Bride of Convenience

Chapter 20

After dinner that night they travelled back to his house where she was spending the nights in one of the spare rooms so they could get straight into wedding plans the next day.

“Do you think he will be faithful to her now?” She asked. Harrison looked over at her and studied her face.

“I think James has a problem with infidelity that he will never overcome, nor does he want to.” They were talking about the hostesses of the party tonight. Apparently, James had been flirting right in front of Sarah with one of those models that had been all over Harrison. “He claims he gets carried away with the passion. He has been caught in worse situations. Once he was caught with a guest in one of the spare rooms, by Sarah herself.”

“I can’t believe he would use that as an excuse. Carried away with the passion. How can you not remember where you are? Honestly.” Harrison was stirred.

“You’ve never been caught up in the heat of the moment and forgot where you were or what you were meant to be doing?”

“I actually have some self-control!” Intrigued. Harrison was not about to drop this conversation.

“I don’t think it’s about self-control. I think it’s about excitement and letting your self-go. I know there have been times I forgot where I was. Haven't you felt that way before? Not even with Adrian?” They arrived at the house and continued the conversation inside on the couch by the fire. Harrison lit the fire, and when he looked at her he could tell she was uncomfortable with chatting so freely about their s*x lives, but he was refusing to let it go. “So tell me, Julia, Adrian didn’t ever put you in a place where you forgot where you were.” She shifted uncomfortably.

“No, never.”

“Maybe he didn’t know how. What about before Adrian?”

“There was no one before Adrian. He… he was my….first.” Harrison was gobsmacked she had let her virginity go to this guy, and he had used her and then dumped her that must have been tough. He walked to the kitchen and opened a bottle of wine and came back and handed her a glass. She seemed to loosen up with a couple of drinks.

“O.K, you never forgot where you were, but I’m sure you experienced a good amount of passion. What about when you were in public and started kissing did you ever think you could throw caution to the wind and find a quiet little place and just do it.” He was getting really involved with this conversation, and he didn’t want it to end. He felt himself becoming turned on thinking of having Julia on his desk at work and showing her how to lose control.

“No. Look, how do I say this…..”She was stuttering with her words, but he was sure it had nothing to do with the wine and everything to do with the conversation. “It’s just ……” She took a gulp of her wine. “I’m just not that good at it. Ok. I’ve said it. I’m not experienced. I don’t lose myself, and I probably don’t enjoy it that much. You may think I’m insane, but that’s just how I feel. I really just don’t see what all the fuss is over. You probably think I’m a prude or something.” Harrison didn’t think she was a prude, he got what that had meant. She had never had an orgasm. He has imagined plenty of times what their wedding night will hold and now he was a hell of a lot more excited at the prospect.

“Maybe you haven’t had the right partner?” He could tell he had her thinking about it, she must be wondering what would s*x be like with Him?

“Adrian thought I was the problem actually. So maybe another partner isn’t the answer.” Harrison couldn’t believe his ears how could anyone look at her and think she was the problem. “A couple of times when he couldn’t, you know. Get hard.” She blushed. “He said it was because I was so inexperienced and he was used to women with more experience and who were a lot better at it. God, I can’t believe I’m telling you this.” She hid her face in her hands and gave a little scream. She continued talking through her hands. “I’ve never discussed this with anyone.” He gently removed her hands from her face. He was sure to be soft, gently but also firm, so she believed him.

“Sounds to me Adrian was the problem.” Harrison couldn’t imagine anyone is not able to get hard around Julia he was having an experience with it right now. She moved him and other parts of him like no other woman had. She smiled at him and changed the subject.

“Ok, now tell me about you. Brothers, sisters? Friends? What is the real Harrison like behind closed doors.” He was already picturing her behind closed doors, and that was distracting him. “I’m an only child.” Did he still believe that? Why would Aunt Sally believe her? Aunt Sally must have been delirious towards the end to think that he would let her give those shares to that fraud. Her of all people! Ok if he was absolutely honest, some of what she said made sense and there was a possibility that she really was his sister but even so how could he hand her the controlling shares of his company. He had no idea how she would run it or if she would just sell it for the money. He wasn’t about to let that happen. That was his very first company, and he wasn’t going to let some long-lost sister walk in and claim it all. He wondered about that she came to him before Aunt Sally died and he figured she would come out again and claim the shares. Maybe she was waiting to see if the marriage worked or not and then she would come out of the woodworks and contest the will if I got the shares. He turned his attention back to Julia, and she was staring at him. He needed this to work so he wouldn’t lose those shares. “You know about my parents, only child. Behind closed doors what am I like, hmm, well you will find out soon enough. Friends Paul is just the best friend a guy could have. He is there for me when I need him and I for him. I have acquaintances but no real great friends beyond Paul and Stacey of course. I also consider Kate, a great friend.” He thought about Paul and Stacey. “Stacey’s is perfect for him. They fit so well together. I introduced them you know? I remember at one stage thinking afterwards it was a mistake that I would lose Paul because they were living in each other's pockets but I never did Stacey was happy to include me and the three of us became very tight. Other than that there is not much to know about me.” He actually believed that was the most open he had been with any person he was seeing. Sadly the end of the night came, and they made plans to meet the following night for another cooking lesson.

“Good Morning, sleepy head. Hope you slept well.” No, she hadn’t slept well at all! She had not stopped thinking about their conversation last night. It kept running through her head ‘sounds to me Adrian was the problem’. Would he prove that to her on their wedding night? What if Harrison had the same problem? What if he couldn’t do it? Although she couldn’t share the reason with Harrison, she had tossed and turned all night because she was picturing the two of them in bed together.

“Yeah, it was good.” She looked at him he was in a pair of board shorts and his hair was wet. She found it so difficult to take her eyes away from his muscular chest. “Have you been for a swim?” She watched as a droplet of water travelling down his chest to the top of his board shorts. She wanted to retrace its path with her finger. She gave an involuntary shake as she thought of doing that to him.

“Yes, a quick one, I love it when the waters cold it makes my thoughts clearer. A bit of extra clarity is great.” She wondered if he would take a shower now or hang out a little longer with his chest exposed like that. She felt her cheeks redden, she was feeling a little flustered.

“So what are our plans for today?” She asked.

“Wedding plans. We can go and check out a couple of venues, there are a couple of caterers that have some samples for us to try. Are you up for it?” She was up for anything if it meant spending more time with him.

She was exhausted she never knew how much was involved in organising a wedding, they had tried many wedding cakes, white mud cake, chocolate mud cake, caramel and chocolate mud cake, cupcake cakes and the traditional fruitcake. Throughout the day Harrison would tell her the two best but always made sure she understood she would make the final decision after all a wedding is all about the bride. Then they looked at ten different venues and each venue had six menus to choose from. The song list was the hardest, you had to have a particular song for everything you did at the wedding - the dance, the cutting of the cake, while you ate, while everyone danced, when you entered, when you left and then the songs to follow after you went for everyone to keep on dancing. “Tonight we make Veal in white wine sauce, one of my favourites.” He stated as she flopped onto the couch, just like it was her own home. She let out a very light moan. She was too tired to think let alone make food. “Really? I’m too tired how about I lay on the couch like a sloth, and you bring me the well-made meal? Actually, that sounds like a great plan!” She opened her eyes and looked up into his blue eyes, she felt like she was swimming in a beautiful blue ocean. He grabbed her hand. “Come on lazy bones, I thought women loved shopping. Surely you can’t be tired?”

“I’m not like most women.”

“You got that right!” She wondered if that was meant as a compliment or not as she followed him to the kitchen. He started getting the ingredients ready, and she got a bottle of wine from the fridge and poured their glasses. She was comfortable with how everything was going, preparations for the wedding were pretty much on track. She grabbed her recipe book and listened as he told her how to prepare the veal. She jotted down instructions hoping that one day she would make this meal as quickly as he was right now. They chatted about everything as they created this fantastic meal.

“Well, it’s not like I’ve had serious relationships, except Katrina of course.” They were talking about ex-girlfriends and past history. However even know she had asked she hated the fact that Katrina had been an exception to the normal, Julia was too, but it was because of the contract she was an exception and nothing more.

“Katrina and I didn’t come here often we were usually jet-setting around her modelling, me doing business and we usually met in hotel rooms. She did come here once though, it wasn’t long after that, that she broke it off with me. I guess she thought it was getting a little too serious.” She wondered if he could tell every time he mentions her name that she stiffened. She was still a threat. Yes, he had chosen her over Katrina but only so he could get his hands on the shares. Julia just couldn’t help feeling that she wanted him to pick her, for her. She wanted to win, she wanted to be his choice over Katrina. She was stirring the sauce with such vigour, he approached her from behind placed his hand over the spoon and slowed her stirring.

“It says stir gently. You looked like you were going to start a war with it.” She couldn’t find the words to respond he had his arms around her, his groin pressed up against her buttocks, his strong arms were covering hers and his mouth very close to her ears as he spoke. He held her hand in his as he brought the spoon to his lips to taste the sauce.

“Perfection!” He looked into her eyes and smiled. Her body was on fire, that smile was irresistible “you have the kindest eyes I have ever seen.” He said. She felt like she had been hit by a truck. Where had that come from? He was lost in her eyes right now.

“Thank you.” Was all she could think of.

“No, I really mean it. It’s like this overwhelming feeling. If I was a child and having a nightmare, just looking in your eyes would make it all ok.” She breathed in sharply. He leaned toward her, intensely staring at her eyes. She felt like he was about to kiss her a beautiful, passionate kiss but there were no media here just him and her. He gently placed his fingers through her hair. He rested his warm palm on her neck, gently ever so gently he pulled her to him. His lips found hers and brushed each other lightly and then his mouth was possessing her mouth. Their tongues found each other and frolicked together. She felt her self-moisten for him. Her hands pressed against his chest, not to stop him but to feel that incredible, powerful body under his shirt. The heat was generating from his chest just for her. She could feel his heart beating faster, her own heart was out of control. Oh, how she wanted to take him, right now on the kitchen bench. His hand ran down her spine, and she pressed herself harder against him. Her breast felt tight against his body her n*****s hardened she slipped her hand under his shirt. The touch of her hand on his skin was like an electrical storm exciting and dangerous all at the same time. Their kiss deepened, he slid his other hand that was resting on her hip slowly towards her breast and cupped it. Her body was screaming out for his and then as quickly as it had begun it was over. He pulled back studying her eyes then he smiled again.

“Sorry, I just had an urge to find out what that was like without cameras around.” He then turned and started to organise the serving of their dinner. She couldn’t believe it she was ready to take him to bed and he wanted to eat! Her whole body was still responding to him. It took all her control to sit there and eat the meal without jumping the table and having her way with him. It was moments like these when she couldn’t wait for their wedding night. Why had he stopped, didn’t he feel that she wanted more? Maybe he was just playing, and she didn’t affect him, as he did her.

“So I shared with you, I like your eyes” they were now sitting on the couch after stacking the dishwasher and chatting again. Julia loved their conversations sometimes about everything and sometimes about nothing. “What do you like about me?” He smiled at her again. She returned his smile staring at him trying to think of one thing she could say without revealing her true feelings. Julia loved everything about him because she loved him.

“Surely it’s not that hard to think of just one thing.” He said slightly nervous. She laughed.

“I like your arms.” His face was confused.

“My arms?” He questioned.

“Yes, don’t look at me like that.” She lent towards him and ran a finger down his muscly arm. “Lot’s of women are into men’s arms. There’s a lot more to just an arm than you think you know. See here” She put her finger back towards the top and circled her finger around the muscles in his shoulder. “This is the strength, this shows how strong you are.” She lowered to just above his elbow “This is where she grabs on, to tell you something important or to hold on to when you cuddle from behind.” She lowered her finger to the bottom to his forearm. “This is the part that protects her. When she is enwrapped in those arms, she is safe and protected.” She moved her light touch towards his hands “and these magnificent strong hands, well that’s a whole other story.” She giggled and looked up, he looked like a deer caught in headlights. “Did I say something wrong?” He shook his head as if to come back to reality.

“No, I just never knew an arm could say so much about a person. There was a lot of thought put into that, how often do you think about my arms.” He was teasing her again now.

“Oh, every night. I dream about them always.” They laughed together.

“So is that your final answer, my arms. Anything else you dream about me?”

“Your butt’s kinda cute.” She enjoyed this teasing game they were playing.

“Kinda cute? Only Kinda?”

“Well I don’t want to reveal too much you know, you only liked my eyes.”