Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 39756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 199(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 199(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
“It’s time for us to go, Journey. I can hear Nico pacing outside the door.” This may not be a real wedding of sorts, but that didn’t stop me from wanting to still have a sense of traditionalism. Nico wasn’t impressed when I gave him the choice to either get kicked him out of his room, or I'd move to another room in his four-bedroom house, which by the way has seven bathrooms. Who needs that many, and who would want to clean them weekly? Definitely not me.
“Alright, I guess we’ll show the big beefcake what we’re working with. Would you mind taking a few pictures with the backdrop in Nico’s room before we leave? The campaign will want to see them before they’re posted, and with us keeping this intimate, I didn’t ask my assistant to come along,” I ask, holding my phone out towards him.
“Always. I assume you’ll want some with Nico as well?” I nod in response as I open the door and am stunned into silence. Nico is wearing a four-piece suit—black pants, jacket, waistcoat, and tie. The white shirt makes it stand out, and I know if I were to rub my fingers along the fabric, it would be the softest material ever.
“Mi togli il respire.” My head cocks to the side, trying to decipher what he just said to me. “You take my breath away.” He doesn’t say that word a woman like me longs to hear, yet when he uses those words, it’s like he does, and I know for now that will have to be good enough.
“Nico,” I say, taking a deep breath, trying to find the right words to say. “You’re handsome.” It’s lame, but the hint of the smile he gives me lets me know he understands. His hands go to my waist, mine go to his chest, and his lips meet mine, a light peck so as not to ruin my lipstick. I don’t mention that it won’t go anywhere and is smudge proof, knowing if we start this, it won’t end until we’re both naked and breathless.
“Are you ready, vita mia?” The sound of Delaney clicking the shutter button on my phone is the only sound in the doorway, and I’m thankful I asked him to take pictures.
“Yes, I just need Delaney to follow me to your room, take a few pictures of me in this dress and then a few with us together. We have time, right?” It should be a question; instead, it comes out as a nudge in getting my way.
“If it doesn’t take too long. Our time is in an hour.” The officiant as well as Wylder and Celeste will be there waiting for us. We had to get ready this early to get the marriage licenses ready.
“We’ll be fast.” I kiss his lips again before I pull back, take his hand in mine, and lead the way, knowing we have things to do, people to see, and a place to get married at.
FIFTEEN
Nico
We took the photos like she asked, keeping the ones of her and me to ourselves, the other for her Instalook campaign. It’s one thing to be out in the open, being seen at a restaurant or casino; it’s another to be broadcasted over social media.
“You ready for this?” Wylder asks, standing next to me beside the pool. We’re waiting for Journey to come walking from inside the house, towards me. Delaney is on the other side of us. The officiant is holding a bible in his hands, ignoring what’s being said around him. It didn’t take very long for me to procure the priest, seeing as how my family never misses a Sunday service and I offered to make a sizable donation to the youth group that needed help placing foster children.
“I wouldn’t be here if I weren’t. Didn’t see this happening, figured she’d balk and run away. That’s not your sister, though, offering herself up for that prick. There was no way in hell I’d allow that to happen. Thankfully, it didn’t take much convincing on my part,” I respond to him, getting impatient waiting on Journey to walk out of the house. She’s currently sipping a glass of champagne with Celeste, which can surely lead to trouble if they take too much longer.
“I didn’t. You may not see it, but it’s plain as day. She’s gone for you. And, brother, you’re right there with her,” Wylder responds, telling me basically the same thing Journey said. I haven’t announced what I feel for her, frankly because actions speak louder than words. It shows in more ways than one. “And I don’t envy your bank account. You got lucky with both parents being out of town. When they come back, you better have your wallet open because Journey’s the last one they’ll get to plan a wedding for.”