Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

ZAYN

I had thought I had Marigold pretty much figured out. She was gorgeous, funny in a dry sort of way, and she was shy until she felt comfortable.

But a liar? That, I didn't see coming.

When she stood there, staring at me with wide, panicked eyes after blurting out that we were engaged, I couldn't help but find the whole situation amusing. A little twisted, maybe, but amusing nonetheless. I was more than happy to indulge her. After all, maybe some secret games with her would make this trip worthwhile.

I was always up for some shenanigans, and I'd already been missing Marigold, as unbelievable as that was. Pretending to be a couple gave me a great excuse to spend time with her—without having to admit I wasn't ready to let her go from my life.

The bridesmaids were all staring at us with their mouths hanging open, clearly shocked by the turn of events. I couldn't help but smile to myself. This was going to be fun.

I was all about fucking with people.

"Ladies, I just have to say, I am the luckiest man alive to be engaged to this beautiful woman." I gave her a little squeeze before I leaned in and brushed my lips against her neck in a way that made her shiver. "Doesn't she look stunning in this dress? It was made for her body."

Marigold's cheeks flushed, but she managed to keep her composure. I could tell she was nervous, convinced our little ruse was going to be exposed. The bridesmaids exchanged glances, clearly trying to process this sudden development.

"Oh my God, Marigold!" one of them squealed, finally snapping out of her shock. "You didn't tell us you were engaged!"

I chuckled, giving Marigold's waist a squeeze. "She didn't want to steal any of Elaine's thunder. We're here for her big day, after all. But I'm too proud to hide something like this. Isn't she amazing?"

I could feel Marigold's tension beside me, but she kept up the charade, laughing softly as she nodded. "Yeah, we were going to tell everyone after the ceremony, but, well, you know how things go."

"We didn't want to steal the spotlight from the bride and groom," I said.

The girls were practically melting, their previous skepticism evaporating as they fawned over the "happy couple." I made sure to play my part perfectly, bragging about Marigold's accomplishments, her beauty, and how she was the love of my life. I even threw in a few well-placed kisses on her cheek and neck, much to her growing discomfort. The more it seemed to annoy her, the more fun I was having.

"We should get over there," a statuesque blonde said.

Another one, who seemed to be trying to determine my shoe size, AKA my dick size, sneered. "Yes, we should. Elaine will be very interested to hear this news."

"I guess I have to let you go," I said with a sigh.

I released Marigold just enough to let her think she was free. But as she turned to leave, I couldn't resist giving her ass a good squeeze, followed by a playful slap that was loud enough for people to hear.

She spun around, gasping in surprise, her eyes wide and her lips parted as if she couldn't believe I had just done that.

I just winked at her, smirking. "Knock ‘em dead, baby."

For a moment, she seemed at a loss for words, her expression a mixture of shock and exasperation. But then she quickly composed herself, shooting me a look that promised retribution before she spun on her heel and walked away, her head held high.

I watched her go, appreciating the way she handled herself. There was something about Marigold that intrigued me—something more than just her beauty. She was a mystery I found myself wanting to unravel. I wanted to pull back every one of her layers, and playing along with her little game was a perfect chance to do it.

Once she was out of sight, I made my way up to the seaside garden where the ceremony would take place. The setting was beautiful, with a nice breeze coming in off the water and none of the bothersome sand sticking to my shoes. The white chairs were arranged in neat rows, and a long, shimmering white aisle had been laid down on the green grass. Pale pink flowers adorned the space, adding a touch of romance to the already dreamy atmosphere.

A harpist was playing soft, ethereal music that floated on the air, not loud enough to overpower the many conversations happening around the place.

I found a seat near the back, preferring to stay out of the way but still have a good view of the proceedings. I wasn't usually one for weddings, but this one, with its intimate setting and the promise of more interesting encounters with Marigold, was shaping up to be an exception.

When she said she was going to Mallorca for a wedding, it never occurred to me it would be the wedding I was attending. Once again, I had to believe this was fate intervening.

I settled in, watching people find their seats. It wasn't long before Carlos entered the garden with his mother, guiding her to her seat with a proud smile on his face. I watched him for a moment, seeing the pride and happiness on his face.

I had met Carlos in Mallorca years ago, back when I was in my early twenties and doing a lot of traveling. We had hit it off over a shared love of adventure and fine whiskey, keeping in touch sporadically over the years. When the wedding invitation had come, I had accepted on a whim, curious to see what had become of my old friend.

Plus, an excuse to spend a few days in a beautiful destination wasn't exactly a hardship.

At least, it hadn't been when I RSVP'd. That was before I knew shit was going to implode back home.

Carlos spotted me from across the garden and waved, a broad smile spreading across his face. I returned the wave, offering a nod of acknowledgment. Despite the years that had passed, Carlos looked much the same. A little older but still the same guy I remembered.

The ceremony began shortly after with the harpist doing her thing. I watched with mild interest until I saw Marigold step up to the end of the aisle as the first bridesmaid. All at once, my attention sharpened, my gaze locking onto her.

She looked incredible, her dress hugging her figure in all the right places. Her hair was styled elegantly, and the way she carried herself was both graceful and commanding. As she walked down the aisle, our eyes met. She gave me a radiant smile that seemed to light up the entire garden.

I smiled back, something inside me stirring at the sight of her. She was something else, this woman—someone who could make me feel both intrigued and challenged at the same time. I liked that.

And I loved that I could openly stare at her as she stood at the front, clutching the bouquet of flowers. It was the first time I was able to really stare at her. She was short. Damn near a foot shorter than I was. She had curves for days. Her ass was full and round, filling out that dress. My hands itched to squeeze it.

I couldn't help but compare her to the other women standing up there in the same dress. None of them looked nearly as good as she did.

And then her eyes were on me. That intense, penetrating gaze of hers held me in place, as if she was seeing straight into my soul. I held her stare, a smoldering smile on my lips. A silent challenge passed between us, lingering in the air.

I let her know what I was thinking about, dropping my eyes to her chest before looking back at her. Even from my seat at the back of the crowd, I could see the flush spreading over her chest and cheeks.

She quickly looked away, but I knew I made her wet. She was standing up there thinking about me between her legs.

That was very satisfying.

The ceremony proceeded, but my attention stayed with Marigold. Her every subtle move, the way her fingers twiddled with the stem of her bouquet, the soft curve of her lips as she smiled at the exchanging of vows. I soaked up every detail like a man starved.

The whole setup was all very nice, but I barely noticed. It was a picture-perfect moment, the kind you see in movies and glossy wedding magazines. But despite the beauty of the scene, my mind kept drifting back to Marigold, to the game we were playing, and what might come next.

When the ceremony ended and the bridal party began to exit, I hung back, waiting until Marigold had passed before making my way toward the reception area. I wanted to get my hands on her again.

As I moved through the crowd, one of the bridesmaids—Courtney, if I remembered correctly—paused in front of me, her expression curious and a little suspicious. She was the one I could tell made Marigold the most uncomfortable.

"Did you really propose to her?" she asked, her voice filled with disbelief and disdain.

"I'm sorry?" I asked, playing dumb.

"You know who she is, right?"

I didn't like the way she asked that question, as if Marigold wasn't good enough, or like I didn't know what I was doing. It rubbed me the wrong way. I wasn't going to give her the time of day and I sure as hell wasn't going to acknowledge her stupid question. Without a second thought, I lifted my hands and made a shooing motion, like I was dismissing an annoying child.

"Go away," I said, my tone flat.

Her eyes widened in shock before she scoffed, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment and anger. She picked up the hem of her dress and stomped off, leaving me standing there, a satisfied smirk on my face.

I watched her go, then shook my head with amusement. Some people just didn't know when to mind their own business. I wasn't about to let anyone ruin the fun I was having with Marigold. This game was between us, and I intended to see it through to the end, whatever that might be.

As the crowd began to disperse, I made my way toward the beach, where the bridal party was gathering for photos. I wasn't particularly interested in being part of the pictures, but I knew Marigold would be there, and I wasn't quite ready to let her out of my sight just yet.

We had just gotten engaged, after all.

I found a spot a little distance away, leaning against a palm tree as I watched the group pose for various shots. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm, golden glow over the scene. It was picturesque, with the waves gently lapping at the shore and the sky painted in shades of orange and pink. I was pretty sure the wedding and the pictures had all been timed to happen at sunset. If I was going to have a wedding with pictures that would be hung on my wall for the rest of my life, I'd want them to look just like this.

Marigold looked a little uncomfortable, fidgeting with her dress. She kept pulling it up, trying to cover her amazing tits. I could see she was self-conscious and I wanted to go down there and tell her she was gorgeous.

Hell, she was the prettiest one in the group.

As the photographer called for them all to move to a new location, I caught Marigold's eye. She glanced at me, a silent question in her gaze. I responded with a slight nod, indicating that I would wait for her.

I wasn't going anywhere until I could taste her again.