Experiment in Terror 09 Dust to Dust(86)

It just didn’t seem right to celebrate anything. But it was my dad who insisted we go through with the ceremony, because it’s what my mother would have wanted and it’s what he wanted. He needed this, to feel his friends and family around him, to see his daughter on her happiest day of her life. Ada needed it. And maybe I needed it too.

I blinked back the few tears that teased at my eyes and stared at myself in the mirror. I wasn’t sure if it was the makeup artist or what, but I really did looking like a glowing, blushing bride. I just wanted more than anything to cry tears of love, not tears of loss.

I sighed and gave myself the once over then opened the door to the hallway.

Dex was standing right there, back to me, and I could only give out a faint shriek before he turned around and saw me.

“No!” I yelled at him, horrified, as if I’d been caught naked by someone.

His eyes widened. “Fuck me.”

I turned around to head back into the bathroom but he quickly reached out and grabbed my arm, bringing me to him.

I stared up at him, still shocked and worried that he had seen me before the wedding, but also soothed by his touch and revved by his look. My god he looked fucking handsome as anything, wearing a tuxedo and bowtie that complemented his athletic body and made him the sexiest James Bond ever. He was as close to clean-shaven as he could be, which still meant some masculine stubble, and had taken out his eyebrow ring. But his face looked clear, deadly handsome, and his eyes, his beautiful dark eyes – they were watering.

Oh no, not good.

“Perry,” he whispered, his voice cracking. “You look beautiful. So damn beautiful. I think my heart is on the floor.”

I gulped, now regretting my wish for happy tears. They wanted to barge on out and ruin my makeup. “You’re not supposed to see me, Dex!” I said in an angry hush. “It’s bad luck to see the bride before the ceremony.”

His mouth quirked up. “Is that right? Listen, kiddo, the two of us have had all the bad luck in the world. I say bring it fucking on.”

“I’m serious,” I said.

He grabbed both my hands and kissed me softly on the forehead. “So am I,” he mumbled against my skin.

I closed my eyes and fell into his touch. Immediately the ache in my heart was soothed, my nerves stopped fizzing. His lips brought me peace and warmth.

“Can we just stay like this and skip the ceremony?” I said into his chest. I could feel his heart beating steadily beneath his suit.

“Nah,” he said. “We’d have a herd of angry people out there and I really don’t want your father to punch me again, especially now that your uncle is here. Don’t tell me that they aren’t part of the mafia because you and I both know that they have some sneaky shit going on.”

“And now you’re being welcomed into the family,” I said, doing my best Brando impression. I lifted my head and stared up at him. “Do you really think I look beautiful?”

He smiled so warmly I felt it in my toes. “Perry, you are so fucking beautiful, you’re making me want to cry. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a sight on earth more beautiful than you right now.”

I smiled softly as a single tear leaked out.

“And seriously, if I wasn’t so scared of your father, I’d take you into that bathroom and fuck you good and hard against the wall, cuz my god, your breasts right now…”

Dex rarely looked impressed and always walked around with a smart-ass smirk on his face. It was part of his appeal. But he was impressed. He was floored.

I stepped out of his grasp and punched him lightly in the side. “Hey, it’s not my fault they’re always the focal point.”

“I ain’t complaining,” he said, raising his hands in mock surrender. “You still look very tasteful.” He smirked and added, “Tastefully fuckable.”

I gave him a wry look. “Well, so do you.” I took a step closer to him, starting to seriously ponder the whole sex in the bathroom thing and would that really be a big no-no before the ceremony?

“Bollocks!” Rebecca’s voice came shattering through us. “What the hell are you guys doing?”

We both turned to see Rebecca marching toward us with an uneasy Dean and Seb in tow. Dean looked very handsome in his suit. Seb, with his long hair and stoner expression, looked like Pauly Shore going to a business meeting. Oh well, can’t win them all.

“It’s my fault,” Dex said quickly before Rebecca could get close enough to hit him. “I was wandering around and saw her.”

“Why the bloody hell are you wandering around?” she asked him before looking to me for an explanation. I shrugged. Even though she was six months pregnant, you could barely tell, and she’d become more intimidating as the baby grew.