Chapter 7 Dom
Dom
Apastel dress code with baby pink tablecloths, balloons, and giant mobiles hanging from the ceiling wasn't my ideal choice for a party, but I was out to support my friend.
And seeing Cat furiously tracking Mallory Fischer as she swanned around the grand hotel ballroom, remaining the centre of attention while Cat was stuck in a chair was particularly fun.
“I’m sure there are much better ways to piss your mum off than sitting by the wall and glaring at her.” I shot my other best friend a smile, which she returned with a charming glower.
I leaned against the wall next to her, arms folded, a drink in one hand.
“None that don't have me running to the toilet every two minutes.” She scowled. “I didn’t ask for a baby shower. It’s my second child, for fuck’s sake.
I’m not even giving birth for another two months.
She just had space on her calendar and…” Cat wrinkled her nose as she looked around the room at the waves of baby colours, each table set with fluffy ducks, tiny blue elephants, buttercream cupcakes, and roses.
“This is even worse than last time. Thank God I managed to convince her off the gender reveal.
If I had to drag my ass to Sea World just to watch dolphins with coloured bows synchronise swim again, I'd go off on tour with Max and give birth in whatever city is farthest away from her.” She gritted her teeth as Mallory threw back her head and laughed loudly, clutching her Harry's bicep, who was carefully hiding the fact that he hated every moment of it.
Cat shook her head, her chestnut bun bouncing on her neck. “Honestly. Anything to get one up on the Deveroux’s.”
“At least there’s no reporters,” I offered.
“True, but I can see at least two photographers sneaking around. I’m sure some shots will end up in a magazine or two, and she’ll claim innocence.”
One said photographer was closing in on Mallory, who shifted to wrap her other arm around Harry’s shoulders, pinning him in place. She nodded politely at Harry's dad who stood next to her like a good husband and looked as uncomfortable as Cat.
I wanted to go over there and bat her away so I could hold Harry myself.
Harry sighed, relaxing into Mallory’s grip, but he should have been doing that for me.
His smile looked genuine, though pastel green really wasn’t his colour.
Anyone could tell Mallory had dressed him again.
His V-neck shirt was buttoned down to show the slightest wisp of chest hair that was driving me insane.
His stylist brushed his hair back, trimmed his beard short, and put him in casual beige slacks that showed off his soft curves.
Curves that I had been holding only three nights ago.
I couldn’t stop picturing how it could have gone if I had pushed him to let me go further.
He’d fit against my chest so perfectly. I could still feel the imprint of him against my body, and the thickness of his cock in my hand.
My eyes shuttered closed as a wave of lust hit me.
Those moments, where he moaned under my touch, where he opened himself up to me.
There were so many ways I could have shown him how I felt and found out if I had a chance.
All I had to do was get him to a place where he’d let go and I could have—
Need shuddered through me, and my eyes snapped open. I jumped as I met Harry’s piercing gaze. He was in the centre of the room, too far to even hear him if he called me.
Time bent and twisted around us, and my hand clenched against my thigh, heart thumping too slowly and loudly in my ears. It was only a second, but enough to fill me as he glanced away and I lost him.
I was about to run over, pull him away from Mallory, and force him to tell me he wanted me, but high heels clicked to a stop next to us.
“This is ridiculous!” Jasmine Fischer cut through my horny thoughts.
She stood to our right, a thin hand on her hip, the other sporting a flute of champagne.
Clad in a sparkling pink dress that looked more like a cape, her naturally silver hair tumbling down her back.
She was an identical copy of her mum, though she despised anyone pointing it out.
Jasmine raised her brows, narrowing her eyes at Mallory before turning on us.
“She’ll literally do anything, won't she?” She scowled, her violet eyes thinning before she took a drink, and Cat watched the glass longingly.
“It’s just not the same when I can’t get drunk,” she answered.
“Oh, Catherine,” Jazz tutted. “How pregnancy has changed you. Last time I remember, you were the one having a go at me for getting sloshed and trying to do cabaret at Kieran's birthday party.”
There was never a dull moment when the Fischers were involved.
“Did you hear her say we’re playing pin the tail on the donkey?” Jazz scoffed. “Except the tails are Cartier diamond bracelets, and the donkey is a freaking Arabian racehorse! And I can’t even with the—”
“Oh. My. God!” A screech pierced through air, and all three of us were suddenly drowned in vanilla spice as the tiny machine that was Bunny Collins launched herself at Jasmine, grappling her into a hug. “Jazzy!”
“Oh my God!” Jazz screamed in reply, balancing her champagne while deafening everyone in a ten-mile radius as she wrapped her arms around her best friend. We were completely forgotten as they both wiggled and hopped up and down in front of us.
“Jesus fucking Christ,” Cat hissed as their screaming reached over 100 decibels.
“Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God! It’s so good to see you!” Bunny pulled back, keeping Jazz’s hands gripped in hers.
“I thought you weren’t coming!” Jazz beamed at her.
“Of course I’m coming. Oh my God," Bunny tittered. "I totally wasn’t, you know? Like, ugh, babies. But when you texted me last week and said you were back in London, I was just like, ‘how could I not?’”
“Right?” Jasmine grinned down at her.
“Right?” Bun replied.
They both burst out laughing and hugged each other again.
All of this was happening right in front of Cat, who seethed while I happily watched the drama. There was nothing I loved more than Cat Fischer when she was pissed off, apart from when she was happy. And it was a fantastic distraction from my issues.
Not only did it drive Cat absolutely mad having to be at crotch level with everyone in the room because it was hard for her to stand, but people either ignored her, talked down to her, or talked at her.
And Bunny had held a vendetta against Cat for over two years since she ‘stole’ Bunny’s fiancé, Cat’s husband and the father of her children, Max. Even though Bunny and Max's engagement was fake, but no one really knew that.
“If you two are quite finished…” Cat folded her arms and leaned back in the chair, glaring up at them both.
“Oh,” Bunny paused, looking down at her. “You’re still here, are you?” She sniffed.
Cat folded her arms and zeroed in on her. “At my own baby shower? Yes, Bun. Yes, I am.”
“And still pregnant, I see?” Bunny raised a brow, judging as she ran her eyes over her. “Doing that a lot, aren’t we?” She twisted her lips into a sneer.
Cat drew in the deepest breath, her eyelids fastened shut, forcing herself to stay calm.
I had to curl my fingers into my palm to stop myself from bursting out laughing, but Jazz didn’t hold back.
She grabbed onto Bunny’s arm, drawing even more stares than their screaming had.
“Oh my God, you are so funny. Like. Just wow.” Jazz straightened and beamed at us.
“Sorry, but I’ve got to show Bun Bun this new version of pin the tail on the donkey!
” She shot us a wink as she turned, dragging Bunny off with her.
“You’re going to totally love this. Mum has… ”
And they vanished into the crowd. The only sign they’d been there was the fury in Cat’s eyes and the flush on her cheeks.
“She really is something, isn’t she?” I chuckled as Cat nearly growled, failing to stay calm.
“She isn’t boring. I can say that, at least,” Cat said, rubbing circles over her belly as she continued taking deep breaths.
There was an easy lull between us, and Harry threw me another glance. It didn’t help that my heart jumped every time he looked at me, and a gentle warmth flowed through me whenever he gave me even an ounce of attention.
She caught me watching Harry and smirked. “Are you coming to the party?”
“You're going to have to be more specific," I said. "I can’t exactly give you an answer when your family hosts at least two of these things a week.”
“You know, the welcome-back-slash-congratulations-on-your-engagement party for Harry and Molly?”
“Oh. That one,” I said dully. I’d kind of pushed everything like that out of my mind.
In my head, there was just the thought of what would happen if I got serious.
Not that I wasn’t serious before, but serious to the point where things like an engagement party wouldn’t matter because Harry couldn’t leave my bedroom without gasping for my cock.
And honestly? I didn’t fucking care anymore. I tried to care, I really did, but it didn’t matter. I was fucked whether I went for it or not.
There was all that shit about honouring his relationship with Molly and whatever, but he wasn’t doing a great job of hiding how much he wanted me.
The second I moved, his gaze would snap to me, as if he were worried I was going to leave, or come closer.
I played with the idea of just dragging him to the bathroom to suck him off, but it probably wouldn’t go well.
“No, sorry,” I said, “I'll be busy with some excuse by then. You can make one up for me, if you want. You’re way better at those than me.”
“Ah.” That one noise said enough. “So, you’ve decided against becoming Max’s brother-in-law.”
I shot her a look, taking a quick gulp of my own champagne. “Being related to Max sounds like the worst punishment anyone could inflict on me,” I said after a bubbly swallow.
She narrowed her eyes. “Uh, huh. Sure.” It was amazing how she could interrogate me with just three words.
“What?” I glared at her as she shook her head.
“Nothing.” We were acting like grumpy teenagers, and I loved it.
I missed that part of her. Ever since she got married, she shared all of herself with Max.
Even when he was on tour and I had her all to myself, she didn’t need me in the same way she used to.
And it would be the same with Harry if he really got married.
Christian and I had already discussed locations for our little impromptu holiday, but considering his main requirement was ‘protection from gunfire’, I didn't hold out much hope of those plans going ahead.
“Catherine!” Mallory called from the other side of the room. All eyes in the room swept to us. “We’re about to unwrap presents.”
Cat let out a heavy sigh while staring at her. “I could pretend I didn’t hear her, just stay here with you…”
“But…?”
“It’s better to go through the effort of standing up than listening to her chew my ear off as soon as all these lovely ladies have flown the proverbial coop.”
She flashed me a cheeky grin as she extended her hand. “Come on, as my child’s godfather, you’re obligated to help me up.”
“I’m wounded, Kitty Cat. I thought you’d chosen me for my undying loyalty and fantastic abs?” I offered her my arm so she could pull herself up.
“Yes, well, that too.” She winked, and it made me a tiny bit thankful she’d fallen back in love with Max.
If only I could be that strong.