I smiled when I saw how happy and handsome Lucas looked, his usual scruff barely visible, his incorrigible dark waves tamed with some kind of pomade, possibly loaned to him by Nick. (Honestly, the man traveled with more hair products than I did.) Erin and I exchanged a quick smile and hand squeeze before she started up the dusty path, and I fought tears watching the pretty lavender dress float behind her. When she was halfway to the front, I began to walk up the aisle, praying my heels didn’t sink into the gravel.
Immediately I sought Nick in the crowd, and my heart fluttered faster when I saw him smile at me. He wore a lightweight beige suit, white shirt and checkered tie, and his dark eyes shone with love and pride as he watched me. God, he was so handsome— for just a second I entertained the fantasy of taking a detour up his row and straddling him in his chair.
Mia’s mother dabbed her eyes as I glided by, and then I locked eyes with Lucas, whose expression was adorably nervous and excited at the same time. I winked at him and took my place next to Erin. The music changed to something slightly more dramatic, and everyone stood in anticipation of the bride.
When she appeared at the foot of the path, murmurs and whispers floated through the crowd. She’s so beautiful, look how radiant she is, I’ve never seen her so happy… I’d seen her only minutes ago, but as she came up the aisle on the arm of her father, she looked even more ethereal and lovely. Erin and I reached for each other’s hands simultaneously and held on tight as Mia walked toward Lucas, her steps sure and determined, even in the gravel.
I glanced at Lucas, and a lump formed in my throat as I watched him touch a thumb and finger to his eyes, fighting tears, and then giving up and allowing a couple to fall. In contrast, Mia was bright- eyed and smiling when she reached him, and again I marveled at her grace and composure. I hope I’m as relaxed and confident on my wedding day as she is.
The service, conducted in both French and English, was only about twenty minutes long, simple but beautiful. Even the parts I didn’t understand sounded like poetry. All too soon it was over, and Mia and Lucas were pronounced husband and wife. They kissed, and when Lucas lifted Mia right off the ground, the crowd erupted.
The guitarists struck a few buoyant chords, and the bride and groom took a moment to hug and kiss the wedding party before heading back down the dusty aisle, hand in hand, dancing and laughing and smiling as if they’d never stop.
#
Later, after dinner had been served and cake had been sliced, toasts had been made and dancing had begun, Nick took my left hand and squeezed it. We were sitting at a table near the dance floor watching Mia and Lucas sway gently in each other’s arms, and I said a heartfelt prayer of thanks that everything she’d wanted for this day had come to fruition. Every detail had been perfect. Even the weather cooperated, cooling down even more as the sky darkened and a breeze picked up, carrying the scent of sunflowers and lavender across the courtyard.
“What a perfect day,” I murmured. “I’m so happy for her. For both of them.”
“Me too.” Nick brought my hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. “Is this what you’d like for our wedding?”
I smiled sideways at him. “Maybe. What about you?”
“I like the idea of getting married outside, but I don’t know about a destination wedding. That takes a lot of extra planning, doesn’t it?”
“Yes,” I lifted a glass of champagne to my lips. It fizzed in my mouth and down my throat. “So maybe something closer to home. The farm?” I set the flute down and looked at him.
He tilted his head from side to side. “Maybe. But there might be another place we like more. Let’s wait and see.” He played with my hand on the table, admiring the ring on my finger. “So what will your parents say?”
“They better say they’re happy for me. Or else they’re not invited.” He laughed and tugged on my elbow, pulling me onto his lap. I went gladly, slipping an arm around his shoulders.
“Well, we know your grandmother will be glad about it.”
“Definitely. She’ll say all her novenas worked.”
“She’s going to take credit for this?” He pressed a kiss to my bare shoulder.
I rolled my eyes. “Probably. Somehow.”
“Mmmm. You smell so good.” He rubbed his lips back and forth over my skin, inhaling deeply.
Beneath me, I felt his cock coming to life, and it sent a jolt of arousal straight to my core. “Mmm. Think we can escape?”
“I know we can.”
Sliding off his lap, I stood and let him lead me by the hand across the courtyard, away from the party, around the house and back toward the olive grove where the ceremony had taken place. We started out walking slowly, but as soon as we were out of sight Nick started moving faster. Soon we were running through the dark, slipping between rows of thick, curvy-branched olive trees. When we were deep in the grove, hidden from everything in the shadows of the moon, Nick turned and pinned my back to a wide tree trunk. “Lift up your dress.”
Breathless, I hiked up the filmy skirt of my dress, under which I wore the skimpiest lace panties I owned. Without even bothering to remove them, Nick licked his fingers and reached between my legs, sliding them inside me.
“Fuck,” I breathed, riding his hand as his thumb brushed over my clit through the lace. Yanking at his belt and then his fly, I freed his cock and wrapped a hand around its thick, hard shaft, let my thumb play over the head. He groaned as a silky drop oozed from the tip and I swirled it over his sensitive skin.