Page 54 of Only Ever Yours
How about five? xx
Jase
How about now? xx
Glancing at the table where the bridal party sat, I saw Jase stand and start to walk out, then stop to lean over towards Barney and say something. Shoving my phone back in my bag, I tapped Ella on the shoulder.
“I’m popping to the bathroom. Be back in a minute.”
She went as if to get up, too. “I’ll come with you.”
“No, it’s fine.” I scurried off before she could follow me. Heading out of the main dining room, instead of making a left towards the bathrooms, I went right through the door outside. Glancing around, I looked for the gazebo Jase had referred to. The little summerhouse was set away from the main garden, close to the fences of the adjoining fields. I made my way towards it and waited, my back towards thehouse, looking out at the view. A couple of moments later, arms wound around my waist, and lips nuzzled against the nape of my neck, butterflies dancing down my spine.
“God, it’s so fucking hard not being able to touch you,” Jase murmured into my hair.
“I know.” I sighed and twisted around in his grasp, leaning into his chest, inhaling the familiar scent of his aftershave.
“I wish you could have been with me, up front, enjoying the day. Honestly, I’ve been fucking miserable watching you from a distance this whole time.” He bent forward, brushing my nose with his.
“Me, too. I’ve missed you even though we’ve been in the same room.” Tilting my head, I closed my eyes, waiting for his kiss.
His lips met mine, hungry and needy, and I pressed my body against him, a breathy sigh escaping me.Thisis what I’d craved all day, the closeness, the way we were on the same wavelength. He drew back for a moment.
“Oh, and you look absolutely fucking beautiful. I’ve been dying to tell you, but there hasn’t been a time when there wasn’t someone else around. Someone who would notice I look at you differently these days, that I look at you as something other than a friend, that I think I’m in love with you and probably always have been.”
His words took my breath away. Jase and I had always had a strong connection, a bond that went back years, and one we’d recently taken to another level. Hearing him say he loved me melted my insides. And for him to tell me today meant everything.
He was my everything.
“Jase…” I actually couldn’t speak; he’d affected methat much.
“You don’t have to say anything right now. I know you feel it, too.” I felt the intensity of his gaze to my core.
Reaching up, I traced a finger along his jawline. “I think I’m in love with you, too. Now, then, probably always. I’ve only ever been yours.”
Jase covered my hand with his, a smile playing on his lips as he bent to rest his forehead against mine. “It only took a wedding for us to realise it.”
I let out a deep sigh, not wanting to burst the bubble we were in but realising I had to. “And one we should probably get back to.”
“One more kiss to keep me going until next time.” Jase cupped my face with his hands and drew me in for a full-on, deep and tender kiss, so passionate I could barely breathe. I didn’t know how I’d get through untilnext time. With a sigh, Jase pulled away. “I guess we can’t go back in together.”
A reckless streak shot through me. “Why not? We could both have been outside getting some air. No one would suspect anything else between us, right?”
He grinned. “You could be right. Shame I can’t hold your hand, though.”
“Not now anyway.”
Keeping a sensible distance between us, we walked back towards the venue. A few guests milled around outside, taking the opportunity for the kids to play or sneaking a cigarette break. Nodding at acquaintances, we went back inside.
“Do you fancy a drink?” Jase asked.
“Please. The table wine was awful.” I pulled a face.
“Don’t mention it to Lenora. It’s her favourite, apparently. She told me about a million times during dinner, which made me think she’d drunk quite a bit of it.”
I giggled. “I’d never get drunk on my wedding day.”
Jase fixed me with a look. “You’d better not.”
