This is the revised version of Attraction

We held hands on the way to the car, our fingers laced together in a false promise. The act needed to keep going as long as the officiant remained in our midst, but I knew that everything would change the second we shut the doors around us. Reality had a way of crashing down on you the moment you least wanted it to.

I closed my eyes for a brief moment, urging myself to step up and drop the dramatic act. Tom hadn't done anything wrong, and I had to make sure that we stayed away from the uncomfortable zone.

One tiny step at a time was my new motto.

I also had to find a way back to my real self. This trembling bride bullshit was not healthy. Besides, it was a done deal. The blasts of bad conscience that had hit me for days were useless at this point.

Chris opened for us, giving me a reassuring smile. Perhaps he knew what was going on in my mind and wanted to comfort me, or perhaps he was smug that he got to open the door for Tom. He had told me about their ongoing battle that started when Chris traveled with them in Europe last summer. Since Tom was their chauffeur, it was Tom's duty to open doors, but Chris seemed to dislike the idea of polite gestures of that nature.

The leather seats were scorching hot. "Shade, Chris. Next time, you park the car in the shade." Chris chuckled while I tried to avoid a second-degree burn. "Not funny, sweet cheeks."

"Foul. You're not supposed to use that nickname," Chris replied, getting ready to close the car door for me.

"Well you've been my best man now, so..."

He rolled his eyes in response, clearly not too happy with the realization that his bargaining chip had vanished over the last hour.

Tom entered on the other side of the car, taking a seat next to me, not saying a word about the heat. He appeared as cool and collected as always. Not fair.

I scooted closer, determined to find my way back to the good old banter. "First time Chris drives you, hubby. I'd use a seat belt."

Tom snorted but did as I said. He gave me that arched eyebrow again, not saying a word. The other shoe dropped with a clatter. Damn. My kindly administered seat belt warning meant I had to scoot back to my spot instead of sitting close.

Chris adjusted the rear-view mirror. "Back to the hotel then, lovebirds."

"Watch it, sweet cheeks," Tom said.

I burst into laughter. It bubbled up from deep within, spluttering and spitting with warmth. Unable to rein it in, I grasped the seat in front of me to keep me steady. Where had that come from? Unattractive tears slipped from the corner of my eye.

"Oh sweet Jesus, I knew you were funny," I managed to say when my laughter calmed.

"Don't call him Jesus. You'll give him a God complex," Chris said, revving the engine.

I caught Tom letting out a brief chuckle, but nothing beat the smile. He fucking smiled! The urge to kiss him was overwhelming. It came with an ache that stretched from my groin all the way to my throat.

Closing my eyes, I leaned back, begging my shallow breath to sink deeper. I needed air, and I needed it now.

Chris tuned in a radio station, filling the stifling silence with disco beats. He tapped his hands on the steering wheel and moved his head to the music. If I hadn't already realized what a great guy he was, I would have then. Chris knew how to avoid the awkward—he knew how to settle chaos. I bet that was the reason why Dante loved him so much. Dante had a lot of chaos to deal with on a daily basis, that much was evident.

The drive back the hotel felt shorter for some reason, perhaps because I had dreaded the wedding ceremony. With that out of the way, and up-tempo music rocking my limbs, I coped better. Tension still coiled around and within me, but it was easier to forget about its existence. I could even pretend to forget that I had a brand new husband.

When the car stopped outside the picturesque, countryside hotel, Lara, Dante, Cameron and Adam were already waiting at the entrance. Adam raised his camera and snapped pictures as we got out. In a moment of clarity, I grabbed Tom's hand and tipped my head.

"For the cameras," I whispered before stealing another kiss, thinking that it was a good thing that we had two photographers with us. It was supposed to be a light peck, but breaking the touch became next to impossible. His lips were pliant against mine, so damn tempting. I wanted to nibble and search deeper, but a slight pressure around my hand urged me to back off.

Tingles traveled from my lips all the way to my toes. I blinked and caught sight of his warm, brown eyes. A soft sigh escaped me. He wasn't angry, at least. I could even imagine a faint trace of a smile touching one corner of his mouth.

"You've got great lips, hot stuff," I whispered.

His eyes widened, and I believe he was about to reply when Lara interrupted. "They're serving champagne in the garden, and I definitely need a drink after this." She turned on her heels and sashayed away, her stilettos clicking on the stones. She carried herself with a kind of determination that I longed to feel again.

I squared my shoulders. Confidence made everyone look their best, and it was about time I remembered that.

Neatly arranged white roses lined the pathway to the garden. It was difficult to imagine that anyone in our group had asked for flowers, making me wonder if they hosted another wedding reception. It wasn't until Adam winked at me that I realized that they'd left me in the dark. They had asked for flowers and whatnot, and all of a sudden, my knees became wobbly all over again.

Adam bumped my shoulder. "You okay?"

"I'm awesome." I gestured at the garden. "This is fabulous." The lie was white enough to compete with the linen cloth covering the small table. The surface supported a silver bucket filled with ice, two bottles of champagne and plenty of strawberries. Lara was already busy filling the crystal glasses.

"Are you sure?" Adam probed, looking far more worried that I wished him to be.

"Yes, I'm sure." I gave his cheek a peck and went to stand next to my husband. It was all so very natural. Completely commonplace. It was as if I'd had a husband my entire life. Not.

This time, I didn't dare to take his hand, instead, I grasped around the delicate glass of champagne. "Thank you, Lara."

She smiled and gave another glass to Tom. "Tom, it's your wedding day. Let's enjoy it."

"As long as we cut the speeches," Tom replied.

She huffed and turned to face everyone. "Since one of our grooms banned us from making speeches, I'll just say that I wish you good luck." She nailed us with a stare that turned from stern to soft. "Don't close your eyes, ears or hearts, and perhaps you'll remember this as a happy day in the future."

Everyone toasted, but while the others sipped their drinks, Tom and I guzzled ours. It was a hot day. Hot and steamy. Maybe.

Dante appeared with the champagne bottle, filling our glasses until the foam arched on top. He had barely moved on when my glass was empty again.

When he frowned, I gave him a grin. "It slipped out."

Tom chuckled, sending a ripple of satisfaction through my chest. I think that was the first time we had smiled toward one another. Unguarded. Genuine. It was perfect on so many levels. Dreamy and dangerous.

Dante filled my glass again, and I watched as the bubbles danced around in gyres. When he was done, the moment of precious connection between me and Tom had passed. He listened in on a conversation between Lara, Adam and Cameron, standing with that natural poise that stole my attention even when he didn't ask for it. I could almost feel the pull, an invisible field around his body that called me closer.

A gleam from the golden ring on his finger made me think of fool's gold. He was a treasure, but I wasn't sure he would ever be mine.

I backed away and joined Dante and Chris. They were playing around with the strawberries, feeding each other with enough sexual tension to make me snort.

"This is my wedding, you know. Mine. You're not allowed to have sex until we've disappeared into the honeymoon suite."

Chris jaw slacked as I had known it would. He was predictable like that. Dante, on the other hand, seemed unperturbed.

"How was the kiss?" Dante asked.

I snatched a strawberry and sucked it half-way into my mouth before biting off a small piece. It tasted of summer. "What do you think?"

Dante lifted one corner of his mouth. "Let me guess. Lush?"

"Lush doesn't cover it." I slurped up the rest of the champagne. "He'll be the perfect hubby. Just gotta domesticate a bit."

Chris spat his drink across the emerald green lawn. His boyfriend handed him a linen napkin while I tried to imprint the scene in my memory. Chris shook his head. "Joachim, you're..."

I felt a shiver scurrying down my spine before he was finished. Frowning, I began to look over my shoulder, but I didn't get far.

"He's what?" Tom's voice settled like a heavy blanket around me, all warm and cuddly. "You know, Chris, he's my husband now. I might decide to defend him."

The air itself became silent. The world broke, turning mute in a second. It was appalling, or it would have been if not for the tiny fact that Tom acknowledged me as his husband.

His presence behind me begged me to turn around and throw my arms around his neck, but I was too stunned to move.

"Will you, now?" Chris asked eventually. The words shattered my stupor.

"If he defends me, my husband will earn another kiss." Playing with my confidence, I backed into Tom and wrapped his arms around my waist. He was solid and warm, a perfect guard against any evil. To my great satisfaction he didn't stiffen at our touch which worked wonders on my bravery.

Maybe I would have the guts to flirt enough to grant me a wedding night.

I tilted my head and looked back and up at Tom behind me. "Adam is ready with the camera." I was bluffing but hoped he wouldn't care.

"I thought I would have to earn another kiss."

My heart beat a mile a minute. Tease. He was a tease. I never would have thought. I smiled with my entire face. "Maybe you'll earn it later."

The rules of teasing were a lot like the game of tag. You run away with a triumphant grin only to get caught. But then, it's almost as rewarding to be the one to lead the chase.

We would have fun tonight, I was sure.

A/N A picture by Emotionalproblemz15 <3 Thank you!