Commitment: The Beauty in Between (A Beautiful Series Novella) (8 page)

“That was the longest purchase of a cheesecake in the
history of all cheesecake purchases,” I comment when David finally arrives home
and shows me what he bought.

He’s been gone so long that I’ve already gone for a run,
returned home, showered, changed, and had something to eat.

He puts the cheesecake in the fridge and comes to stand in
front of me. “Don’t pout princess. You know I can’t tell you what I was doing.”

I pout anyway.

“Here, let me fix that for you,” he says as he brings his
mouth to mine. I quickly forget to sulk as I feel my insides swoon over his
kiss.

“I do love that you’re doing all of this you know,” I tell
him, my voice sounds thick with desire as I wrap my arms around him and press
our bodies together. “I only pout because I can’t wait to be your wife.”

He leans in and sucks my lower lip, gently into his mouth.
“Do you want to go and practise for the wedding night?” he murmurs in my ear.

I answer him with my mouth as I press it up against his,
sliding my tongue inside as he parts his lips and reciprocates, moving his deliciously
against my own. That’s when I taste it.

My head snaps back and my eyes open wide. “You’ve been
eating cake!”

We arrive at Paige and Elliot’s just before seven and park kerbside,
not far from their block of flats. The façade leads me to believe they were
built sometime in the late ‘70s or early ‘80s and the brown wood of the doors
and the carpets on the stair case confirms my thoughts.

“What are they like inside?” I ask Trina as we climb the
stairs.

“Well they said it’s all been redone, but it used to just be
more brown. Even the white of the walls had a brown tone to it.”

When we knock on the door, Elliot answers with Grace in his
arms. She’s looking a little grouchy but very cute in her purple pyjamas.

“Hi, welcome,” he says thrusting out a hand to shake mine
and leaning toward Trina for a cheek kiss. “Did you find parking on the street
ok?”

“Yeah. We’re just between this complex and the next one,” I
tell him.

From where we’re standing, I can’t believe this is the same
flat I was in all those years ago. It’s just so different. The design is now
much more modern and looks like it should be in a design magazine or something
– one of those fancy coffee table magazines that people love buying.

“Wow, Elliot. Can I just say that this all looks amazing. I
would never have thought it was the same place.”

Paige appears from the kitchen and calls out hi before walking
down the hallway towards us. She’s wearing a pair of black capris pants and a
fitted navy blue singlet with a long necklace hanging down. She has her hair
pulled up into a bun on top of her head. Looking effortlessly beautiful – like
she always does.

I’m wearing my usual summery dress. It’s white with tiny
coloured flowers around the top of the bust and the hem. I wear minimal
jewellery, just my stud earrings, my engagement ring and the bracelet David
brought back from Bali years ago.

The men are dressed almost identically in cargo shorts and
button up collared short sleeve checked shirts, open with a plain t-shirts
underneath them. They look both look great. Although David always looks great –
clothes or not.

Once Paige reaches us, a bit more cheek kissing goes on
before we continue through the flat.

“Different, huh?” Paige directs at me.

“It’s amazing. Really beautiful.”

“Erica, Robert’s wife, designed it all herself. She picked
everything,” she tells me as she leads me further inside.

“Robert? Is that Elliot’s dad’s name?” I ask. How strange.
Robert Roberts?

She laughs, “Yes, and I know what you’re thinking. They have
different surnames.”

“Roberts is my mum’s name, she and dad weren’t married when
I was born, so mum gave me her name, and it was never changed,” Elliot informs
me.

“Oh, well that makes sense,” I laugh.

“Come, I’ll show you around,” Paige says, inclining her head
so I follow her.  

As I walk down the hallway, I first come to a formal dining
room with a square, chestnut-coloured  table. It’s surrounded by eight leather
chairs and there’s a high chair in the corner.

“This isn’t too weird for you is it?” she asks me. “I mean,
being here. I know you and Elliot had a thing when he was living here.”

“Oh, no. It’s fine. It looks like an entirely new place and
besides – that was years ago,” I laugh. It comes out a little higher pitched
than I intend, but normally no one makes any references to the fact that Elliot
and I once had a ‘thing’. We generally just go along pretending like nothing
ever happened, and frankly, that suits me just fine.

She looks at me for a minute, as if she’s assessing whether
I’m telling the truth or not.

“Ok, it’s a little weird,” I blurt out. “But seriously Paige.
Whatever Elliot and I once had was never serious. It didn’t even get beyond the
fling faze. I think we thought it was more than it really was at the time. But
I know that for me, what I have with David is completely different, and from
what I gather, Elliot feels the same way about you. It’s like you complete each
other… you know?”

“Yes. I do,” she smiles. “I kind of just wanted to make sure
that you weren’t uncomfortable.”

“I’m not uncomfortable being here. But do you know what
makes me uncomfortable? Having this conversation. It feels a little awkward.
How about we forget about the past, because it has nothing to do with our lives
now, and move on? I’d really like to see the rest of the flat.”

Paige laughs a little. “Yeah, that was really uncomfortable
actually. I just wanted to get that conversation over with. I didn’t want there
to be an elephant in the room.”

“Understood,” I say smiling. I kind of feel like I should
hug her, but she doesn’t seem like the hugging type and well… neither am I.

“Come on,” she says with a slight grin, “I’ll show you the
rest.”

In the lounge room, there’s a massive leather cream coloured
couch in front of a large mounted flat screen television. There’s two matching
book cases either side, and they’re artfully decorated with books, vases,
candles and photographs.

The wall that separated the kitchen from the rest of the
flat has been knocked down so it’s all open now. It’s been done up with all
stainless steel appliances and a dark granite bench top. The bench has a small
drop when it becomes a breakfast bar that looks out the window where a small
table used to be.

The first bedroom is Grace’s. I never saw inside this one,
but it has a beautiful white sleigh cot, and matching chest of drawers and
change table inside. It’s been decorated almost entirely with butterflies.

“Did you guys rob a toy store?” I joke, looking around.
There’s every toy a baby girl could ever hope for.

“No. That’s Erica and Kathy combined. I don’t think there’s
a toy Grace doesn’t own,” she laughs.

Next up is the main bathroom. It has a sleek bath tub with
spa jets inside and a glass partition to turn it into a shower. The large
mirror has vanity lights around it which is so cool.

“I would kill for a mirror like that!” I tell her looking
around.

“You won’t believe what she did with the main bedroom,” she
tells me, grinning. I can tell she really loves it.

I gasp when I see it. It almost looks like a hotel room.
Above the bed is a blown-up photo of Elliot and Paige, kissing on their wedding
day. They look so happy and in love that it almost makes tears of joy spring to
my eyes.

“Wait, you haven’t seen all of it yet,” she says pulling me
towards a door that I assume leads to the en-suite. I’m surprised though, when it
opens - it’s a walk in wardrobe which then becomes an en-suite.

“This looks like something out of a movie. I love that chair
in the middle, it just makes you want to sit down and try on shoes,” I comment.

The en-suite itself is also gorgeous with his and hers basins
and a corner mini spa bath and shower combined.

“I know, I love it,” she tells me. “I’ve never lived in
something this nice before. I pinch myself daily over it.”

“Well it’s beautiful. Thanks so much for showing me,” I tell
her, and I genuinely mean it. Seeing inside their house, and how happy they are
together, just makes me more excited to get married and have a family myself.

“Thank you so much for sorting out the celebrant for me. You
really saved my arse,” I say to Elliot while the girls are taking the tour of
the flat.

“No trouble at all. It was all my dad actually, I was just
the middle man.”

“Well even so, I’m really grateful and if Trina had any
idea, she’d be really grateful too.”

He walks me into the kitchen and opens the fridge, offering
me a beer which I gratefully accept. He also pulls out a bottle of white wine
and pours a glass for each of the girls, which we both carry into the dining
room where Grace is sitting and pulling random toys out of a little toy tub in
the corner.

“Listen, I… well we were wondering if you two would like to
come to the wedding. You don’t have to say yes straight away – talk it through
with Paige, but just know that you’re welcome to come. When I invited everyone,
we didn’t really know each other, but we’ve spent a bit of time together and
we’d really like for you two to attend,” I tell him, talking rather rushed. I
kind of feel nervous all of a sudden. “And of course, Grace is welcome too,” I
add as she lets out a little squeal and babbles at a set of baby keys she’s
playing with.

“Um… yeah, that’d actually be really nice. I’m sure Paige
will be fine with it – she really likes Katrina, so I can’t see why not. I’ll
check with her though,” he says, spinning his beer bottle around in his hands.

“What do you have to check?” Paige asks as she appears in
the archway with Katrina beside her.

“Ah,” Elliot says glancing quickly at me. He’s obviously worried
about saying something he shouldn’t.

“It’s cool” I say to him. “She knows I’m asking you.”

“Asking what?” Paige asks looking between us.

“We want to know if you two will come to the wedding,”
Katrina tells her. “When it is, I have no idea so you’ll have to get the
details off David. But we would love it if you could come.”

“Of course, we’d love to be there. Although, we do know when
it is,” she smiles.

“Of course you do! Everyone knows except for me,” Katrina
whines.

“Come on David. You have to tell her the date at least.  A
girl needs to prepare,” Paige puts in.

“I can’t. I’m sorry, it will ruin everything. She’s just
going to have to wait.”

Katrina looks over at Paige and gives her a smile that says
‘thanks for trying’. They do a silent communication thing for a couple of
seconds before Grace crawls over to Paige’s feet, and starts to pull at the
bottom of her capris.

Leaning down to pick her up Paige says, “I think I should
probably put this one to bed. I won’t be long if you want to serve dinner,” she
directs toward Elliot as she moves closer to him so he can say goodnight to his
little girl.

“Sure thing,” he says, kissing Grace’s head before getting
up from his seat and heading toward the kitchen.

“Do you want any help?” Katrina and I both ask.

“Yeah why not, we can all huddle in there. Paige has cooked
this great paella and there’s some bread in the basket over there if you want
to carry that through.”

We all move around their kitchen and carry the food to the
table while we make general small talk about how nice everything looks and
smells. My stomach rumbles audibly and I blame the great smells that have been
teasing my nose since we entered the flat.

By the time we have everything on the table, Paige has
returned from the nursery and tells us that Grace is already asleep.

“That’s amazing,” Katrina comments. “You must be such a good
mum.”

“Grace is such a good baby,” she replies, taking a seat next
to Elliot.

“Don’t sell yourself short babe, you’re amazing with her,”
Elliot says as he drops a kiss on her shoulder.

Over dinner we chat about our plans for Christmas and what
we’re going to do for New Years, as well as a whole host of other things. The
conversation flows freely and we don’t end up leaving until a little after twelve.

“Isn’t it funny how things change?” I say as we’re driving
home. I’m running my fingers through my hair in search for any remaining pins
from my semi up-do.

“Like what?” David asks, glancing at me briefly. I let my
eyes rest on him for a moment before I answer. I enjoy looking at his profile
as it’s illuminated by the lights on the dash. I reach my hand toward him and
run the back of my fingers down the side of his face and over his shoulders. I
can’t help it, I just want to touch him.

He flashes a grin, and tilts his body towards me slightly,
but keeps his focus ahead. “Are you going to tell me?”

“Well, I was just thinking that a few years ago, we’d spend
our Saturday nights out getting drunk and dancing all night. But now we’re
having civilised dinners that are counted as running late and it’s only a
little after midnight.”

“Yeah well, we grew up I guess,” he says to me, reaching
over and taking my hand in his to rest on his leg while he drives. We hold
hands and listen to the music playing over the radio for a while before he
speaks again. “Do you still want to go out dancing?”

“No. I’m not into nightclubs anymore, although I do miss
dancing with you all night.”

When we arrive home, David takes me by the hand and leads me
inside. He’s focused on his phone and I wonder what he’s doing as he walks us
into the living area. But when he docks his phone on the speakers,
Colorblind
by Counting Crows starts to drift out of the speakers, and I realise what’s
going on.

I smile at him as he lifts my hand to his mouth and presses
a kiss on my knuckles. “Shall we?” he murmurs.

His arms encircle my waist as mine slide up over his
shoulders and I lace my fingers across his back.

“This is nice,” I purr into his ear as I rest my head on his
shoulder, our bodies pressed close and swaying together along with the music.

He hums and we keep moving in a slow circle, swaying
together, holding each other. When the song ends a new one starts to play,
although I’m not really listening anymore. I’m more focused on the hunger in
the eyes of my fiancé.

“Kiss me,” I whisper, brushing my lips against his, nudging
him gently. We take it slow, letting the music guide our movement. First it’s
just gentle touches and soft sucking of lips. Slowly our mouths open and we
give each other access, our tongues dancing together with the strains of the
song.

I start to work at the buttons of his shirt, taking my time
with each one as I start to trail kisses along his jaw, down his neck and
between his pecs.

He grips my buttocks and presses me to him, showing me his
arousal as it presses firmly into my abdomen. Placing my hands on his chest, I
push back a little, freeing myself from him and then reaching down to the hem
of my dress, pulling it over my head and dropping it on the floor so I’m
standing only in my underwear.

“You are so beautiful Trina,” he breathes, his eyes dragging
over my body in the dim light of the room.

“I thought I was your princess,” I tease him.

“You are. You’re my everything.” A slight skitter of
excitement rolls around in my stomach as he approaches, and I watch him remove
his shirt and drop it near my dress on the floor. The moment our skin touches,
the skitter rolls down and causes a throbbing between my legs.

Sliding my hands down his well defined chest, I undo the
buttons of his pants. I love to feel him, hard in my hand. At the same time, he
undoes the hook of my bra and being strapless, it falls easily to the ground
with our other things.

“Bed?” I suggest. I want some space to move around.

“Bed,” he agrees.

We move together, kissing and removing the last items of our
clothes before landing on the bed. He slides his hand up my thighs, sending
shivers of longing toward my core. Involuntarily, l roll my hips, I’m desperate
for his touch.

When his fingers meet my centre, he lets out an appreciative
growl. “You’re so wet. You feel like silk,” he comments as he trails kisses
down my throat and along my collarbone. “I should dance with you more often.”

“You should. It makes me putty in your hands,” I utter, as I
slide my fingers into his hair. I gasp, closing my eyes and luxuriating under
his touch, as his fingertips spread my juices up over my clit. He circles the
throbbing bundle of nerves as l writhe beneath him, rocking my hips, urging him
on.

His kisses move down my body as he makes his way over the
small mounds that are my breasts. When he takes my nipple into his mouth, he
drives his fingers inside me, pulsing his hand as he drags his teeth and tugs
playfully on my nipple.

Inside I’m a mess, that familiar pressure blossoms and
builds, threatening to spill before I’ve had him inside me.

“Oh!” l call out, my orgasm making its way to the surface.
“Oh! Get inside me! I want to come with you inside me!”

With an erotic grunt he obliges, pulling my legs either side
him and circling himself in my juices. He drives himself inside and I yell out
as he touches my depths.

Pulsing back and forth he strokes my core, pushing against
all the right spots in a rhythm that has my eyes rolling back as wave after
wave crashes through my body.

I cry out, calling his name as he drives into my wetness,
stilling only after he has shuddered, spilling his juices deep inside me with a
loud moan.

Breathing heavily, he kisses me leisurely. “I like it when
you call my name,” he growls low in my ear as he nips playfully at my lobe. I
reach over to the bedpost and grab a towel to press between my legs as he
withdraws from me.

We lay together in a tangle of limbs gently running our
hands over each other’s skin.

“What would you say, if a bit after the wedding, I stop
taking the pill?” I ask him out of the blue.

He sits up suddenly and twists his body so he can properly
face me.

“Are you serious? I mean, what about your job? I thought you
wanted to make partner.”

“I do, but I can do that after we have kids. It might take a
bit longer, but I’m sure I could still do it. Or… I was thinking, we could
eventually start our own firm. Be our own bosses.”

“Trina, I…”

“What? You don’t want kids anymore?”

“I do. Oh my god, you just….” He sits up more and takes my
face into his hands looking intently into my eyes. “I always knew you were the
girl of my dreams and this… well, wow this is even better than I dreamed.
Trina. I would love nothing more than to start a family with you. Nothing.”

“Good, because I want your babies David. I want the dream.”

He grins at me, his smile so wide that he almost has a
second dimple.

“I love you Trina. So much.”

He takes my mouth in his, his tongue sliding over my lips as
my body lets out a moan and calls for his touch all over again. I feel him stir
against my thigh and hum my pleasure.

God, I love this man.