Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Ethan
“I have an idea,” Jacob announces as he walks into my room.
I turn my head to face him without a word and continue fixing my cufflinks. Today is the day of the wedding, and it’s safe to say my mood is grim.
Yesterday was amazing, I didn’t want it to end. Roaming around the city, watching Jacob’s expression as he experiences London for the first time. I enjoyed it more than I would like to admit.
There was a flick of hope in my chest that maybe it wouldn’t be the last time.
But Jacob has been walking on eggshells around me all morning, but I guess he’s finally had enough of my glum mood.
He stops in front of me and places his hands on his hips. The navy fitted dress pants sit perfectly on his slim frame, and his white shirt is open at the collar, exposing the smooth skin of his chest.
His gaze roams over my chest, then back to my face as I take him in myself.
“Your family is going to expect us to be super in love. We’re in the honeymoon phase. So, I think we should kiss now, before we leave, so we don’t have our first kiss in a room full of your family.”
My hands freeze mid-air, my heart lodging itself firmly in my throat.
Did he just say what I think he just said?
“What?”
“If we kiss now, any awkwardness will be gone, and it won’t be obvious that we’re faking it. I think it would be kinda weird if we didn’t kiss at what is a romantic event where the love in the air is supposed to be stifling.”
I blink at him, stunned into silence, but he makes a very valid point.
They don't know me that well, but my family would see right through us. We’re already playing a risky game by pretending, but it would more than likely blow our cover if we didn’t indulge in some form of public display of affection.
Also, throw in the fact that Jacob is the first guy I’ve brought to a “family” event since Ian, and all eyes will be on us when they’re not on the bride and groom. Any slight hiccup and this fake dating ruse will be for nothing.
“If we’re to make this believable, we need to kiss now to make sure we’re not, you know, rusty.”
Despite the way my mouth waters at the thought of tasting him, I quirk a brow and smirk. “Rusty? ”
“Yeah…Well…” He waves his hand between us.
“I don’t want us to be banging our teeth together or using too much tongue because we’re…
uh… not used to each other. We’ve only recently started dating.
We’re supposed to be unable to keep our hands and mouths off each other, so we’d be incredibly familiar with each other’s mouths and tongues at this point. ”
Damn, I’ve been dying to be familiar with his taste.
Without needing any further convincing, I close the distance between us in a heartbeat. He opens his mouth to say something else, probably to give me another reason why we should do this, but there’s no need.
I cut him off, wrapping my hand around the back of his neck, and slam my mouth against his in a blistering kiss. A small noise escapes him, clearly unprepared for me to take action right there and then.
But I don’t need time to think about it.
I’ve been wanting to get my hands—and mouth—on him any way I can since the very first day I met him.
His body relaxes into me. His hands smooth up the front of my shirt, no doubt feeling the erratic drumming of my heart beneath his palm as I lick a path over his bottom lip.
My other hand moves to hold his hip, and when he parts his lips for me, a low growl mews in the depths of my chest. He welcomes my invading tongue with a soft moan that goes straight to my cock.
He tastes so fucking sweet that I could feast on him for hours.
I know this is supposed to be an experiment. A way to dust away any potential cobwebs, but we don’t need to fake chemistry that’s always been there .
His hands trail up around my head before his fingers rake through the hair on the nape of my neck.
He gives it a gentle tug, and I groan, my dress pants tightening as my cock hardens.
He feels so good in my arms, pressed up so close against me that there’s not an inch between us.
I kiss him until he’s gasping for breath, and when his eyes flutter open, a wash of crimson coats his cheeks.
“Yeah, that was…I…Mmm...Yeah…Wow…Um…Oh, that was…Mmm,” he fumbles over his words. Taking a controlled breath, he pats my chest, smoothing his palms over the fabric of my suspenders. “Great. That was…Top job.”
“Jacob.” I smirk.
“Mmm?” He looks up, his eyes hooded and dark with arousal, and I’m tempted to skip the fucking wedding so we can stay home and practice some more.
Preferably without our clothes in the way, so I can learn the sounds he makes when our dicks brush together.
“We don’t need to worry about looking rusty, but I appreciate having the opportunity to steal your breath in privacy first.”
I didn’t think it was possible, but his face flushes a deeper shade of red, and a shy smile appears on his lips as he looks down at his shoes. I place my finger under his chin, making him look at me.
“And Jacob? That cherry lip gloss?” I lick my lips, savoring the taste of him on my tongue. “You better wear that more often because you taste fucking delicious.”
“Wow, this is so beautiful,” Jacob says in awe, gazing up at the gothic architecture. “It’s like something out of a fairytale.”
It is. The wedding is being held in an early eighteenth-century mansion.
History oozed from every inch of the grounds, from the ancient trees lining the gravel driveway to the acres of green land and the decorative crenellations lining the top of the walls.
The winding white roses surrounding the entryway only add to the romantasy vibe.
Placing a protective hand on Jacob’s lower back while he takes what I assume is another hundred photos with his phone, I eye the guests arriving, all dressed to the nines. None I recognize, but it doesn’t stop my pulse from ricocheting.
Is it too late to leave?
“Can we take a photo to send to Alex?” Jacob’s voice pulls me out of my head.
“Sure.” I move to stand behind him, keeping up appearances by snaking my hand around his waist to rest against his stomach. He angles the phone up and smiles brightly, but his smile quickly turns into a frown.
“Ethan, what did I tell you yesterday?”
“I am smiling.”
“No, you’re not; you’re scowling. How are we supposed to sell this relationship if you look like I’ve pissed in your pasta?”
I snort at his analogy.
“Now, smile.” He leans back into me, and I wrap my arm a little tighter around him. He grins, and I do the same.
This time, it isn’t forced or constrained. The vision of us on the phone screen makes the stupid organ in my chest swell. His natural, ethereal beauty is a beacon. A sharp contrast to my rugged, crooked features.
He’s the beauty, I’m the beast, and he’s everything I’ve told myself I couldn’t keep.
He makes me want to let go of my tightly held reins and just be.
To give in to temptation, lean into the want , and pretend I’m not broken as fuck inside.
“Ethan!” My head snaps up at the sound of Mom’s voice. I let go of Jacob just as she wraps her arms around me in a bone-crushing hug. “I’m so glad you could make it, sweetie.”
“Well, it’s not like you gave me much choice,” I grumble.
She laughs. “True, but still, you look so handsome, and Jacob! You look amazing!” She hugs Jacob and smooths her hands down the sleeves of his shirt. “This is so soft!”
“Oh, thank you, Jennifer. You look absolutely beautiful. This dress is such a good color on you.”
“You’re a darling; thank you. Shall we head inside?” Mom links her arm with mine, and I automatically reach for Jacob’s hand. He laces our fingers together, giving me a gentle squeeze.
It’ll be okay, he silently communicates with a soft smile.
Inside, the seats face a grand staircase. More white roses line the banisters, along with twinkling lights that cast the perfect sparkle in Jacob’s blue eyes as he roams the extravagant hall, brimming with wonderment.
“Wow,” he whispers.
“They’ve done a fantastic job,” Mom beams.
“Mmm,” I offer.
She leads us to our seats, and as I’m about to sit down, my skin prickles. The feeling of someone watching me sends chills through my body all the way to my toes. I glance up, and that’s when I see him.
Ian.
He’s staring at me.
No. Not me.
Jacob.
His lips are curled up in disgust. My hand balls into a fist because how fucking dare he even look in Jacob’s direction?
“E, sit down.” Jacob squeezes my thigh.
Once I’m seated, Jacob places his hand on my stubbled cheek, angling my face toward him. He presses the sweetest kiss on my lips, and the tension evaporates within an instant.
“He’s not worth it,” he murmurs for my ears only.
He isn’t, but it doesn’t stop the anger I’ve been harboring for a decade from threatening to blow up like a volcano.
Thankfully, the ceremony goes seamlessly.
Both Jacob and Mom tear up, causing me to roll my eyes.
We’re led into another room for a champagne reception before dinner.
Mom pulls us to extended family members I barely know, but I exchange pleasantries, introducing Jacob as my partner and ensuring my hands are on him at all times.
When Jacob slips off to use the bathroom, Mom pulls me toward the makeshift bar set up on one side of the room.
“I like him.”
I sneak a look at her out of the corner of my eye, waiting for her to continue.
“He’s good for you.”
I chuckle under my breath with a shake of my head. “And what makes you say that? ”
“Well, for starters, I haven’t seen you smile wide enough that your dimples pop since you lifted the Stanley Cup.
” She taps my cheek with her finger. “And secondly, don’t think I haven’t noticed the way you’re looking at him.
You haven’t looked at anyone that way since he-who-shall-not-be-named, and even then, it didn’t quite hold the same flame. ”