Chapter 3
Chapter Three
S tanding in a bathrobe and looking through the clothes hanging in her wardrobe, Steph was still unsure what she was going to wear.
This was not how she had ever imagined her hen night. She had been engaged a matter of weeks. Her wedding was just over another week away and she was with child.
“Darling, are you okay?” came Jon’s voice in the distance.
“Not a clue,” she replied as he came to a stop behind her, his arms slipping around her waist, settling on her belly while his chin dropped to her shoulder.
“What does that mean exactly?” He landed a kiss to her jaw.
“What the fuck am I going to wear?”
He chuckled, the vibrations of it relaxing her, although that could have been a side effect of the arousal his kiss and closeness elicited.
“Good job Lindsay isn’t here with that language. What do you want to wear, Steph?”
“Dunno . . . what’s appropriate for knocked up hen party?”
She felt him stiffen around her and not in a good way. “This is not a shot gun wedding.” Jon’s objection was followed by him moving as far as the bed where he settled against the pillows.
“It kind of is. I’m pregnant and we’re getting married.”
He shook his head. “We’re getting married . . .” He grinned broadly, happy in the knowledge that Steph was going to be his forever. “ . . . and yes, you are pregnant but I proposed before I knew about the baby.”
“Some people might consider that to be splitting hairs.”
“Yeah, well, some people can fuck off.”
Steph’s laughter was followed by her joining Jon on the bed where she straddled his hips. “I don’t know how to dress as a pregnant fiancée.”
With a flick of his hips and a roll of their bodies, Jon turned them so Steph lay beneath him. “Similar and yet different, but I know how to undress this particular pregnant fiancée.”
“I can’t believe you made me late for my own hen night.”
“Zero fucks given here, darling, unless you count the ones that had you coming around my cock until you milked me dry.”
“And still my outfit issue remains.”
With a low laugh, Jon pulled Steph closer from their positions in the shower. “I don’t see the issue, but then I do prefer you naked.”
Steph laughed, wrapping a towel around herself as she stepped out of the shower and Jon’s hold. “I need to find clothes before Lindsay sends a search party.”
“No!”
“It’s a dress, Jon.”
“A dress that barely covers your arse.”
“Fine!” Steph threw the dress onto the ever growing pile of clothes ruled out by her or completely vetoed by Jon.
“Absolutely not!”
“What? I am completely covered.”
“You are, and yet I can see every inch of you, every line and curve as clearly as if you were naked.”
“I’ll be going fucking naked if I don’t find something soon,” Steph snapped, pulling off the jumpsuit that really had fit like a second skin.
“We both know naked only ever gets you one place, and it’s not outdoors.” Softening slightly at the sight of a dejected looking Steph dropping to the bed caused Jon to soften. “Darling–”
She cut him off. “No! Don’t you dare say anything else! I have tried on everything that is hen night appropriate and none of it meets with your approval.” She began to rummage through the clothes already discarded. “I am not pregnant enough to prevent me wearing any of these and if you think because I have agreed to marry you that gives you the right to tell me what I can and can’t wear, you’re wrong, so fucking wrong!”
Pulling on the black glittery stocking dress that finished just below her thighs, she slipped on some black heels before checking out her appearance and was happy with what she saw. The fabric clung to her curves, of which she had no shortage, never had, but despite her earlier protest that her pregnancy was not preventative in what she wore, she knew that her body had begun to change and soften. The sweetheart neckline of the dress hinted at her enhanced cleavage before holding the swell of her heavier breasts. The fabric stretched across her behind and belly, neither of which had ever been overly toned or flat, but now there was certainly more flesh there.
Looking at Jon’s reflection in the mirror, she spoke again, “You don’t like that? Marry someone else.”
Jon said nothing, staring at Steph, carefully, very carefully deliberating his next move. “Fucking fine! Let’s go.”
“Go? You’re going and I am going but not together.”
“Darling, the only way you are going, especially in that dress is with me, particularly as where you go, our baby goes.”
Steph prepared to respond, to protest or argue but knew that the dogged expression Jon wore was one she was more than familiar with in business and it meant he was beyond determined. His need to ensure their baby’s safety meant he would be unmoveable so this was a battle she would never win.
“Fine!”
“Always a pleasure debating with you, Miss Pryor.”
“Kiss my arse, Mr Brooker.”
His laughter followed her as she flounced out through the front door. “With absolute pleasure, darling.”
The glare she threw over her shoulder was met with peals of laughter.
“Stringers? This is where my hen night is being held? Is this your doing?”
“Did I ensure this place would have availability? Yes. Did I plan your hen night? Absolutely not, that was all down to Lindsay, Rosie and your sisters.”
Steph knew if Jon had been involved in plans, he’d admit it, so had no reason to disbelieve what he was saying. Helping her from the car, Steph rose onto her tiptoes, preparing to kiss Jon goodbye, but as he took her hand to lead her indoors, she realised he wasn’t leaving yet.
“I can get myself inside. You go and meet Charlie and the boys.”
“Here she is, the bride to be.” The sound of Charlie’s voice caused a confused crease to form on her brow.
The frown only deepening as the next voice spoke, “Miss Pryor.”
“How unexpected, Mr Cannon.”
Steve gave her a warm hug as more men came into view including Jon’s brother and father.
“You are kidding! You’re going to have your stag party here, with me?”
“Not with you, darling. We have separate spaces. I didn’t want to cramp your style.”
She laughed in spite of his determination to keep her within easy reach but couldn’t let it slide completely. “If I wasn’t pregnant–”
He cut her off. “But you are, and here’s Lindsay.”
Steph wasn’t sure what to expect when she entered Stringers but the sight of her party to one side of the room, including friends and family as well as Lucy who embraced her warmly is what greeted her.
“I was beginning to think Jon had barricaded you up somewhere.”
Steph laughed and arched a brow. “It was a close run thing but I’m here now.”
Jon appeared beside them. “Have fun, just not too much. No drinking, not even a small one, be careful and call if you need anything.”
“Jon–”
“Anything,” he repeated before kissing her then headed back to his own party that now included her brothers and dad.
Steph flipped off Jason who was making vomiting gestures in her direction.
Jess was already circulating with a tray of drinks. “Bucks fizz, girls,” she cried as Steph grabbed a glass.
“Jess,” she called to her sister after taking a sip. “This bucks fizz is all bucks and no fizz.”
“Yeah, well, you are pregnant, so no fizz for you.”
Ignoring the echo of Jon’s words about not even a small one ringing in her ears, she replied, “One wouldn’t hurt, surely?”
Lindsay and Lucy who were also sans alcohol exchanged a glance.
“What?”
“Jon has left strict instructions,” her friend said. “And he’s not wrong is he? It’s really not worth risking one , is it?”
Lucy nodded her support for Lindsay, her expression conveying a reminder of the words she’d heard Jon say to Steph.
“No, of course not,” Steph agreed, wondering if the reality of pregnancy would ever feel as natural as it obviously did to the women before her.
With good company, chat, laughter, food and non-alcoholic drinks, Steph was able to push all thoughts of maternal inadequacy from her mind and enjoy the evening with her friends. The waiter who seemed to be in charge of their party frequently checked in with her directly which she was certain was on Jon’s orders. The waitress who could have been mistaken for one of their party with the amount of time she was spending with them continued to whisper to Lindsay and Jess causing laughter and furtive glances in her direction. That was definitely not on Jon’s orders.
A commotion in the far corner caught her eye. Steve Cannon, Jay and a drunk Charlie stood with a woman. A very tall and sexy woman. The men, realising their mistake in entering the wrong room tried to retreat hastily and looked as though they were attempting to hide the woman, but why?
Shit! She was a stripper or dancer, thought Steph. Panic set in briefly before she dismissed the notion of her being a hooker. Whatever she was, she was clearly intended for Jon.
Already up on her feet, she was marching towards them, screaming their names in turn, although Steve had managed to make a successful exit.
Reaching them, she offered her hand to the woman. “Hi. I’m the bride and I am guessing you’re here for the groom?”
The other woman nodded a little nervously.
“A word.” Steph pointed out a nearby corner to Charlie and Jay. “Have a good night,” she told the other woman with a smile but not before muttering, “Just not too good.” She turned her full attention on Jay and Charlie. “Tell me she’s not a hooker.”
They both laughed.
“Thought not but wanted to be sure. Stripper or dancer?
“Bit of both,” Jay replied while Charlie giggled.
“You’re drunk,” Steph told the still giggling Charlie, but did laugh when he missed the wall he’d intended to lean against. “Jon is unlikely to go with a striptease or a lap dance.”
“Pussy,” Jason replied, earning himself a slap from his sister.
“If he refuses, accept it and don’t make her feel shit about it.”
“But if he says yes?” Jason asked, bracing himself for another smack, one that didn’t come.
“Unlike you, my fiancé is fussy about where he sticks his dick.”
Charlie roared while Jason simply shrugged.
“If he wants the dance or the strip, that’s up to him . . . I have no issue with that . . . I trust him.”
Charlie laughed again, regaining Steph’s attention. “I told Steve and Jay that Jon wouldn’t be up for it.” He wobbled as he tried to stand up straight then chuckled. “Jay, she’s right, he is fussy and will only stick his dick in Steph.”
“For fuck’s sake, Charlie! That’s my actual sister, my baby sister you’re talking about! You can’t say things about men putting their dick inside her, not in front of me.” Jason shuddered.
With her brother’s discomfort serving as amusement, Steph prepared to send them back to their own party. “I might just grab a final word with my fiancé’s gift.” She was already making her way back to the other woman.
“Be nice,” Jason called, hot on her heels, pulling Charlie with him.
Rolling her eyes at them both, she turned to face the other woman. “Sorry, I’m sure you’re lovely . . . very popular, but Jon, the groom, he is a one woman man. Startling the men who now flanked her, she laughed, the poor woman before her looked more confused by the second. “It’s a little ironic, that phrase, one woman man because when I met my boyfriend, he had a wife . . . he still does, well, an ex-wife so technically he is a two woman man. Shit! What if my baby . . . I’m pregnant,” she explained. “If my baby is a girl, he’ll be a three woman man.”
“Steph,” Jason interrupted. “Is there a point to the shit you’re spouting?”
“Sorry. I just want you to know you are beautiful and any man would be lucky to have you dance or strip for them, so if Jon doesn’t want that, it’s not a reflection on you. He just loves me a lot.”
“And that is definitely our cue to get the fuck out of here.” Jason turned to the stripper. “Through the door on the left, sweetheart.” With a kiss to his sister’s cheek, he led Charlie away.
Steph moved back to her friends, taking a vacant seat and judging by the cat calls and hollowing she assumed the stag party was in full swing.
“Shots!” Jess slurred as she placed a tray before her sister.
Steph looked at the tiny plastic pots. “What are these?”
“Jelly shots,” Jess replied.
Steph picked one up, bringing it to her face, sniffing it. “What’s in this?”
“Try one,” said her other sister, Tricia who was grabbing one for herself and Jess.
Gently bringing the pot to her mouth, Steph probed it with her tongue. “It’s jelly, like you get at a five-year-old’s birthday party.”
“Yeah.” Jess grinned broadly.
“Then when you said jelly shots, the word shots was surplus to requirements.”
Jess shrugged already grabbing another one.
“Hey, Steph, where you been?” Lindsay asked, taking the seat beside her friend.
“Introducing myself to the stripper.”
“What? I . . . erm . . . but,” Lindsay stammered nervously.
Before Steph could question exactly what her friend knew of the men’s plans for Jon, Jess was up, leading Steph to a chair in the middle of the dancefloor where she quickly became surrounded by a circle of her friends.
The sound of a dance track sounding out and a familiar figure had Steph laughing hard. “Really?”
Lindsay stood next to her, clapping and jeering. “You’re welcome,” she said, shimmying as the music grew louder.
“If Jon finds out about this, I am sending him to you, all of you,” she added as her sisters moved closer.
“Just returning the favour to my best friend.” Lindsay offered Steph a high five that she accepted.
“Hey, gorgeous.” Rodney, the stripper from Lindsay’s hen night, grinned down at Steph. “I guess I know why you never called.”
Steph flushed several shades of crimson at the memory of their previous meeting . . . the same night she’d met Jon. That thought caused a grin to curl her lips, not so much when she remembered that was the night he thought she was slutty Steph. How far they’d come, although as Rodney began to gyrate before her, clothes already being shed, she wasn’t sure Jon would agree.
“Where’s your python?” Tricia asked. “Linds’ said there’d be a snake.” The next sound she made was a shriek as Rodney cast aside his shorts revealing the tiniest of G-strings that hid nothing. “Fuck! There it is and what a glorious specimen it is.”
Steph joined in with the laughter of those around her when she noticed Rosie with her phone out, capturing everything as Rodney straddled her lap and squirted baby oil into her hands.
Rodney put his hands over Steph’s, encouraging her to spread the oil up his thighs but allowed her to pull her hands away before they got too close to his G-string. He gave her a playful wink before rising, turning his back on her and returning to hover over her lap, this time facing the other women who were very explicit and enthusiastic in their requests of Rodney and his G-string as well as his python making Steph howl with laughter. He continued to dance and gyrate for several minutes more before standing to his full height, summoning his audience to step closer, something most of them did, led by Steph’s sisters which both amused and horrified her. Unlike her, neither of them had any qualms about distributing the baby oil, everywhere, and then as the music headed to its finale, the G-string was torn away to the sound of squeals and hollering while Steph laughed until she could barely breathe.
The sight of Jon from the corner of her eye stemmed her laughter. He needed not to make a fuss about Rodney. She quickly saw amusement in his expression, unlike Jason who was hot on his heels.
“For fuck’s sake!” her brother cried as he reached his older sisters who still hadn’t completely unhanded Rodney who wore a very big smile and very little else. “You,” he pointed at Rodney, “Put some fucking clothes on. And you two,” he turned on Tricia and Jess, “You are the big sisters here . . .”
They giggled, as did Steph who got to her feet and found Jon at her side.
“Oh, Jay, please, like you wouldn’t let sisters rub some oil in for you,” called Steph.
“You are not helping, darling.”
She shrugged.
“Steph, shut the fuck up!” Jason shouted.
Steph immediately felt Jon stiffen beside her and knew one more shout or curse in her direction from her brother and her fiancé would be intervening.
“Back to you two. Now take your hands off the man, in fact, go and wash them . . . this night is the gift that keeps fucking giving as far as images of my sisters that will give me nightmares for the rest of my life.”
Tricia and Jess did unhand Rodney, allowing him to put some clothes on before he returned to Steph. “Congratulations again, and other than your angry brother, I am loving your family.”
Steph chuckled as she saw Jason shooing their sisters towards the bathrooms. “I’ll be sure to tell them that, with the exception of the angry brother.”
Rodney smirked before heading for Lindsay and Rosie who Steph assumed were the ones with the cash to pay him.
“You appear to have reacquainted yourself with Rodney, Miss Pryor.”
Steph was unsure whether Jon was angry or not but the quirk of a brow and his half-smile suggested he was amused more than anything.
“I can’t believe you remembered his name.”
“I can’t believe that is what you took from my observation. Oh, and for the record, everything from that night is etched on my brain for all eternity.”
Stretching up, Steph landed a single kiss to Jon’s lips. “How is Rodney’s counterpart?”
“Ha! Nice change of topic from your night to mine. As far as I know she is fine. Last time I saw her she was straddling Jason who was very happy with that arrangement.”
“And your lap?”
“Empty all night, darling. There’s only one woman who belongs in my lap and that’s you.”
“I hope you rejected her nicely. It’s not her fault that Steve, Jay and Charlie thought you’d go for that sort of thing.”
“Darling, of course I was polite. I believe my fiancée did try to warn my friends that a striptease and a lap dance weren’t my style, and she was right, butthey thought they knew best.”
“That’s a shame . . . because I had my whole routine planned out for you.”
“Maybe I should clarify. A striptease and lap dance from anyone other than you are not my style, so let’s get the fuck out of this place and go home where my lap is all yours.”
“Just your lap?”
“Miss Pryor, every inch of me is yours, now shift your arse before I lose the little grip I have on my self-control with images of you stripping and dancing for me.”