Page 94 of Painted Truths

I vow to be whatever he needs because all I know is that this man… he completes me.

* * *

“Ladies and gentlemen. I give you Mr and Mrs Caden North.”

Everyone rises to their feet, clapping loudly and shouting even louder, as the bride and groom turn to face us, Caden smiling that super-sized pearly white smile I know has definitely made many panties grow legs and run away.

The cheers, catcalls, and whistles get astronomically louder as Caden pulls Layla into his chest, both smiling broadly before he dips her back, taking care of her small bump to capture her mouth in a soft kiss.

They are the very picture of perfection. Layla’s long, poker-straight black hair is streaming down her back, settling at the base of her spine, adorned with a crown of white flowers. Her ankle-length white dress is simple and elegant, flowing down her fragile body, made to look even more slight by her barely protruding bump. According to Henry, she’s got to be around five months pregnant, but it seems as though she’s had a fairly big dinner instead.

Caden is wearing a black tuxedo, and oh my—does he wear it well. He’s left the black dickie bow untied to hang around his neck and has gone barefoot, as has Layla.

I’m finding it hard to reconcile this bride in front of me with the woman engaging in oral sex with a groupie at that Misdirection orgy yesterday, but it’s most assuredly her. I’m puzzled by Caden’s acceptance of her sexual proclivities, especially as Henry confided earlier that while Layla has been less than discreet about her dalliances, Caden hasn’t been with anyone else sexually in at least two years.

And when news of this wedding breaks, the media will have a field day while women and men the world over will mourn his newlywed status, never knowing he’s given his loyalty to a woman who clearly takes it for granted.

My eyes meet Henry’s across the heads of the guests as his lips lift in a smile meant just for me, causing the ever-present previously dormant butterflies in my stomach to take flight.

He, like Caden, is dressed in a black tux minus the dickie bow, instead opting to leave his shirt open several buttons, giving all and sundry a glimpse of his tanned, broad, sexy-as-fuck chest.

Having snapped several photos of us together before leaving the villa, I was delighted to see we look really well side by side. I’ve chosen to wear a flowy full-length dress with a generous cut at the chest, but the best part is the colour.

I’d baulked when Jo told me to get it, all things considered, but Henry’s face was a picture as he’d taken in the peach-coloured gown draped along my curves.

Smiling to myself at his reaction, I watch the wedding party, consisting of the newlyweds, Henry, Nate, and Layla’s two younger sisters, whom I believe are called Sienna and Giana. They lead the way to the celebrations, which are taking place in a massive specially built pavilion just off the beach, where the ceremony had taken place at sunset.

It was beautiful and wholly un-rock and roll. Beau, who’d sat on one side of me, told me that Caden had insisted on the whole traditional vibe even though Layla just wanted to elope to Vegas.

Walking silently behind the members of Misdirection, whom Beau had introduced to me before the ceremony began, I can’t help my mind straying to the events of the past twenty-four hours.

My body is aching in delight at the memory of the delicious acts Henry and I performed while also aching. Period.

When he’d realised I was a virgin, his face was a beautiful contradiction of pain, pleasure, and unbridled delight at the knowledge that he was my first.

My only.

When he’d apologised this morning in the shower, he’d looked at me like I’d hung the moon. Like I was the only light in his darkness, and I want nothing more than to be that for him.

This whole thing just beggars belief. Things like this don’t happen in real life to girls like me.

I daydream of fixing those broken parts of himself that he’s unveiling to me bit by bit, piece by piece, if only he’ll let me.

I could see it had really taken a lot for him to tell me as much as he did in the pool earlier this morning, and though I was obviously hurting for him, I couldn’t help my joy in having him open up to me even more than he already had.

Realising that I’ve stopped at the edge of the dancefloor, I raise my head to see the most gorgeous man in the entire world on the opposite side. His hands are hanging on either side of his body, his jacket gone, and his rolled-up shirt-sleeves display his muscular forearms, lightly dusted with dark hair on his olive skin. A large silver watch glints on his wrist in the millions of tiny, twinkling fairy lights surrounding the pavilion.

His impassioned eyes find mine, his face serious, and I am just blown away at the height of the emotions this man brings to life within me.

As if on winged feet, I cross the space, with him meeting me halfway. He takes me into the safe haven of his arms in a move that looks completely rehearsed, but I know deep, deep down, it’s because our souls were made to mirror the other.

We sway around the dancefloor for several long minutes, my head tucked under his chin, his heart a soft, steady thump beneath my ear, fitting just perfectly in his embrace. Neither of us uttering a single word, just soaking up the feelings we elicit in the other.

I can see Caden and Nate joking at the side of the dancefloor. Both men’s faces are filled with such delight it brings a contented smile to my lips.

“Having fun, Peaches?”

His voice is a husky intonation, sending a jolt of awakening to my centre. Will I ever get enough of him?