Page 34 of Win You Over

Holden

T he wedding is every bit as romantic and beautiful as you would expect. Set right on the seafront, with a backdrop of turquoise and blues, and surrounded by wildflowers and native vegetation, the hotel hosting the nuptials is spectacular.

We’ve reached the speeches and dinner part of the wedding, and Remington is at the microphone, cracking up the whole crowd as he talks about his sister. He ends with a heartwarming message to her and Rupert before he returns to the table, sitting next to me with his hand on my knee.

After dinner and speeches are over, the lights are dimmed and Nadine and Rupert take to the dancefloor for their first dance. Other couples, including Charlene and Curtis, join them when the DJ opens the floor to other guests.

“Dance with me?” Remington asks, his hand drawing circles on my knee under the table.

My pulse speeds up as I look at the amount of people on the dance floor. I’ve had this ball of anxiety in my chest since we arrived. Not made any better by the questions that have flown my way by people I have never met before.

Thankfully, Remi has swayed the attention away from me every time, his usual charm coming into full effect.

And then there is Chad. Chad who touches Remi every chance he gets. A pat on the back, a hand on his arm, a shoulder bumping against Remington’s as he smirks at me.

Now, Remi is looking at me with a questioning gaze, his head tipped towards the crowd. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Chad watching us, a beer in hand, while the other rests on his hip.

I nod, reach out for Remi’s hand and let him guide me to the dance floor.

By the time we reach the middle of the crowd, the romantic ballad of the first dance song has changed to a popular upbeat tune.

Remington places his hands on my hips, and I wrap mine around his shoulders.

We sway in place, and I chuckle when Remi throws his head back and belts out the chorus.

When the song moves onto something slower, something I don't recognise, I rest my head onhisshoulder, breathing in the scent of his citrus and sweat scented skin.

“Be my boyfriend,” he says on a breath, and I pull back to look into his eyes.

They’re darker than usual thanks to the dim lighting, but they sparkle nonetheless.

“I never asked you for real,” Remington continues.

“I only asked you to fake it with me. So, I’m asking you now. Don’t fake it with me anymore.”

My mouth is dry, my voice hidden in the loud, overwhelming environment.

So I answer him the way I’ve come to love – with a kiss. My lips press to his, my hands running over his back, one coming to rest on the nape of his neck and he mirrors my movement, deepening the kiss with a hand tangled in my hair.

He holds me to him and I hold him to me and we cease to exist in a world with other people, creating this world where it’s only the two of us.

We stay on the dance floor, locked together as the DJ moves from romantic slow beats to old school classics that have everyone up and out of their seats.

By the time we head back to our table, my skin is sweat slicked and my cock is half hard. Remington falls into conversation with one of Rupert’s friends, and I use the moment to head to the bathroom.

The space is small, yet elegant, with two stalls and a wide marble counter with deep set basins. I’m throwing water on my face and dabbing it dry when Chad walks in, catching my eye in the mirror.

He leans against the wall, legs crossed at the ankles.

“Finn filled me in on your little bet with our Rem,” he says, his words slurring. “You’re good.” He points a finger at me. “Have everyone believing you’re actually into each other.”

He taps his nose, stepping closer. My hands find the edge of the basin and I cling to the marble, my heart trying valiantly to break through my ribcage.

“But I know better.”

He’s so close now, I can smell the staleness of his breath.

My hand flits to my pocket on autopilot, before I remember it’s empty.

It’s the first time in days I’ve had the urge to reach for it, not having needed it when I’m with Remi.

It made me wonder if I ever needed it at all or if I just needed to find someone who helped me feel safe.

Now, though, I have neither, and as Chad leans closer to me, I’m filled with cold fear.

“I don’t see what my buddy Finn’s complaining about.

I think you’re really pretty,” he says. My mind tries to focus on the connection between Chad and Finn but I’m too distracted by the way his hand is now touching my arm.

“If you’re done with this charade with Remi, I’m willing to show you things he never could.

Boy may be popular, but he’s a little boring under that charm. ”

My stomach sours, the chicken I ate earlier threatening to make an appearance.

The door opens, my name on Remi’s lips as he walks in. His eyes dart towards where Chad is towering over me. Chad steps back and wipes his lips, a sickening smile pasted on his face.

He chuckles. “Don’t be jealous, Rem. We all know this isn’t real. You can’t blame your friend here for wanting a taste of me.”

My mouth opens and I shake my head. Remi’s eyes narrow as he looks from me to Chad. I want to explain that nothing happened. But I don’t get a chance before Remi’s fist connects with the other guy’s face.

“Stay away from my boyfriend,” he spits as Chad stumbles backwards, holding his nose.

Remi steps forward and pulls me to him.

“You’re shaking, baby,” he says, holding me tighter. “Come on, let’s go home.”

The ride back is quiet. I sit close to Remi’s side, looking out at the darkness through the window. Because of me, because I was too weak to tell Chad to fuck off, Remi has had to leave his sister’s wedding early.

I want to tell him I’m sorry, but my body is still shaking and my chest is tight, a panic attack floating on the edges of my vision. It wasn’t even that big of a deal, but my body disagrees, its freeze response on high alert.

When we arrive back at the villa, Remington leads me into the house and up the stairs. He doesn’t say anything as he undresses, lifts the covers and climbs into bed.

I watch him, my feet restless on the carpeted floor as I war between climbing in with him and hiding in the bathroom until I feel less embarrassed.

Remi makes the decision for me when he flips the blankets on my side and taps the mattress.

Wordlessly, I remove my shirt then slide in next to him, leaving a wide space between us.

His arm finds my waist, and he hauls me closer, my back to his chest and his lips against my neck. His other arm sneaks under my shoulder and my body relaxes, letting out a deep breath I hadn’t realised I was holding.

“I’m sorry about Chad. The guy’s a douche.”

I kiss the hand closest to my face.

“I couldn’t wait to get you home,” he says, nuzzling his nose against my skin. “Just to hold you like this.” His hand draws circles over my stomach, the act causing my muscles to contract.

He’s silent for ages, his breath deepening until I am sure he’s asleep.

Glancing behind me, I see his eyes closed, his mouth parted in a gentle breath.

He’s so gorgeous. When he’s awake, he’s pure sunshine and when he’s asleep he’s warm, beguiling moonlight.

I turn back around and press my face to the pillow, closing my eyes and letting his hold on me calm every part of my fractious soul, until I’m drifting off to sleep.

The scent of the forest permeates the air – its cloying, rotting smell hitting my nostrils and making my stomach roll. I’m alone here, walking in what feels like circles. Light tries to force its way through the trees, but they’re holding it back, blocking its path.

There’s laughter in the distance, and someone yells ‘run’.

I don’t know if it’s an instruction or a warning, but my body tries to move faster.

I can’t. My feet are tethered to the ground, long vines holding me down.

A boy appears in front of me, and as he takes two steps closer, he warps into a man.

I think I recognise him. There’s this feeling of familiarity inside of me that I try to grasp.

“Beg, loser,” he commands, his tone mocking. “Beg and I won’t hurt you.”

I turn, but like the trees blocking the sun, my path is blocked by a group of faceless people. I fall when I try to run; the vines creeping around my wrists. My mouth parts on a silent scream and I thrash my body on the unforgiving ground.

“Holden! ” Someone calls my name. “Baby.”

My eyes shoot open, my heart racing so fast I fear I might pass out.

“Breathe for me, Holden.”

I blink, pushing away the nightmare, my eyes adjusting to the room, shrouded in moonlight.

Remington is in front of me. With one hand, he opens my palm and twines our fingers together. Then, his other hand grips tightly to my hip. Pulling me out of the past.

“You with me, leeutjie ?” he asks, his voice soft and laced with concern.

I nod, propelling myself forward and clambering into his lap. I need this. I need him. Holding me, touching me, showing me I’m safe. I need everything Remington Langford has to offer.

My lips trace a line up his neck to his ear, making him shiver. I bite down on the soft skin of his earlobe and Remi groans, his hands moving to my sides, his fingers pressing painfully into me.

“Holden,” he moans when I manoeuvre myself so I have a leg on either side of him and my cock is flush with his naked stomach behind the thin fabric of my shorts.

“Want you,” I whisper, grinding myself against him, my fingernails scratching into the skin at his back.

He’s hard beneath me, his cock resting in the groove of my ass.

“What do you need, baby?”

Remington’s grip moves to the back of my neck, his hand lacing beneath the long strands, pulling until my head tips back and our eyes meet. His are dark, his pupils swallowed up by the lust burning within them.

“I want to know what you feel like.” I gulp then add, “Inside me.”