They had already welcomed most of the expected guests so Chloe could work out who the stragglers were from the list provided by Emily. The clipboard was a welcome distraction from his sea blue eyes and that broad, sculpted chest.
"You are..... Lachlan? Cameron's cousin and Usher? Room 14 second floor, up the left at the top of the stairs"
"Yes! Not really sure what an Usher is meant to do though. Ush?" The Viking extended a hand like a bear's paw and almost crushed Chloe with his greeting, "Maybe you can brief me on my responsibilities? You seem in the know." There was a distinct glint in his eyes, those beautiful blue eyes that wouldn't stop looking at her and that she seemed unable to look away from.
"Later then? For my debrief?" and he kissed her on the cheek. Not a friendly air kiss but... what exactly? Definitely a kiss. More of a kiss than she had had from the ex in weeks. She could feel the moisture of his lips on her crimson cheek after he walked away.
James gave her a questioning look when he returned. "Everything OK? You seem a bit flushed and flustered?" She tried to banish thoughts of the Viking. Would he wear a kilt tomorrow? It looked like he was carrying a kilt bag. She tried to gather her thoughts while images of a Viking in a kilt kept interrupting her calm until she was saved by Emily announcing that it was time to help with the preparation for the Rehearsal. The next few hours were a blur of activity that Chloe threw herself into. Better to be busy, and to be Emily's indispensable bridesmaid, than to try and process any of the events of the last 24 hours.
Chapter 3: Last Kisses and Farewells
"Finally! A bit of time to ourselves! What a day! "Emily kicked off her satin pumps and threw herself down on the huge double bed of the castle's bridal suite.
The room was larger than Chloe's London flat, so huge that the vast four poster bed, draped with white chiffon, looked in proportion. Through the large casement windows on three sides Chloe could see a scrape of violet in the evening sky and the faraway mountains in silhouette.
Chloe slipped her heels off and joined her on the bed sitting cross legged on Emily's bed like she had done a thousand times before. Emily's eyes were closed and Chloe thought she might have been honest when she told the female half of the bridal party downstairs she needed an early night before the big day tomorrow, casually asking Chloe to help carry her things to the bridal suite.
The male half of the wedding party, James included, had indeed decamped to the pub in the village while the female half took over the castle with a decidedly uncivilised night of white wine and rude jokes from aunties who should really know better. The boys were beginning to drift back to the castle, more or less in descending age order but Chloe could hear the girl's night was still in full swing, regardless of the departure of the guest of honour.
Before she let her friend sleep she took one long look at her. She was so beautiful in her vintage ivory silk slip dress that Chloe's breath caught in her throat, even after all these years. Two inches taller and with a juicier bum and bigger breasts, Emily was everything teenage Chloe wanted to be.
Chloe had tried to dislike her when they first met but Emily's affection was inexhaustible and Chloe was as powerless to resist her then as now. Her long hair fanned out on the crisp pillow framing her pretty heart shaped face and delicate features. Her skin always had a rosy glow, so different from Chloe's pale skin. She loved the look of them together; Emily's golden hair and honeyed skin against Chloe's dark elflocks and deathly pale skin, Aurora and Snow. They had always said that one Halloween they would go out dressed as their Princesses. But they never had. Now they never would.
Their intimacy had started in teenage bedrooms squirming together as they shared fantasies of their school crushes. As they relaxed around each they began to play together, first discretely then openly side by side. One day Emily asked to hold her hand while they came together. But it was Chloe that insisted they look into each other's eyes as they played. And it was Chloe that kissed her as their bodies shook. And at their next study session it was Chloe who suggested they swap hands. They gave their virginity to each other one long August evening before sixth form and the threads of their lives were wrapped together ever since.
So it was with love and joy tinged with regret she gazed at her beautiful friend asleep on the eve of her wedding.
Emily's blue eyes snapped open and she grinned. "You didn't really think I was going to fall asleep on you! Catnap over, now tell me
everything
you couldn't tell me in public."
******
"Best way to get over one guy is to get under another. So, who do you have your eye on? What about James? You two seemed to get on very well earlier, like you'd known each other for years. I approve, you know. He might be more than just a fuck too, he's a good man, and definitely got that silver fox, DILF energy. Single too, and on good terms with his ex-wife I believe. That's a lot of serious boxes being ticked. Don't even need to house train him or anything, he comes pre trained." She winked.
"Oh God no. He's a lot of fun and maybe could become a wonderful friend but he's my Dad's age and I absolutely humiliated myself last night. So badly I genuinely don't want to talk about it other than he had to bail me out then I had a total meltdown on him. He must think I'm a clichéd overly emotional millennial who can't function in the real world. No, I have some pride Em."
It's wasn't a lie a such, just a partial truth and she didn't know what she felt for James yet, if indeed it was anything other than a need for human contact when she was at her lowest point.
"So, how about little cousin Lachlan then. Or should I say not so little? I saw you looking with your tongue hanging out."
"Me? You mean the Viking? Mmmm maybe. He's definitely got something. But I suspect I may have competition. I can imagine every single girl here will want to be Stripping the Willow with him tomorrow night. Maybe a few of the boys too."
"Well good news for you is there aren't that many single ladies here. You've pretty much got a clear run. And he IS single."
"What about the gorgeous little thing with the long dark hair? I think I was upstairs with your sister when she arrived so didn't properly meet her. She's disgustingly beautiful and I see no ring or sign of a boyfriend."
"That'll be Olivia. She's gorgeous isn't she?" it was a statement rather than a question; "She's a Dancer and never ever look at her Instagram if you want to retain some self-esteem. She's lovely though, here with her Step Dad, recently reconciled. Not engaged, no, bit young for that really. But I asked her if she was seeing someone and she gave a cryptic answer so she might not be the competition you think."
Emily paused and changed the subject. "So you saw The Dress earlier, do you want to see my wedding night outfit? And don't lie I know you do, you little lingerie slut. Did you pack what you were going to wear for Fuckboy anyway? Maybe the Viking will get to see you in them? I'll show you mine if you show me yours. Go get them Bitch."
Chloe snuck back to her room as quickly and as quietly as she could. She had packed the night before he dumped her and had included an outfit that was meant to make sure a tipsy boyfriend gave her the fucking she knew she would need after the wedding.
She opened the door, "So I brought two outfits.... Emily!? What the..? "
The bride stood in front of her in a sheer white robe trimmed in fluffy marabou feathers. The robe was left undone to show off her matching lingerie; half cup bra, panties and garter belt in ivory silk trimmed with delicate white lace. The half cup bra showed off her beautiful breasts, easily two cup sizes larger than Chloe's 34Bs, and she could not resist gazing at the sight of the bride's stiff pink nipples through the lace trim. White stockings, also topped with lace, were clipped to the garter belt and long white satin opera gloves and a white flower choker around her throat gave her the look of a sex kitten from the golden age of Hollywood. Her honey coloured hair was still worn down but her make-up had been retouched, her heels back on and a sheer veil trailed to her waist. She posed for Chloe; "So what do you think? Fuckable?"
Chloe squeaked. "I thought we were sharing, not modelling! Oh Em, I'm so jealous of Cameron right now. And that veil, Babes, you know I have a thing about veils."
"Glad you like. And nothing you've not seen before Boo. In fact you've seen a lot more. Or, rather, a lot less. Now getting you to fetch what you planned to wear for Loserboy was just a ruse. I've bought you something that I'd like to see on you," she nodded toward a package wrapped in pink tissue paper on the dresser. "It should go nicely with your bridesmaid robe. Now, your turn, show me your present."
Chloe turned to go to the en-suite but Emily commanded her to stop. "Nuh huh. Stay and strip for me Boo."
Chloe looked her friend in the eye and held her gaze and she wriggled her emerald green jumpsuit over her wide hips and let it fall to the floor. Standing in only her plain black string and strapless bra she unwrapped her present from the tissue paper and found a gossamer thin sheer blue chemise edged in champagne lace in her hands. She recognised the lingerie brand as one they both loved.
