Page 83 of Forever Not Yours

“Wow!” Jake shouted in my ear. “Definitely not what I expected.”

“We’re not all backward heathens out here in the sticks.”

“Wouldn’t call Peterborough the sticks, exactly.”

“It’s not Soho.”

“Thank God for that.”

I got him a drink, let him hang over my shoulders as we surveyed the scene, his body swaying gently to the beat as I let myself relax. We coulddo this. Just us.

“Thank you.” His voice was a bit lower, followed up with a kiss. “This has been fun. Just getting away from everything and relaxing. It’s nice.”

“I needed it,” I admitted. “I just wanted to…you know. Do this. All the things I wanted to do that weekend and not have to worry about anything. It’s really good, for both of us.”

“And tomorrow, we can have a lie in and chill.”

“Dad wants help with his lawnmower.”

“We can look at that.”

“And you could look at Mum’s hip. She’s been complaining again.”

“Can do that too.”

“Well, you are her favourite son-in-law.”

“Jumping the gun there, aren’t we?”

“I didn’t mean that bit about getting married.”

“I didn’t think you did. But one day, Bastien, we might. No big party. No fuss. Just you and me and a piece of paper. Perhaps rings?”

“No rings.” I shuddered.

“No rings then. But whatever you decide, you belong to me. Can we agree on that?”

I nodded. Then I took his drink out of his hand. Dragged him out on the dance floor and made him dance with me, his hips against mine, his arms around my back, smiling as I threw my arms in the air and let myself go.

Freedom. It was a strange concept, but I felt it. Loved and free and safe.

I unbuttoned my shirt, pulled it off to show off the harness I was wearing underneath. Another freedom. He gently traced the leather with his fingertips.

“This is a nice surprise,” he mouthed. I couldn’t hear him anyway. Just stuck my hand in my pocket and pulled out his gloves. Handed them to him with a wink.

“Later,” I mouthed.

He laughed. He had such a lovely laugh. And then he firmly tucked them in his back pocket, wrapped me up in a hug and swayed with me to the beat. Bodies all around us. Laughter and dancing. All the good things in the world. Love. I felt so much love.

And him.

“This is a good stag night,” he shouted into my ear.

“Whose stag night is it again?” I sassed back.

“Don’t care. As long as you’re here.”

Truth. Right there.

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