Just as the sun began to set, there was a knock on the door from one of the resort staff, notifying us that it was time to start. Drew set off alone to meet the officiator and take his place, while Wes and I went to meet Deidra and Tori, who somehow looked even more delicious than she had before. Glowing honey-brown skin, full, luscious lips, alluring hazel eyes, and a mass of curls pinned away from her face. Damn she looks good, I thought, even as she turned away to avoid my eyes. I was fine with the view from the back too, and took the opportunity to let my gaze roam from her well-defined waist to the curve of her ass, and when she turned around, the magnificent swell of her full breasts, which I imagined were perfect underneath the soft, gauzy fabric of her dress.
I took my place with Deidra, behind her and Wes as they locked arms, feeling a little jealous that as the best man, he got the honor of escorting the maid of honor down the aisle, while I was stuck with my cousin. When everyone was in place, including the bride and groom, I took the chance of taking my attention away from them to watch Tori. I loved my little sister, but wedding vows were boring, and her best friend was a much more interesting subject. In the fading light of the sun, her skin glowed like copper and her eyes shone like gold, lending an otherworldly quality to her beauty. As if she could feel me watching her, she glanced over, but her expression was closed. Her eyes only stayed focused on me for a moment before she turned her attention back to the ceremony, and she didn’t look away again until the happy couple had been pronounced husband and wife. Something had changed.
Tori smiled her way through the pictures, but I could tell something in her mood had shifted, and I felt a thinly veiled melancholy from her. She disappeared after the last shots to help Desiree with her gown, and I hoped like hell she was coming back out to the reception. I had something in mind that could undoubtedly improve her mood, but I needed her around to do that.
“Now what is a handsome man like you doing here without a date?” A sultry voice asked from behind me. Before I could turn around, the owner of the voice had made her way in front of me, and damn. Hot caramel skin, long silky hair, breasts, and ass were all in abundance, and from the look in her heavily lashed eyes, she was down to show me everything I couldn’t see in the tight dress she wore. Then, over her head, I saw Tori walk in.
I had to check myself to keep from breathing a little sigh of relief. Why was I so pressed to see her? There were at least a dozen other beautiful women I wasn’t related to at the reception, including the one in front of me, not to mention the plethora of other beautiful women around the resort and surrounding islands. I really had no reason to be so caught up in Tori, other than the fact that I’d been told I couldn’t have her. Plus, she turned me down. I don’t do turned down.
Anyway, Tori was easily— and effortlessly— badder than any other woman in the room. She walked into the reception with her hair freed from her updo, wearing a soft yellow dress that barely skimmed her body, yet somehow still showed off every curve she had, and her face free of the heavy makeup that was melting off many of the other guests’ faces in the warmth of the summer night. I chose to believe she’d changed into that dress and let her hair down just for me, but I didn’t immediately approach her. I escaped the girl with the lashes and watched Tori for a while as she mingled and drank champagne.
“Avery…” I reluctantly peeled my eyes away from Tori to turn to Des, who had censure written all over her face as she approached me.
Damn, are we going with this on the wedding day, Des?
“What’s up baby girl? Why you looking at me like that?”
She raised an eyebrow at me. “You know why. I see how you’re looking at Tori, and I want you to stop.”
“What? She’s fine as hell; everybody except Drew has been looking at her. I can’t?”
Des pressed her lips together in a disapproving line. “Yeah, you can look, but could you leave it at that? I don’t want you making her uncomfortable. She’s going through a little something with her man… right now, and she doesn’t need you flirting and being silly, making things more complicated. Deidra told me how she saw you two in the hall.”