Vivienne wanted to say something to him but before she could, he rose, preparing to leave. She watched his retreating back with a deep and contemplating look in her eyes. His back overlapped with her memory from ten years when he walked away from her after rejecting her confession so coldly. She still couldn't snap out of the fact that he actually apologized to her for his rude behavior. She couldn't believe this turn of events.
Seeing him walk over to stand beside the groom, only then did Vivienne realize that he seemed to be the best man. That answered her question as to why he was at this wedding.
She picked up her phone from her lap and unlocked the screen. She opened the chat with Aurora and wanted to tell her what just transpired just to remind herself that it wasn't a dream and it actually happened. But she held herself back at the last moment and locked the phone again.
At the appointed hour, the bride made her grand entrance with the live orchestra playing in the background. The last she saw Angelina, they were both 17 and full of an exuberant and whimsical vibe of teenage girls. But now at 27, things were different. Now, the teenage girl who always had a jubilant energy coursing through her looked like a mature woman in her wedding gown as she walked on the path towards a new journey of her life.
Vivienne noticed how Angelina's gown trailed behind her like a cascade of ivory silk. She walked down the aisle arm in arm with her father, a vision of beauty and grace against the backdrop of the vineyard. Vivienne thought the scenery was beautiful but it paled before the bride today. Not because Angelina wore a beautiful gown or had the perfect make-up, not like that was not it but there was something that looked better than everything else.
It was the big smile on Angelina's face, the love and anticipation in her eyes as she looked at her groom waiting for her at the end of the aisle. For a moment, Vivienne felt a little envious of this old friend. But it was just a little envy and nothing else. Not because Angelina was about to marry the man she loved, it was more so because Vivienne could tell that the groom loved her too.
Someone once said to her, you can't fall in love all alone. So, it's a blessing when that love is reciprocated because only then it can be called complete.
And she, Vivienne Pearl was someone who had an incomplete love with a man who just minutes ago apologized to her for breaking her heart and her teenage dream. Did it make her feel better though? Not even a little.
As the bride reached the groom, waiting beneath the arbor with a look of awe and adoration, a hush fell over the crowd. The officiant, whom Vivienne didn't know, began the ceremony with his velvety voice, weaving together heartfelt words of love and commitment.
In the distance, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, rosy glow over the vineyard. As vows and rings were exchanged the air was filled with the sense of magic and possibilities. With a kiss that sealed their union, the newlyweds faced the guests, their smiles radiant and their hearts full.
Slowly, the fairy lights incorporated into the decoration lit up, making the atmosphere seem even more magical. Vivienne was smiling to herself as she watched it. She stood up to walk towards the newlyweds.
As Vivienne approached, Angelina's eyes caught her figure and her eyes lit up in surprise as she rushed over to meet her, "Vivi, you're here!" She hugged Vivienne tightly making the latter feel rather pressured by her enthusiasm but Vivienne still hugged her back.
"You invited me, how could I not come?" asked Vivienne. "Congratulations!"
"Thank you!" replied Angelina as she beamed. "You have no idea how much it means to me that you really came. I was taking my chances and didn't know you'd really show up. And where is Aurora?"
"She got a last-minute work call," told Vivienne.
Angelina's smile dimmed a little, "And I did not expect her to not show up either. I knew from the beginning that only one of you would be coming but I didn't think that one would be you."
"Quite the surprise, then?"
"Indeed!" Angelina glanced at Vivienne before adding, "But I'm still happy that you are the one who came. I can see Aurora all the time. It's you who is difficult to get a hold of."
"That sounds like a complaint," Vivienne pointed out.
"Then you should be taking note of this complaint."
Vivienne smiled at her and a feeling of relaxation washed over her. She wasn't as uneasy as earlier. She definitely didn't think Angelina would greet her the same way as she did in the past. It was as if the distance of ten years didn't exist between them and they were just seeing each other like any normal friend. Vivienne was thankful for this though.
Angelina chattered non-stop making it difficult for Vivienne to keep up with her hyper energy but she was still a very attentive listener and chipped in whenever she was needed to do so. Soon, Angelina was called by the groom to meet other guests so she said goodbye to Vivienne.
"You don't disappear again. I still have a lot to talk to you. Stay here until I'm back from my honeymoon. Have fun!" She threw a flying kiss her way before going to join her groom.
Vivienne chuckled at her and felt the pain of her newlywed husband who'd have to deal with this ball of energy. And her energy never ran out. At least, Vivienne had never seen it before.
Vivienne walked around to get a drink for herself and between the crisp Chardonnay and robust Cabernet Sauvignon, she obviously chose the latter. Nothing against the Chardonnay except that she was a red wine person rather than a white wine person.
The deep, garnet liquid danced gracefully in the glass, Vivienne inhaled deeply, allowing the rich bouquet to envelop her senses. Notes of blackcurrant, cherry, and subtle hints of vanilla teased her nostrils. She felt her mood getting better with just the scent and as she took the first sip, her taste buds were greeted by the velvety texture. The wine's full-bodied richness enveloped her tongue, leaving a trail of complex flavors that unfolded with each passing moment.
"Is it that delicious?"
The voice came from behind her, startling her to the point of choking. She coughed until her eyes were washed with a sheen of tears. As she looked up with a look of accusation at Noah, the latter was left speechless staring into the radiance of that pair of eyes before him.
Noah stood with the groom like the competent best man who was forced into the role. And it was true that he was forced into it. The groom, Liam Parker was his maternal cousin. Seeing his distracted look, Liam couldn't resist probing, "What's on your mind?" "Nothing." Liam didn't believe his words even for a minute. "Are you upset about the venue?" "Why would I be?" countered Noah. Liam wanted to tell him that it was an accident that his secret wedding planning diary was seen by his then-fianceé, Angelina when they were planning their wedding. And she just loved the idea of having a wedding like that. That's how they ended up here. Even though he had asked Noah beforehand, Liam still knew it would be quite uncomfortable for Noah to even be here much less, playing the role of his best man. Seeing his expression, Noah patted his shoulder and said, "Liam, you should be more worried about how you are gonna handle your hyperactive wife. Stop looking at me with such pitiful eyes. I am
"What are you sorry for?" Noah laughed at her reaction. He couldn't comprehend why she was looking like she had done something wrong. "It's just a breakup," he told her. "It's not that serious." Vivienne's expression didn't change much even when she couldn't obviously see how hard he was trying to lighten the mood. He seemed to not know that she was the girl who had an unrequited love towards him. And unrequited love is often etched on your very bones and becomes a part of your soul. You begin to read the object of that unrequited love closely in silence. Vivienne did that too. Therefore, she could see he wasn't as fine with this breakup as he was trying to appear right now. "If it wasn't that serious, you wouldn't be drowning your sorrow in alcohol right now," she responded. Noah's hand paused as he glanced at the glass of whiskey he was holding and glanced at her, "How about I show you around? There is a beautiful place in the back of the estate where you can really enjoy your
"You better not regret this tomorrow," whispered Vivienne against Noah's lips. Noah chuckled huskily in response and replied, "I won't. Who would regret kissing a beautiful woman? They had to be a fool. And I certainly ain't one."Vivienne smiled and bit his lips making him grunt, Noah's eyes darkened at her action before he claimed her lips once again. His other hand tugged her hair gently, angling her head for better access to her luscious lips that he seemed to be craving more than whiskey at this moment.He was slowly losing his sanity, not understanding whether it was because of the whiskey he consumed or because of the intoxicating taste of wine on her lips. Which ever one it was, he was willing to lose himself into it, indulge in this moment.Vivienne groaned softly at the sudden but uncontrollable sensation that she felt in the pit of her stomach which was so unfamiliar to her. It was like she was having her first kiss. She felt like a novice being led by his rhythm. Her hand
Noah's heart pounded erratically as he gazed at her under the dim lights. Her eyes were closed, and her lips, slightly parted and swollen from his kisses, made her look irresistibly alluring. He was kissing her passionately throwing all the thoughts behind him. His well-defined hands roamed around her body and she did the same to him. Noah actually felt himself shivering a little because of her soft fingers. His hand slipped back down to her sensitive areas and started massaging it. He stood up at the foot of the bed and began unbuckling his pants slowly and seductively. His gaze was still locked with hers. He gently eased his briefs off of him.He watched as her eyes moved from his eyes downwards and settled on his manhood that was proudly on display right before her eyes. She slowly licked her swollen and red lips making the temperature rise around them and making no effort to hide her desires. But in the end, Vivienne still looked away from his proud manhood with a tinge of shynes
Because of her tightness, Noah had to be extra patient and it also took an extra effort as his face sweated but his eyes were still full of desire. He showered her with butterfly kisses and whispered sweet nothings. With much patience and effort, he managed to settle inside her core but didn't instantly start moving. He first let her get used to his length and girth. He didn't rush the process even once giving her enough time to be ready. Buried deep inside her warm cave, Noah actually felt a sense of satisfaction as he couldn't help saying, "Baby, you feel so good."Vivienne had already gotten used to his inexplicable words during this time so, she didn't bother saying anything. Instead, she moved her hips against him, inviting him to move and stop enjoying the slow process that was killing her. With a grunt, Noah began to move inside of her slowly at first and then after a couple more pushes as Vivienne began to feel more comfortable with his member inside of her core, her moans we
The soft glow of the dawn filtered through the curtain, casting a gentle light in the room. Noah woke up and slowly, his senses came alive, and he became aware of the warmth and softness pressed against his chest. Vivienne was nestled in his arms, her head resting on his chest, her silky chestnut hair cascading over them both. He could feel her steady breath against his skin, each exhale, a whisper of comfort and intimacy.Noah wondered if he had been celibate for too long for him to yearn for this serene comfort and intimacy. His heart beat erratically as he gazed down at her peaceful sleeping face. Her elegantly arched eyebrows relaxed, and her long, curly eyelashes cast shadows beneath her eyes, accentuating her pert nose and full lips. He almost etched every single detail of her facial features into his mind with his intense gaze as if he were looking at her for the first time. As memories of last night flooded his mind, he felt like this might not be their first meeting but it h
Noah seemed to even remember the hurtful look in Vivienne's eyes at that moment. The air around them was cool and fresh, filled with the earthy scent of the forest and the faint sweetness of blooming wildflowers. But all his attention was on the way she looked at him. His words were like sharp knives that pierced through her heart, stabbing at her sincere and innocent feelings towards him.'There is really no need to continue,' Vivienne's voice was barely a whisper but in the silence around them, Noah was able to hear it clearly. She looked into his blue eyes and said, 'Don't worry. I won't pester you. You won't hear about my feelings for you ever again. I know we can't go back to the way we were after this confession but I also hope that you won't hold this against me. I really just wanted to tell you about my feelings at this place.' She gestured to the fireflies and the lake, she had spent the past two days looking for this perfect place in the camping site. She thought that even if
After closing the glass door of the room, Vivienne gave a last look to Noah's sleeping figure before decisively turning her head around to leave. She was glad that Noah's bedroom had this separate way out which allowed her to escape without having to find her way out of this mansion. But she still didn't dare wear her heels just yet. Only after going down the stairs did she wear her heels and sighed in relief.The cool morning air brushed against her skin as she made her way down the gravel path towards the road. The sky was the canvas of pink and orange hues, the world still quiet and untouched by the day's hustle. She walked briskly, her mind racing with thoughts of the night before and complicated feelings that now entangled her heart. Suddenly, she felt water droplets falling and raised her head to see if it was raining. That's when she came across a woman who held a water hose and apologized, "Sorry, I didn't see you there."Vivienne wiped the water droplets from her face and sho