Chapter Nineteen
Henry
When Juliette’s gone, I feel a sudden surge of panic that it’s going to be the last time we’re together. Despite her agreement that she won’t see Cam again, I know that’s unlikely, and it’s a horrible thought that he only has to snap his fingers and she’ll go running back to him. Maybe that’s unfair, but that’s been the case so far. She cares for him, and he plays on that, no doubt telling her he can’t live without her. I wouldn’t put it past him to threaten to take his own life if she left. If he does that, I’ll go and see him and save him the job. Fucking bastard.
Staying in my room isn’t going to help my irritation, so instead I head up to the hotel pool and do some lengths, then go to the gym and run for half an hour. I meet James there, who’s also presumably running off some angst, and Tyson, who’s doing his daily exercises to strengthen his lower limbs, and the three of us agree to go and get some lunch together when we’re done.
After lunch, feeling better now I’ve exercised and eaten, I head back to the hotel for a read—during which I examine the inside of my eyelids for half an hour—and then it’s time to get ready for the wedding rehearsal.
Before she left this morning, Juliette made it clear that she wants to keep our relationship quiet for now. She said it was because she doesn’t want to answer questions from the others about what’s happening, but I’m convinced it’s because she hasn’t yet officially broken up with Cam. She knows she’s going to have to do that if she wants to be with me, and she’s trying to build up the courage to do it, knowing he’s bound to object.
I wish Cam would realize it’s over and tell her it’s done, but equally I want her to be the one to do it. I want her to prove to me that she really wants to be with me, and not just because she’s afraid of being alone. Leaving a long-term relationship is scary, especially when you’re not sure if you’ll ever find someone else. Juliette knows I’m here waiting for her, but to make it work, she needs to be the one to jump.
I can’t fast forward things, though. All I can do is wait, and support her, and hope it all comes out in the wash.
*
Because we’re groomsmen, James, Tyson, and I head up to Brooklyn Heights at two to join Alex, Damon, Saxon, and Kip, for a quick run-through of what’s going to happen tomorrow morning before we all head up to the minivans with the rest of the family.
Alex takes me to one side and says, “I wonder if I can ask you a favor?”
“Sure,” I reply.
“Kait’s causing a bit of trouble,” he says, referring to his mother. “Just making things a tad unpleasant. So I wondered whether you’d be able to… you know… escort her a bit. Unless you’ve got yourself another date.”
“Nope,” I reply, silently apologizing to Juliette in my head. “Of course, I’d be happy to help.”
“Thanks,” he says, relieved. He looks anxious, which is very un-Alex.
“You okay?” I ask, amused.
“Yeah. A bit nervous. Dunno why.”
“It’s a big day for Damon. You just want it to go well, that’s all. And it will. He’s a lucky guy having you for a best man.”
That makes him smile. “Thanks, man.”
I clap him on the back, then head toward Kait as I see her leaving the house. She’s a movie actor, quite famous, slender and beautiful. I know she broke up with her boyfriend in LA a while ago, and she’s here on her own. Her divorce from Alex’s dad was extremely acrimonious, which was presumably why he said she’s been causing trouble.
I can see a couple of women nudging each other as she passes, and I watch her dip her head so her hair swings forward to hide her face. Feeling a touch of pity for her, I approach her casually and say, “I don’t think we’ve been introduced yet. I’m Henry West, one of the groomsmen.”
“Hello, Henry,” she replies, shaking my hand. “You work with Alex, don’t you?”
“At Kia Kaha, yes.”
“He speaks very highly of you.”
“Well, that’s nice to know. I’m here on my own, too.” I offer her my elbow. “Want to sit together?”
She gives me a grateful look. “That would be great, thank you.”
I lead her toward the minivans, hold her hand as she climbs the stairs, and sit next to her. I’m not the smallest of men, and I apologize for taking up more than my share of room.
“No worries at all,” she says, her eyes meeting mine, a tad flirtatiously before she looks out of the window. I don’t think it’s what Alex had in mind when he asked me to look after her!
The vans take us to Old St. Paul’s church, which is a beautiful building, built in a Gothic revival style, with large, colorful stained-glass windows and native timber columns. Alex told me that although it’s consecrated, it’s non-denominational, which means that any type of wedding can be held here, whether it’s religious, civil, or LGBTQIA+. Damon and Belle are having a traditional Anglican ceremony, though.
When we arrive, Alex explains that Mik, the wedding organizer, wants to chat to the groomsmen, so I take Kait inside. She kisses me on the cheek, then sits in a pew beside Elizabeth Huxley. I wink at Elizabeth, who winks back and starts talking to Kait. Then I straighten and see Juliette in the pew behind. My heart skips a beat like a schoolboy faced with his crush. She’s wearing a light-gray pantsuit with a white shirt—an unusual outfit for her, but she looks amazing. Her hair is up, and a silver bindi graces her brow.
She glances at Kait, then back at me and raises an eyebrow. Oh… she saw her kiss me, and she’s jealous. I try not to laugh as I head outside, ready for Mik’s brief chat.
As well as the groomsmen being there in the morning when Damon and Alex are getting ready, he gives us some ideas of how we can help on the big day: handing out the order of service sheets, greeting guests and showing them to their seats, and generally answering queries and running any errands the groom or best man might need.
After that, he matches us up with the bridesmaids—Tyson with Gaby, Saxon with his wife, Catie, Kip with his wife, Alice, James with Belle’s friend, Jo, and me with Damon’s cousin, Kennedy. I’ve met her several times before, and she’s fun and friendly. She has a prosthetic arm, and she jokes about the lace gloves she’s wearing tomorrow, and how she’s had to have one made bigger than the other.
Mik lines us up behind Belle and her father, and we proceed down the aisle. The guys leave the bridesmaids once they reach the altar, and Mik tells us to take a place in the pews.
Juliette is on the end of one of the pews. She’s next to Mack’s wife, Sidnie, but there’s plenty of room on the pew, so I go up to her and gesture for her to scoot along.
Mik’s talking again, so she can’t argue with me, but she sends me a glare as she moves up, forcing everyone to shuffle along. I squeeze in beside her, and she huffs.
“Cozy, isn’t it?” I murmur.
“Thought you’d go and sit beside your new girlfriend,” she whispers back.
“Alex asked me to look after her,” I tell her.
“Oh.” She looks a little mollified.
Smiling, I face the front, and we listen to Mik as he runs through the ceremony.
When the rehearsal is finished, it’s time to head to the minivans to return to Brooklyn Heights. I hesitate as we wander outside, wishing I could sit with Juliette, but she’s not my girlfriend, and even though we’re good friends, I need to be careful about how much time I spend with her. Disappointed, I join Kait again, and we travel back together. She’s pleasant enough, and at any other time I’d have enjoyed flirting with a movie star, but I’m still a little hungover, tired from the party last night, and restless from not being able to be with Juliette, so I’m not great company.
“You’re very much the strong, silent type, aren’t you?” Kait says with amusement when, after arriving at the Heights, we head down to the top terrace for cocktails.
“I’m sorry.” I smile. “I’m a bit distracted.”
“Women troubles?”
I sigh. “Unfortunately, yes.”
“I thought as much. There’s no way a good-looking guy like you was going to be single. Besides which, you’re Alex’s age and far too young for me.” She winks at me, then leans forward conspiratorially. “Is she here?”
“I couldn’t possibly comment.”
“That means yes. Is she the rather striking dark-haired woman with the bindi?”
My eyebrows rise, and she laughs. “It’s written all over your face when you look at her. What’s her name?”
“Juliette,” I admit reluctantly. “And she’s sort of still with someone, so it’s a secret.”
“My lips are sealed, darling. She’s been shooting daggers at me all afternoon, though, so I’m guessing she’s a tad jealous that you’re with me.” She lifts up onto her tiptoes and whispers in my ear. “Shall we make her jealous?”
I give a short laugh. “That’s a bad idea on so many levels.”
“Oh well.” She kisses my cheek anyway. “That might be enough to get the ball rolling.”
I chuckle and accept a couple of cocktails from a passing waiter. “Come on, before you cause any more mischief.”
It’s a buffet dinner today, and we wander around the food stations, helping ourselves to meats, cheeses, fruits, and seafood—Kait hardly choosing enough to feed a rabbit, while I pile enough for two people onto my plate. We find a seat with some of the others, and eat looking out at the glorious view across Wellington and its harbor, while the sun beams down.
I try not to keep looking at Juliette, giving her the space she wanted. It’s a beautiful day, and after a decent dinner and a cocktail or two, I feel more relaxed. I’m going to make sure to drink plenty of water during the evening, and I steer clear of the rich desserts and help myself to fresh fruit, taking it back to my seat to nibble as the day wears on.
The sun is heading toward the horizon when Alex stands up to give an informal speech, followed by Damon. Music starts playing after that, and people begin dancing.
“Would you like to dance?” I ask Kait.
“Aren’t you supposed to dance with Kennedy?” she says, amused.
“She’d much rather dance with her husband,” I scoff, getting up and holding out a hand.
“Thank you,” she says, looking genuinely surprised. “I’d love to.”
I lead her onto the area in front of the DJ, and we start dancing. We chat while the music plays, talking about the day, and our hope that the wedding goes well tomorrow. When the song comes to an end, James comes over and asks if he can have the next dance, and I smile and let him step in.
I can’t see Juliette anywhere or I’d ask her to dance, but I take the opportunity to head up to the house and visit the bathroom. When I’m done, I wash my hands, then open the door to head out.
“Oh!” I exclaim as someone pushes me back into the bathroom and closes and locks the door behind them. It’s Juliette, and she looks pretty mad.
“Hello,” I say, amused.
“Don’t you ‘hello’ me.” She pushes me up against the wall. “Are you enjoying yourself out there, flirting with the rich and famous?”
“I told you, Alex asked me to look after her.”
“You don’t have to be so enthusiastic about it,” she says. Her cheeks are flushed. She looks absolutely amazing.
I know I should remind her that she’s the one with a partner, and the one who wanted to keep us a secret. But behind her jealousy, misery flickers. She knows she’s being unreasonable, and she hates herself for it.
“You know you’re the only girl for me,” I tell her, tucking a hand under her chin.
She knocks it away. Then she starts unbuckling my belt, keeping her gaze on mine.
I lift my eyebrows. “What are you doing?”
She doesn’t reply, just finishes undoing my belt, then flips open the button at the top of my suit trousers. “You think you’re the only one who gets to make demands?” she says.
I don’t say anything, my thermostat rapidly rising.
She slides her hand into my trousers and cocks an eyebrow. “Oh, are you finding it exciting to be locked in a bathroom with a girl?”
“Not with any girl,” I tell her, my voice husky. “Only with you.”
She likes that. Her face flushing, she moves up close to me, massaging my rapidly growing erection. “You’re mine,” she says.
“Okay,” I admit happily.
“Only I get to do this,” she says. And then, to my astonishment, she sinks to her knees before me.
“Juliette!” I’m genuinely shocked. “People will be waiting to use the bathroom…”
“I don’t care. I saw you eating pineapple. I want to make sure I’m the only one who gets to take advantage of it.” Somewhat feverishly, she lifts the elastic of my boxers over the erection that has sprung to life and takes me in hand.
“Oh. Uh… We shouldn’t…” My words trail off as she looks up at me and closes her mouth over the tip. “Ahhh… holy fuck.”
Over the two years that Shaz and I tried to get pregnant, it was out of the question for my precious baby-making fluid to end up anywhere but where it needed to be, so it’s been a long, long time since I’ve experienced this.
Juliette murmurs as she slides her lips down the length of my shaft, and I groan and let my head fall back, closing my eyes. Jesus… that feels good. I swell in her hand, and she moves back as she strokes me, giving a short laugh. “You’re so big,” she says, eyes sparkling. “You’re going to make my jaw ache.” Despite the protestation, she does it again, and this time she takes me deep in her mouth, brushing her tongue across my sensitive skin.
Oh, it feels heavenly, and I couldn’t stop her for a million dollars. I slide a hand behind her head and look down at her through hazy eyes, turned on by the sight of her lips around me, and the way she looks up at me with an adoring gaze. She adds more moisture so her hand can slide easily up and down, then licks all the way up the shaft before closing her mouth over the end again, and applying gentle suction, making me groan.
She does this for several minutes, accompanied by throaty moans that make my hair stand on end. At one point, she moves back and murmurs, “Okay baby?”
“Great,” I say, close to panting.
“Anything you want me to do?” she asks, still stroking.
Ohhh… this girl… “Underneath,” I mumble.
Obediently, she slides a hand down to cup my balls and massage them, then slips a finger back a little to stroke the sensitive skin behind them. Ahhh… yeah… that’s hitting the spot…
She continues to lick and suck while she does it, and, unsurprisingly, it doesn’t take long before I feel my climax start to approach with the tightening of all my muscles deep inside.
“Ah, careful,” I hiss, “I’m going to come…” I wait for her to move back, but she doesn’t… she just keeps sucking, taking me as deep as she can… and that makes me lose my shit completely. My climax hits with the force of a bullet train, and, when I realize she wants me to come in her mouth, I hold her head and let it happen, again and again, feeling her throat muscles contract around me as she swallows it all down.
When I’m done, she gives me gentle kisses, cleaning up with her tongue before tucking me back into my boxers and getting to her feet.
Then, to my surprise, she slides her arms around my waist and gives me a hug.
“That was nice,” she whispers.
I blow out a long breath as I hug her back. “Understatement of the year.”
“I’m sorry.” She lifts her head and kisses me. Then, clearly amused, she kisses me again. “Aren’t you going to complain?” she asks when she moves back.
“I don’t have the energy.”
She chuckles. The flashing jealousy in her eyes has vanished, and now they only show affection. “Thank you,” she says.
“Thank me?”
She smiles. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have gotten jealous. It was just seeing you with Kait—she’s so beautiful and confident.”
“She’s also the same age as my mum.”
She laughs, then fiddles with my tie. “I know I don’t have the right to complain…”
“You have every right,” I tell her simply. “I’m yours, one hundred percent. It doesn’t matter that we can’t tell everyone yet. I’m wholly yours, and I always will be.”
She hugs me again. “Can I come to your room again tonight?”
“I was hoping you would.”
She sighs. “Do you think we can get away with one dance together?”
“I think it would be odd if we didn’t, don’t you?”
“Yeah.” She gives me a squeeze. “All right, I’d better go out.”
“You first. I’ll follow in a minute.”
She opens the door and peeks out, then gives me a final smile before walking away.
I close the door for a moment and look at my reflection in the mirror above the hand basin and watch myself blow out a breath. I did not expect that this evening!
*
We do dance together, more than once, because everyone changes partners, and nobody else is paying any attention to us. It’s a beautiful evening, the sky the color of summer fruit, and I’m surrounded by my friends, who are all in love and happy with their girls.
One day, I promise myself, I’ll dance with Juliette, and everyone will know she’s mine. Tonight, though, I keep the secret close to my heart, and just drown in the love in her eyes.
*
We get back to the hotel in the early hours. I go to my room, and ten minutes later, answer the door when she knocks. She comes in, and this time the door has only just closed before our mouths meet and the clothing starts coming off. She’s naked by the time we reach the bedroom, and it takes me two seconds to join her.
This time, after her performance in the bathroom, I’m determined to make it last for her, and I spend ages taking the time to arouse her, kissing her soft skin, stroking her all over, and eventually going down on her. I make her come once, then, because she tastes so good, a second time, before rolling on a condom and finally sliding inside her.
I want to wipe away any memory she has of Cam. I can’t avoid the things she used to do with him because I don’t know what they all are, and anyway most of them are fun in one way or another, and I’m not going to deny myself the pleasure of her body in any shape or form because that means it belongs to him, and I’m not having that.
So, taking it slow for a while, I try different positions, letting her get used to being with me. Me on top. Her on top. From behind, on all fours, lying down. I let her adjust to me each time, then thrust inside her with long, purposeful strokes, and just when we’re both starting to feel the heat rising, I switch position.
“Ahhh…” Eventually she gives a half-sigh, half-groan, when I flip her onto her back once more and slide into her. “Please…”
“Please what, Juliette?” Leaning forward, I lift one of her legs over my shoulder so I can drive into her more deeply.
“Oh fuck… let me come… please…” She lowers a hand between her legs, but I push it away.
“When I’m ready.” I cup her chin and lift it. Her eyes are feverish and slightly unfocused. “When you come,” I tell her, “I want you to keep your eyes open.”
“I’ll try.”
“You’ll do as I tell you. I want you to look at me and realize that you belong to me, and no other man is allowed to touch you like this. Ever. Do you hear me?”
She nods, her lips parting as her orgasm approaches.
“Only I get to make you come,” I tell her, my voice hoarse with passion. “Say it.”
“Ahhh… Henry…”
“Say it.”
“Only you,” she whispers.
Satisfied, I give in to the urge to thrust hard, and moments later she cries out and comes, looking up at me with hazy eyes as she pulses around me. I continue thrusting, feeling heat building inside, and our eyes lock as my climax hits. Ohhh… Juliette… I want to do this to you every day of every month of every year for the rest of eternity… I don’t ever want to let you go.