- Dance with me?
James's pov
Time stopped. I stood frozen in place wondering what in the hell had happened. Why did the garter come my way? I couldn't comprehend. To think that I wasn't even in the crowd of guys waiting behind Jacob for the garter. How the hell had it breezed it's ways to my face?
Then it dawned on me— the garter scene was what Dawn was implying when he said earlier that he couldn't wait to see me hold 'some' garter. What in God's name was the guy playing at? Why was he always up to some trick or two?
It was frustrating he was my best friend. While he'd saved my ass more times than I could repay him for, he'd also gotten me into a handful of trouble and he just did. What was he thinking been up to something like this without forewarning me?
Taking a deep breath, I was no longer sure if I was angry at the whole garter incident or relived.
When it was announced that a guy would put his hands on Dei to wear some stupid garter on her thighs, I'd boiled. I fucking fumed, that I was going to have to watch was enough torture, it was worse than I had to act all calm since it was part of a wedding ceremony. Imagining the whole scenery was already killing me.
It was a different feeling now that I had the garter in my hands— which meant the guy was going to be me. The way my fuming at the imagination had calmed now that it was my face in my head and not some random guy, I'd admit I was relieved. But doing it had me nervous and even though I was almost certain Dei wouldn't allow the shenanigans, I counted my steps as I walked to her.
"Dei, are you ok with this?" I asked her, knowing the answer would be a loud no.
She stuttered incoherently then ran her tongue through her bottom lips. I looked away. I had to look away. Her lips were tempting enough when they weren't wet and even more when they're wet, if my eyes had stayed a bit longer I would've spotted a boner.
She cleared her throat before and attempt at speaking again. "Yeah, it's okay. Not that there's anything I can do about it." she shrugged.
I stood, masking the stunned expression that I was sure would've plastered on my face. Yes, I was overly shocked that she didn't say no. I was almost certain she wouldn't agree to it. Recollecting my composure, "Okay so..." I trailed unsure of what to do next.
"She takes that seat and you wear the garter on her," I heard Dawn from behind us.
Slowly, she sat on the chair that was placed behind her. I could smell her nervousness.
I should walk away. I should call off the whole shenanigans, seeing she wasn't ready for it. I shouldn't walk to her to place any garter on. Did I even have the self-control to not lose it once I had her legs on my hands? Could I touch her and remain composed?
Knowing I should've done something, anything to not proceed, I walked to her defeatedly. She'd said herself when she looked at Mari that there was very little she could do.
The chair was low, so I bent down, softly taking her waxed legs into my hands. They were so sexy. I couldn't resist the urge to caress beneath her feet, cursing myself when I did, but that didn't stop me. Holding her glittering honey eyes, my hands continued caressing her feet and unconsciously up her legs as I aided the garter up.
When I heard her suck in a breath, I gulped. "Oh fuck," the groan was low coming from me, so low that I would've missed it myself.
They were so beautiful— her eyes, glassy and brown, just looking at them was enough to undo me. As if the inside of me wasn't hot as hell enough, her holding my eyes blazed my insides. I wanted to be taken aback as she continued to hold my eyes—she was always too nervous to keep eye contact with me before now—but I loved it.
I aided the garter further up her thighs, slowly. Her skin was so soft. I trailed her skin still taking the garter with me as I went, stopping a bit when I heard a very silent moan fall from her lips. Shit. Shit.
The hardening in my pants at this point was so uncomfortable. I almost growled for my self-control to not go crazed. I smirked at her to cover up the torment I was going through from how her body responding to my touch made me respond to her body. The shivering. The goosebumps. And my God, that silent moan.
I finally reached a place where I felt I shouldn't go any further. There was a pan in my heart at the loss of contact with her skin, but I had to stop. I stood up to my feet secretly joining my hands in front of me to hide my growing bulge.
"Hey bro. You had a good time right?" Jacob asked in a mock tune, walking where I stood. He nudged me when he reached me.
"C'mon. Are you going to play cool when you joined Dawn in his childish games?" I snickered looking away from him.
"Games? What are-"
Of course, he was going to deny.
"Quit this already. You set up me and Deila for this bouquet garter thing huh?" I asked cutting him off. Not that I needed his answer. I already knew what his answer was going to be.
"Don't tell me you didn't get the goose? Bruh, don't play Puritan. I'm sure the whole crowd smelt the sexual tension between you two?"
"Whatever you're on about," I paused, shrugging. " I and Dei are history, okay? She doesn't even talk to me."
"Wait history? You guys were...?" he trailed, his face turning into an amused one as he shook his head in disbelief. "So you were together?''
"Yeah. It's no big deal though, and that was two years ago," I told him hoping he'd drop the topic. I didn't want to give him more than I already did.
He whistled. "You did do a good job of hiding it then." He paused, shaking his head thoughtfully. "Now I get where Mari and Dawn are coming from."
"What do you mean? Maria doesn't know." Like me, my tone was uncertain. I wasn't sure if Dawn was the only one of the Barbsons who knew. For all I knew, we managed to keep it an open secret.
"You aren't even sure of yourself." He chuckled. "Do you still have feelings for her?"
Boom!
He asked the wrong question this time.
"I think your wedding reception is starting without you," I told him, pointing towards the reception hall.
"Of course." He rolled his eyes. "You could get off this time man." He sighed, patting my shoulders.
"We should go before my mother-in-law notices our absence."
I wanted to correct it and say 'your' and not 'our' absence, but I let it go.
"Yeah"
The party seemed unending as everyone —both the old and young— have been on the dance floor grooving forever. Well everyone except me. I was tired and since I didn't know how to dance, or even shake my body... I just didn't do the dancing thing, so I was best sitting alone with a glass of wine as a company.
I signaled for the waiter again. He came, wordlessly refilling my glass for the third time.
As the waiter turned to leave my eyes trailed down to the end of the hall, and I saw her mirroring me, alone with her glass of wine... maybe not wine because the last time I checked Deila wasn't the alcohol type. When was the last time?
"Hey there handsome," a beautiful blonde lady said walking up to me.
"Hey," I said back with a polite smile, trying not to be offended that she interrupted my view.
"I see you're lonely. Why don't I make it fun for you?" she winked and bit her lips.
"And how do you plan on doing that?" I teased, playing along with a smirk.
"Yum! I enjoy guys like you. C'mon, let's dance." She tried tugging me up, but I didn't even budge.
" I can't dance. I don't know how to." I was still being polite.
"How about your hand to my hips and my front to your back? That'll do the dancing magic," she said insistently.
I was going to agree so I won't be rude to her, but when I looked over to see Deila watching the whole scene, I just wanted the blonde to go away.
I cleared my throat, looking back to the blonde lady. "Thanks, but no."
I saw her shoulders drop in disappointment
"By the way, I'm James." I only introduced myself to for lack of better ways to ease my rejection.
"James," she said like she was testing how my name would sound and I nodded. "I'm Cassandra, you can call me Cassie."
She extended her hand for a shake and I took it. She started caressing the back of my hand with her thumb.
"Well Cassie," I said in a grunt, attempting to free my hand from her grasp. "You should let go of my hands." I forced a smile.
"Of course. Oh my geez. I'm so sorry. It's just that I don't get to see the hottest guy on the planet every day." She smiled in a way that told me she wasn't done with her flirting. "Or will I have the pleasure of hanging out with you some other time?"
"We'll see about that. Bye," I told her not caring if the obvious fact that I had just told her off with a 'bye' and a wave of the hand was rude.
As soon as she walked away, I resumed what I was doing before she came—watching Dei.
Even from afar, she was so beautiful. Her dark hair shone. Her dimples popped, her eyes holding mirth when she smiled dazzlingly at Sia. I watched with pure amusement as Sia together with a redhead and a brunette tugged her to the dance floor. She laughed all through, allowing them. The envious pang in my heart that I couldn't be close to her like that came naturally.
She started moving her body slowly to the beat, her dress clinging to her hips as she started to sway shyly. Damn. My legs unconsciously made their way to her. I didn't think of what to say before walking up to her. I made a mental note to chide myself later.
"Please let go of my hands," Deila said trying to free her hand from my grasp.
Shit. What in the hell was wrong with me? I didn't even know when I grabbed her hand. Hopefully, the woman doesn't turn me into a Neanderthal.
I cleared my throat, no doubt my face flushed with embarrassment. "I'm sorry. I- I" I stupidly stuttered. I was taken aback when she smiled. She's had me taken aback quite a lot of times today.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know," I apologized, nervously rubbing my palms on the side of my pants. I was fast turning into a sissy.
"It's okay."
I knew the next thing I was going to say would be stupid, but I blurted it out anyway. "Dance with me, please?"
She was going to answer when the redhead spoke. "Uhm...Dei? Be polite and introduce us to this handsome gentleman in a greek god body here." She gave Dei a teasing look.
"Oh. My manners, if I have any," she mumbled the last part to herself, rolling her eyes. "James? Meet Eva and Lari, my best friends. Babes meet James my-"
"Her ex," I said, cutting her off and immediately regretted it