“Oh, she’s already gone, that’s what I came to say.”
A few of the guys laughed and Jace shoved his arm. Damon barely moved, his eyes were still fixed on me and not on my breasts. On me.
“You’re really not funny, Nell,” Logan said, glaring.
“She’s fine, she looks amazing, and you’re going to lose it when you see her.”
His grin lit up his light eyes. “Yeah? Is she nervous?”
“She’s not showing it if she is. I’m forcing champagne down her neck so that’ll squash any last minute nerves if she has any.”
“You’re a true friend,” he said dryly.
“Alright,” I said cracking my knuckles, “line up guys, I need to fix your sorry attempts at tying the cravats.”
It looked like they’d tied them they way they did their shoe laces. Chloe wanted the big, perfect wedding and she was bloody well going to get it.
Jace appeared in front of me first, smirking back at a now glaring Damon. Men. “You’re crap at this,” I said, undoing it and tying it again.
“Good thing you’ve come to the rescue then.”
“It is. Are you excited for today?”
“That your way of asking if I’m going to ruin the wedding?”
“No, that was me asking if you were excited. My next question… well, not really a question, was going to be a death threat along the lines of I will bury you in the grounds of this castle if you mess this up for them,” I said, smiling sweetly.
He laughed as I finished and dropped my arms. “I got over Chloe a while ago, Nell. I’m happy for them both.”
“Good answer. Now move along, I’ve got another six of these things to do.”
Jace walked away and Damon was up next. After briefly shooting daggers at Jace’s back with his eyes, he turned to me. His lips parted and looked at me through hooded eyes.
“Hi,” I whispered, my heart flying in my chest.
He tilted his head to the side and took a deep breath. “Hey,” he replied, taking hold of my upper arms and pulling me against his chest. We didn’t really have time for this but I couldn’t help it, he was like a magnetic force that I was powerless to withstand.
I felt lightheaded. With shaking hands, I reached around the back of his neck, lifted the collar and then removed the badly tied cravat. Damon’s hazel eyes pierced into mine with a thousand promises that I wanted.
“You look good,” I said, focused on the task in hand so I wouldn’t let the things I was feeling right now consume me.
“I can’t…”
I looked up, amused to see him lost for words, it didn’t happen often. When I met his gaze the look in his eye stole my breath. Neither of us said a word. Everyone in the background faded until their conversations were merely a background hum. I could smell Damon’s aftershave, a smell that instantly made things better, and hear his slightly heavy breathing. And my heart, my heart was racing in my chest, beating so fast and so hard I was certain he could hear it too.
“There,” I said so quietly I barely heard myself and patted the cravat. “All done.”
Damon didn’t say a word in reply and I was becoming concerned about what was going through his head, but I had a feeling it was the same as what was happening up in mine. Something melted away inside me and I fought to grip hold of what I needed to do in order to avoid repeating history. For the first time ever I understood why they couldn’t walk away.
“You are so beautiful, Nell,” he whispered. His voice was hoarse and sexy and turned my insides to mush.
I licked my lips and smiled. “Thank you. I’m glad you like the dress.”
“It has nothing to do with the dress.”
Blowing out a deep breath, I said, “I have to finish fixing everyone else up and get back to Chlo.” What I really needed though was a strong drink.
“I know,” he replied, cupping the side of my neck and kissing me. He didn’t let the kiss turn wild or deep and it only lasted a few seconds but it was still the most poignant kiss of my entire life.
He smiled and I saw a glimpse of the old Damon back. “Fuck, I need a drink,” he said, giving me one last kiss and then walking to the table that looked like a bar had exploded all over it.
I bit my lip as I watched him walk away and when I turned to tie the next cravat I found Logan standing before me, arms folded, eyebrow lifted and lips smirking.
“Don’t even fucking say it!” I hissed in a whisper, making him laugh.
I left the men when they were acceptably dressed and headed back to Chloe’s room. My heart hadn’t slowed down after my moment with Damon, so I was desperate to get back and have something to take my mind off it.
When I walked in Chloe and her mum were hugging, neither was a blubbering mess so their chat had been successful in that right. Chloe turned as she heard the door close. “How are they?” She asked.