Fatal Attraction (Dark Desires 4)

“No, I want everyone to wait a little longer. Especially Landon. I need him to know that I’m worth it.”

This is why she should have had bridesmaids. Then they could be dealing with all this crap instead of me. Annabelle refused to have any other girls in the ceremony because she needs to make sure that no one detracts attention from her. It’s ridiculous and now utterly pissing me off. Mom, Mary, and me all share a look, but what can we do? Once Annabelle has her mind set to something there’s nothing to change her mind.

“Okay, do you know what? Screw it!” Annabelle jumps up and she sways her dress around her heels. I have to admit, it does look really good on her. It hugs her curves well and makes her raven colored hair look even more dramatic. The lace detailing around her breasts looks far more virginal than she actually is. “Let’s get on with it. I’m not getting any attention sitting around here, am I? Plus, all the champagne is gone. I need some more.”

I cannot believe that she’s drunk a whole bottle this early in the morning, right before she gets married. Tonight, is going to be an utter nightmare. She’s going to be wasted and causing trouble for the reception. I just hope this Landon really knows what he’s getting himself into. I need to be on call so Auntie Mary doesn’t cry.

“Okay, come on then.” I move behind her and indicate towards the door. “Let’s get going, shall we?”

This hotel is ridiculous. I don’t even want to know what it cost. It’s off the scale luxurious. It’s lovely, I can see what other people see in having all this kind of money, but it isn’t for me. I’m much happier being comfortable. I know my place in the world and I’m quite comfortable with it, thank you very much.

“We’ll go inside first,” I whisper to Annabelle. “Then I’ll indicate for them to start, okay?”

I examine her face for a moment, just searching for a glimmer of the version of her that I was one friends with. I guess I’m hunting for a second of doubt, something that I can leap on to help her with, but there’s nothing. Annabelle is determined, brash, and ready for the day. She actually looks excited. Maybe she’s the one who’s right and I’m wrong. Maybe because I haven’t ever been in love, I don’t know how it can happen. I suppose everyone has their own unique love story and I shouldn’t be the one to judge. Not until I know.

I step inside the room with my mother and auntie and I wave an arm to let the vicar know that it’s time to begin. The music bursts to life, everyone hushes, and a sense of anticipation fills the room. Everyone turns to look at the back of the room to wait for Annabelle and her grand entrance… just as she wants. I’m the only person who’s staring forwards looking at the groom. I met him once before, but I don’t know him, and I want to.

His face does light up as he sees my cousin coming into the room. He looks like the typical man about to marry the love of his life, but there’s still something about the whole thing that feels a little off to me. That might just be my pre judgement. It isn’t my role to make up my mind anyway, I just need to be there for Annabelle.

She glides down the aisle, living out her fantasy as the most beautiful woman in the room. Gasps burst out around the room, people are really admiring her. That’s good. Anything to keep her happy makes my life easier. As Annabelle gets to the front and she turns to look at her future husband, she truly looks happy. I let myself relax just a little bit. Maybe this will all be okay after all, maybe we should just back off.

“We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of Landon Verstraete? and Annabelle Owen…”

I sit back and listen to the words, making the active choice to enjoy myself instead of worrying. If Annabelle is going to freak out later on, then I’ll deal with it then. Instead, I scan my eyes around the rest of the wedding party, wondering about Landon and his family. Weirdly, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of people who look like family members here. It seems to be all friends on his side of the room. All guys at a similar age to him. I wonder why that is. I suppose his family could live somewhere else, but it seems weird that they wouldn’t be here. This guy clearly has enough money to do whatever he wants. He could fly them from a different country if he wanted.

Maybe there’s more to it. Maybe he doesn’t speak to them. Since our family is so close knit it does seem weird, but I suppose every family is different. Again, I’m making judgements about something I don’t understand.

We get to the part where the bride and groom speak out their vows, and I have to admit they are sweet. They mix some of the traditional in with their own words and it’s nice. There aren’t many dry eyes left in the room. Maybe, as shocking as it’ll be, this is the first right choice that Annabelle makes. Mom seems to sense the same thing as she squeezes my hand tight. Maybe I’m going to end up with a new problem, people asking me about when I intend to get married. I might only be twenty four years of age, but because I haven’t had a serious relationship it seems to be strange. No one will accept that I just haven’t found the right man.

Once upon a time I thought I had. I had a childhood sweetheart named Luke who I assumed was my forever and always. I naively believed that I was going to be one of those people who only ever had to be with one man my whole life. I thought I had it all. That is… until we slept together. Since we got together very young it took us a while. I wasn’t going to give my virginity away easily. I wanted to be certain that I was ready. And I really thought I was. We had a wonderfully romantic night that resulted in us having sex. It wasn’t like one of those horror stories where it turned out to be a painful nightmare, it was wonderful and I fell in love. Even more so.

But then the next day, he turned on me. I wasn’t even sure what happened, he started treating me like shit and making jokes about me being a massive slut. School became hell, everyone was talking about me. It was awful. My self-confidence chipped away bit by bit and I don’t think I would ever get it back.

I’m better now, I’m much happier and confident in myself, but there hasn’t been anyone serious since. I’ve had flings, but no one has truly gotten under my skin. There hasn’t been anyone who I’ve really liked. I guess I’m hunting for the spark, that moment where it feels like the whole world has stopped and it’s just me and him. Maybe that’s dumb, a fantasy derived from movies and books, but I think I deserve special. I want that for myself.

I’m not too worried about it. I don’t know why I need to have a man right away, but I’ll definitely be fielding questions tonight. Urgh, this is going to be a nightmare. Maybe I should find a way to slip away early…

“I can now pronounce you husband and wife. Landon Verstraete? and Annabelle Owen. You may now kiss the bride.”

Everyone cheers and whoops, the wedding part has come to an end. Now, it’s time to see what the reception holds. There’s one thing that’s for sure… it’s going to be an interesting one.

Chapter Two – Will

“So, I’ve known this bastard my whole life, and he’s always been a crazy fucker.” As I pat my hands on Landon’s shoulders, I wonder if that’s too many curse words in one sentence. Landon won’t care, but I don’t know the bride’s family at all. Maybe I should tone it down a bit so I don’t offend. “When I heard that he was getting married, I was shocked. I didn’t think he ever would. I mean, this is the man who left the country for a month to escape a one night stand one time.” Yep, there’s a lot of laughter, but only from one side. “I didn’t think he would ever want to commit. But there’s something about Annabelle that’s gotten to him. She must be his one.”

A murmuring breaks out from among the crowd. While everyone talks I glance down at my best friend, who’s grinning wildly at me, but his bride not so much. She’s glaring at me as if I’m the devil. Shit, I must have offended. I guess it’s time to tone down the anecdotes and cut this short. I don’t know Annabelle well, but I’ve seen her wasted before and it’s never a pretty sight. She’s wild. But maybe that’s what Landon likes about her. Maybe he likes to be kept on his toes, maybe he enjoys th

e insanity that comes with never really knowing where he stands. That isn’t really for me, but I suppose as a police officer that’s my life at work. I don’t need that when I come home as well. If I ever do meet someone, I want it to be someone who love comes easily with.

“So, when Landon asked me to be his best man, of course I said yes right away. We met in school when we were about five years old. I was on my own, sitting in the playground, and he came over to me and demanded that I be his friend and work in his shop for him. I jumped at the chance because no one else wanted to play with me. What I didn’t know then was that this was the start of a very successful business empire… one that he still wants me to work for.” Everyone laughs again. Landon gwafs the loudest. He never really asks that, I’m kidding.

“There’s no way I want a cop working for me, you’d be a nightmare!” he calls out. “Can you imagine? Health and safety are bad enough without you crawling up my ass all the time, driving me nuts.”

I’m about to retort back and start some banter between us, but before I can, something catches my eye. Or more… someone. A very beautiful red head in the crowd. She has soft pale skin, sparkling blue eyes, and a captivating smile. She’s gorgeous. Not as overtly sexy as the women I usually like but still… she’s awesome.

Normally, depending on my mood, I want a platinum blonde fake woman with large round tits and dresses to show all. Or sometimes I prefer a crazy tattooed brunette who I can have a wild time with. Never someone with a soft natural beauty because they’re the women who want more. I’m only twenty seven years old, I don’t want to settle down yet. All this marriage stuff might be okay for Landon, but not me. Not yet. I have a stressful, time consuming job, I don’t have the time for a relationship. And more than that, I like playing the field. I like the sex without the annoyance of actually having a girlfriend. I can’t always tell someone where I am and what I’m doing, I can’t always commit to dates, I’m not one who can be the man any woman needs in a relationship. I’m married to the freaking job, I’m always on call and that isn’t going to change any time soon. Especially not with the case that I currently have at hand. Right now, and for the last year or so, I’ve been consumed by it. Sex helps me to blow off steam. Having to talk afterwards won’t do me any good. I never want to discuss what I do.

But, I suppose weddings have different rules. They tend to bring something out in women and none of them want to go home alone. They’re all looking for someone to get their sexual frustrations out with and I’m more than happy to be that person to help them along with that. Especially this chick, she’s foxy.