled his manly ego.His me-go. I snigger again.
‘I’m sorry,’ I repeat. ‘I really do need to go.’
But I don’t get very far, my feet faltering at his next words. The presence of his large body suddenly burning me from behind as he grasps my forearm.
‘You know what that tells me? You’ve never been fucked properly.’
‘And that tells me you watch too much porn,’ I retort, turning my head over my shoulder.
His sudden burst of deep laughter is startling.
‘You know, you might be right on that score. But if I bedded you, you’d whimper, scream, and make every noise in between. I guarantee you that.’
‘I guess that’s something we’ll never find out.’
My heart pounds now in several places as I hold my head high and force myself to stride away without looking back.
At our table at the edge of the room, there’s no sign of Chas or the elderly lady and her even more ancient companion. The band has begun playing, I realise, and Robin is no longer serenading the bride and groom. I slip my purse from the velvet seat of my chair and pull out my phone, trying not to listen to the middle-aged couple arguing nearby. It wouldn’t be a wedding without at least one argument. As for a wedding without hookups, maybe others will have better luck than me tonight.
The balls of my feet are beginning to ache in my glittery Choos, and I can’t wait to pull the pins out of my hair. Strange, but neither of these smart quite as much as Keir’s rebuttal. Or the prospect of watching Robin and Tamara on the dance floor.
All seemed to be going well with your sexy Scot, assuming he isn’t a half-assed crossdresser and your animated conversation the result of your joint love of Sephora.
Lifting my head from my phone, I scan the room for Chastity when my phone pings again.
Rest assured, I fed no tongue to the groom, though I have made accommodations elsewhere. Please let me know when you get this and that all is well.
I jot a quick response back.All good on this end. So I should expect to see you for breakfast?
Yes, unless Operation Hard Man hasn’t happened, she immediately replies.In which case, I’ll be available for room service caviar, champagne, and a pay-per-view movie binge, all on Robin’s tab!
I hadn’t told Chastity that the suite has been paid from the partial refund of my own wedding booking deposit. It seemed a bit sad to mention it.
All is going according to plan,I respond. And it is, only not her original plan. Though her second seems pretty fun. A slumber party at Claridge’s for one!Have fun x
Back at you!comes her final text.
Skirting around the arguing couple and leaving behind my half-drunk glass of lukewarm champagne, I begin to make my way out of the ballroom, then decide to make a detour to the ladies’ room first.
This hotel really is the height of sophistication, I think as my heels sound against the marble flooring of the foyer. I rub my lips together, taking a quick peek at my reflection, marvelling at how well my new lipstick has held up. I’m pondering the prospect of a bubble bath over a shower, oblivious to my surroundings, so it comes as a shock when fingers suddenly grip my arm. Something yanks me fiercely, pulling me sideways so quickly, I feel my ankle twist.
‘What the fuck do you think that was?’ Robin’s blue eyes burn, spittle hitting my face as he drags me into the mirror-lined hallway. The same one leading to the restrooms.
‘What are you doing?’ My voice sounds breathy in my shock. It takes me a moment to register what’s happening, but when I do, I bring my free hand to his chest and push. ‘Getoffme!’ I grate out, words spat from behind my clenched teeth.
