purple and white flowers decorating the seating area for the ceremony. There would be a brief, traditional reception afterwards then most of the crowd was headed to the Velvet Fist. Looking at all the immaculately bejeweled and coifed women and the stylish men Wyatt tried to imagine who would be going and if they were a Top or a bottom.
Michelle wore a pale ice blue gown that fell to her ankles and was beaded in geometric designs on the top half while the bottom flared out, making it look like she was floating when she walked. Her hair had been swept up into a sophisticated twist accented with diamond pins and a diamond necklace sparkled against her throat like ice. When she’d casually looked through the selection of jewelry that she’d brought with her for the party Wyatt couldn’t help but feel ashamed that he wasn’t the one who’d bought it for her. Not that he could afford it even if he liquidated all of his assets, but he couldn’t help but feel like a failure for not being as financially successful as everyone in this room.
They’d already been greeted at the door by a group of Michelle, James, and Yuki’s old friends and were now making their way to their seats for the ceremony. As they walked through the crowd Wyatt found himself being introduced again and again to an almost endless list of people he had no hope in hell of keeping straight. James helped, naturally easing Wyatt into the conversation while Yuki, dressed in a black silk sheath gown, charmed everyone enough that they didn’t seem to notice Michelle’s lack of participation in the conversation.
But he noticed.
Everyone was cordial to Wyatt and seemed genuinely happy that Michelle had brought him as her date. The only one unhappy with the situation seemed to be Michelle. She hid it well, if he didn’t know her he’d think her radiant smile was genuine, but he could feel the strain slowly building up in her and he worried about her. When one of her friends casually mentioned Owen in passing she’d frozen up next to Wyatt. A soft, whispered moan of pain escaped her before she nodded along with the conversation, but he could practically hear the mask of perfection that she fortified herself with cracking.
He could feel her distancing herself from him, but had no idea how to stop it. This wasn’t the place for one of their volatile conversations and he didn’t want to do anything that would stress her out further. Just the fact that she’d brought him here said more about her commitment to their relationship than a thousand words so he tried to honor her trust in him by giving her subtle touches, little glancing caresses meant to warm her from the inside out. By the time they’d taken their seats Wyatt was seriously considering dragging Michelle out of the room. Her pulse was racing hard enough that he could see it throbbing along the side of her elegant throat, and whenever he’d tried to hold her hand, it felt as if she was attempting to touch him as little as possible.
Yuki leaned across James to speak to Michelle, “Hey, are you sure you want to go to the reception?”
Michelle’s response was instant and venomous. “Yes, I’m sure. Don’t worry, I won’t embarrass you.”
Yuki’s eyes got big. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Before Michelle could respond the music for the wedding began to fill the atrium and Michelle locked her eyes on the flower-festooned arch where the bride and groom would stand. The ceremony itself was brief but moving, and the obvious love between the couple getting married had more than one woman grabbing for a tissue. Michelle was no different as the couple read their vows to each other, but when Wyatt tried to hold her hand she jerked hers away. He could practically feel the cold radiating off of her and though he tried to not take it personally, her standoffishness still hurt.
Once the official ceremony was over Michelle left him with some muttered words about needing to use the
Michelle wore a pale ice blue gown that fell to her ankles and was beaded in geometric designs on the top half while the bottom flared out, making it look like she was floating when she walked. Her hair had been swept up into a sophisticated twist accented with diamond pins and a diamond necklace sparkled against her throat like ice. When she’d casually looked through the selection of jewelry that she’d brought with her for the party Wyatt couldn’t help but feel ashamed that he wasn’t the one who’d bought it for her. Not that he could afford it even if he liquidated all of his assets, but he couldn’t help but feel like a failure for not being as financially successful as everyone in this room.
They’d already been greeted at the door by a group of Michelle, James, and Yuki’s old friends and were now making their way to their seats for the ceremony. As they walked through the crowd Wyatt found himself being introduced again and again to an almost endless list of people he had no hope in hell of keeping straight. James helped, naturally easing Wyatt into the conversation while Yuki, dressed in a black silk sheath gown, charmed everyone enough that they didn’t seem to notice Michelle’s lack of participation in the conversation.
But he noticed.
Everyone was cordial to Wyatt and seemed genuinely happy that Michelle had brought him as her date. The only one unhappy with the situation seemed to be Michelle. She hid it well, if he didn’t know her he’d think her radiant smile was genuine, but he could feel the strain slowly building up in her and he worried about her. When one of her friends casually mentioned Owen in passing she’d frozen up next to Wyatt. A soft, whispered moan of pain escaped her before she nodded along with the conversation, but he could practically hear the mask of perfection that she fortified herself with cracking.
He could feel her distancing herself from him, but had no idea how to stop it. This wasn’t the place for one of their volatile conversations and he didn’t want to do anything that would stress her out further. Just the fact that she’d brought him here said more about her commitment to their relationship than a thousand words so he tried to honor her trust in him by giving her subtle touches, little glancing caresses meant to warm her from the inside out. By the time they’d taken their seats Wyatt was seriously considering dragging Michelle out of the room. Her pulse was racing hard enough that he could see it throbbing along the side of her elegant throat, and whenever he’d tried to hold her hand, it felt as if she was attempting to touch him as little as possible.
Yuki leaned across James to speak to Michelle, “Hey, are you sure you want to go to the reception?”
Michelle’s response was instant and venomous. “Yes, I’m sure. Don’t worry, I won’t embarrass you.”
Yuki’s eyes got big. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Before Michelle could respond the music for the wedding began to fill the atrium and Michelle locked her eyes on the flower-festooned arch where the bride and groom would stand. The ceremony itself was brief but moving, and the obvious love between the couple getting married had more than one woman grabbing for a tissue. Michelle was no different as the couple read their vows to each other, but when Wyatt tried to hold her hand she jerked hers away. He could practically feel the cold radiating off of her and though he tried to not take it personally, her standoffishness still hurt.
Once the official ceremony was over Michelle left him with some muttered words about needing to use the
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