10. Theá
Chapter ten
Theá
I walk back inside, and I can feel Antonio’s presence behind me. The crowd has started gathering around the dance floor again, where there is a single chair in the centre. I freeze in my spot. Everything today has already been intense, but this is a different level of intimacy, one that I don’t think I’m ready for, especially with Antonio.
It all feels too real. Every touch, every moment, and especially that stupid kiss.
“You good?” Antonio stops just behind me.
“This is just going to be a lot. I didn’t think about the logistics of it.”
Usually, a bride has a dress on that hides the groom when he goes to retrieve the garter, but no, obviously, I decided to wear lace shorts that leaves the garter and, in turn, Antonio on full display for the crowd to see.
I’m more worried about my face than his.
“It’s going to be okay, but if you don’t want me to do it the traditional way, I can just use my hands. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.” He places his hand on the small of my back, and I nearly jolt under the warmth of his touch.
I’m not worried about it being uncomfortable; I’m worried I’ll like it too much .
“It’s okay, I don’t want people thinking anything’s wrong,” I say, and see him nod out of the corner of my eye.
“Ladies and gentlemen, help me welcome back the happy couple.” The crowd erupts in cheers as they form a small path for us to walk through.
As we approach the chair, my heart starts thumping against my chest, my palms getting slightly sweaty.
“Do you want me to sit?” I turn and ask.
I watch as his Adam’s apple moves as he swallows. He seems just as nervous about this as I am. “You want me on my knees for you already?” He raises a brow, the corner of his lip tilting up. And just like that, it’s as if the nerves were never there.
“Considering you never actually got on them to propose, sure.” I return the smirk, and he motions his head to a chair, a silent command telling me to sit.
I sit down, like the good girl I am, and look up at him, watching and waiting for him to tell me what to do next.
He observes me with his head slightly tilted before he leans down until his mouth is next to my ear. “You like being told what to do, don’t you, Theresa?” he purrs.
My mouth dries at his words.
“Answer me.”
“Y-yes.”
“I thought so. I’ll make this quick, but you’re going to have to sit still. Can you do that for me, Theresa?”
I nod, almost eagerly, and just as he’s about to back away, I grip the front of his shirt. “Make it believable.”
“Oh, trust me, I will.” He moves back a few feet before he winks at me.
He turns to the crowd and riles them up, earning him an extra-loud cheer from his brothers and Mattia.
When he turns back to me, his eyes are dark and low as they observe me on the chair. His gaze settles on the frilly band around my upper thigh. Then he does the one thing that nearly has me drooling at the sight—he sinks to his knees in front of me.
It’s such an ethereal sight. His eyes seem almost lazy as they stare ahead, not moving from my legs, and I feel self-conscious at the way they burn into me. As if he never wants to forget the image.
He crawls slightly closer, and my God, I want to run for the hills. He must see me flinch, because his eyes flash to mine. For a second, they’re filled with concern, but something makes that all disappear.
Soon, he’s in front of me, his hands reaching for my knees. He slowly pries them open, and now more than ever, I’m regretting not wearing a long fucking dress. I wish everyone else didn’t get to see him do this. But it’s the way his hands grab my legs in an almost possessive manner that truly has me squirming in my seat. He takes the leg with the garter on and lifts it so it’s over his shoulder; the position all too similar to something else that brings a flush to my cheeks.
“You’re doing great, Theresa,” he says, and it’s the only sound I hold onto. It drowns out the music and the cheers. It pulls my focus as I zero in on him.
That’s the biggest mistake I could’ve made, because as soon as he has my attention, his head is in between my legs, his teeth grazing against my thigh as he attempts to grab the fabric.
I want to moan out at the foreign feeling, but in my attempts to keep the sound from escaping, it comes out strangled and hoarse. I know he hears it, because the second it comes out, his grip on my legs tightens, his movements slowing to a torturous pace.
I want to look away, but I can’t decide which fate is worse: meeting the eyes of my father and brothers, or continuing to watch Antonio’s head between my legs. So I make the smart decision and bury my face in my hands to hide my embarrassment.
I jerk forward as a pinch shoots up my thigh. I peak down at Antonio, and he’s glaring at me with his pupils blown. “Eyes on me, Theresa.”
His grip on my legs loosens, and he trails his fingers along my skin. I watch as goosebumps erupt on my skin, and then the fucker smirks. When he finally gets the stupid thing off my leg, I kick his shin and then rise to my feet.
What a fucking mistake, because he looks at me, the green of his eyes barely visible as his pupils are so enlarged. The lacey fabric dangles from his teeth, looking very similar to a pair of lace panties.
“You okay, Theresa?”
“I’m going to get a drink,” I scoff, storming off to the bar as the DJ calls all the single men to the front.
The bartender that Adriano paid has an Aperol Spritz ready when I get to the bar, and I drink it so fast he stares at me with wide eyes. “Two shots of tequila, please.” He hurries off, and a screech rings through my ears.
“Oh my God, that was so hot,” Eleanor says as she catches up to me.
Her words sound like they are underwater as my heartbeat thumps loudly in my head.
I can feel him everywhere and I don’t know what to do. I’m searing hot, and all I want is to jump into a pool of ice water to try and cool off.
I throw back both shots and vaguely hear Eleanor say something about my father and brother being pissed off.
“I can’t believe that just happened,” I say more to myself. I turn and catch a glimpse of Adriano catching the garter before running to Antonio, who breaks out into laughter. His perfect smile is on full display. He looks so carefree, so natural. It looks so real.
“Good thing it’s not real.” Eleanor’s words are the record scratch I need to come back to reality.
“You’re right. None of this is real.” It eases my thumping heartbeat, and the DJ calls me back to the dance floor.
I grab her wrist and drag her with me. “C’mon, at least try and catch it.”
All the beautiful ladies from both mine and Antonio’s family line the dance floor, and I even spot Gianna in the front row–much to her son’s dismay.
The red-haired girl who’s been walking around with Valerie is also right in front, arms out, clearly ready to go to war for my bouquet.
I turn my back to all of them and stumble a bit as the alcohol settles in my stomach. Giggles erupt as I repeat Eleanor’s words.
It’s not real. It’s not real. It’s not real.
And with that, I toss the flowers over my head and turn to see them fly over the redhead’s head and land perfectly in a small girl’s hands towards the back. She immediately beams as everyone walks off the dance floor, the redhead looking slightly dejected as she returns to Valerie and Ambrose.
For the second time tonight, I stand awkwardly in the middle of the dance floor until my eyes meet Antonio’s. He motions his head for me to come over to him. I second guess it for a second, but when he raises a brow, I realise it wasn’t much of a suggestion.
I join him near our table and watch as the girl from earlier runs towards Augustus.
“I caught it, isn’t that exciting?” She wriggles her eyebrows at him. He looks down at her with the most apathetic expression I’ve ever seen before shrugging.
“I guess, but it’s all an old wives’ tale, anyway,” he says.
My heart breaks for her as I see her deflate at his words. I know that innocent hope in fate all too well. The hope that maybe fate will have them get married next, the hope that Adriano does as well or the blind hope that fate would have this entire thing with Antonio work out in the end.
I look up at Antonio and find his green eyes already on mine.
“Hi.”
It’s not real. It’s not real. It’s not real.
“Hi,” I say.
“Antonio, come on, we’re taking pictures,” Mattia says, grabbing his arm before going to grab Gus as well.
I meet the eyes of the girl and motion her over with my hand.
“I’m Theá.”
“Selena, Augustus’ girlfriend.”
“Oh wow, I didn’t know he was dating anyone, how long have you been together?”
“Nearly ten years.” She smiles, but it doesn’t meet her eyes.
Fuck, that makes it even worse. It’s one thing if they were simply a fling or date for tonight. But to be with him for nearly ten years and have that be his reaction is a stab right in the gut.
“Does Adriano have the garter around his neck like a collar?” Selena asks.
“At least this way, someone will finally be able to keep him on a leash,” a voice says from next to us. I turn to see Valerie and a redhead.
Selena bursts out into a chuckle while my spine stiffens as I come face to face with Valerie. She’s gorgeous with long, caramel blonde hair, and it’s easy to see why Antonio is obsessed with her.
“Theá, it’s nice to finally catch you alone. I’m Valerie, and this is my best friend, Natalia,” she says, gesturing to the redhead who looks stunning in her forest green dress. “Considering the circumstances, you look absolutely stunning.”
Great. She’s nice, too. I see the tinge of sadness behind her eyes as she says the last part, and a part of me wonders how much she knows.
“Thank you, It’s lovely to meet you both,” I say before a loud cheer causes all our heads to turn. The Vitale boys are in the centre of the dance floor, posing together for a photo. Antonio is being held up by his brothers, Mattia, and a few other men. Even Ambrose is involved, holding up his feet. And again, the smile on his face is so broad and bright, that even his eyes have scrunched up.
I let my eyes observe Valerie again. She stares at the boys with stars in her eyes, I find myself hoping it’s mainly for Ambrose, but there’s this odd feeling that settles in my gut as I watch a smile spread across her face.
“You know what would make this moment even better?” Valerie asks.
“What?” the other two girls and I say in unison.
“Tequila shots.” She smirks.
“I can’t, I've had way too much to drink. Courtesy of Adriano,” I politely decline. The idea of getting drunk with her after everything I heard tonight rubs me the wrong way.
“Come on! If I need this shot, I know you need it more.” Selena hooks her arm in mine and smiles at me brightly.
A shot is probably the last thing I need right now, but I let her drag me with her to the bar. Because if there’s one thing I am, it’s supportive. And Selena needs all the support after that horror scene with the bouquet.