Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 64979 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64979 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
I’d be lying if I said it didn’t calm me in a moment of pure panic. The familiarity of his touch was evident in the way my body responded to his simple gesture, making the ceremony move much faster. Once the minister turned to Tristian and said to repeat after him, I thought I was going to pass out.
I never expected him to face me and shift his hand up to caress the side of my face. The way he conveyed his vows to me was another emotion I hadn’t predicted. I wasn’t prepared for the effect this man still had on me. Words couldn’t express how much I wanted to hate him, but at that moment, I didn’t know what I felt for him. His vows felt so real, confusing his role in my life.
Did he mean them?
And now…
The pastor nodded for me to repeat after him. Suddenly, my throat locked up and my chest seized, tightening to the point of pain. It was my turn, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. Instead, I played along, once again pretending like this was just another meeting, another thing I had to do to prove to my grandfather that I was worthy of being the heir to his dynasty.
With all the courage I could muster, I peered into Tristian’s gaze, trying to find the boy I once loved and not the one who’d hurt me for years after he’d left. I didn’t see either of those things. The only thing I saw was my future flashing before my eyes.
“Belle, please repeat after me,” the minister ordered.
I couldn’t move.
I couldn’t speak.
I was barely breathing.
In and out, Belle. One deep breath in, one deep breath out.
As if reading my body language, Tristian reached for my hands and held them in his firm grasp. The simple caress of his touch calmed me all over again.
I did as I was told like always, repeating, “I, Belle Montgomery, take you, Tristian Hawkins, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish,’til death do us part.”
What did I just do?
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss—”
A deep growl within my newlywed husband’s chest erupted before he crashed his mouth onto mine with a sudden passion I wasn’t anticipating. Instantly, my lips burned as he kissed me in a way I’d never been kissed before.
Or maybe I had… When he kissed me the first time.
Memories of that evening tore through my mind at a rapid speed. I couldn’t keep up with where I was at the present time. Part of me was there with him while the other part was sixteen and had never been kissed before. His lips devoured my mouth, quickly making me realize this wasn’t just a kiss.
This was all possession.
His claim on me.
It was primal.
Heady.
Dominant in every way.
His soft tongue.
His scent.
His body pressed against mine.
It was all too much.
He was all too much.
I was his now…
Whether I wanted to be or not.
Chapter 8
—Belle—
The reception went off without a hitch. Everyone celebrated what was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. The liquor flowed, the music blared, and all in attendance carried on getting louder and louder as the hours ticked by. Handing us cards filled with nothing but money. I wanted the reception to end, but my night would only be getting started. Tristian would make sure of it with his body on top of mine.
We did our first dance.
We cut the cake, he fed me, and I did the same.
I threw my bouquet, and Paige caught it.
I counted my small blessings that our families didn’t authorize the removal of my garter with Tristian’s head in between my thighs, calling it tacky and unnecessary. Instead, I handed it to him with a satisfied expression, knowing he wasn’t exactly thrilled he wouldn’t have the opportunity to touch me in that way yet.
He grabbed the blue garter out of my hand, but at the last second he dragged me with it.
He whispered in my ear, “Don’t worry, kitten. My face will be buried in between your legs soon enough.”
I swallowed hard and pulled away from him.
Except, he only tugged me back against his solid chest, adding, “The next time you deny me, I’ll fuck my come so deep inside your pussy, it’ll be dripping out of you for days. Just so you know who you belong to.”
He let me go with a growl, pissed I won this round.
I relished in my victory for as long as I could, but in the blink of an eye, we were in a private elevator on our way up to the honeymoon suite, which was in the hotel where our reception had been held. It didn’t take long for the metal doors to slide open, revealing the biggest, most lavish room I’d ever seen. The space was enormous, covered in daises. There wasn’t an area that wasn’t covered with vases upon vases of them, including petals on the bed.