Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 80602 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80602 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Her brows draw together when she’s in focus mode and her lips part a little, revealing the slight teardrop at the top lip.
She can look so delicate and soft—breakable, even—that is until she speaks or takes action. That’s when people know they have a feisty, take-no-nonsense type of person on their hands, the kind it’s almost impossible to win against because they were trained to never lose. Either they win or they destroy.
“What are you looking at?” she snaps through gritted teeth without cutting off her concentration on the priest.
“You, Princess.”
“Focus.”
“I will do the focusing thing later when we consummate our marriage.”
“Kyle!” she hisses.
“What? You’re the one who’s tempting me.”
“You’ll be far from tempted when I kick you in the balls.”
“Kinky—I love it.” I lower my voice. “Does this mean I get to use toys?”
“Toys to choke the life out of you, maybe.”
“I had other types in mind. You know, the ones that make you scream for more.” The priest clears his throat, and I motion at him to continue. “Never mind us, Father. We’re laying the grounds for our future ‘holy’ union.”
He gives us a weird glance as if thinking there’s nothing holy about this union. He wouldn’t be wrong, but I also don’t believe in holy things, per se, so it doesn’t apply to me.
After he finishes his monologue, the priest faces me with his version of the Russian vows. “Do you, Kyle Hunter, take Rai Sokolov as your wedded wife to be with you always, in wealth and in poverty, in disease and in health, in happiness and in grief, from this day until death do you part?”
“I do.” The words come out a lot easier than I expected, even though I’m staring at her expressionless face. I think it’s the last bit. I like it.
Till death do us part.
Yes. I definitely like it.
He turns to her. “Do you, Rai Sokolov, take Kyle Hunter as your wedded husband to be with you always, in wealth and in poverty, in disease and in health, in happiness and in grief, from this day until death do you part?”
Silence.
Long silence.
Seconds tick by, but they feel like years as she stares at me, and just then, her blank expression cracks, showing a hint of the girl I knew seven years ago. While she doesn’t show vulnerability, she’s showing something, a wound, or another emotion I can’t put my finger on.
Then, I see her free spirit—the one that refuses to be tied down by anyone or anything.
Fuck. She’s going to run.
“Rai?” the priest calls.
Her expression closes again, and I expect her to bolt right then and there, like in some runaway bride film. Unlike those sappy things, though, I’m ready to follow her to the ends of the earth and kidnap the fuck out of her if need be.
“I do.” She says the words as if they weigh on her.
The priest and the crowd release a collective breath. I continue watching her tells, not sure if it’s a ploy or if she’ll change her mind any second.
No idea why, but it feels like I can’t be relieved as of yet.
The priest asks us to exchange rings. I take Rai’s hand in mine and stroke the back slowly, sensually, almost like I’m seeing it for the first time.
I might as well be. I don’t remember her hands being this soft. They’re too fair, her veins semi-transparent. I slide the ring on her finger as slowly as possible, then smirk up at her.
She goes immediately on the defensive. “What?”
“If you’re going to hit my balls with these hands, I’m game.”
It’s fast, almost unnoticeable, but her cheeks heat as she pulls her hand away and forcibly takes mine.
Holding in a smile, I lean in and murmur against the shell of her ear. “It’s the other hand.”
“I know that,” she blurts then switches to my left one.
Fuck me. Who knew I would ever get to see Rai’s flustered side and enjoy it this much?
She slides the ring on, then pauses in the middle of her task, her expression freezing. I expect her to back down now, but she’s staring at my hand.
I follow her field of vision, and that’s when I see what she does. Blood is smeared on the side of my ring finger. It’s not dried either. Fuck. It must’ve been from when I physically subdued some of the guards before I went to the building’s roof. I was careful enough to not stab anyone in order to stay clean, so how did the blood end up here?
Rai raises a questioning gaze, but I grab her hand and slide my ring all the way on.
“By the power granted to me by the church, I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the priest says. “You may kiss the bride.”
Rai attempts to give me her cheek, but I wrap an arm around her waist and slam my lips to hers. She protests at first, but the moment I move my mouth against her own, she remains as still as a board.