Chapter 18: Chapter 18

- Garter

Deila's pov

The whole wedding ritual was tiresome, as if that wasn't enough, I'd be standing bored to the core behind the girls that waited desperately to catch the bouquet. It was quite ironic as I was waiting there for absolutely nothing.

When Mari told me it wasn't right if other girls waited for the bouquet and the chief bridesmaid lurked in a corner, I'd grumbled. I didn't get why it was so important, but she had said to just stand with them and wait for nothing. So I did just that.

I stared blankly into space, horror written all over my face. It was very obvious Mari did it on purpose. She threw it at me on purpose, and anyone who was looking could have seen it. She knew I'd have to prevent it from reaching my face, in other-wards making it seem like I caught it on purpose. I stared from Mari to the bouquet and from the bouquet to Mari.

It should have been any other girl standing there and desperately wanting it, not me.

Me? I chuckled inwardly. There was no need to be paranoid or get worked up over catching some bouquet. It was just a flower, any myth that followed it about being next in line for marriage was just blabbing. I had never believed it... not that it will ever work for me.

I forced a big smile on my face as people started to applaud me.

"Unto the next!" Jacob bellowed happily coming to stand beside his new bride. Conniving bride I must add.

"Ready to take off my garter, baby?" she purred planting a kiss on his lips.

A smirk appeared on his face before he replied, "You've got no idea." He tugged her, stopping in front of a little chair, and proceeded to take off her garter.

He put on a show which the audience undoubtedly loved from the way they whistled and cheered. He took off the garter from her up her thigh, using the excess of her gown to cover the majority of her thigh that would've been on display.

The blushing new bride stood up with the help of her husband that kept her steady.

"So guys," she started, loud enough to get everyone's attention. "There's one more thing to do before moving on to the reception," she announced loudly and Dawn bellowed an agreement.

"So it might be weird to some of you guys, as it's not common, but if you enjoyed the show my husband just put on you'll surely enjoy this." How she made sure to drag the word 'husband' didn't pass me. She paused, looking around.

"Thankfully there ain't kids in here, right?" she asked and they replied no.

Of course, the kids were led to the reception area when the groom was about to pull down the garter, my mum made sure of that.

"Okay, so it's gonna be like this, the groom throws the garter as he normally should and the gentleman that catches it wears it on the beautiful lady who caught my bouquet, " she announced loudly.

I looked at her like she had gone crazy, but the crowd cheering didn't seem to share my thought.

Was she kidding me? What did she mean to wear it on me?

Everyone kept on clapping to what she had said when I was having difficulties breathing. If she thought I was going to be part of her show then she had to think again. I wasn't going to allow any guy to go up to my thighs to place a garter. I'll cut his hands off first.

I turned and was about to storm off when Mari's hand found mine, stopping me. "Hey, this is why I didn't tell you anything about the garter trend. Please Dei, do it for me. You don't wanna ruin my wedding." She rubbed my back with one of her hands in a form of a caress. "Everyone's watching, just do it," she added in a whisper and I nodded sighing in defeat.

I took in deep breaths. For Mari. For Mari— I had chanted over and over again as the groom prepared to throw the garter. Damn it, she was a manipulator and she knew I wouldn't be able to decline her because it was her wedding.

But what's the worse that could happen?

I watched as Jacob threw the garter. He didn't throw it into the crowd of snickering gentlemen as he's supposed to, no, I saw clearly how he threw it carefully, away from the waiting group. And it went to James.

I replayed the whole scene carefully, it was the same thing Mari did when she purposefully threw the bouquet at me. I saw how James like me, acted on reflex and tried to prevent it from reaching his face the act making it seem like he caught it.

Oh no.

Oh, fuck no.

This was it. This was what Dawn had to have been planing the whole time. It had to be him behind the happenings. Little wonder he was so happy earlier, I foolishly thought it was because of the wedding, but I knew better now he was rather up to some trick. The realization that he had dragged Jacob and Mari into his little matchmaking game irritated me.

I caught the evil glare James pinned to Dawn and Jacob before he turned around, walking in my direction.

With the way he's looking at me like I'm the only one in the room, this is so not going to be good for my health, I thought, holding my breath.

With uncertainty, he looked at Mari who was the originator or announcer of the what should I call it, game? Or show?

"Dei," He called, stopping in front of me. "Are you okay with this?" Concern laced his voice.

"Oh- Uhm... I- I-" oh great. I'm making it better by stuttering.

I wet my suddenly dry lips, clearing my throat as I didn't trust my voice, before speaking, this time trying not to stutter. "Yeah, it's okay." I shrugged like it was no big deal when inside I screamed no. "Not that there's anything I can do," I added looking at an expectant-silently-pleading Mari, and the wedding guests who were all looking like they couldn't wait for the show. Do I blame them?

"Okay. So..." he trailed.

"She takes that seat and you wear the garter on her," I heard Dawn half yell from behind us.

I'll kill him. I swear I'll kill him, I promised myself wholeheartedly.

I sat nervously on the chair that was brought—the same one Mari had sat on when the garter was pulled down her thighs. Her thighs. James was going to wear the garter up my thigh. Hell.

I had wondered what was the worse that could happen and it was right in front of me. It couldn't get any worse than this.

Could something just happen? Like the ground shaking right before opens to swallow me? I thought.

I'd have preferred to enter into the ground willingly and bask in mother earth's loving embrace than be doing this with James. I could have bolted on my heels, taking off to the hills. But again, I had to assure myself that it wasn't going to that bad... it was worse already.

James held my eyes in a silent question, or maybe he was seeking my permission. I nodded my head nervously— thinking that I might as well get it over and done with—and he reached for my right leg. He cradled it softly like it was a glass that could easily break, I be doomed.

He held the garter wide in his left hand, while his right hand held my leg then aided it past my purple painted toenails.

When his eyes met mine again, I saw something shift. Uncertainty had vanished from his eyes and was now replaced with a glint I couldn't discern. I sucked in a breath as I felt his hard hand move slowly beneath my feet in form of a caress, it was ticklish and at the same time, it caused a surge of desire to shoot through me.

Every part of me was hot from the way his hands kept moving softly and slowly like he was caressing me while aiding the garter up my legs. Goosebumps rose in their wake and I feared he felt them.

His eyes never left mine, and the way his hands on my skin was driving me insane, him seeing how much he affected me became the least of my worries. His eyes were seeing through my soul, I couldn't look away, I just couldn't. It felt like if I did I'd be snapped out of the trance I was in with him, and I didn't want out.

Although my dress hugged my upper body, from my shoulder to my knees, it rode up when I sat on the chair, giving him little space to take the garter up my thigh. Shit, I cussed mentally, I knew how many nights I'd dreamt of this. Just nights?

His hands-on my thigh felt feathery, so hard, so powerful, yet so soft. It came to my knowledge that moment that I was eerily sensitive on my thighs as I felt my panties dampening every second his hands were on me.

His hands continued to trace further. The further they went the more I felt my panties soak. I felt his hands stop, relief mixed with loss filled at the thought that he was done. Just then I felt him— just his fingertips this time. He tied his fingertips dangerously higher causing electricity to shot through me, more powerful than before. I couldn't control the moan that fell from my lips, his knowing smirk didn't help.

I dropped my head to hide that my expression— my bottom lips tucked between my teeth, my eyes no doubt drowsy. It felt like I was going to burst from desire if he went any further. And if he went any further he was going to...

Is he going to touch me there?

I was pulled out of my hot web when he stopped, this time taking his hands off me and rising to a stand as nothing had happened. I sighed in relief, well that was what I told myself, maybe the sigh was that of disappointment. Did I want him to touch me where I ached? No. Yes.

Everyone started clapping, and I took that as my cue to walk back to where I stood beside Mari, as the chief bride's maid. It took every ounce of strength I had in me to not wobble or stumble. My knees were weak. My legs were mushed into jelly.

I forced a smile as I reached Mari and Sia.

"Well that wasn't so bad, was it?" Sia asked grinning.

"Wasn't so bad?" Mari asked in a sarcastic tone, rolling her eyes. "I'll say it was too good. Look at her." she nudged her head, gesturing to me. "That sparkle in her eyes!" she chimed.

I was honestly fed up with their cheesiness, it was too much for one day. And I was frustratedly angry with myself for allowing my body to react that way to James. "That's enough okay? I'm not supposed to be the focus, today," I said trying not to let the turmoil I was in sound in my voice.

"Okay. okay," Mari agreed, raising her hands in a surrendering gesture, for emphasis sake, and Sia rolled her eyes and walked away. Phew! That was easy.

Dawn walked up to us, put his hands on both our shoulders, made way for himself in our middle where he planted what needed he okayed himself.

"World best sisters," he said before I heard a smack, that told me he kissed Mari's cheek.

I pulled my face away when I saw he was going to do the same to me.

Ah ah, I ticked with my tongue. Not today.

"Don't think we are cook," I told him, removing his hands from my shoulders.

"It's a day to be happy, don't be a sulker." He had the guts to give me a chiding look and then his annoying chuckle followed. "Come on, let's move on to the reception," he said, motioning for us to follow him.

With that, we moved on to the reception party.