Chapter 19

Sylvain

V ince really had no clue where emotions and relationships were concerned. Anyone else might have been upset by his words, but I knew this was all new for him.

"Any time you have questions, just ask," I said as we ate the burger and chips we'd ordered from room service.

The afternoon tea had been delicious, but the finger sandwiches and tiny cakes hadn't been enough to stave off my hunger.

"Are you looking forward to tomorrow?" I asked with my mouth full. Vince, however, only poked at the burger and crumbled the bread.

"Yes, and no. It helped to see them earlier, and I'll admit I felt slightly smug when they saw you."

"I can understand what you saw in him. He's a good-looking guy, but his fiancé? I'm not a fan, I'm afraid. He looked far too false, too glib. Do you think he uses fake tan?"

"I know for a fact he does. Theo told me. At least I have a man with a natural tan."

"That you do, and I'm your man now, am I? Now I stole your virginity."

"I pretty much handed it to you."

"Do you regret that?" Did he think I'd coerced him?

"Why would I regret it?"

He stroked a hand down my cheek and placed a tender kiss on my lips.

"I know my mind, Sylvain. I may be as timid as a mouse, but I'm not a pushover. If I didn't want to do it, I would have stopped you."

Thank god. The last thing I wanted was for him to think I'd taken advantage.

"Have you finished?" I pointed to his plate, still full of French fries.

"Yeah, I'm done."

"You hardly touched it."

"Don't look so worried. We had tea earlier, and I'm still a bit full. I've lost quite a few pounds already, but I'm not where I want to be yet. And I don't want to gain them back, especially now I have someone to impress."

"I loved you as you were."

He opened and closed his mouth, but no words came out. What had I just said? Oh. Oh .

"I meant…"

"No, no takebacks. You said you loved me."

I swallowed hard. It was way too soon for that.

"Oh my god, you're so easy to wind up." He laughed loudly, clapping. "Your face was a picture. Of course you don't love me. We hardly know each other."

"You had me going for a moment. But seeing how we hardly know each other, why don't you tell me more about yourself? I know what you do for your job, but other than that…"

"Not much to tell. My dad lives with my younger stepbrother on the other side of the country. My mum is in a nursing home. She has dementia and doesn't even know who I am anymore."

"That must be hard for you." I felt his pain. My maman was still alive, but my grandmother had suffered from dementia as well until her untimely death.

"It is, but I'm used to it now. She thinks I'm her brother, and for the sake of a peaceful visit, I go along with the charade. Other than that, there's not much to tell. You know all about Lexi and Theo and my job. Oh, and my birthday is in September. The fourteenth, to be exact."

"No way! My birthday is on the twentieth."

"You're kidding. That's why we get on so well, both Virgos."

"We should have a joint party. My forty-eighth your twenty-ninth?"

"Yep. There's twenty-one years between us." His face paled.

"Twenty years is nothing. Are you worried about it?" I stroked his jaw.

"Not if you're not."

"I don't care how many years separate us. I'm more bothered about whether we get on, and we do. I've seen you at your worst, and it still didn't put me off."

"Hey, I only got drunk once."

"Twice, Vince. Remember the vineyard?"

He punched me in the arm. "Well, you didn't have Raphael trying to get you drunk. And just what did happen between you two?"

"That is a story for another time, but it's getting late, and we should get some sleep before the big day tomorrow."

"You're avoiding the subject."

"Nope, not me." I was definitely avoiding the subject. The sore subject of Raphael.

Vince seemed more relaxed after our time together earlier. The anticipation of being in the same bed had weighed heavily on him. I'd seen it in his face and the furtive looks he'd shot at the bed when we first arrived.

I'd enjoyed every minute I'd spent with him, kissing him, stroking him, and finally coaxing an orgasm from him, which hadn't been that difficult.

We'd both been eager, and I intended to take much more care and attention next time.

And there would be a next time.

I put the plates on a tray outside the door and walked into the bathroom for a much-needed pee and brush of my teeth.

Vince stood there, obviously having the same idea as me.

"I'm sorry. I'll come back."

"I think we're past that, don't you think?" He washed his hands and picked up his toothbrush. "Unless you want me to leave?"

I unzipped my shorts and relieved myself. I'd licked the guy's dick, for fuck's sake, and if he didn't mind, neither did I.

Once done, we returned to the bedroom and stripped off. I pulled back the covers.

"Don't you wear pyjamas?"

"Not a stitch. What about you?"

He waved a pair of shorts and a T-shirt at me. "I usually wear these."

"Not tonight, you don't. I want your naked flesh against mine. Once you experience that, you'll never look back." He blushed but dropped the clothes to the floor.

He was gorgeous. He had shed a few pounds, but not too many, and that made me happy. I didn't want him to lose weight because he thought I wanted him to. If he needed to do it, it was for him. Never for me.

I slipped beneath the covers and lay on my side, stretching my arm to him.

"Join me." My cock twitched again. Damn thing had a mind of its own these days, and as much as I'd have loved to carry on from earlier, Vince looked tired, dark circles still haunting his eyes.

He slid in next to me and turned to face me.

"Thank you for coming with me this weekend. I don't think I'd have come if it wasn't for you. You've made what could have been an awkward situation more bearable."

"No matter what happens tomorrow, I'll support you, but you've got this, petite souris."

He smiled. The name fit him well.

"I like you calling me that, makes me feel all snuggly inside. I've never had a nickname."

"It's not a nickname. It's a pet name. There's a difference."

"I should think of one for you."

"I think we should go to sleep. Now, come here." I opened my arms, and he settled against me with his back to me.

Not going to say we fit perfectly, but we fit perfectly, and as the sound of his breathing changed, I gave myself over to sleep.

The following morning, rain pelted the windows, leaving the room dark and cold. Vince was still sleeping. He'd shifted in his sleep and now lay on his stomach, his face turned away from me.

I trailed a finger down his spine, watching as goosebumps rose on his skin.

So responsive.

I lingered at his crack, circling it. I so wanted to dip my finger lower, but I'd never do it without his permission. He'd experienced sex for the first time yesterday. This would be too much too soon. He didn't seem the type to rush. After all, he'd waited twenty-eight years.

I went to the bathroom, then made some coffee. The clock said eight, giving us plenty of time to shower and dress before the wedding at noon.

He looked peaceful, the dark circles paler than they'd been last night.

I wanted today to be special for him, a day to remember not only as the day his friend—for that was what he was—got married but also a day when he could introduce me as his boyfriend.

And I intended to play my part like a pro. To love on him all day until everyone knew he was taken, that he was mine.

He brought out a protective streak in me. The urge to look after him and protect him from people who might hurt him was powerful.

He murmured and rolled onto his side, allowing me to let my eyes roam over the rest of him.

I drank him in. His lush nipples stark against his pale skin, the light covering of chest hair, almost blond despite him having darker hair. His pubes, untrimmed but still having a neatness about them, and last of all his cock, now soft, the head resting on the sheet.

He wasn't exactly small, and I'd struggled to take us both in hand yesterday, but I wanted him to experience what it was like to be stroked by another.

Mmm, what could we get up to next?

With the coffee now brewed, I woke him gently.

"Vince, I have coffee. If we're to have breakfast, we need to get up and make a move. It'll be time before you know it."

"Five more minutes, please. I'm so tired."

"I take it you're not a morning person." I laughed as he pushed me away. "Five more minutes, but then you have to get up."

I peered out the window, cup in hand. The rain didn't look like it was stopping anytime soon. As they were getting married inside, it didn't matter, but it would have been nice to have some pictures in the garden.

What would Vince be wearing? Hopefully, we wouldn't clash. I had a navy blue suit with a white shirt and no tie, preferring to keep it classy.

Ten minutes passed, and still he was lazing in bed.

"Vince, time to get up. I'm hungry."

"You're always hungry," he mumbled into his pillow. "Why is it still dark?"

"It's raining, and it's almost nine."

"Urgh. I hate mornings."

"I've got coffee. Now sit up."

He scrambled out of bed and trudged to the bathroom, his eyes half-closed.

When he returned, I handed him his coffee. "Sit and drink."

I led him to the chaise longue and sat next to him, both of us still naked.

"Do you want to shower before or after breakfast?"

"After."

I took that as my cue to dress and waited another ten minutes for Vince to come round, drink his coffee, and throw on some clothes.

His hair was an adorable mess, and was that Batman on his shirt?

We made it down before nine thirty. The two grooms were sitting off to the side, both of them frowning and not looking at each other. Lexi and Robin sat at a table with a few others, eating in silence.

Some wedding this was going to be.

"Why is everyone so miserable?"

"Because it's early?"

"It's a wedding day. People should rejoice, celebrate the day."

We chose a table for two, and no sooner had we sat than Lexi strode over, her face as stormy and dark as the weather.

"What's up, Lex?"

"Glen is threatening to cancel the wedding because he wants it outside, and the sun isn't shining."

"What? You are kidding me." Vince was wide awake now.

"Nope, and now Theo is all upset. He doesn't care where they get married as long as they do."

"I did wonder why they looked so upset with each other," I said.

"So what's going to happen?"

"The hotel is arranging for a marquee, but it's cutting it fine. Putting it up will take an age. If those lovebirds don't decide soon, Robin and I are going home. No point hanging around."

Vince glanced over at his friend, a worried expression on his face.

"He'll be okay. His fiancé wouldn't really do that, would he?"

"He's an arse. I wouldn't put it past him. No way to start a marriage, though, is it?"

I had to agree, but just then, a glimmer of sunshine entered the room. Both grooms perked up.

"I told you I could get us a miracle." Glen took Theo's hand, now smiling brightly.

Lexi and Vince shared a look, then burst out laughing. I joined in. God, the audacity of the man.

"Guess the wedding is back on. Breakfast it is."

Lexi returned to her table, and we ordered breakfast—a full English for me, while Vince elected to go for some cereal with fruit, and some toast.

I would never understand why people chose to eat cereal. It never seemed like a proper meal.

But if it meant he ate something, I was happy.

"Ok, folks." Glen stood in the middle of the room. "The wedding will be on the terrace at noon. Make sure you're not late. Theo and I can't wait to tie the knot and for you to join us."

"You're right," I said to Vince after they'd left the room.

"About what?"

"He is a twat."