Page 38 of His Dirty Obsession
Plus, the fact he was a groomsman at his sister’s wedding… It had been the kick he’d needed, or so he said.
No one had placed any bets on who would marry first. It could have been Ava, could have been us, but after a couple of months of being together, it was clear that Ava and Shane would be first.
We wouldn’t be far behind, though. I had the ring nestled in the watch pocket of my waistcoat. An unassuming platinum band that I was dying to give him. I carried it with me every day, just waiting for the right moment. Today probably wouldn’t be the one; it was his sister’s wedding after all, and I didn’t want to ruin her special day.
I stood still as he helped me with my tie, finally patting my chest when he was done.
“There. All done. You look good,” he said, dropping a quick kiss on my lips.
“As do you, you look very handsome. Are you sure we have to leave now? We could just take another ten minutes. It wouldn’t take long.” We’d already made love this morning, our passion not having waned in the slightest.
That playful slap to my arse again had me hardening in my pants. I’d worn briefs today at Ben’s insistence. I’d happily go commando, but with Edith going and her propensity for copping a quick feel every time she walked past, it probably wasn’t a good idea.
“No. We don’t have time, as much as I’d love to, but later, all bets will be off.” He handed me my jacket, and I slipped it on. We wore matching suits, white shirts and blue ties, a single white rose in our lapels, the kind of outfit I’d like to wear when we got married.
“Do you have everything?” I asked him.
“What’s to bring? I transferred the money to Ava yesterday, and the other gift we got for them is being delivered next week. I just need to bring you with me.”
We arrived at the church, me taking my place at the front and Ben going to wait with the other groomsmen. I still had the ring in my pocket. It was starting to burn a hole in my pocket. I needed to do it soon.
Ben
Xavier had been acting strange lately, and I wasn’t sure what was going on. Was he having second thoughts? He’d been cagey, not meeting my gaze, and I was getting nervous about our relationship, especially seeing how I’d made plans to propose right after Ava’s wedding.
Things had only improved since my parents’ party despite the awkwardness we’d felt after leaving. We’d put it behind us, but for a day or so, things had been different and I’d wondered if that was it, if we’d even carry on.
We moved past it, though, and our relationship went from strength to strength.
The play had been a hit, and after a run of three months at the theatre, they’d decided to take it on the road, visiting a few other cities. He’d be gone a few weeks at a time, but I knew we were strong enough now for neither of us to feel insecure.
I knew he loved me, but even so, I’d lost a little weight and toned up, often joining him at the gym. I’d seen the way other men looked at him, but he only ever had eyes for me and when we made love or fucked, depending on our mood, he showed me just how much every time.
And now here we were, six months later, the engraved platinum ring sitting in my pocket. Ava knew, of course. Not that I was planning to do it today, but that I was planning it. She was over the moon and thought it strange that we’d both found the love of our lives at virtually the same time.
“You OK there, Ben?” Shane asked. Surely it should have been me asking him that, but he was as calm as ever. Nothing ever seemed to rattle him, expect Edith. He shied away from her every time they met. It was funny to watch. Xavier, on the other hand, played up to her, but that was just his cheeky nature.
“I’m good. Just nervous for Ava, you know?” I wasn’t, but what else was I to say? “We should head in anyway. She’ll be here soon.”
We walked to the front of the church, greeting guests along the way. Xavier stood out, his auburn hair catching the sunlight as it streamed through the windows of the church. He turned, catching my eye, and my breath was stolen from my lungs. He was stunning, always had been, but in that moment, he was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen.
I didn’t want to wait a moment longer, but the strains of the Wedding March sounded through the church and I hurried to my spot at the front. I turned to see Ava walking up the aisle, Dad by her side looking proud as punch. She looked radiant in her cream silk dress, and I couldn’t have been happier for her.
The service went off without a hitch as did the wedding breakfast, and before long, Ava and Shane were leaving, going on to an expensive hotel, paid for by Mum and Dad as a gift. That left the rest of us to party the night away with more food and even more drink.
I was far too nervous to even touch a drop, and I noticed Xavier was the same. There was definitely something going on, and I considered leaving it a couple more days. Today seemed right, though.
I found Xavier on the dance floor, strutting his stuff with some of the guys from the play, much to the appreciation of the women at the party. It was now or never, though, and I took the plunge, grabbing his hand and leading him away into the grounds of the hotel.
I had no plan other than to drop to one knee and ask him, but we found a bench next to the lake, the moonlight shimmering on the surface. The perfect setting.
“Thanks for dragging me out of there. It was hot,” he said as we sat side by side.
“I thought you might be.” Fuck, I had no idea what I was doing here. What the hell was I thinking? I should have made a plan, spoken to Shane, seen how he’d done it.
“I was, but it’s cool enough out here now, just what I needed.” He turned to look at me, a single bead of sweat trickling down his face. I wiped it away, and he captured my hand, bringing it to his lips.
“Do you think we should do this? The whole marriage thing?”
