Page 58 of Best Man
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It was a blue-skied and tranquil summer day, and a gentle breeze kept anyone from breaking out into a sweat beneath their suit. A string quartet serenaded the guests, playing covers of the couple’s favorite songs and most meaningful pieces, while the members of Jax and Piper’s family were seated in the front rows.
Jax stood alone at the altar, a contented smile resting on his face while he patiently waited for his bride. Niko and the rest of the groomsmen waited in the staging area with Veronica.
The bridesmaids rolled up together in the nick of time. The girls wore the samedresses—an open-backed champagne colored chiffon dress—but Niko hadn’t noticed they were all matching. He only noticed it on Paulina.
“Wow,” he muttered beneath his breath, unable to take his eyes off her. To see her walk and move in that dress stole his breath. She was poetry in motion. He sure enjoyed the side slits in her dress, which gave him a flash of her sexy thigh with her every step. His cock stirred, remembering last night. Yet it seemed wrong to defile her with his crude thoughts—with her hair done up and teased into a cascade of springy curls, she looked like she could have been royalty.
The groomsmen paired up with their bridesmaids and waited for Veronica to start them down the aisle. Niko went straight to Paulina. She came up a few inches higher than normal, thanks to her heels, but Niko was still a good half-foot taller than her.
“Hi, Paulina.”
She took his arm. “Hi, Sasha,” she whispered.
“Wow. You look so lovely,” he said, running his eyes up and down her. “You’re gorgeous. You’re like a princess, you know that?”
She giggled. “Thank you. You look very handsome yourself.”
He pulled her a little bit closer against his side and stole a peek down her neck at the hint of cleavage offered by her V-neck, and quietly added, “I can’t stop thinking about last night.”
“Me neither,” she said, biting her lip. “But shh. Let’s not get caught. Everyone else already thinks we’re screwing.”
Niko chuckled. “They’re not wrong.”
“Well,weknow that, but they don’t.” She spoke in a feather-soft whisper, so no one else could hear them. “Although, I gotta say, it looked pretty bad when I slipped up and called you ‘Sasha’ in front of all the other bridesmaids.”
“Oops.” Niko snickered again. “Oh well, it’s just my nickname in Russia.”
“That’s what I told them, but it didn’t help. Suddenly, I’m an expert on all things Russian.”
“Last night, you were,” he flirted, flexing his bicep. She noticed, and dug her nails into his muscle.
“Sasha!” she tittered. “Don’t be dirty.”
“I have to tell you, when I woke up today, I thought forsurewe didget caught. Jax was a wreck.”
She shot him a worried glance. “Wait, why was he a wreck?”
“He doesn’t want anyone to know, so don’t tell anyone else. But Big Rig was worried he’ll cry during the vows.”
“Aw!” She squeezed his bicep a little tighter. “Was he really?”
Niko nodded. “Yes. He was very concerned.”
“That’s so cute. That’d besosweet.”
“Well,hedoesn’t think so. But it’s okay if he does. I’ve got tissues ready.” Niko patted his chest pocket. Then he patted his thigh. “And I’ve got a little gag planned to break up the tension beforehand to keep him loose.”
“Uh-oh.” Curious, Paulina patted his leg and felt the bulge in his pocket, too. “Whatisthat, Sasha? It feels huge.”
“What can I say? You have that effect on me,” he joked, and gave her a wink.
“Don’t even get me started, Sasha.” Flames of desire lit in her eyes. “Because itishuge and I’m trying to get through this wedding without thinking about it, or running off into the woods with you.”
“Fuck,” he whispered, casting his eyes to the tree line. “Don’t say things like that. You tempt me.”
They both made quiet groans of frustration.
