#billy delaney

“Oh, just a guess,” Billy teased, slinging his free arm around your shoulders. “Probably had somethin’ t’do with how much I missed yours.”

“It should be illegal t’be that smooth, y’know?” you joked, bumping against his side as you walked.

“So it’s workin’ then, is it?”

“Most definitely.”

Billy huffed a pleased laugh and you walked on in silence for a bit until he spoke up again. “So, uhm, what’re you doin’ next weekend? Got any plans?”

You made a show of thinking before grinning playfully. “None that doesn’t include you. Why?”

“Well, I uh, it seems I’ve been invited to a weddin’ and I was hopin’ you’d like to accompany me,” he said, searching your face hopefully as he drew his bottom lip between his teeth.

“Really?”

“Yeah, o’course, you’re my girlfriend,” Billy exclaimed as if it were obvious, bringing a bright smile to your face.

“I’d love t’go with you,” you answered, already mentally going through your wardrobe for the perfect dress to wear when a thought occurred to you. “How formal are we talkin’ here?”

“Well,” Billy paused to huff a soft laugh, “knowing Inca, she’ll probably be expecting everyone t’be dressed to the nines.”

“Evening gown it is then,” you laughed, glad for an excuse to go shopping.

——

“Were those real doves?” you exclaimed, still trying to wrap your head around how over the top the ceremony had been as you walked into the reception hall on Billy’s arm.

“I told you,” he chuckled, “Inca’s taste tends to veer toward th’extravagant.”

“You’re not kidding,” you agreed, wondering how much this wedding must have cost, the reception just as elegantly decorated as the church had been. Everywhere you looked were softly flickering candles, gilded portraits, and fancy glass ornaments, the large ornate ballroom resplendent in reds and blacks, complete with a large ice statue in the shape of a swan taking flight in the middle of the room.

“So, how do you know the bride and groom?” you asked as you found your seats, your table near the front where the wedding party was camped at. Before Billy could answer, a familiar face plopped down next to you and Billy chuckled.

“Speak of th’devil,” he said, gesturing to Alfie who surprisingly (or maybe not surprisingly) was dateless—he and your friend on a bit of a break. “I met them through dear Alfred,” he explained and Aflie’s brows rose as he turned to face you.

“Whut now? What’d I do?” he asked, reaching inside his jacket to pull out a tiny silver flask, his eyes flicking questioningly between you and your boyfriend.

“y/n was just asking how I know Inca and Jason,” Billy explained and Alfie ohhh’d, nodding his head and taking a swig.

“Right, yeah. So, Jason’s my mum’s ex-husband, and—”

“Wait, he’s not your dad?” you cut in, confused, and Alfie recoiled, clearly offended.

“Oh God no,” he exclaimed, wrinkling his nose, his lip curled in disgust. “He’s my sisters’ dad.”

“I met th’whole gang when I was crashin’ with Alfie at his mum’s after we traveled round China,” Billy added and you nodded, finally understanding.

“That’s nice that you’re still so close to your best friend’s family,” you mused as more people arrived, joining the three of you at the table.

Billy began the introductions only to be interrupted by the bride as she swanned over, her husband in tow, trying to keep up. “Irish, you came!” she cried dramatically after greeting the others—a knobbish looking fellow named Tom and a petite middle aged blonde woman she called Yemma, though Jason called Gemma when he greeted her.

“Of course I came, I wouldn’t have missed it,” Billy replied, rising to accept her embrace before shaking Jason’s hand and returning to his seat, his arm slipping nonchalantly around your shoulder, resting on your chair back.

“And who is your lovely friend?” Inca exclaimed, gesturing to you.

“This is my girlfriend, y/n,” Billy introduced and you felt eyes on you from across the table.

Glancing over, your eyes flicking momentarily alway from Inca, you caught Gemma watching you, a strange expression on her face before she noticed your gaze and quickly looked down at her hands.

Frowning slightly, it took you a moment to realize Inca was still talking about you and you gave her your full attention once more.

“You must let me wax you,” she exclaimed matter of factly, studying you thoughtfully, as if deciding which parts of you needed the most attention.

“Excuse me?” you spluttered, gaping at the bride before her husband quickly jumped in to explain.

“Ah y’see, Inca works at a spa,” he exclaimed, wincing—at your expression or perhaps an unpleasant memory involving being waxed himself you couldn’t tell. “Maybe y/n would prefer a massage instead,” he suggested, but Inca was still studying you.

“No, a wax,” she decided, her tone brooking no nonsense.

“O-okay,” you stuttered helplessly, unsure what else to say, when luckily someone across the room seemed to catch Inca’s attention and her face lit up as she called out to them.

“Come Yason,” she snapped, already taking off, “we have more guests to greet!” And just like that, she’d already forgotten about you.

Jason let out a heavy sigh. “It was nice t’meet you. Enjoy the dinner!’ he called before hurrying after his wife.

Sharing a look with Billy, you covered your mouth to stifle your laughter, leaning against his shoulder as you giggled quietly. Again, Gemma seemed perturbed about something before her eyes flitted away. Hastily grabbing her glass, she brought it to her lips and nearly spilled it down her front as Tom startled her, leaning in to ask her to dance, a wide grin on his face that quickly turned to alarm.

Fussing over trying to mop up the champagne that soaked her dress, you didn’t catch the rest of their conversation as Billy tore his eyes from the scene and leaned in.

“How ‘bout you? Wanna dance?” he asked, holding his hand out to you and you took it eagerly, letting him guide you out to the dance floor.

As you swayed to the music, resting your cheek on Billy’s shoulder, his arms around you, you let your gaze wander, taking in the people around you. However, as the first song melded into the next, your eyes found Gemma and Tom—Tom having finally dragged her out to the dance floor. Once more, you caught the older woman staring in your direction while trying to pretend like she wasn’t, and you frowned, stiffening.

Billy noticed the way you tensed in his arms and pulled back to look at you. “Are you alright? Is somethin’ wrong?” he asked, concern filling those large emerald eyes.

Glancing back to Gemma, you hesitated, the words stuck in your throat. You couldn’t seem to shake the feeling she didn’t like you for some reason, but you knew it would sound ridiculous if you brought it up and you didn’t want Billy to think you were the type of girl that got weirdly possessive when any other woman so much as looked at him.

“I’m fine!” you quickly answered instead, flashing him a reassuring smile.

“Y’sure?” he pressed, raising a skeptical eyebrow at you, and you nodded.

“I’m sure. I think I just need to find the restroom,” you murmured.

Billy let you go, but frowned as he watched you walk away, sensing not all was right.

By the time you returned, having taken a moment to freshen up your makeup and give yourself a little peptalk in the mirror, you found Alfie the only one at the table.

“Hey Alfie, have you seen Billy?” you asked, sitting down next to him. He already seemed drunk, and though you were dying to ask what had happened between him and your friend—who’d been rather tight-lipped about it—you held your tongue, not wanting to upset him further and risk him causing a scene.

“He’s other there, chattin’ up my mum, again,” he muttered darkly, gesturing across the room to where your boyfriend stood conversing with Gemma. She was laughing at something he’d said while he smiled at her, and as she half reached out to touch his shoulder, stopping as she realized what she was doing, something in your chest tightened.

“Wait, Gemma’s your mum?” She doesn’t seem that old.

Noticing your expression, Alfie snorted. “She had me really young.”

“Yeah. Yeah, I see that.”

Alfie let out a huff, propping his chin in his hand as he idly swirled the last dredges of liquor around the bottom of his glass. “Still can’t believe th’bastard kissed her that time just t’win a bet,” he grumbled under his breath and you tore your eyes from your boyfriend to gape at Alfie.

“He did what?”

Alfie seemed to realize what he’d said and hastily straightened, backpedaling, his eyes going comically wide. “Y-yes, yes I said that, and as fucked up as that is—”

“How long ago was this?” you demanded, interrupting him.

“It was a year ago, before you’d even met!”

The rest of Alfie’s explanation fell to a drone as you narrowed your eyes, glaring at Gemma. That’s what that look had been in her pale blue eyes—longing—and as much as Alfie insisted it hadn’t meant anything… probably, you couldn’t help but feel there was more to the story. It was obvious by the look on Mrs. Jones’ face that it’d meant something to her.

Scraping your chair back, you ignored Alfie’s pleas to calm down, instead setting off across the room with purpose. Neither of them seemed to notice you approach until you stopped at Billy’s side, slipping your arm around him and resting your head on his shoulder.

“Hey, there y’are!” Billy exclaimed, brightening at the sight of you. “I was just tellin’ Gem-uh–Mrs. Jones aboutcha.”

“Oh, that’s nice,” you murmured, catching Gemma looking flustered, her eyes flicking from your arm linked with Billy’s and back up to your face, offering you a nervous smile.

“Hey, you thirsty?” Billy asked, noticing that you didn’t have a glass in hand and you gave a start.

“Uh, yeah I guess.”

“Great, I’ll be right back,” he insisted, pressing a kiss to your temple that almost made you forget you needed to ask him about his involvement with Gemma.

“Soooo…” Gemma began as Billy walked away, letting the word trail off awkwardly for a moment, a panicked look crossing her face.

“So…” you echoed, rocking on your heels as you waited for the woman to finish her thought.

“Yes, uhm, well, Billy tells me you study art,” she finally managed to get out.

“Yep, I have a show coming up soon. It’s just at the student gallery, but I’m pretty excited,” you answered, your polite instincts kicking in, overtaking the urge to demand what exactly she thought she was trying to pull.

“Wow, that’s-wow,” Gemma exclaimed, her tone somewhat distracted, as if she wanted to say something else and was trying to work up the nerve. “Look, I-I’m sure Billy’s told you what happened,” she began, her words rushing together and voice wavering. “A-about how I probably broke the poor boy’s heart when I chose Tom instead of him.” She paused again to wet her lips, her pale blue eyes finally meeting yours.

“I just wanted to tell you I’m so glad that he met you. You two seem very sweet together and I…I just want him to be happy, even if seeing him here was harder than I expected,” she finished with a sigh before flashing an anxious smile.

The smile you returned, however, was stiff. “Excuse me,” you managed to mutter before walking away, unsure exactly where your legs were taking you.

You faintly registered Gemma’s calling out to you, but you didn’t stop until you were away from the party, even the sound of the music far away and muted. Taking a deep breath, you silently seethed as you paced, trying to wrangle your fly away thoughts and unstable emotions.

If it wasn’t such a big deal, why hadn’t Billy told you about it? Unless… unless he still had feelings for Gemma.

The thought made your chest tighten, emotion washing over you, nearly pulling you under like a strong tide.

“y/n?”

Billy’s voice behind you startled you and you tensed as you turned slowly to face him.

“What’re y’doing over here?” he asked, concern worrying the corners of his mouth as he approached you. “I came back with drinks only t’find you’d run off.”

“I-I’m fine,” you lied, attempting to school your expression, though by the look on your boyfriend’s face, he wasn’t burying it.

“y/n—”

“Do you still have feelings for Mrs. Jones?” you blurted out, the words tumbling from your mouth before you could stop them.

Whatever Billy had thought you were going to say, that wasn’t it, and for a moment he stared at you as if you’d grown a second head. “No! No.” he responded quickly, trying to make up for his shocked pause, echoing the word firmly.

“Who told y’bout that?”

“She did,” you answered, crossing your arms over your chest and glancing away; Billy sighed, deflating.

“I swear t’you, y/n, I don’t have feelin’s for Gemma any longer,” he said softly, taking a cautious step closer. “I only have eyes for you,” he insisted, a genuine note to his lilting voice.

“Then why didn’t you tell me about this before?” you sighed, desperately wanting to believe him. “Cause it kinda seems like you were hiding it,” you pointed out, collapsing back on the white and gold loveseat behind you, your heels clacking softly against the shiny tiled floor.

“I wasn’t tryin’ t’hide it,” Billy murmured, joining you, his gaze beseeching you as he sat, turning toward you. “It’s true I was still gettin’ over her rejection th’first time we met, but I genuinely liked you. It was th’first time I’d felt like that since putin’ my heart out there only t’be crushed,” he explained, his gaze boring into yours, holding you captive.

“It was you who helped me see that I deserved so much more than clandestine kisses and bein’ hidden away.”

Billy’s voice cracked with emotion and he let out a breath that washed over you as his grasp on your hands tightened, his thumbs brushing over the ridge of your knuckles. “I love you,” he whispered, putting his whole heart into the words, holding it out on a platter for you.

“Please believe me.”

Drawing his lip between his teeth, he held his breath, his eyes glistening in the golden lamplight as he watched you, his whole body tensing in anticipation as he waited for your response.

“I believe you,” you breathed finally, taking Billy’s face between your hands, your nose brushing his as you pressed your forehead to his.

Pulling back only a few inches, Billy huffed in relief, his hands engulfing your wrists as he leaned into your touch, tilting his chin to catch your lips.

“Good, cause I have somethin’ else t’ask you, which I’d been plannin’ t’do before all this came up.”

“Oh? What’s that?”

“I was gunna ask you t’move in with me,” he said, his lips tugging into a sheepish grin as he waited for your reaction.

“Really?” you asked excitedly, your enthusiasm bubbling over before you fought back your grin, eyeing him sternly. “Are y’sure you aren’t just askin’ me that t’make up for earlier?” you teased, barely able to keep a straight face.

“See, I knew you’d think that!” he gasped, laughing, stealing your breath as he kissed you again.

“Really?” you repeated faintly when he finally let you breathe.

“Yes, really,” he insisted, grinning against your lips.

“Yes,” you replied, slipping your arms around his neck. “I’d love t’move in with you, Billy.”

Hidden away from the party in your own little bubble, the moment felt frozen in time, preserved, and you lost track of everything but Billy’s lips on yours.

“Oh thank God, there you are!” Alfie exclaimed, panting heavily as if he’d been running and it took you a moment to register what was going on, drunk off Billy’s kisses.

Billy pulled back, raising an eyebrow at his friend, as if to ask why he’d interrupted you.

“Oh no, don’t mind me,” he huffed sarcastically, radiating indignation, “just the guy who’s been looking all over for you t’make sure everything was okay!”

“Thank you, Alfie, we’re fine,” you replied, flashing him a thankful smile that doubled as a dismissal.

When it became clear that neither of you would be returning with him to the reception, he threw up his hands with a scoff and turned back the way he’d come.

“We’ll be back shortly,” Billy called after him, chuckling fondly before his eyes returned to yours. “Now, where were we?” he asked, his lips curving cheekily.

“I think we were… here,” you replied, leaning back against the armrest as you pulled him back to you by the lapel of his suit jacket.

“Ah right, how could I forget,” he murmured before his lips slotted with yours, picking up just where you’d left off.

“Wow,” says Billy, taking in his surroundings, “it looks like you’ve really thought of everything.”

You turn and give Sean a look, proud of yourself for creating the perfect environment for what you have planned. He winks back at you.

Billy circles the bed, allowing his fingertips to caress the silky bedsheets, then he stops in front of you.

“Anyone would think you’re a bit of a control freak,” he teases.

Your mouth falls open. This wasn’t the reaction you were expecting.

“I-I am not a control freak,” you protest, a little offended.

“Oh, really?” he says, moving closer. He reaches out, allowing his fingers to move to the hem of your dress, gently stroking the flesh at the top of your thighs. “Then you won’t mind if I do this.”

He takes the bottom of your dress and lifts it clear over your head, leaving you standing in your underwear.

The air hits your skin and you suddenly feel exposed and vulnerable. Out of the corner of your eye you see Sean moving closer.

You jut your chin out defiantly: “No.”

“And you won’t mind if I do this,” Billy says, leaning in to dot tiny, delicate kisses around your collarbone as his hands reach around your body, unhooking your bra. He slides the lacy garment off your arms and you feel the pace of your heart picking up speed.

“No,” you say, a small quiver in your voice.

“And you definitely won’t mind if I do this,” he says, sliding your panties down your thighs. You feel Sean's breath on your bare neck as Billy finishes undressing you, his lips pressing into your shoulder blade.

Your body begins to shiver with anticipation, but you don’t want Billy to think he’s won his little game.

“No,” you say, attempting to challenge him with your eyes.

“And you’d have no objections if I did this,” he says, reaching up to remove the scarf from your hair. You watch as he straightens out the satin strip and lifts your wrists, wrapping the length of material around them.

You sense Sean bristle: “Mate…” he starts, but you turn to reassure him.

[extra: didn’t fit my gifset flow, but its made sooo]