Unplugged (Blue Phoenix, #3)(84)

The intense love for her explodes through my soul, filling my heart until my chest hurts. I fight against going to her, hoisting Cerys over my shoulder and running. The crazy thought puts a smile on my face and Cerys returns one of her own. We’re locked in this moment, the push and pull of the fates finally over.

She’s absolutely, f-ucking gorgeous. To me, Cerys is beautiful in scruffy, dress down clothes and no make-up, so in the floor length, ivory gown that moulds around her gorgeous b-reasts and pulls in at her waist to define that killer ass blows my mind. I immediately worry she’s cold until Louise appears behind her and drapes a shawl across her shoulders. Louise’s dress matches Ella’s but without the ribbon and she gently guides Ella toward where I stand.

Finally, close enough to touch her; I take Cerys’s soft hand in mine. “Your hands are cold,” I whisper and rub her fingers.

Cerys’s longer hair is braided away from her face with tiny white flowers in the plaits, the brown eyes wide and tearful. Oh f-uck, don’t cry, Cerys.

When tears spill down her cheeks I do what I always do; I take her face, rub them away with my thumb, lean in, and kiss the salty warmth from her cheeks.

“You look f-ucking amazing,” I say.

“Don’t swear,” she whispers, indicating Ella with her head, but smiling at my slip-up.

“But you do, you’re beautiful.”

Then I catch sight of her necklace with the gold heart pendant resting just above my favourite part of Cerys. She squeezes my hand in a small warning and I grin at her. “You’re wearing my heart.”

“Always,” she whispers.

Nobody else exists outside this moment, a snapshot in time that I’ll hold in my heart forever. Cerys touches my freshly shaved cheek, the emotion in her face unmistakable and I can’t breathe.

“I love you, Liam.”

So, I’m supposed to wait until we’re married to kiss the bride? f-uck that.

****

CERYS



Liam’s hands roam around to my backside and he pulls me into him as we move together on the dance floor. I rest my head in the spot beneath Liam’s chin, the perfect fit as if made for me. Placing my lips on his neck, I relish the comfort of his arms around me. The giddy feeling of being loved completely has followed me since the moment I saw the terrified Liam in the chapel, and the transformation on his face when he saw me is etched in my mind forever. Any remaining doubt I had that we were marrying too quickly evaporated with his inappropriate kiss and reluctance to let me go.

Time on the dance floor is the only way we can be alone together; even though this is a small wedding, everyone wants a piece of us and I’m exhausted. The love songs playing currently, no doubt hurt Liam’s ears; a world away from most of Blue Phoenix’s work, but we stay on the dance floor away from the guests. We decided that the band wouldn’t play; I didn’t want Liam away from me.

“How long before we can leave?” Liam whispers, tugging my earlobe with his teeth.

“A few hours yet.”

He groans and drags me closer. “You’re driving me f-ucking crazy. I need to see what you’re wearing under there.”

“All the best things in life are worth waiting for,” I say and giggle, heady with champagne and the emotion of the day.

“I’ll tell you what I’m going to do,” he continues and as the music plays around us, he stops in the middle of the dance floor and proceeds to go into great detail about the night ahead of me. I squirm as his words pull vivid images into my head and a dampening heat between my legs. To shut him up I drag his mouth onto mine. Kisses shouldn’t feel any different to twenty-four hours ago but they do. The giddy feeling from the slide of his tongue and the taste of him rushes to my head, joining the constant dreamlike feeling of the day. This is different because I’ll never have to be without these kisses again.

The number of guests drop off as the evening gets later. An exhausted Ella kisses me goodbye and disappears with her new grandparents. Again the pang of disappointment that my parents didn’t come edges in. But that was my choice, just as it was their choice not to acknowledge me or Ella for the last five years.

Sky and Dylan sit at a white-clothed table we return to, half-hidden in the darkness. Sky hugs and kisses me which takes me by surprise, but she’s generally friendlier after a few glasses of wine. I sit on the chair next to her, and smooth my dress.

“You look beautiful,” she says. “And thanks for not telling me what to wear.” She indicates her dress, dove-grey, fitted at the top and floating to above her knee.

“Thanks. I think,” I say and look at Liam who shrugs.

Dylan pokes Sky who giggles again. “Too much champagne,” he says and pulls an apologetic face.

Sky makes a ‘pfft’ sound and puts a hand on his cheek. “You won’t be complaining later.”

“Okay! Too much information!” says Liam and holds his hands up.

Dylan smirks, leaning back on his chair, the action stretches the white shirt across and defines his muscular chest. He’s dispensed with his suit jacket and hung it on the chair behind.

Sky cranes her neck. “Did the photographer finally leave?”

“I think so,” says Liam.

“Awesome! Dylan?” Sky excitedly climbs onto his lap and unbuttons the top button of his shirt.