“You may kiss your bride.” We lean in and softly brush our lips. No tongue. That would just be weird in front of my dad and sister. I’ve never had a boyfriend so they’ve never witnessed me so much as hold hands with a man.
“And so it’s done. You’re my wife, Mrs. Breckenridge. No backing out now.”
I’m in too deep for that but I wouldn’t dare try, even if it were a possibility.
Elli is all smiles as she claps. That’s because my sister doesn’t know who Sin is. She has no idea what kind of man I’ve just married.
She comes to me. “Congratulations. I knew you wouldn’t have a wedding cake so I brought white-on-white cupcakes.”
She goes to the closet and takes out a Gigi’s cupcake box and a large green bottle. “But more importantly, I brought champagne!”
“Thank you, Elli. Everything happened so fast, I didn’t consider anything like that.”
She pops the top and pours for everyone. Even Dad. “A sip won’t hurt.”
“A sip, hell. I’m having as much as I want, little lady. It’s not every day my girlie girl gets married.”
Ellison is snapping pictures one after another—she’s my photographer today. “Drink from each other’s glasses.”
We do as instructed and she gives us a plastic knife from the cafeteria. “Time to cut the cake.”
“It’s a cupcake. I don’t think it needs cutting.”
“Humor me.”
I place the knife on top of the mile-high frosting. Sin wraps his hand around mine and together we glide it downward.
I giggle. What we’re doing feels silly—but fun—so I can’t resist swiping my finger through the frosting and smearing it across Sin’s face. “I see how you want to play.”
“Ahh!” I step away and look at Harry. “Daddy. Help.”
“Don't look at me,” he laughs. It’s the first real smile I’ve seen out of him in weeks.
Sin prowls toward me until my back is against the wall. “Come here, sweet wife.”
I’m doomed. I have nowhere to go so I grin and prepare for what comes next.
Sin doesn’t disappoint. He kisses me, smearing white icing all over the lower portion of my face.
I grab a napkin and go into the bathroom to survey the damage. “You messed up my makeup,” I call out.
He comes into the bathroom and stands behind me, looking at my reflection. “You didn’t need it anyway. You’re beautiful without it.”
“Dad is spent. Today’s events were a lot for him. I think we should go so he can rest.”
“Whatever you want is fine by me.”
As we clean our mess, Ellison holds up the box of leftover cupcakes. “Take these with you. You might have some fun with them later.”
“Fun with cupcakes?” I’m not sure I want her to elaborate on that.
She laughs and shrugs. “Get a little bit creative and you can have fun with anything.”
“Sure.” Why not?
I look at Dad to make sure he isn’t paying attention to us. “He isn’t doing well,” I whisper.
“He tires easily.” I remember the nature of this beast. It takes and takes without giving anything in return.
“He won’t last much longer, will he?” I say the words, immediately wishing I hadn’t. “Never mind. I don’t want to know the answer to that.”
Elli stops and grasps my arm. “You shouldn’t take a long honeymoon if you want to be here when he goes.”
“Then the end is closer than I thought.”
“Dad hides a lot from us. I go along with it, pretending I don’t know what he’s doing, but he doesn’t fool me.”
Sin and I haven’t discussed a honeymoon, but there’s no way I can go anywhere with my dad in this condition. “I’m going to be here for him. We’re not going anywhere.”
We say our goodbyes and get stopped by congratulators no fewer than a dozen times on the way out. I think Dad’s nurse, Marge, must’ve told every person in the building about our wedding in my dad’s room.
We get into the black sedan Sin has spent too much time in over the last few weeks. “Sterling. Mrs. Breckenridge and I need a moment of privacy, please.”
My new husband pulls me close and kisses me like crazy. I’m lightheaded, drunk off his lips. And I want more, so much more. “I’ve been dying to do that since I listened to you say your vows.’”
“It was a turn-on, huh?”
“Aye.”
“More so than my initiation ceremony?”
“Absolutely. So much so that I think I want to kiss you like that again.”
When he’s finished, he holds my face with his hands. “I have a very important call to make.”
Sin takes his phone from his jacket. With my hand in his, he brings it to his mouth for a kiss as he waits for Abram to answer. “I love you so much, Bonny. Thank you for marrying me.”
He straightens in his seat and clears his throat. “Aye, Uncle. All is well. I’ve found her.”
I listen intently to the one-sided conversation. Dammit. I can guess at the things Abram is saying based on Sin’s replies, but I wish I could hear for myself what the psychopath is saying.
“No. I didn’t kill Bleu. I married her instead, so I’ll be needing you to call off the hit on my wife.”
I put my hands over my mouth and giggle beneath my breath while imagining the fit that damn evil bastard must be having. “Tell Uncle Abram I said hello,” I say.
Sin grins and takes the phone away from his mouth. “You’re so bad,” he whispers.
He places a quick kiss on my lips before returning to his call. “No, Abram. As my wife, Bleu is protected under Fellowship code. ‘You must never violate the wife or children of another member.’ Contravene our code and you will face the consequences.”
Based on my studies, the ramifications could include anything from a physical penance to the death penalty, depending upon the degree of the offense committed.
My husband is protecting me. And it’s fucking hot.
I twist in my seat and move over to straddle Sin. I loosen his tie and open the top of his shirt. I kiss the dip at his throat and move my mouth up his neck until I reach that sensitive spot below his ear.
He moves his free hand to my lower back and pulls me close. “Dad already knows, Abram, as well as Mum. They are quite fond of Bleu and were very pleased to know she would be their daughter-in-law.”