Page 41 of Her Fake Island Wedding

“Gemma said a staffer was coming in to put everything in the fridge, so we can just help ourselves.” Lucy leaned her head against his shoulder as he put the golf cart in drive. “I’m so tired, Bryce.” She smothered a massive yawn in her hand.

“Me too. No idea how people have the energy for wedding nights after doing this for real, plus an evening reception,” Bryce joked.

“Can’t imagine.” Lucy yawned again. “Maybe I’ll perk up once I’ve gotten out of this dress and had something to eat.”

“It’s spectacular, but I’ve been wondering all day how you were breathing in it. Your waist looks so tiny.” The golf cart only needed one hand to drive, so Bryce slid his free arm around said tiny waist. Lucy chuckled quietly against his shoulder.

“Breathing’s not too bad. It’s eating and drinking which is the problem, or rather the aftereffects of. Going to the bathroom is a bit of a production - I was glad Gemma wasn’t there taking photos while Olivia and Shae were both helping hold the skirt above my head so I could pee!”

Bryce broke up laughing at the mental image her words invoked, and Lucy giggled along with him.

“This has been a really awesome day,” Bruce said impulsively.

“It has, hasn’t it?” Lucy agreed. “Honestly, it’s been the most perfect wedding day. I couldn’t have wished for anything more.”

Say something, a little inner voice yelled at Bryce, but they were pulling up outside the honeymoon cabin now and he shut off the motor, getting out of the golf cart and offering Lucy his hand. She took it with a bright smile up at him.

“You look so beautiful,” he managed to get out as he led her inside. “The, uh, the pearls in your hair really… really look amazing. And the dress, and… everything.”

“You scrub up pretty well yourself.” Lucy flicked at the edge of his waistcoat with a polished fingernail.

Closing the door behind them, Bryce glanced around the cabin to check they were really alone. “Lucy,” he began, but she was already tugging her hand out of his, kicking her shoes off and walking away towards the bedroom.

“Please come help me out of this dress,” she begged. “It’d be really nice to take a deep breath.”

Swallowing the words, he followed her.

She stopped beside the bed and glanced over her shoulder at him. “The laces untie here,” putting one hand to the small of her back, she plucked at the ribbon bow tied there. “Then loosen them upwards. You shouldn’t need to unthread them all the way, just loose enough to slide down.”

“Okay.” He felt all thumbs as he took the thin silk ribbons in his fingers and picked clumsily at the knot, silently cursing whoever had tied a double knot in the bow. “Did you have to hold onto the bedpost to get laced into this?” He tried to make small talk as he worked.

Lucy chuckled softly. “Like Kate Winslet inTitanic? Have you seen that?”

“I confess I have. I like movies, and we do get free access to the resort’s movies-on-demand channel.” Finally the knot came loose in his fingers.

“Not exactly like that. I didn’t need to get laced into a nineteen-inch waist or whatever it was. I was holding the front up while Shae laced the back, actually.” As the laces came loose, Lucy sagged a little bit, taking in a deep breath and letting it out. “Phew. I understand now why all the pictures of ladies from the old days show them with perfect posture, though. You don’t have much choice.”

The bodice came loose and Lucy made no attempt to catch it as the whole dress slid to the floor, leaving her nude but for her thong and the blue garter around her thigh. Bryce almost swallowed his tongue.

“Fuck, that’s all you’ve been wearing under this dress all day?” he asked, his voice hoarse.

Lucy turned to him, smiling, and reached to put her arms around his neck. “Bet you can’t get out of your clothes that fast.”

“Bet I can give it a red-hot go!”

She’d only managed to remove her earrings and necklace before he’d shed everything and was on her, pulling her down to the bed with him, both of them laughing wildly.

“Wait, wait, I gotta get these pearls out of my hair,” Lucy begged through her giggles. “If I break the strand I’ll be in so much trouble.”

Bryce sighed exaggeratedly, but helped her unpin the arrangement which held up the top part of her hair. The pearls fell free and he discarded them to the bedside table, running his fingers through her silky dark locks.

“Lucy.” He put all the depth of emotion he felt for her into the single word, and her laughter died, her eyes wide as she looked up at him.

“Bryce?” Her voice was small and soft, questioning.

“You have to know how I feel about you.” The words burst out of him, too fast, tangling on his tongue, but he knew she understood by the way she went stiff against him, pupils blowing wide with shock. “I’m in love with you, Lucy, I have been since the first time I saw you, I think, and today has been like the culmination of every dream I ever had, but… but I can’t do this. Not if you don’t feel the same way. I can pretend until your mother goes home, but…”

“Bryce.” Tears started in Lucy’s eyes, and she reached up, placed one finger against his lips to still his babble. “I love you.”

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