10. lips

19.1K 1.3K 804
                                    

This is the revised version of Attraction

We held hands on the way to the car, our fingers laced together in a false promise. The act needed to keep going as long as the officiant remained in our midst, but I knew that everything would change the second we shut the doors around us. Reality had a way of crashing down on you the moment you least wanted it to.

I closed my eyes for a brief moment, urging myself to step up and drop the dramatic act. Tom hadn't done anything wrong, and I had to make sure that we stayed away from the uncomfortable zone.

One tiny step at a time was my new motto.

I also had to find a way back to my real self. This trembling bride bullshit was not healthy. Besides, it was a done deal. The blasts of bad conscience that had hit me for days were useless at this point.

Chris opened for us, giving me a reassuring smile. Perhaps he knew what was going on in my mind and wanted to comfort me, or perhaps he was smug that he got to open the door for Tom. He had told me about their ongoing battle that started when Chris traveled with them in Europe last summer. Since Tom was their chauffeur, it was Tom's duty to open doors, but Chris seemed to dislike the idea of polite gestures of that nature.

The leather seats were scorching hot. "Shade, Chris. Next time, you park the car in the shade." Chris chuckled while I tried to avoid a second-degree burn. "Not funny, sweet cheeks."

"Foul. You're not supposed to use that nickname," Chris replied, getting ready to close the car door for me.

"Well you've been my best man now, so..."

He rolled his eyes in response, clearly not too happy with the realization that his bargaining chip had vanished over the last hour.

Tom entered on the other side of the car, taking a seat next to me, not saying a word about the heat. He appeared as cool and collected as always. Not fair.

I scooted closer, determined to find my way back to the good old banter. "First time Chris drives you, hubby. I'd use a seat belt."

Tom snorted but did as I said. He gave me that arched eyebrow again, not saying a word. The other shoe dropped with a clatter. Damn. My kindly administered seat belt warning meant I had to scoot back to my spot instead of sitting close.

Chris adjusted the rear-view mirror. "Back to the hotel then, lovebirds."

"Watch it, sweet cheeks," Tom said.

I burst into laughter. It bubbled up from deep within, spluttering and spitting with warmth. Unable to rein it in, I grasped the seat in front of me to keep me steady. Where had that come from? Unattractive tears slipped from the corner of my eye.

"Oh sweet Jesus, I knew you were funny," I managed to say when my laughter calmed.

"Don't call him Jesus. You'll give him a God complex," Chris said, revving the engine.

I caught Tom letting out a brief chuckle, but nothing beat the smile. He fucking smiled! The urge to kiss him was overwhelming. It came with an ache that stretched from my groin all the way to my throat.

Closing my eyes, I leaned back, begging my shallow breath to sink deeper. I needed air, and I needed it now.

Chris tuned in a radio station, filling the stifling silence with disco beats. He tapped his hands on the steering wheel and moved his head to the music. If I hadn't already realized what a great guy he was, I would have then. Chris knew how to avoid the awkward—he knew how to settle chaos. I bet that was the reason why Dante loved him so much. Dante had a lot of chaos to deal with on a daily basis, that much was evident.

Attraction - a fraudulent marriageWhere stories live. Discover now