Seize the Day - 6

Part Six

 

They returned to their room for a break as there was a lull in proceedings before the dancing commenced. Naomi wanted nothing more than to kick off her shoes and dress and slob in a t-shirt, but she knew there was no way she’d squeeze her feet back into those items of torture again. So instead she slumped into a chair and sighed.

                “Wish we were going home now Bill. I’ve had enough, I hate weddings!”

He slid into the chair opposite and loosened his tie, “I know what you mean, but we’re here, we can have a dance, eat some more food then turn in. Ok?”

She nodded but he laughed at her lack of conviction, the mini bar had some rescue remedies, “doughnuts and full fat coke!” He threw them on the table in front of her, “Energy and rejuvenation!”

They hit the spot and the fatigue that had hampered as soon as she’d entered the room eased. She hadn’t allowed herself to analyse the events earlier, she had no idea what she thought about her dialogue with Miles, but she did feel that she’d left the situation with the upper hand. And that was all that mattered.

With subdued lighting, and soft music the room did seem transformed into the winter paradise that Melody had obviously desired. Bill collected another two glasses of champagne and led her into the room.

Relocating their seats, they sat and watched the bride and groom take to the dance floor.

                “Celine Dion?” Naomi hissed. “I can’t bloody stand her!”

Bill chuckled a deep resonant sound, “My heart will go on...cheesy! What would you have as your wedding song?”

She tilted her head in rebellion, “I’m never getting married Bill.”

                “Humour me!”

She thought for a moment, “Dolly Parton D.I.V.O.R.C.E.?”

Chuckling again he shook his head, “there am I thinking you do have a romantic side!”

                “I’m practical, how can you be practical AND romantic?”

Running a hand over his chin he sighed, “You’re an artist; love and romance are your fodder.”

She laughed, “Maybe that’s why I’m so unsuccessful? If I put more romance into my drawings...”

                “You’re not unsuccessful, but you are a little cynical Naomi, and that’s sad.”

There was no real comeback to that, and as they watched the newly married couple on the dance floor. Once the song finished other music started and the dance floor filled with various other couples. Bill spotted Miles prowling and whilst he’d been a little critical of her and she seemed frosty to him for a moment, he couldn’t let that man step in.

                “Let’s dance.”

She tried to protest but Bill didn’t listen pulling her onto the dance floor and then into his arms.

“You’re such a bully, no wonder I don’t want to get married, no man is bossing me around!”

He smiled a response, they were friends again. They moved to the music and it was a few minutes until she lifted her head from his shoulder to look up at him.

                “What would be your song?”

It only seemed fair that she finally ask him that, it had been a very one sided conversation earlier.

                “I don’t think you can pick one until you’re in a relationship, as it should be linked to them I suppose, but I do know it wouldn’t be Celine Dion. I’d probably pick some crooner, old Blue Eyes or something.”

                “ ‘I Did It My Way’! That sounds about right!”

He laughed, “Are you saying I’m some over dominating chauvinistic male?”

Naomi leaned back in his arms looking up at his affronted expression that he struggled to control, laughter bubbled below the surface, he was the least likely to be described as that, but she loved teasing him, “if the cap fits...”

Swinging her around rather dramatically he led her around the dance floor laughing.

Being best friends, they had a comfortable and familiarity that you didn’t see in new relationships, and as they laughed and joked oblivious to everyone else, and Naomi realised with irony that it was that fact that made their story so believable.

They were stood near the bar drinking champagne...again, when the bride approached.

                “Naomi! Do you mind if I steal your man for a dance? I think I’ve danced with every other man!”

Bill shrugged, “who am I to refuse the bride!” Sweeping down he kissed Naomi’s lips gently, then followed the bride onto the dance floor. Ironically, Sinatra with ‘Have you met Miss Jones’ started up, and Naomi wiggled an eyebrow ironically as he glanced back at her.

                “All alone?”

It took all of five seconds for Miles to sidle up and engage in conversation. Naomi took a deep breath before she looked up at him.

                “Not really, I’ve just loaned William to your sister for a few moments!”

                “Then it’s my duty to look after you! Dance?”

There was no way he’d take ‘no’ as an answer, and if she made a big deal out of this then he’d know that it bothered her, HE bothered her. So she nodded, and followed him to the centre of the room, purposely avoiding his outstretched hand. As she stepped into his arms, she saw Bill staring at her over the shoulder of Melody who was draped across his body, and he couldn’t hide the concern and the downright anger on his face.

Naomi wanted to chuckle at his protectiveness, but she didn’t want to give the wrong impression to Miles. His hands were burning where they touched her, one in the small of her back, the other gripping her left hand firmly. He held her too close, too tightly for comfort, and the smell of his expensive aftershave whilst subtle, overwhelmed her. She thought she was past swooning, that his overconfidence had made her dislike him more, but as she let him guide her around the dance floor, she could feel those old familiar sensations starting to rise.

Miles Langley was very broad, his body blocked out everything, so Naomi had to focus on the crisp whiteness of his shirt, and the feel of his arms around her. He was humming along to the song, his cheek touching the top of her head as he moved. It was all helping to create a sensual bubble, and she was losing the ability to fight it. She’d come here to prove a point, and she’d done that. She couldn’t blow it now by draping herself all over this man.

                “You’re a great dancer...” he offered, “you used to have two left feet!”

One Christmas he’d come to the school Ball, and as usual had singled her out, but she’d been so nervous that she’d literally fallen around the dance floor, spending more time with her feet on his toes than actually on the floor.

                “I was nervous then Miles, you made me nervous.” Glancing up she met his eyes, she wasn’t embarrassed about her childhood crush anymore.

                “I did?” he asked huskily.

She nodded, “you know you did. You flirted with me all the time; I wondered whether you did it deliberately?” At his faux innocent expression she almost laughed, “But I’m not nervous today, and William does SO like to dance that you get into it...you know?”

The mention of her ‘partner’ cut the mood like a knife, Miles had been pleasant, amorous almost in his ways, but like a dousing with cold water, his jaw tightened and his arms became stiff. The song ended and she stopped dead, stepping back from him with a gracious smile, just as Bill whirled past her linking fingers and taking him with her off the dance floor. A lucky escape.

Their favourite part of the hotel seemed to be the grand veranda, both needing the time to regroup out of the limelight.

                “That looked cosy,” Bill hated that he snapped, but seeing Miles so smarmy, so in control and all over Naomi. She was weakening, and she couldn’t do that.

                “He was trying it on Bill, and I sorted it. Ok? So relax.”

As a few more people burst out of the room to join them in the darkening night, he held her close, his chin on her forehead, “the guy is a complete bastard, I could so easily break his nose!”

Naomi chuckled, “Bill might think about that, but not Sir William Swift. Now relax, the night is almost over. We can be gone in not very long. OK?”

Back in the safety of their room, Naomi ached, from head to foot. Kicking off the shoes from hell, she dived in the bathroom, needing a shower. She scrubbed every inch of her skin, as well as washed her hair. Only then did she feel ready to turn off the jets. Sliding into her pyjamas, she was towel drying her hair when she emerged from the room. Bill stood there, waistcoat and shirt half undone, tie hanging around his neck, looking as exhausted as she had felt.

                “I’ll just shower...”

She’d loosely blow dried her hair when he emerged.

                “I’ll take the sofa...”

It was a chivalrous offer, but Naomi laughed. “Don’t be stupid! You look like I feel...exhausted, we’ve shared beds in the past...and despite what Miles said earlier, I don’t bite!”

She slipped under the duvet and patted the mattress next to her, then rolled on to her side looking away from him. She was asleep before he moved.

It was more vivid than a dream, Miles’ face had filled her head since she’d come to bed, that smell of sandalwood aftershave, even the powerful muscles of his neck. Now that she was away from him, she was very imaginative in her  memory of him up close, then it all upped a gear, heavy arms held her close, hungry lips devoured hers, delving to the soft flesh at the base of her throat, a firm tongue flicking out to lash at her earlobe. A thigh nudged between hers, and a hand lifted to cup her breast. It was so real, so exciting, her body throbbed with anticipation, and raising her hand she reached for the head of Miles, that thick short hair that she imagined felt like velvet. But as she encountered the head she found longer softer hair, and a head that wasn’t Miles. For a moment sleeping Naomi was happy to enjoy the kiss and the hands that excited her.

As teeth bit down on her lip and a rather impressive erection buried itself in the soft flesh of her thing, her eyes snapped open and she suddenly realised this wasn’t a dream. Sensing the change in mood, her assailant stopped too, but she could still feel the warmth of his breath on her cheek. She reached for the lamp, but didn’t want to turn it on, really didn’t want to know. But as she hit the switch, the light illuminated Bill, and he looked as shell shocked as she did.

                “Naomi! Sorry...I don’t know what happened...I was asleep then...”

She believed him, obviously they’d rolled into each other and nature had taken its primitive form. “I think we were just sleep kissing! Not something I’ve ever done before.” As Bill blushed she didn’t tell him that her dreams had been filled with images of Miles.

Switching off the light they both tried to resettle, but Naomi knew that she’d not find sleep again; instead she’d have the pleasure of lying awake all night and analysing just how she came to be passionately kissing her best friend.