"I'm married!" She squealed in a whisper.
"Oh that's what that was."
Rolling her eyes and trying not to laugh, she hissed, "Just shut up and look pretty."
"Yes, boss."
I posed in the position instructed and smiled.
Behind the photographer and right in my line of sight was Damon at the bar. I kept my eyes on the camera and focused on making Chlo's wedding photos something she wouldn't kill me for afterwards.
"Great, and now just the bride and her bridesmaids."
Logan looked relieved to get a minute off and reached straight for a pint of beer his dad was holding for him.
Cassie moved closer to Chloe as she was the other side of Logan and just when I went to smile again I noticed some slag muscling in on Damon.
Who. The. Fuck. Is. She.
I didn't recognise her so I wasn't sure if it was someone on Logan's side of the family or one of his old friends. Whoever she was though, she needed to move and do it quickly.
Instead of acting like she appalled him, Damon smiled and started a conversation.
And who the hell does he think he is?
"Okay, look this way," the photographer said directly to me. Could he not see that I was in the middle of a crisis here? I held no claim over Damon but he was mine and other bitches could back off. Just because he was allowed to sleep with other people didn't mean he could do it in front of me. That was rude.
David Beckham could walk in right now and I wouldn't jump on it because there were certain standards you had to follow or you were just a dick.
In Damon's defence he kept his distance. But at the same time he wasn't telling her to do one.
I smiled while the photographer clicked the button over and over again but my mind was somewhere else. A place where Damon had a girlfriend and I was thrown away like a used condom. I wasn't sure what I was more disgusted with, the idea of Damon seeing someone exclusively or comparing myself to a spunk-coated condom.
"Thank you," the photographer said. "Now, bride and groom and his parents."
Wasting no time at all, I headed straight back to the bar. Neither of them noticed me approach and as I walked I considered how best to handle the situation. The 'me' side of me wanted to kick the backs of her knees so they'd buckle and she'd fall to the floor but the rare, rational side told me to act with more dignity and maturity.
As I approached them I still wasn't sure which one I was going to listen to.
"Hey," Damon said, finally noticing I was there.
"Hi," I replied, standing a smidge too close to him and turning my head to her. "I don't think we've met."
She smiled and leant her disgusting tiny hip against the bar. "I'm Miranda. Logan's cousin."
Ah, I knew she was his side of the family.
"Nell. I'm Chloe's friend."
"And bridesmaid," she added. "The dresses are so cute."
My eye twitched. I knew that 'cute'. It was as fake as her eyelashes. Seriously, Damon was attracted to her?
"I know, right! I wanted these little pink ones that sat about two inches above the knee but Chloe flat out refused."
Miranda's dress was orange and short but she didn't seem to get the connection between what I'd said and what she was wearing. Since when did you wear club slut clothes to a wedding? I would never wear anything that would flash my intimate area for all to see if I bent over, to a fucking wedding.
She shrugged. "Shame but it's Chloe's choice."
"Absolutely," I replied. Why was she still standing here?
"You want another drink, Nell?" Damon asked.
Oh I was going to need a lot of drinks. "Please. Miranda?"
"I'm fine, thank you, Damon just got me one."
Low blow, bitch.
I turned to him and he frowned. Was he really doing this in front of me? Please say I'm just overreacting.
"What do you want?" He asked, sounding confused and scared and like he was about to protect his crotch.
"I'll have a double vodka and lemonade, please."
"Doubles already, huh?" He said, using his flirty voice. Damon was back but why wouldn't he act normal when he could go off with another woman right now and it would be fine.
Well when I say fine, I meant I would want to slaughter him, her and probably a few innocents too but he had no obligation to be faithful to me. I hadn't been to him over the years.
Although I had for almost the last year.
Fuck. I hadn't slept with anyone else in almost a year!
"Nell, are you okay?" Damon asked, gripping my wrist.
I shook my head but answered, "Yeah."
"Well, I'll see you both around," Miranda said, finally taking the hint.
"Oh, okay," I replied. "It was nice to meet you."
Smiling, she walked off without another word.
"Hey, do you think you could cram any more sarcasm in there?" He asked.
Standing my ground, I put my hands on my hips and nodded once. "I wasn't being sarcastic. She seemed nice."
Damon deadpanned. "Oh really? You spoke to her for three seconds."
"And in those three seconds she seemed lovely."
"Yeah, she was actually."
Wanker.
I gritted my teeth. "Good. Want me to mingle so you can chase after her?"
If he said yes I was going to smash his glass over his head.
Curling his hand around my hip, he pulled me forwards. "Now why would I want to do that when I have you to keep me entertained?"
"Good choice." Very, very good choice. The stress and insane jealousy ebbed away.
Arching his eyebrow, he replied, "Well I think so."
"Would it be totally inappropriate if I jumped on you right now?" I asked, pressing my body against him, thankful that Chloe chose dresses that were fitted around the bust and waist.
"It would, but let's not let that stop us."
Logan stopped by, slapped Damon's shoulder and said, "Please let it stop you."
I stuck my tongue out. "Party pooper."
"It's my party and Chloe would kill you," he said, shaking his head, smiling and walking off.
"He is no fun at his wedding," I said and pouted.
Damon lifted one shoulder. "It's alright, it'll be dinner soon and I'll just finger you under the table."
My face slowly dropped. Lovely. Letting go, I turned around and headed to the remaining champagne glasses on the table across the room. Behind me Damon laughed and laughed and laughed.
The photos had gone on for an age but we were fed canapes while we waited. Plus, free bar. I'd made up with Damon after his fingering comment and he behaved himself through the meal. Chloe had been between guests the whole time so we didn't get much time to chat but that was cool because Damon was keeping me busy.
"So we have, what, two hours until we have to be back here?" Damon asked, pushing the sleeve of his suit jacket up to look at his watch. "Now...what can we do in two hours?"
"Take a nap. Continue to drink the bar dry." I still had my dessert so I knew we'd be having sex very soon.
He lifted both eyebrows. "I think you know what we'll be doing, Presley."
"Right. Drink. I think it's a good idea."
"Nell," he said warningly.
"Fine, fine. You're doing what I want. This is going to be all about me."
He snorted and draped his arm over the back of his chair. "When isn't it?"
My mouth dropped open. "You utter bastard. It's not always about me! You get so many blow jobs I'm surprised it's not fallen off."
"If you want to try again to make it fall off..."
"I really don't know why I bother talking to you."
"I'm sorry," he said, not meaning it at all, and leant forward to whisper, "Tell you what, since I'm such an arsehole and clearly need to make it up to you I promise to make you come again and again and in as many ways as I can think until you tell me to stop."
I gulped.
"After that I'll bring you downst
airs, get you drunk like you want, dance with you all night, then carry you back to our room to continue where we left off."
His breath blew down my neck and the softness of his voice made me shudder.
"Whatever I want in the bedroom and lots of alcohol and dancing in the ballroom?"
"Mmm hmm," he mumbled into my shoulder and placed a kiss at the base of my neck. "It's all about you."
Chloe was the one that got married but I was definitely the happiest woman in the castle today.
Damon
Bright light streaming through the fucking curtains woke me with a burn to the eyes. We'd been preoccupied when we burst through the door last night but now I wished we'd taken a second to close the curtain.
Groaning, I rubbed my eyes and looked over at Nell. Her make-up was smudged, the back of her hair was matted and she slept with a small frown on her face. She looked like she'd had the best night of her life.
"Nell," I whispered. She would undoubtedly have a hangover and I didn't want to make it worse. Well, a part of me did because, you know, revenge, but she'd probably kill me.
She mumbled something that sounded very much like 'go to hell' and rolled over, so her back was to me.
"I take it you're feeling a little delicate this morning," I said.
"Damon," she growled, saying no more. I'd take that as a yes.
"Do you want me to get you water and painkillers?"
Making a fake sobbing sound she nodded her head. "Everything hurts."
"That's what happens when you drink all of the alcohol in a castle."
"I'm not leaving this bed today. Can you order anything and everything that's greasy on the room service menu, please?"
I rolled onto my side and kissed her naked shoulder. Her skin was so soft and so perfect it did wild things to my heart. Just being near her made me feel complete and gave me a level of happiness I thought was only possible in sappy chic flicks.
"So what do you want to do in bed all day?" I asked, running my fingertips over her arm and shoulder. She made a quiet moan of appreciation and leant forwards, giving me better access to her back.
It was moments like this that I felt invincible, like I could achieve whatever I wanted and be whoever I wanted. She did that to me. She made me strong.
"I want to diiiiiiie," she groaned.
I laughed and kissed her neck. "How about we get you fed and hydrated. Hmm, or you could roll over and we can get me fed."
"Oh my God!" She moaned, pushing me away. "Are you ever not in the mood for sex?"
"Are you?"
"Yes, when I'm exhausted after going at it for ages and when I'm hung over. If you're randy go have a shower and get your right hand out to play."
"I don't think I like it when you're hung over."
"Not doing cartwheels about it over here either. Coffee. Please. Find. Coffee."
"Get up and get dressed and we can go down to breakfast," I said, grinning at the prominent frown on her forehead that I could just see while leaning over her. Even when she looked grumpy she was still stunning. She shifted to look over her shoulder. Flicking her eyes open, she glared.
"I don't want to. I want you to get up, go downstairs and bring me coffee back."
"Oh do you?"
Nodding once, she replied, "Yes. I know I'm being demanding and borderline unreasonable but I don't care. If I don't get coffee soon someone is getting cut."
I fell down flat on my back and laughed. "Fuck, you're dramatic."
"You try getting much out of any woman before coffee and you'll see I'm perfectly normal. Are you going for me?" She asked, sticking her bottom lip out.
Looking over, I sighed. "Fine." Her eyes lit up at the thought of coffee. "You owe me, you know that, right?"
"Whatever," she muttered, slurring over the word. "Coffee now please or I wont be able to repay you with sexual kindness because you'll have no danglies."
I laughed and shook my head. "Danglies?"
"Yes, your parts that swing when you do your thing will be gone."
"Right," I replied, getting up and getting dressed. "You're special, Nell."
"Fuck off."
Chuckling to myself still, I left Sleeping Beauty in search of something that'd make her less violent. I didn't want to lose my danglies now.
I made my way to the lift as it opened and Logan stared back at me. "Err, you're doing a runner?" I asked, stepping inside.
"Nope, Chloe sent me out for herbal tea."
"Fucking hell, that must be a woman thing, I'm going for proper coffee."
"Oh she doesn't really want it. I don't think she even likes it but it's the only one not in the room and I think she needs ten minutes to throw up."
"Oh-kay..."
He shrugged. "She won't let me hear her be sick, not that I particularly want to. Women are weird."
"Yeah. Manage to consummate or were you too drunk?" I asked.
"Of course I managed," he replied, sounding offended.
Laughing, I leant back against the wall and closed my eyes. I was getting a banging headache now. "Me too. Not consummate but you know what I mean, I gave it to her good."
Logan chuckled under his breath. "Good night all round then."
"What's the plan for today? You and Chlo doing anything?" I asked as the lift stopped on the ground floor and we headed to the bar.
"She needs food so after not drinking the herbal tea we'll come down for breakfast. After that we'll probably see off the people that are leaving today and spend the rest of the time in bed."
"Sounds very similar to my plan."
I ordered three coffees and a herbal tea for Chloe to pour away and we went back.
"Any developments with Nell?" He asked, pressing the button in the lift for our floor.
"Who knows? Things between us are changing and I know she feels it too but what she'll do about it is anyone's guess."
"She'll get there."
I hoped so. The lift stopped and the doors slid open. "See you later, man, if we can still walk after today," I said, winking.
He scoffed. "Twenty quid I have more sex than you."
"Oh it's on, brother!" I said, backing out of the lift and watching a smug looking Logan walk the opposite end of the corridor to his room.
I opened the door and put the coffee down on the bedside table. Nell was fully under the cover but she pulled it down enough to reveal her eyes. "Coffee. Oh God, coffee, I love you."
Of course, the coffee she loved. Fucking woman.
"Drink up, I'm calling room service for breakfast and then we're spending the whole day fucking."
Cocking her eyebrow, she replied, "Are we now?"
"Logan thinks he and Chloe can do it more."
She sat up, winced and reached for the coffee. "I'm going to need pain killers. Get ordering and then get naked."
Fuck, I loved her.
Nell and I spent all day in bed, ordering food to the room when we needed it. After the first time it stopped being about beating Chloe and Logan and became about us. We were free of expectations and the looks of people that assumed we'd announce we were exclusive soon.
We didn't have to do anything but whatever the hell we wanted. The sun was setting and we kept the curtains open, watching the sky darken. Neither one of us was dressed but the quilt was pulled up to my waist and, unfortunately, just above Nell's chest.
"Five years time where will you be?" I asked.
She took a second, licked the ice cream off the spoon and said, "New York working for some super huge and super powerful company that I helped to turn around. I'll have a flat...or apartment that overlooks Central Park and drink cocktails after work every night."
I could see her doing all of that. "Dreaming big."
"Only way to do it. What's the point in aiming low?"
"Hey, I'm with you there. Room for me in your suitcase?"
"Want to conquer the advertising world in America?"
"I'd planned on the world but America is a good start
, I suppose."
She sighed. "I doubt I'll ever get to New York."
"Not with that attitude. Where did that come from anyway?"
"I'm not saying I wouldn't smash it just that I couldn't not have quick and easy access to Cadburys, and I think getting blank looks when I use the words bellend, tosser and wanker would piss me off."
Laughing, I leant over and kissed the side of her head. "Fair point."
"What about you? Five years?"
"Mansion. Inside pool. Ten car garage."
"You're such a guy."
"Yes."
I had hoped that she'd mention something about wanting to be with someone - me - by five years time or engaged by then. Not Nell. But that was probably because in her head she'd still be single in five years. What would it take to get through to her?
"Ten years?" She asked. "You know, when you're old and past it."
"Ah, well I'll still have the mansion, cars and pool but I'll be sharing it with a woman that'll keep me young."
She turned her nose up. "You're disgusting. You're going to be one of those old men with really young wives, aren't you?"
"Tempting but perhaps a little too cliche."
"Cougar?"
"Why do I either have to have a child bride or a granny?"
"Because someone your own age isn't funny."
"Thanks. What about you? Sugar daddy?" Me!
"I don't do marriage or any of that shit."
I wasn't sure what to say. Biting my lip, I looked away. There was nothing I could do to make her want more, want me, and nothing I'd want to do. It hurt. I swallowed the sting and looked over.
"Lay down."
"I am laying down?" She said.
"Lay down more."
"Why?"
"Jesus, Nell, just lay the fuck down!"
She was so infuriating sometimes. If she was lying naked next to me I'd do just about anything she asked with no question.
Giggling, she put the ice cream on the bedside table, shoved the quilt off her body and pushed herself down on the bed so she was laying flat.
"Alright, do your worst."
I was momentarily stunned at her beauty. Her long jet-black hair was splayed out on the pillow. Full breasts sat pert on her chest leading down to a slender, toned waist. Hipbones peeked out in the sexiest way. The gap between her legs sent my heart wild and the miles and miles of legs begged to be wrapped around my shoulders.
"Nell..." I groaned.
Fluttering her eyelashes she trailed her fingers up her stomach and around the swell of her breasts. "Yes, Damon?"