In this life

Chapter 30

I managed to sneak over to Daniel as Johnny and Emily were off having their photos taken in the grounds of the registry office. Ronnie had gone to speak to my Mum, and Daniel was in conversation with Harry. As I approached Harry noticed me first and gestured to Daniel that I was coming. He turned to me and tilted his head slightly to one side to hungrily eye me up from head to toe.
"I'll leave you two to it" said Harry, playfully slapping Daniel on the shoulder, "Catch you later sis" I smiled and nodded in response.
"Hi"
"Hi. You look... stunning" Daniel said honestly as he planted a soft kiss on the back of my hand.
"Thank you" I blushed and adjusted my dress slightly "And don't you look very smart. I like this clean shaven look..." I stroked my fingers up the side of his neck to his smooth cheek "...it means I won't get a stubble rash between my thighs tonight!" I winked and bit my lip.
He raised one eyebrow and that sexy smile began at the corner of his mouth, "Ah my Rosie" he sighed, playing with a curl of my hair "Looks like a classy lady... has a dirty mind like a-" I quickly slid my fingers round to the back of his neck, pulling his head towards me and kissed his lips to stop him finishing his sentence. He inhaled slowly, deepening our kiss, as our lips touched and moaned quietly in his throat as he exhaled, pressing his hand against the small of my back to move me in closer.
As our lips parted he held my chin between his thumb and forefinger so our faces remained close "Be careful" he whispered, "You look delicious" He briefly kissed me again and then there was a momentary flash of darkness to his flirtatious eyes that excited me from deep within.
"Well, Mr Turner" I played with his lapel, "There are quite a few people about..." I glanced around us to see if anyone was looking, they weren't, "...so if you're hoping to have a taste of me..." I flashed him a mischievous grin, "You're going to have to catch me first!" With that I playfully took a couple of steps away from him, getting ready to run, daring him to chase me.
He narrowed his eyes bit his bottom lip, accepting my challenge. We were poised, waiting to see who would make the first move.
It was me.
I turned on my heal and made a dash around the other side of a the courtyard where the gardens were edged with two rows of large topiary trees. I weaved in and out, laughing, knowing Daniel was hot on my tail. I knew he could easily catch me, but with too many people about he couldn't risk using his lightning speed and with the sunlight beaming down on him too..., this was a fair game! I darted around another tree and he came round the other side, cutting me off, making me jump. I let out small scream of laughter and ran further in the opposite direction. Glancing over my shoulder quickly, I couldn't see where he was, so I slowed my pace to try and find him. I backed up against a tree, keeping a careful look out, but I was breathing hard from running and laughing and needed a moment to catch my breath. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Daniel stepped out in front of me. He was smiling like a Cheshire Cat as he placed his hands on a tree, either side of my shoulders. His fangs grew before my eyes.
"So... Now I've caught you..." He teased with dark, hungry eyes.
I giggled "No..." I put my hands on his chest in a feeble attempt to push him away "...you'll ruin my dress" I laughed.
He brushed the hair away from my neck with one hand and followed the line of my vein with his finger tip.
When he looked back at me his eyes were seductively blue again. He brushed his thumb over my bottom lip, his focus soft as his eyes danced around every inch of my face, finally settling on my lips. I wanted him to kiss me. I wanted him to make love to me there and then. The frustration that we couldn't built the tension between us even more.
"Rosie...!" I heard someone call my name.
"Come" Daniel sighed "they'll be wondering where you are" he stepped back and held his hand out for me to take. I slid my fingers between his and we headed back towards everyone else.

"There you are" Mum waved us over, "We're all heading back to ours now, Ronnie's going to come with us so you two can drive together, is that ok?"
"Oh, yes of course. We'll see you in a little while then" I kissed her on the cheek and Daniel and I made our way to his car.
He opened my door and held my hand as I climbed in, closing it behind me. He walked around to the driver's side and hung his suit jacket up in the back before climbing in beside me and starting the car.
As he pulled out onto the road I slid my hand on to his thigh. He smiled and put his hand on top of mine. We drove in comfortable silence, as the radio played in the background. The registry office wasn't far from my parents house and it didn't take long to get there. Daniel and I were one of the first to arrive back which meant that he could park on the driveway. I was secretly pleased because soon he would be blocked in by other cars which meant not only that he wouldn't be able to leave until they'd all gone, but also that I could persuade him to stay here the night and have a drink with me.
"Actually..." Daniel realised he wouldn't be able to get his car out and turned round to park on the roadside, "...I need you at mine tonight."
"Oh, I was hoping we could have a drink together" I pouted.
Daniel looked at me with a straight face, "Rosie... tonight I'm going to give you the most mind blowing night of your life.... If you want to risk your parents hearing, then I can park back over there...." He gestured his head to the driveway.
My pulse quickened. I unclipped my seatbelt and climbed over to his seat, sliding myself onto his lap. He reached his hand down the side of his seat and lifted the leaver to allow it to slide backwards, giving me more room. His expression serious and lustful. With my hands either side of his face a kissed him hard, he matched my kiss with his tongue stroking mine and his hands on my hips. He slid them down the top of my legs and bunched my dress up around my waist, his thumbs running up the inside of my thighs. He smoothed them over my knickers, making me tingle. I broke our kiss and caught his bottom lip between my teeth, letting it naturally slide out of my grip.
"Ah Rosie" Daniel swallowed hard, "Every moment that you're not naked in my bed is a waste..."
I gave him my most seductive look and climbed off of him, back on to my seat. Daniel took a deep breath and adjusted himself in his trousers, giving me a look of blame for making him hard. I smiled apologetically, biting my thumbnail. He shook his head in playful frustration and turned the engine off. I purposely opened my own door and got out of the car before he could get round to my side and open it for me and gave him a cheeky smile at my mini victory as I closed it again.

***

Emily had decided not to have a top table in the marquee. Instead she'd seated people together with those that they knew best, in the hope of a better, more relaxed atmosphere. I was sat on a table beside Daniel and Ronnie with Harry, Claire and a couple of Emily's friends from the Hen Do, with their partners.

Naturally, as we were eating our way through the courses of the Wedding Breakfast, the conversation at the table was mostly about Emily's hen do, as it was something us girls had done together. Ronnie was on form, in her element, making us laugh with her crude comments.
"The naked man we drew was my favourite part" One of Emily's friends stated "He was up for a laugh even though he must have been in his seventies!"
I looked at Daniel who was smiling, looking slightly relieved that he was old. I liked that he was jealous.
"I've actually got our drawings with me" she continued "I saved them as a keepsake for Emily. Who wants to have a look?"
She pulled out a roll of papers from her bag under the table and handed them round while the waiting staff cleared our mains. Eruptions of laughter broke out between us as the sketches were passed around and some of the guests sat at other tables, started to look to see what was going on.
"Rosie, yours is actually quite good!" Ronnie said, admiring my handiwork.
I giggled, "Thanks" I said as I looked at it over her shoulder. Daniel reached his hand out to ask Ronnie to pass it to him, she did.
"I didn't know you could draw..." He mused, looking impressed.
I gasped "Is that actually something I am better at than you...?"
"Not quite" he teased "but it's a good effort"
I nudged him playfully and pouted.
"Dear god Ronnie! You must have been pissed by this stage already!" Another of Emily's friends said as she burst out laughing holding Ronnie's picture up for us all to see. We all laughed again at the sight of Ronnie's stickman sketch with a curly beard down to his navel, baggy scrotum to his knees and a walking frame.
"I may have improvised a little..." Ronnie joked with a shrug.
The waiters bought dessert round. It looked beautiful, almost too good to eat, but being as it was a triple chocolate and hazelnut torte, (my favourite), I didn't admire it for long.

Soon the waiters were back, clearing plates and filling our champagne glasses ready for the speeches. Daniel leaned back in his chair, put his arm around the back of mine and stroked my bare shoulder with his fingers. I put my hand on his knee and we looked longingly at each other.
"Awww! You two!" Said Ronnie "I can't wait till your wedding. And your kids are going to be gorgeous!"
Daniel smiled at her and then looked at me. Answering Ronnie he said, "They would be wouldn't they" referring to our hypothetical, never-to-be-had children. He stroked my cheek with his thumb.
"I can't believe you've only known each other a couple of months..." She shook her head in disbelief "it's like you've been together forever"
"Yes it is" I glanced at Daniel and he winked at me, knowing the deeper meaning behind my words.
Emily's Dad tapped his glass to get everyone's attention. We all looked over to him;
"Ladies and Gents...." He started "I'd like to thank you all for coming today" He pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and unfolded it, and unfolded it again, and again, and again. It was huge, implying this was going to be a long speech. "Traditionally, the Father of the Bride kicks off the speeches at his daughters wedding, followed by the Groom and then the Best Man, as I'm sure you well know. The Father of the Bride speech is usually seen as a bit of a warm up act, and something to be endured rather than enjoyed. So for that reason" he scrunched up the paper and threw it behind him, "I actually plan to keep this very short, so we can all sit back and enjoy Johnny getting a good roasting from his brothers"
Johnny cringed and glanced over to Liam and Harry who jeered in response.
"All I do want to say are a couple of thank you's. Firstly, to Robert and Sylvia. You have welcomed my daughter into your home and into your family, and I know that has been a blessing and helped her immensely, with her Mother and I living in America. I feel you have helped mould her into the strong, independent woman we she before us. The three of us are forever indebted to you both, thank you"
Mum welled up and Dad nodded his head in appreciation.
"Johnny... My son-in-law. The love of my daughter's life. What can I say. Liz and I are delighted to welcome you into our family. We have always found you to be kind and considerate, a real credit to your parents. You are a man who deserves a caring, honest and decent wife. Thank goodness you've married Emily before you found one!" We all laughed.
"At this point I should be offering you some good advice, or words of wisdom to take into your married life together. However, I honestly don't think you need them. I have never seen a better suited couple than the two of you. Long may it last" He raised his glass,
"To the beautiful bride and her handsome groom! Cheers!"
We all raised our glasses to toast them.
Johnny was the next one up out of his seat, shaking Emily's Dad's hand before clearing his throat.