Commitment: The Beauty in Between (A Beautiful Series Novella) Read online

  “I love you too.”

  David

  “I have an idea,” I start, as we eat our breakfast together.

  “Is it a new sexual position?” Trina asks without missing a beat.

  I laugh a little, covering my mouth as I’ve just put a piece of omelette in there then shake my head. “No. It’s an idea about the wedding.”

  She nods her head slowly, she seems unsure, but she’s waiting for me to continue.

  “Well, I know that you can’t have your dream wedding but what if we have my dream wedding?”

  She starts laughing and almost spits out her coffee. “Are you serious? What’s your dream wedding? Bungee jumping off the Harbour Bridge as we say ‘I do’?”

  “No, but that’s a great idea. I’ll keep that as a backup plan,” I tease.

  “Oh god please don’t.”

  “Trina – I’m serious. Would you let me plan the wedding? I’ll take care of everything.”

  “I don’t know. What about my dress?”

  “I’m going to choose that too.”

  “Oh no. No. I don’t think so.”

  “Come on Trina. Don’t you trust me?”

  “Of course I do.”

  “Well then leave it to me. I won’t let you down,” I assure her.

  I can see in her face that she’s not sure about this. She pulls her lips between her teeth and worries over it as she thinks.

  “Come on princess. Give me a chance.”

  She lets out a heavy sigh. “Alright. Do it. Surprise me.”

  Chapter Eight

  Katrina

  “You’re letting David plan your wedding? Have you signed up for some sort of reality show or something?” my mother asks when I tell her over the phone.

  “No mum,” I laugh. “He just made the suggestion and I thought ‘why not’. I’m actually kind of excited about what he might do.”

  “But what about me? Don’t I get to help you plan?” she asks, her voice getting small and childlike.

  “I’m sorry mum, but you were never going to be planning my wedding. Our taste is just too different,” I laugh.

  “It’s not that different,” she objects. “It might have been a nice bonding experience.”

  “I’m sorry. I’ll tell David you want to help though ok. He might need it somewhere.”

  “Ok, I guess I’ll have to settle for that. Although this could be a disaster Katrina. Have you at least set the date now?”

  “It won’t be a disaster mum, it’ll just be… different. It’s all a surprise. Even the date.”

  “But you’ll have to sign your ‘intent to marry’.”

  “Yeah I know, we’re going to do that really soon so we can get married at any point once the twenty one days are up.”

  “Well Katrina. I sincerely hope that this will all work out.”

  “It will mum. I have complete faith in him.”

  ***

  David

  “Do I get to help?” my mum says the moment I tell her that I’m planning the wedding.

  “I don’t know ma. It’s supposed to be a surprise.”

  Her voice travels up an octave as her excitement comes through her voice. “David. You know I never thought I’d get to help plan a wedding because I didn’t have a daughter. Please let me in on this,” she begs.

  “I’ll let you help where I can. But you can’t breathe a word about any of it. I don’t want Trina to find out.”

  “How are you going to get her dress fitted?”

  “Blind fold.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Yeah, I figured I’ll take her in to get measured up and when they do the fitting, she’ll have to be blind folded.”

  My mother laughs. “This is going to be fun.”

  “I hope so.”

  Chapter Nine

  Katrina

  David is sitting at the kitchen table, hunched over his iPad and making notes on a pad of paper next to him. My curiosity is killing me and I try to sneak past him and take a peek at what he’s doing.

  “Don’t even look in my direction,” he warns me, flipping over the paper and hitting the home button.

  “Come on babe, just tell me something. Anything, and I’ll go away.”

  “You’re going to be beautiful,” he tells me, grinning that sexy half smile of his.

  I chuckle a little and shake my head from side to side. This is going to be torture for me. Moving closer to him, I place my hands on his shoulders, squeezing at his muscles and working out the kinks from the week of work.

  He hums and leans his head against my arm, before taking my hand in his and kissing my palm.

  “Come here,” he says, turning in his chair and guiding me so I’m standing between his legs. He lifts my shirt and plants a kiss on my stomach, just above my belly button. “Are you still worried that marrying me might ruin your career?” He kisses me again, his hands sliding underneath my shirt, up to my breasts. Only his fingertips brush the underside of them, just enough to make me ache for more.

  “Not at all. I’m sorry I ever said it. And I’m sorry for behaving so badly. I should have just thrown the album out years ago. It’s all so unrealistic.”

  “Hmmm, the page about the unicorn carrying you down the aisle was a bit out there. But I love the album. I’m glad you kept it, and I wish I had have known about it all along.”

  “Really? It wouldn’t have scared you away?”

  He pulls me closer and lifts my shirt higher, kissing along my chest until he takes my already erect nipple in his mouth. He sucks back and drags his teeth over it causing me to suck in my breath as he hums in the negative.

  “I wouldn’t have wasted my time with other girls. I would have been with you all along.”

  “I wish we could go back in time and skip all the crap that happened before us.”

  He hums again as his fingers slip into the waist band of my yoga pants and pull down. “We could have been doing this a lot sooner,” he tells me as he slides his hand between my legs, teasing my clit as he works his way between my folds and brings my juices forward, circling the slickness over my already swelling nub.

  I gasp. My knees weakening as arousal floods my body and his fingers enter me. Moving my hips against his hand, I steady myself by placing my hands on his shoulders. I’m quivering.

  He continues to plant soft kisses across my abdomen as he pulses his fingers inside me then out and over my clit. The rhythm sends me over the edge and I grip onto him tightly with my hands to stop myself from dropping to the floor, lost in my own bliss.

  When he removes his hand from between my legs, I drop to my knees and reach up, guiding his face so I can kiss him. I moan into his mouth as he slides his tongue over mine, small sounds escaping his throat as I slide my hands down his chest until I reach his pants. I undo his button, releasing his cock from its confines and sliding my hand over the smooth skin.

  “And we could have been doing this,” I murmur, lowering myself down so I can take him into my mouth. He’s too large to take in all the way, and my lips have to stretch to make it around his girth, but I have learned how to lick and suck and work him with my hand until he erupts in my mouth.

  David

  I moan. God she’s good at this. She licks and sucks and slides her hands over me until I’m close to exploding. But I’m not ready yet.

  “I want to come inside you,” I growl, arousal making my voice thick and throaty. She sucks hard and drags her mouth up until I pop out of her. Grinning, she looks up from my lap then pushes up, so she’s standing in front of me.

  I take a moment to run my hands over her skin. I love every bit of her, even the scars that remind us both of what we almost missed out on. We almost missed out on us.

  Placing my hands on her hips I guide her as she settles herself above me. She reaches between us and eases herself over my tip then lowers herself down, slowly, leisurely. Each time she takes me inside she lets out a gasp that sounds so erotic, it’s as if she wasn’t
complete until I filled her. And each time I reciprocate by letting out a moan, because it’s true. I’m not complete until we’re joined. I need her. She’s everything to me.

  With strong legs she pushes herself up and down my shaft, gripping me tight and dragging herself up to my tip then sliding down again. I keep my hands on her hips, watching as we move together. I love to see myself disappear inside her. I love being so thoroughly connected.

  She lets out a tiny gasp, her moans filling my ears as she rides me. I want to come, but I want to stay like this, connected forever.

  “I love you so much,” she whispers, leaning in close to my ear so she can run her tongue over my lobe. It sends shivers through my body and I’m so close, so close.

  “Oh god!” I moan as I explode inside her. She joins me and calls out, her body shuddering as I hold her tight. I bring my mouth to hers and kiss her passionately. My arms wrapped around her as I press our bodies together. “I love you too princess,” I tell her.

  Katrina

  I sit back and smile at him. “That’s going to stick now isn’t it?” I ask.

  “Yeah, it might even replace ‘baby girl’ as my all time favourite. Besides, I think you should be a princess every day. Not just for one.”

  My heart swells in my chest and feels like it’s send waves of bliss through my body. “Have I told you how much I love you?”

  “You might have. But tell me again.”

  “I love you… so much.”

  Chapter Ten

  David

  “Ok, just keep a hold of my arm and I’ll guide you,” I tell Trina as I help her out of the car. We’re in front of the dressmaker who has agreed to do the blindfolded fitting.

  “Oh wow, please don’t let go of me!” she laughs.

  So far this whole planning thing has been great for us. Trina is excited for what’s about to come. She has no idea of the date or the location, or even the theme, so every day has an element of excitement to it as she waits.

  It’s been almost two months since I started planning and everything is falling into place. Once the dress is finished, we won’t be far off the day.

  I’m started to feel excited now too. It won’t be much longer until we’re husband and wife.

  Katrina

  I can’t see a freaking thing. So I clutch onto David’s arm for dear life. A woman with a slight Mediterranean accent greets us as we enter a store, and I’m ushered into what I assume is a dressing room.

  “Just through here princess,” David directs, his voice soft kind and low. It tickles my ears and adds to the excitement I’m already feeling.

  I hear the sounds of sliding metal and feel the light breeze as what I assume is the curtain to a dressing room closing.

  “Arms up,” he instructs as he helps me remove my clothes. His fingers brush against my skin and send tingles all over my body. I kind of wish that he’d take me in here against the wall. This whole experience has me dripping with excitement.

  As he undoes my black skinny jeans and pulls them down my legs, I giggle slightly as I stumble out of them. But he holds me steady. “It’s ok. I won’t let you fall,” he assures me. “Here, place your arms on my shoulders.”

  He slides his hands over my arms and guides my hands so they rest on his strong, firm shoulders. I hear the rustle of fabric just before his hand gently touches the skin on my leg. He’s driving me wild. My breathing becomes heavy as he caresses my skin before lifting my leg and guiding me into the dress.

  He slides it up my body, making sure he makes contact with my skin the entire way. The only thing I’m sure of is that it’s strapless. Planting gentle kisses on my shoulders, he stands behind me and zips me up. “Now, don’t touch it. That’s cheating,” he rumbles in my ear.

  “Can I touch you?” I return, turning my head toward the sound of his voice. I can feel his breath on my cheek – it’s as heavy as mine.

  “Soon,” he whispers, his lips lightly brushing against my ear as he speaks. A gasp sneaks out over my lips and I hear him chuckle lightly as he pulls at the curtain again.

  The metal clangs and a gust of air fills the cubicle, feeling cool against my heated skin.

  “This way.” He slides his arm around my waist and takes me by the elbow to guide me out of the change room.

  I can feel the length and the weight of the dress as I move. Both David and the dressmaker have to help lift it as they guide me so I’m standing on some sort of platform.

  “Now, stand very still,” he orders me. The dressmaker fawns over me, pinning here and measuring there, while she mutters to herself about what she needs to do. The entire time, David keeps physical contact with me. He holds my hand and gently strokes my skin, moving around me so he isn’t in the way. I still can’t see anything. All I can do it feel, and try to keep my breathing steady.

  “You know, I’ve never had a blindfolded bride before,” she comments. I can hear the scratching of her pencil as she jots something on a notepad. “You think you’ve seen it all when you deal with people all your life, but this one is new to me.”

  “I’m glad we could surprise you,” David says, causing her to laugh in that way that women do around him. He’s obviously won her over with his charm. He’s probably smiling at her – that dimple does it every time.

  David takes me by the hand and helps me off the platform, guiding me once again into the change room to help me out of the dress. Each time his fingers make contact with my skin, I flinch – I’m that turned on right now.

  The dress pools around my feet and I expect him to place my hands on his shoulders again. He does, but when he slides his hands over my lower leg, he doesn’t lift, he keeps sliding upward. As his fingers brush my thoroughly damp panties, I suck in my breath sharply.

  “Shhhh,” he whispers, so quietly even I barely hear it. He slips his fingers underneath the fabric and moves through my juices. I hear his breath blow out slowly, he’s trying to keep calm and quiet. I try to do the same, but my heart is thudding so loudly in my ears that I feel sure the dressmaker can hear us.

  He removes his hand and slides my panties down my legs, before guiding me so I’m leaning against wall in the corner of the stall. He pushes my legs slightly apart and returns his hand to my centre, slipping his fingers inside and massaging my core. I feel his breath against my mound and almost gasp out when I feel his tongue slip between my folds and over my clit.

  My hips flinch and I bite down on my lip, riding him. My orgasm explodes within seconds and I shudder, holding my breath so I can’t be heard.

  David withdraws from me and stands, pressing himself against me so I can feel how hard he is for me. “We need to go home. Now,” he growls in my ear.

  He lifts me over to the other side of the cubicle and I hear the material sound again as he lifts the dress off the floor and hangs it up, before returning his attention to me to once again get me dressed.

  “Where’s my underwear?” I ask in a whisper when he’s standing in front of me doing my zip up.

  “In my pocket. One less thing to remove when I get you home.” My insides clench with excitement as we leave the change room and head straight for the car, barely taking the time to say goodbye to the dressmaker.

  “Leave the blindfold on,” he tells me when he sees me reach for it in the car on the drive home. I lower my hands, and shift my weight, squirming in my seat.

  I’m starting to think that every woman should let her man organise their wedding. All the anticipation and mystery has me in a constant state of arousal.

  David is so ready, that the moment we get home, he gets me out of the car and throws me over his shoulder cave man style.

  If this was any other time I’d be laughing over the fun of it all, but I’m so on edge that I gasp instead. I can’t wait to get inside…

  Chapter Eleven

  David

  While I knew that organising a wedding was a big deal, I didn’t realise quite how huge it really was. Even just a small one. I’ve set t
he date, organised the venue, the dress, my suit, flowers, food, music, a photographer, and of course - a celebrant to marry us. Now all that’s left is the cake and the guest list.

  I’m inviting our families and a few of our work and uni friends that we actually spend time with outside of work. We’re not massively social – we go out with other people once every month or two if we’re lucky. We prefer each other’s company above anyone else’s.

  Scanning the list of names, I dial the first number and place the phone to my ear. I’m calling everyone personally since it’s a surprise and I need to swear them to complete secrecy. Plus, I can’t risk invitations being stuck to people’s refrigerators where Trina could accidentally see one.

  She’s kept in touch with Kayley, who is now married herself to an Aussie guy called Chad. We probably see them as a couple three times a year, and get along really well together. Kayley and Trina have lunch once a month as well. So they are top of the ‘friends’ list.

  “Kayley,” I say as she answers in her familiar Irish lilt. “It’s David. How are you?”

  “I’m great. It’s unusual for you to call me. Is everything alright?”

  “More than alright actually. I’m calling to invite you to Trina’s and my wedding,” I tell her. It’s so hard to keep the smile off my lips, so I don’t bother. I just grin like an idiot.

  She lets out an excited little yelp. “Finally! I’m so happy. When is it?”

  I fill her in on all the details, smiling the entire way through my description about what’s going to happen, and how I’m going to get Trina there without her knowing it’s her wedding day until the last minute.

  “Sounds amazing David. I can’t wait.”

  “Me either. It’s been a long time coming.”

  When I hang up I’m still smiling. As I go through my list and make call after call I smile the whole time. By the time I’m finished – my face hurts.