On A Thread

Chapter 18

His chest must have felt like an eruption once he set his eyes on his wife, draped in the dress he had picked out for her.

He had been skeptical not because he was unsure whether or not she’ll like it, on the contrary he was confident that she would love the dress he had picked out for her.

What he wasn’t sure of was whether or not she’d wear it or even be at his inauguration.

He trusted she would though but there was just an uncertainty added to it knowing that his wife was in town but won’t just come home, an unnerving feeling with the realization that she was in fact avoiding him.

And when he kissed her in the middle of the hall he realized just how starved his soul has been without her holding his arm. The emptiness was eating him up greatly.

Goodness! She looked like a freaking goddess.

He may have imagined her in the dress but he sure didn’t s her justice, she was drop dead gorgeous.

when he had seen the dress at the Essence, the store he bought the dress from. After pushing through hangers and staring long and hard at mannequins he had found the perfect dress, a dress that spoke volumes but was still no match for his wife, Brie.
She was the one to give the dress a meaning, she was the one to give the dress it’s value and not the other way round.

He knew that Brie may have conformed to quieter style as an adaptation technique but that phase was over and he was going to prove that to her.

Josh knew that none of it was the crux of the issue between them. He handed her another glass of wine and his eyes had caught the glimmer of her ring under the lights, the clink of it against the glass stem was music to his ears.

At that point he wanted to holler a loud YES!

Josh had been scared shit the day he had come home and seen her ring laying on top a note.

It was usually a typical break up scene, at least he had watched a couple of melodrama and rom com with Brielle and he knew that scene.

He was glad she didn’t fling the ring together with a bunch of papers at him.

Brie loved him. He felt it.
He knew it.

All they had to do was get the boulder out of the way.
but the evening wasn’t for that.

Tonight was going to stay light and he was going to keep winning Brie’s million-dollar smile.

The things this woman made him feel.
He knew the gloves were a good idea for her outfit but definitely not for him.

Something about her concealed fingers, the gold ring sitting pretty and proud over the red mesh fabric, it was like a highlighted piece of art that no one could ignore.

Preach Brie!

My wife y'all!

“come. I have something for you” he had said after taking the glass from her.

She tilted her head, smiling playfully, wondering what else he could possibly have for her.

And yes she had to school her desires and that crazy warmth that spread down below. She visibly flushed, the room a degree warmer.

He led her to a room down the hall.
Like assassins and thieves from a fantasy novel they looked around before slipping into the dark room.

“what is it?” she whispered once they were safely in. her grip tightened around his arm.

The hall was so dark and every tiny sound bounced off the walls. They didn’t even know where they were- maybe Josh knew- but it took a while before their eyes got used to the darkness.

He leaned into her ear. “I want to show you something.”

“here?” she looked around.

“I can only make out your face because you’re my husband, don’t think I can see shit.”

Josh laughed and pulled her in by her waist. “you’re scared huh?”

Brie looked up at his face. “what?” she spluttered. “scared of what? Why should I be?”

“but you are, aren’t you baby?” he chuckled

“not… I am not.” She looked away.

“then why are you trying to unhook my arm?”

Brie looked down at the ridiculous grip she had on his strong arms. But still she knew the wince he had on his face was definitely feigned, she couldn’t have been holding those strong biceps that hard.

She put down her hands and smoothed out her dress.

“sorry.” She said in a breathless whisper.
If the lights came on he’d call her a tomato again.

“what are we doing here? we could miss the part where you will be called upon.”

Josh began walking to the corner, Brie’s breath was on hold as she watched him leave her side in the dark room.

Should she have just admitted that she was frightened of the dark just as much as she did when they were younger.

He flicked a light switch and the lights at the stage came on casting a soft glow on their faces.

“I wasn’t going anywhere.” He laughed. “you should see your face baby.”

Brie was stunned for a second before bursting into laughter.

“I was not scared.” She replied sternly.

“of course.” He teased.

“come here sweetie”

Brie couldn’t resist even if she wanted to.

Her brain didn’t work once he hit her with one of those smiles. Talk about a fine duke. The most eligible bachelor who was no longer a bachelor, was now her husband.

Like a doll controlled by a remote control, she moved. One step, two steps, until she was right in front of him.

His arms slipped around her waist and he drew her so close until they shared the same breath and their chest rose and fell in sync.
gently and manly, he lifted her chin, his hold was firm and her lashes fluttered as her eyes met his.

His thumb ghosted her lips.

“can I smudge?” he was smiling.

She smiled, her eyes fell to his lips.

“you didn’t ask before you smudged it earlier.”

That was all he needed to hear.
Of course he knew he had kissed her out there but he had feared that she had only done it to hold the fort.

But this, this was private and intimate and she was giving him permission and he’d be damned not to drink to his fill again.

He lifted her chin higher and kissed her lightly, with a fragility that spoke volumes and sent tingles all over her skin.

She searched his eyes asking, pushing.

Is that all?

She wanted to ask him.

He placed a kiss, long and soft on her forehead before pulling her in for hug.

Audibly, he inhaled her skin, the crook of her neck, her hair.

“God Brie.” He gasped. “I was scared you wouldn’t show up.”

She loved the warmth emitting from him, his large arms keeping her safe. She loved his smile, his scent, she loved more than anything to be by his side on his big day.

It still bothered her what she had heard from the idiot guy earlier and what she had seen but all she cared about in the moment was the rhythm of his heart beating, the rise and fall of his chest, his hot breaths against her neck.

“I couldn’t miss this for anything sweetie.” With that she hugged tighter, a reassurance that she loved him too much to act like she didn’t care.

He pulled out from the embrace and cupped her face.

“I got you something.”