Page 79 of The Story of Us
Nate crouched down, clamping his jaws together when Eloise lifted a foot, her hands gripping his shoulders for balance. She slid her foot into the high heel, butterknives replacing his fingers as he tried to untangle the strap. Vanilla surrounded him, the heady scent more intoxicating than it had ever been before. He breathed in and out of his mouth and moved to her other foot, keeping his eyes firmly fixed on the floor.
His head was millimetres from her pussy, and if he didn’t get the hell out of here, he was going to look up, shove the tiny scrap of fabric she was pretending was a skirt over her hips and convince her no one would notice if they skipped tonight’s engagement party that doubled as a rehearsal dinner. Charlie and Sera had specifically waited until now so most of their international guests would be able to attend.
“Nate,” she whispered. “You ready?”
He was ready to bend her over the back of the couch, drive into her, make sure she knew it’d always been her and it always would be.
But instead, he nodded, his knees creaking and protesting as he stood. Or maybe that was his resolve? His cock was downright livid. He twisted away and tried to adjust himself subtly, his lungs filling and emptying too quickly, any chance of coherent thoughts evaporating when those ruby-red lips of hers said, “Maybe we should take my car? I don’t think I’ll be able to climb up into yours.”
His fingers closed around the globe dangling from her keychain. The smaller backseat was definitely a good idea too just in case he totally lost his damn mind.
* * *
“I feellike I barely know you anymore,” Charlie said as he sat down next to Nate and passed him a glass filled with amber liquid. He’d obviously graduated from drinking the winery’s award winning vintages to the harder stuff.
His best mate’s eyes were glassy, a hint of dark shadows under them. “First, you shack up with my sister, and now I find out you use”—he paused, sniggering and gesturing to the rest of his groomsmen, which included Ryan—“Big Sexy Hair products. Joanie told me.”
“I think you should take it easy on the booze tonight.” Eloise leant forward, her shoulder brushing past Nate’s chest as she snatched her brother’s glass from his hand.
The function was taking place in the largest reception room at the Wattle Valley Winery, which was also where the wedding reception would be held the next week. Waiters circulated between the long tables that stretched from one end of the room to the other. Tendrils of purple flowers and green vines danced above their heads from the hanging floral installations—merely an appetiser for the flowers at the wedding Sybella had proudly announced in her speech—which scented the air with a perfume that made Nate’s nose itch.
Or maybe it was because he’d spent the night trying not to stare at Eloise and count down the minutes until he could peel her out of those sexy clothes. When a guy he recognised from the buck’s party tried to engage her in conversation, Nate clenched his jaw.
“Does it come with one of those fancy fluffy headbands so you can put your moisturiser on easily? Should we be using a night cream given we’re about to hit thirty?” Charlie asked.
“Hilarious.” Nate tried to play it off like he didn’t care, refocusing on the crème brûlée in front of him, shards of caramelised sugar and vanilla custard coating his spoon.
“Have you thought about doing an ad for them? Maybe you could offer a special discount if customers surrendered in their man card at the same time? Hand in your balls and get a lifetime supply!” Ryan held his hand up for a high five, but Charlie pushed him away like maybe he sensed the teasing had gone too far.
“That’s enough,” Eloise warned, her hand settling on Nate’s thigh, the warmth from her palm seeping through his wool trousers.
“What? It’s just a joke,” Ryan said, standing and gesturing for the group that it was time to get another drink from the bar, but Charlie didn’t move.
“Not all jokes are funny.” Eloise’s chiding tone made Nate smile. He linked their hands together underneath the table, where no one could see them.
“It’s okay,” he said. Then Nate did what he always did. He brushed the teasing away, locking it in a box in the back of his mind. He tried to tell Eloise with his eyes that he’d appreciated her defending him. When she leant into his touch briefly, their gazes steady on each other, he knew she’d got the message. A light pink blush dusted over her cheeks. Nate smiled tightly, stealing a peek at his watch. They’d be able to leave as soon as the desserts were cleared. No one said anything. Half of the guys were too busy looking at Eloise like they’d never met her before and well, add that to the list of things Nate did notlikeat all. He smoothed the serviette on his lap and squeezed Eloise’s hand.
“I think you’re all worried I’m going to kick your ass on the golf course tomorrow and embarrass you all in front of Dalton.” He kept his voice light, making sure he’d removed any hints of the frustration simmering underneath his skin. Eloise shifted closer, pressing her shoulder against his.
Charlie took a long sip of his drink before he replied. “I’m sorry, buddy. We were just mucking around.”
“It’s fine,” Nate said.
“It’s really not.” Eloise looked up at him, questions in her eyes. “Come on,” she said, pulling him up out of his chair. “Let’s dance.”
* * *
“I don’t understandwhy you let them do that.” Her words were muffled against Nate’s chest as they shuffled around the parquet dance floor that had been set up underneath the marquee and overlooked Wattle River. The flaming torches attached to the edge of the deck behind them burned brightly. There was a crowd around the cigar bar at the other end and Dalton’s big, booming laugh mixed with the soft jazz the string quartet was playing.
“Ehhh, it’s harmless. They don’t really mean anything by it.” Well, Ryan did. But the others were all good guys.
“But it isn’t. And you never tell them to shut up.” She shivered in his arms.
“Here.” He shrugged out of his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. He tried not to notice how her skirt was barely visible underneath it.
How was it possible to both love and hate an item of clothing so much?
“All this is taking more of a toll on Charlie than he’s letting on.” Nate gestured back towards the crowded deck and dance area. “I think he’s uncomfortable with how over the top all of this is and just looking for a bit of fun. I get it.” Years ago—in albeit different circumstances—Nate had been in the same boat Charlie was in now. Trying to make sense of his place in a world filled with wealth and status. Meaningless sex had been his coping method; teasing was Charlie’s. At least, he’d apologised and recognised that it was heading in a direction that wasn’t funny.
