Page 24 of OneTime Lovers
Looking over her head toward the ocean, I admit, “I guess it was more emotional than I thought it would be.”
Placing her hand on my sleeve, she smiles at me as she says, “I like how you aren’t afraid to admit that, and I agree it was a beautiful ceremony. It really touched me too.”
The photographer interrupts our moment with directions for us all to move toward the beach for photos. Luke and Cassie walk hand in hand back down the aisle as family and friends reach out to congratulate them. The official part of the ceremony is done.
Soon after, I’m seriously wondering who needs this many photos. Directed to stand this way or that by a darting, black-clad photographer, and his obedient assistant as they both flash a camera in our faces. Photos of all the girls together, next all the boys together then finally the full wedding party together. A piercing cry ofNo again,again,cutting through the peaceful setting as annoyingly as a squawking seagull.
When an hour later we are still doing photos, I’m about to lose my shit as I wade into the shallows for one more group photo. To cool my mood, I sidle up beside Jas like I’ve been trying to do all afternoon. I brush up closer, touching her with a stroke of her arm, trailing a finger up her back before sneakily placing my hand on her hip as the camera flashes in quick succession. Goosebumps coat her milky smooth skin. I think she’s enjoying our game as much as I am. Then her fingers brush against my thigh and with a wiggle of her butt she backs into my throbbing cock.
With a tilt of my head, I breathe her perfume in deep, it’s different to the one she wore last night, lighter and sweeter. “You smell like summer and summer is my favorite season.”
Jas turns slightly, a faint smile teasing at her pink lips. It’s all the encouragement I need for now. A click of a camera nearby has us spinning to glare at the annoying assistant. But before I say anything, another squawk announces we are free to go, and as we escape back up the sand to the resort area, the girls go in one direction, and I follow the guys in the direction of the bar.
Ben keeps stride next to me as we race ahead of the others, our goal a cold beer. “I get they wanted to capture the best pictures but if that douchebag saidagainonce more, I swear I was going to take that camera and ...”
“Chill, man.” I slap him on the back, laughing. “You do know we’re not done. We have the sunset pictures to do.”
“Fuck … I need a beer to take the edge off.” Ben waves his hand to get the attention of a barman to take our order.
“Better make it two.” I have to agree I need mellowing out too, but maybe for a different reason following my recent interlude with Jas.
Ben leans back casually against the bar beside me, looking a lot happier with his cold beer bottle clutched in his hand.
I tap my beer to his then take several deep gulps. “Ahh … I was dying for a coldy.”
A laugh bursts from his mouth. “Yeah, mate, I needed acoldytoo,” he says in what he thinks is a good imitation of my Aussie accent. But the way he sayscoldywith his American accent has me laughing along with him.
We continue to face out toward the guests, who are milling around with glasses of champagne, waiters moving amongst them with trays of appetizers.
“So, are you going to tell me what’s going on between you and Jasmine?” Ben asks.
I nearly drop the bottle in my hand; Blake has obviously been gossiping like a teenage girl. “What the hell has Blake been saying?”
Holding his hand up, he says, “Take it easy. Blake said nothing, although maybe I should have asked him instead. Seriously, dude, I got eyes and you’ve been following Jas around all afternoon. That’s without even mentioning the warning look you gave me last night during the dinner. I thought you were going to ask me to step outside to sort it out. If you got a thing for Jasmine, just tell me, man. You know I respect the bro code.”
I stare off into the distance for a moment before admitting, “Okay––I’ve got a thing for Jasmine, and I want you to stay away from her, well in a sexual way at least.”
“See, wasn’t so hard, you only have to say. Now good chat but I’ve got some other lovely ladies to go see.” He pushes away from the bar and saunters off in the direction of a pretty brunette, who I think is one of Luke’s cousins.
Jas hasn’t returned from wherever the girls disappeared to with Cassie, so I remain at the bar enjoying my cold beer.
After another brilliant orange sunset, we all moved into the formal dining room.
Again, the setup is jaw-dropping, with greenery everywhere like the rehearsal dinner but this time instead of the colorful, vibrant flowers, tonight the theme is pure white and deep dark green.
Around the room, white sweet-scented roses trail throughout swathes of ivy and fern. On each linen-covered round table, centerpieces of fat white candles glow on tall golden pillars wrapped in more ivy and roses, seeming to sprout as if grown up from the forest floor. The whole effect is more opulent and extravagant than last night, and with a traditional layout of a bridal table and several guest tables, more formal.
Best bit, I’m seated at the bridal table next to Jasmine, which is positioned at the garden end of the room. And soon after taking our seats, a sumptuous plated full-service dinner begins. The celebrity chef proving to be worth every penny as the courses placed before us, all hit a new high as a unique tastebuds experience.
Each white plate placed in front of us looks more like a work of art rather than food. It’s delicious food but what is even more mouthwatering is the woman beside me. I’m captivated by Jas, maybe it’s the prospect of later or maybe just her. It’s not only her beauty that has me continually leaning sideways to speak to her, it’s also her quick wit and naughty sense of humor.
All throughout the meal we pass jibes back and forth about the speeches, the antics of one of the uncles who has had a few too many and finally about each other. I’m really enjoying spending time with her.
She nudges me with her elbow again, drawing my attention to the photographer who is sneaking up on another table of guests, trying to catch them unaware with a blinding flash of light in their eyes and in some cases with a mouthful of food.
I move my chair closer so she can hear me over the infectious beat of the local Junkaroo band, and say into her ear, “The guy iscruisin’ for a bruisin’.”
She bursts out laughing, turning her face to me. Her soft flowing hair falling across my face. I breathe in deeply wishing I could nuzzle my nose fully into the auburn curtain, where it meets the curve of her neck.
