I take Luke’s hand, squeezing his fingers. As we walk down the aisle towards an empty row, I see people turning and staring. An old man looks at Luke pityingly, shaking his head. A grandma in a lilac blazer and matching knee-length skirt turns to her neighbour, raising her eyebrows meaningfully.
And then their eyes turn to me.
Cold slips down my spine as the whispers start. As we pass a row full of elderly women, I hear one voice rise up out of the muffled murmuring, cutting through the hush of the hall.
“Very young for him, isn’t she?”
Heat touches my cheeks. I look down, suddenly feeling sick.
There’s a tiny tug at my hand, and I glance up at Luke. His face is creased with concern. “Hey,” he murmurs. “You okay?”
“I feel like everyone is staring at me,” I mutter.
Luke laughs. “They’re staring at me, sweetheart.”
“Mm.” I look around the room. I recognise a few teachers from high school, and my stomach twists uncomfortably.
Luke gives me a level look, then leans in to press a kiss to my cheek. I breathe in a lungful of his aftershave and feel my heart rate slow.
I’m fine. Everything’s fine.
We sit down a few rows from the front. Zack groans as he settles into his tiny chair. “This is discrimination,” he mutters under his breath, shifting to try and get comfortable. “Not everyone’s got legs like a goddamn garden gnome.”
I pinch his side to shut him up, and he gives me a heated look, setting a heavy hand on my thigh, a little too high up to be socially acceptable. My stomach flips. The music starts, and we all stand as the officiant makes a quick speech. I try to pay attention, but I can’t focus. All I can think about is the heavy weight of the balls inside me. It feels ridiculously naughty to have them rubbing inside me while no one else knows. Zack glances at me out of the corner of his eye and smirks.
Finally, the officiant’s speech is over, and we all sit again. I squirm a little in my seat, trying to find a comfortable position as the wedding procession starts.
The groom is first. Josh’s brother, Rob, looks just like him. He’s probably not as tall, but he has the same curling dark hair and sculpted cheekbones. Unlike Josh, though, his face seems to be set in a permanent smile. His brown eyes sparkle as he looks around at the crowd, his hands jammed into his tux pockets. The wedding party steps forward next; a long row of men in dark suits and pretty girls in pastel dresses. I stare as Josh sweeps by, looking delicious in an inky black suit, a dark-haired woman on his arm.
“Amy’s sister,” Luke murmurs into my ear. I shiver as his breath tickles my loose hairs over my skin. “Maid of honour.”
“She’s pretty.”
“Mm.” He shoots me an amused look. “And happily married with three kids. If you were wondering.”
I roll my eyes, but my shoulders ease slightly.
Finally, Amy steps out into the aisle, clinging onto her father’s arm. My stomach sours when I see her. My old headmistress. She looks just the same as she did when I was a kid — the same sweet, doll-like face and pretty features. She reaches the end of the aisle, and Rob takes her hands. She smiles up at him, her eyes fixed on his face. They’re obviously sickeningly in love.
Luke shifts in his chair next to me, clearing his throat, and I reach out, putting my hand in his lap. He takes it, interlacing our fingers together. His face is tight.
On my other side, Zack gives me a wicked look. I raise an eyebrow wordlessly. He leans closer, casually sliding his hand up my knee — and then sticking it up my dress.
My mouth falls open. I stay still, my heart hammering, as Zack slowly slips his fingers up my thigh, coming to cup my crotch under my dress. I can’t move; that would bring too much attention to us, and the friction would probably just make my issues even worse. So I just grit my teeth and focus on the scene in front of me as Zack starts to stroke me.
My sex blooms under his light touch. I can feel my hot lips swelling, getting wetter, as he teases his fingertips over the thin cotton of my underwear. I’m still so sensitive from last night that even the lightest touch is enough to send arousal tickling inside me, making me squirm.
I glance across at Luke. He looks back at me coolly, his face perfectly calm, as if he has no idea what Zack is doing under my skirt. But he’s watching. Minutely, he jerks his head back to the front of the room. I get the message. Pay attention.
I swallow, turning back to look at Amy and Rob. They’re both holding hands, smiling as they listen to the officiant drone on. Zack keeps stroking me, his touch getting firmer as he draws lazy circles around my sensitive nub, and I grip the sides of my chair as I start to throb. I can feel my cheeks flushing as my breathing gets heavier. I’m trembling. I want to touch myself. I want to yank Zack’s hand away. I want to stand up and run straight back to the hotel room. I try to focus on the ceremony playing out in front of me, but all I can think about is the slowly building ache between my legs.