Chapter Thirty-Two #2
Every time she’s made her way over with another question I’ve wanted to defend Naomi, tell Poppy to back the fuck off and get my girl some reprieve.
Except if I even attempted to do that I would have at least two black eyes- one from Elias and another from Cristian.
Maybe one from Rowan too on Clara’s behalf.
Naomi would also probably slap me for speaking that way to her friend the night before her wedding, but holy fuck can’t she let anything go?
Even now, as I try to give some bullshit emotional speech to the bridal party at this quaint little dinner she arranged, the bride is glaring daggers at the side of my head.
“Thank you to everyone who drove all the way out to the sticks just to rehearse walking,” I say, earning a few snorts from everyone except Elias and Poppy. “And I’m going to sit back down now before the bride lights me on fire.”
I raise my glass in toast. “To Penelope and Elias! All jokes aside,” I look down at my best friend and the woman who loves him for everything he is, giving them both a gentle smile. “I know I speak for all of us when I say- what the fuck took you so long?”
There are several cheers to that and even Elias chuckles, taking Poppy’s hand and kissing her fingers. “He makes a good point,” he says to her over the cheers.
I settle back into my seat next to Naomi as the groom leans in to kiss his bride for the thousandth time this evening.
???
“Oh god!” Naomi cries in my ear. “Right there! Yes! I’m gonna come- Fuck, Graham—”
“That’s it,” I groan, seconds away from falling over the edge myself, marveling at my ability to hold it back for this long. “Give it to me, mi reina. Fucking come for me mi corazón—”
“YES!” She throws her head back on a scream as I feel her walls tighten around my cock. “Fuck, yes! Graham!”
My own orgasm rips through me with a shout as I spill deep inside her, pressing a hand to the wall to keep myself standing while she clings to my neck and shoulders, riding out both our pleasure until I see stars—
“Yeah I’ll grab another bottle,” Cristian’s voice calls from the other side of the liquor closet door just seconds before it opens and we both raise a hand to block our eyes from the sudden light.
"Shit. Fuck. Dammit!” Cristian covers his eyes, turning away toward the hall, slamming the door closed. From the other side he shouts, “What the fuck is wrong with you two!? God! This a goddamn rehearsal dinner you sick fucks!”
“Crissy?” Elias calls. “You got those bottles, mijo?”
“Sí, Papa!”
“Need any help—”
“NO!” He shouts a little too loudly before clearing his throat and calling back. “I’ve got it under control!”
His voice comes more quietly through the door as I set Naomi on her feet, allowing her to fix her dress while I tuck my still sensitive dick back into my pants. “Are you two assholes decent yet?”
“Yes,” Naomi rolls her eyes, ripping the door open. He’s still holding onto the handle. “Grow the fuck up, Crissy.”
“Grow—” He blinks at her. “You two are fucking with my family just up the hall!”
“Wouldn’t be the first time,” I mutter.
“Just,” he groans. “Save it for your own wedding rehearsal, yeah?”
Naomi immediately goes rigid, the same way she did when I mentioned eloping at the church this afternoon. Grabbing the bottles of Reserve and Chardonnay I know they’re already out of at the bar, I shove them into his hands to get him out of here.
“Stall. We’ll be back in a moment.”
Cristian wrinkles his nose, looking between us one last time before letting the door close. I give it a moment, hoping maybe her shoulders will settle but they never do. Reaching out I squeeze her arms gently, running my hands along her smooth skin.
“Hey,” I kiss the back of her neck. “Talk to me.”
She shrugs. “What’s there to talk about. We’re apparently incapable of having sex discreetly in public places despite getting away with it a dozen other times—”
“You know that’s not what I mean.” She glances at me over her shoulder. “You know I’m not asking you to marry me tomorrow, right? Or even next month, or next year—”
“I know.” Her shoulders fold inward.
“So why are you so tense?” A rock settles in my gut. “Are you… Opposed to marrying me?”
“Yes- No!” She corrects quickly, turning to face me. “No, it’s not that I’m opposed to marrying you. I love you, I don’t want to keep lying to myself about that, it’s just…”
Her voice trails off and I cock my head. “It’s just…?”
She takes a breath. “I’m just opposed to the idea of marriage. You know, as a general concept. For me,” she emphasizes. “I’m very happy for Clara and for Nelly. I just… Don’t ever see myself doing it…”
Her hands are fidgeting in a way I’ve noticed is new for her in her sobriety.
Naomi never used to be nervous or fidgety.
As if she’s scared that I’m going to judge her or chastise her or worse, throw away four years of being in love with her over this declaration.
She forgets that I have taken the time to learn her better than I know any other person in my life.
“This is about your mom.” It’s not a question, but the aversion of her eyes is still an answer. “Look at me, mi reina,” I squeeze her arms until she does. “You’re not your mother. You wouldn’t just run out on your family. You’re not nearly that selfish—”
“But I am—”
“You’re not,” I assure her. “You’re more loyal to your friends than anyone I’ve ever met. But,” I lean in when she tries to look away again. “I would never force you to do something you’re not comfortable with either.”
She blinks teary eyes up at me. “You don’t want to marry me?”
I laugh, brushing her hair back from where it clings to her makeup. “Naomi, I would marry you a thousand times, but never if it’s not what you want. I’m more than content to stay the way we are so long as I never have to leave your side ever again.”
“And that… That would be enough for you?”
Taking her face in my hands, I press a long kiss to her lips, before gently wiping the smear of her lipstick with my thumb. “You are enough for me, mi reina. So long as you’re mine, that’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
Swallowing back her tears, Naomi nods and I kiss her temple. “Come on. Let’s make our excuses and go back to the cabin, yeah?”
More nods, and I wrap an arm around her shoulders, leading her out of the liquor closet. I kiss her head again as she walk back to the dining room and can’t help thinking how this could have been our lives all this time.
If I hadn’t fucked everything up for two entire years.