Jennifer Rae - Confessions Of A Bad Bridesmaid

‘Like what?’

‘Work. Exercise.’

‘You exercise?’

‘I run. Every day.’

‘Me too.’

That magnetic smile lit her face again and it hit him in the chest. Then her face fell.

‘I hate it, though. It gives me too much time to think. And it hurts.’

‘So why do you do it?’

She faced him and ran her hand seductively from her breasts to her thigh. It sent a shiver straight through him and he stood to attention again. Her garish purple dress peeked through his jacket and the flashes of the skin on her chest and her legs were making him sweat, even as the night chill wound around him.

‘This body don’t come cheap. I’ll let you in on a secret, Eddie. I’m not a natural beauty. Any appeal I have comes from hard work and a daily pounding of the pavement.’

Edward thought that none of her appeal came from pounding the pavement. She had a killer body, that was true. But she also had a set of full, pouty lips, a beautiful smile and an innate consciousness of her own femininity. The woman was sexy. Damn sexy. And she knew it.

‘If that body is so hard to get why do you expose it in cheap stuff like that thing you call a dress? If that body were mine I’d have it covered from nose to ankle so no one could lay his perving eyes on you.’

Olivia blinked.

‘You would?’

He nodded and moved closer to her. As if she were a magnet and he couldn’t resist. Her small body was warm, and even though he wasn’t touching her he could feel the heat emanating from her.

‘If you were mine, Olivia, I’d barely let you out of the bedroom, where clothes don’t matter.’

The silence that lay between them wasn’t awkward. And it wasn’t silent. He could see her thinking. He was sure she could see him thinking. Wanting to do something he shouldn’t. Wishing it was he who’d had those glasses of champagne. Maybe then he wouldn’t think so much.

Olivia swayed and grabbed the wall for support, knocking the glass of water off in the process. It smashed noisily on the paving. He moved quickly to hold her around the waist. When she fell against him her breasts were soft against his chest. Then she moved even closer, snuggling in, making his chest expand and his arms hold her even tighter. Her blue eyes swivelled up to him and he saw the question in them. The air was thick and heavy and so was her need. He answered it automatically by pulling her in even closer.

‘You feel nice,’ she murmured as she snuggled in, and let out a little mew.

For some reason that turned him on even more. Her soft hair tickled his chin. He leaned down a little to bury his nose in it and breathe her in. But he wasn’t here for this. He hadn’t come here this weekend to fondle innocent women on the terrace.

‘Olivia, are you all right?’

‘I am now,’ she murmured, pulling herself closer.

Damn, that wasn’t what he’d wanted her to do. Holding her close to him felt good. Too good. And he didn’t deserve good. Not when his brother needed his support and his mother needed his explanations and his father needed help to calm down. Being out here with Olivia was a selfish indulgence. He tried to push her away but she held tight, and she was so close and so responsive she just snuggled back in. This was getting out of hand.

‘Olivia, you’re too...’

The word intoxicating embedded itself into his mind as her scent circled around his face. She was intoxicating. She lifted her head and her eyes darkened. He knew the look on her face. Pure desire. He was sure she could see the same look on his face.

‘Too what?’

She licked her bottom lip and his mind went blank. All thoughts of guilt disappeared and something more animal took over. Slowly, he brought his hand around to trace a finger along the edge of her chin. He wanted to touch her lips. Just once. Then he’d stop. All her lipstick had come off. Her lips were bare and delicious. He moved a single finger up to trace them and she stood still. Her breath warmed his finger. With his thumb, he swept a line past her open lips and she responded by poking her pink tongue out. It caught his thumb and he’d never felt anything more erotic.

‘Too much,’ he whispered as she sucked her bottom lip in between her teeth.

Every thought fled his mind except that of her scent and the feel of her body and the sight of those plump lips in between her teeth. His erection was now so hard it hurt. With his hand on the small of her back he pressed her to him, wanting her to feel how much he wanted her.

‘Too intoxicating,’ he said as he looked into her eyes, which were now bright blue and hooded.

He squeezed his finger and thumb under her chin and pushed it up a little. Closer to him. Olivia wasn’t looking for anything serious. She just wanted comfort. Comfort he could give. Comfort wouldn’t last past the weekend. He was able to do that.

Thankfully, she moved her chin up higher, until finally he felt the warmth of her breath on his lips.

Intoxicating.

Intoxicated.

The sharp tang of champagne on her breath hit his nose. He felt her sway slightly. Realisation made his eyes roll back. She was drunk and he was taking advantage of her. Quickly he used his hands to push her shoulders away.

SEVEN

‘Olivia, stop...’

Surprise filled her eyes. She frowned and watched his lips as he spoke.

‘We shouldn’t be doing this...’

‘Five minutes,’ she said suddenly, and loosened herself from his grip. ‘That’s my limit.’

Her voice was angry and rough. He’d hurt her. He wanted to tell her he couldn’t kiss her when she was drunk. Especially when he wasn’t. He had to be the responsible one.

Olivia moved quickly and headed for a lounger.

She plonked herself in it, then angrily stood up again and removed the jacket from her shoulders, tossing it to his feet.

‘Five minutes—that’s all it ever takes.’

‘Olivia...’ He picked his jacket up and moved closer to drape it over her. She ripped it off again. He was reminded of a petulant child.

‘Go away, Edward. You’ve made your point.’

‘My point?’

‘Yes.’ Her eyes turned angrily towards him and flickered with distaste. ‘I’m the girl who’s gagging for it. The one you pash and dash with. I know that already—I don’t need you to point it out.’

‘I wasn’t trying to make any point.’

He wasn’t sure what he’d been trying to do. He’d been caught up. In the stars, in her scent. Maybe he was more damn romantic than he’d thought. That idea sobered him up.

‘You want to know why people can’t stand to be with you for more than five minutes? You’re as inconsistent as an upstart peer trying to land a position in the Lords. A woman of so many faces I can’t keep up with them all.’

‘Then go away,’ she said quietly, mechanically. ‘Leave me alone.’

She sat up and shifted on the chair and her head moved to one side. His chest clenched for a second. She wasn’t crying, was she? He didn’t do tears.

Her breathing slowed and he moved closer. She snorted and shifted again, curling her legs up. She was asleep. Drunk and passed out.

Brilliant. Now what was he supposed to do? She’d freeze to death out here.

The noises from inside got closer and he heard a tap on the door. Someone was sure to come out and find her there. She’d never live it down. So he did the only thing he could do. He scooped her limp body into his arms and walked with her across the lawn to the other side of the house, where he could take her in unnoticed and with her dignity still intact.

* * *

Olivia was awake, but everything was so heavy. Her arms, her limbs. She tried to move but a groggy heaviness prevented any movement. Her shoulder was hitting against something hard. A rhythmic thump-thump that was giving her a headache. She tried to open her eyes and pull herself up but she kept being pulled back down into sleepiness. It wasn’t until she felt the softness of a mattress beneath her that she was able to open her eyes.