AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Equally, I’m going to fight for him, because at the moment I want him more than I even want air to breathe.
“You don’t have to say anything,” I whisper. “We’ll let our bodies do all the talking.”
He meets my eyes and nods. We break apart then, and I go over to Gaby to check she’s okay. But I feel as if, no matter how far apart I am from Damon, we remain connected by an invisible ribbon. I can feel him from across the room, and every time I glance at him and see him looking at me, a frisson passes through me, like someone walking across my grave, at the thought of what’s going to happen later that night.
Soon it’s time to go through to the ballroom. The guests all gasp as we enter. It’s not a huge room, but Pam has bedecked it with fairy lights and more pink and white balloons, and it looks like a beautiful grotto, like something out ofA Midsummer Night’s Dream. The band begins playingYou To Me Are Everythingby The Real Thing, Gaby and Tyson’s song, and once again the tears flow as he rises from his wheelchair, determined to dance this first song with her. Everyone cheers and claps as they turn in the center of the floor beneath the spotlights. Gaby’s so ridiculously happy. Tyson has kept his new mobility very quiet, and although I know her well enough to guess she wished he’d told her earlier, she’s also very touched that he wanted to make their wedding super-special.
People gradually start taking to the floor. Dad dances with Tyson’s mum, and Tyson’s dad leads Sherry onto the floor. I feel a lump form in my throat as Damon immediately goes over to my mum and offers her his hand. As much as I’d love to dance with him, it’s such a wonderful thing to do for her so she doesn’t feel left out that I adore him for it.
I get to dance with the inimitable Freddie, who steps on my toes at least twice, and has no sense of rhythm at all. But I don’t care—the fairy lights cast us all in their magical glow, and after the danger of the earthquake, everyone seems in high spirits, determined to enjoy themselves.
When the song finishes, the band strikes up Aerosmith’sI Don’t Want To Miss A Thing, and even though Freddie is determined not to release his grip on my waist, he looks up as Damon walks up and huffs a sigh, moving back.
Damon smiles at him, then pulls me into his arms.
“Good evening,” he says.
“Evening.” I loop my arms around his neck, while he slides his arms around my waist. At some point, he ditched his jacket, and he looks gorgeous in his white shirt and navy waistcoat. The front is the same material as his suit, while the back is a light-blue satin. Mmm, it’s wonderful to be so close to him. He smells amazing. I brush the short hair at the nape of his neck with my thumb, just enjoying touching him.
“How are your toes?” he asks. “Still in one piece?”
“Don’t be mean,” I scold. “He’s very sweet.”
“I don’t like him touching you.”
I look up into his eyes, and my heart races at the heat in them. “I know.”
“You might dance with other people this evening, but you’re mine tonight. Remember that.”
I press my lips together and nod.
He bends his head and whispers into my ear, “I’m going to make you come so many times, you’re going to forget your own name.”
I shiver. “Damon…”
“I can’t wait to taste you, Belle.”
“Oh God.” I feel a little faint.
We don’t talk again, but, like I promised earlier, our bodies continue to communicate. I can feel him with every cell in my body. Up close, I notice all the little things: the curve of his Adam’s apple, and the hollow at the base of his throat, almost hidden by the Windsor knot of his tie. The smoothness of his jaw, not yet darkened by stubble. His neat sideburns, and the curve of his ear that I long to trace with my tongue. The slight sweep of his lips. I want to kiss him. And I want him to kiss me, all over. I can’t wait to go to bed with him. I’m so excited at the thought that I can barely breathe.
But first we have the evening to get through, and now we both know where we’re heading, all my anxiety and stress disappears. The music changes to Fleetwood Mac’sDreams, and Damon’s eyes sparkle.
“You can dance, right?” he says. “I know you used to go to all sorts of classes when you were a kid.”
“Yeah…” I give him a doubtful look. “Don’t tell me that you dance…” It’s so rare for guys of his age to take to the dance floor. Normally they hover around the bar until a slow song comes along.
“Mum and Dad were champions,” he says. “They taught all three of us.” He takes my right hand in his left. “Come on, ma belle. Show us what you got!”
He spins me around, and I laugh and start dancing with him for real. Wow, the dude can move, and he knows how to lead, guiding me where he wants me with a touch of his hand, turning me and spinning me away before pulling me back into his arms.
Throughout the evening, I dance with loads of other guys, including James and Henry, who I’ve known as long as Damon, as well as Freddie, again, the other young ushers, and several others who don’t mind taking to the floor. Damon dances with Juliette, Aroha, Mum again, Sherry, and then takes the time to ask any women who are sitting on their own to dance, which is so sweet I fall for him all over again. But he doesn’t dance with them the way he dances with me.
I like that.
We dance together every few songs, and whenever I see him approaching, my pulse picks up, and I get to my feet hurriedly, eager to join him.
It’s much later when my father finally comes up and holds out his hand. I take it and let him lead me onto the dance floor, tensing up inside. I’ve managed to avoid him most of the day, but this was always going to happen at some point.
