How had Jaya known?
When she’d pulled out the torn gown and promised me it was perfect for today, I’d been sceptical. Weren’t all brides supposed to glitter in beads and rustle in lace? I’d felt underdressed, bare, completely at Sully’s mercy as I’d padded barefoot within his sand.
No high-heels would’ve worked here. No fancy pantyhose or nail varnish.
From the moment I’d arrived, I’d traded shoes for nothing and the metaphor in that arrowed into my heart. Shoes weren’t needed here because my path had ended. I didn’t need to walk over glass or hardship, no need to traverse the roads of careers or stress.
I was home.
And every step from here on out would be with Sully by my side.
Skittles squeaked as she landed on my bare shoulder.
Pika fluttered after Sully, dragging a silver ribbon with three rings blinding in the sun.
And Sully took my hand in his, the rolled-up cuffs of his trousers damp from the sea, his hair messy and shoved back with an impatient hand, his five o’clock shadow soaking up the daylight and narrowing all my attention on his perfect kissable lips.
Those lips had said such vile things.
But they had also said the sweetest.
His left hand stayed locked around his cane as the celebrant caught up with us, wiping away the sweat at his temples, and rolling his eyes at Sully’s broken tradition.
“Are you ready to begin?” the celebrant asked.
Sully swallowed and waved the man away. “All you need to do is the binding part, nothing else.”
Cal chuckled, and Jess rolled her eyes, and I...I couldn’t look away from the intense sharpness, the utter snarl within Sully’s stare.
Whistling once, Sully let my hand go and waited for Pika to descend and wrap his claws around his finger. Leaving his cane speared into the sand, he pulled the ribbon free and unthreaded the three rings.
Silently, he passed the largest one to me.
I captured it in my palm and held it up to the setting, fiery sun. Every minute the sky darkened with cracks of crimson and splashes of sienna, bathing us in sinful red. The band I held was made of thick yellow gold. Heavy to hold and frosted with brilliant diamonds, sweeping over the top, following the contour of a quill and the bristling of a feather.
I looked up, understanding instantly. “For Pika and Skittles.”
His lips fought a grimace and a grin. “You’re not just marrying me, you’re marrying everything that I hold precious. I will never trust anyone as much as I trust you to care for them as I do. I will never love anyone as much as I love you to share the same empathy toward animals who have been mistreated.”
I bit my lip, stemming a silly wash of tears.
I would not cry today.
I would not ruin the soft lashings of mascara or blur the perfect image of Sully in his perfect linen suit standing on his perfect sunset beach.
Taking my hand, Sully splayed my fingers and pushed the huge cushion cut diamond onto my finger. It was triple the size of the one he’d given me after the cave fantasy and just as flawless. The yellow gold imprisoning it glittered with inlaid diamonds down the band.
“That is to show the world that you are mine. A gaudy, monetary reminder that it is my honour to provide for you, shelter you, and shield you.” He ran his thumb over my knuckles, using me as his support when his legs threatened to sway. “Most of our life will be spent here, hidden in the Java Sea where we have no need of others. But, on those rare occasions when we mingle, I want every man and woman to see that ring and know that you are worshipped, adored, and own me fucking body and soul.”
Jess started crying. Cal sucked in a breath.
I just clung to Sully, drowning in the oceans in his eyes and the absolute treasure I found there.
“I don’t know what the traditional vows are. I have no idea what I’m supposed to say to you to make this official, but—” He cleared his throat, giving me a sexy grimace. “I love you, Eleanor. I love you so much, but I know it’s merely a fraction of how much I’ll love you as we grow old together. There is still so much to learn, so many habits to uncover, so many quirks and ideals to share. As we get to know each other, I’m afraid of how deeply I’ll fall in love with you. There is no one else. There never was and never will be. You are my one and only, and that is my oath to you. Accept me, and you accept my drive to keep you safe. Love me, and you agree to be loved every day I am alive and beyond. Marry me, and you are mine forever. You are not only my friend and lover but you are my conscience, too. I promise to always listen to you. I promise I won’t go too far. I trust you to indulge me when I’m overbearing and trust you have the temper to put me in my place when I need it. I trust you, Eleanor, with everything that I am.”
He confessed to a level of devotion that any girl could ever dream of, and he delivered it elegantly and threateningly. His eyes glowed with domination all while his face softened with reverence.
The longer we stood bound together, the more his troth made my heart race to be alone, to touch him and confirm that this was real. This wasn’t a falsity or a fantasy. My reality had become euphoric without any need for tricks.
The celebrant coughed behind his hand. “If that’s all, Mr. Sinclair? Perhaps, Ms. Grace would like to say a few words.”
Sully shot him a scowl but smiled guiltily at me. “Sorry if I went a bit dramatic.” He cupped my cheek and ran his fingers through my loose hair, unable to stop himself from tugging a little and shooting shards of electricity down my spine.
I gasped as my inner muscles clenched.
Our proximity crackled with passion. The constant hum that always ignited between us had created its own force field, sizzling and thirsty with sparkling wattage, ensuring I would never stop wanting this man. “It wasn’t dramatic,” I whispered. “It was perfect. I don’t have anything nearly as wonderful to say. You’ve wowed me.”
Tucking wayward strands behind my ear, sending another lick of yearning through my belly, he murmured, “You don’t have to say a thing for it to be perfect. You’re perfect.” He smirked, showing hints of the elixir king who I’d first met. “But...it is your turn, Jinx, and I expect you to vow your life to me.”
I blushed.
We’d come so far from that first day. That first thorn of lust that’d pierced our skin, had wriggled into blood and bone, ensuring we were both infected with a lifetime of commitment.
Smiling, I sucked in a breath and pulled my fingers from his. My massive engagement ring glittered, refracting the sun’s spires of magenta, coming alive like a tiny fire upon my hand.
It did what Sully intended. It marked me better than any tattoo or brand. It bound me to his heart and his islands, and I would never take it off.
Exhaling my worry that I’d stumble over words or make a mess of my declaration, I spread Sully’s long, handsome fingers and slipped the masculine wedding band over his knuckle.
As it slid into place, something clicked open inside me.
A key to a place within that I didn’t even know existed. From that place came a warm river of knowledge that this was right, this was exactly as it should be. They’d been many moments of premonition while living in this fantastical world and fighting off hallucination horrors. Seer-like visions when Sully was hurt, about to be, or that he would derail my life far worse than I feared.
And this one? It granted a flash-forward into the future as well as a rewind to the past, and I stood in the crosshairs of so many decisions and destinations all forking out like a thousand needles on a compass. There were so many journeys I could’ve taken, so many people I could’ve met, so many adventures I could’ve chased, yet...none of those would’ve been right.
Yes, I could’ve had a good life. And yes, I could’ve been happy, but only because I wouldn’t have known the absolute joy of finding the one.
Sully was the one.
No question or doubt.
He was the reason I’d been birthed at this exact ti
me in history because there was more than just serendipitous chance that’d brought us together but a lifetime of reincarnation and unknown attempts to find each other.
I lost the battle not to cry as I continued staring wordlessly at the ring looping his finger. To have that symbol on him made me possessive, powerful, and filled to the brim with omnipotent conviction.
This was kismet in every brilliant shape and story.
“Sullivan Sinclair,” I sniffed back my tears and looked into his stunning sea gaze. “I am no longer afraid. No longer afraid of making a mistake or saying the wrong thing. No longer afraid of missing out or not taking a gamble when I should. I’m not afraid because I know I can tell you anything, and you will listen. I can confide in you, and you will care. I know I can make mistakes, and you will be there to help me and laugh with me. Every new experience, we will share together. Every new gamble isn’t a gamble because we are together, and that’s unbelievably precious. I have no doubt you will get bossy and controlling at times, but I also have no doubt you will be generous and protective. I promise you I will look after you in every mood and malady. I will stand by you with your charities and your crusades for all feathered and furred. Like you, I know that the depth I feel for you now is nothing compared to how I will love you a year from now, a decade from now, a lifetime from now. You own me body and soul, Sully, not because of contracts or choices but because you always have. Just as I own you.”
Sully’s nostrils flared as he grabbed my hand and slid the third and final ring onto my finger. A smaller feminine version of the feathered diamond creation already on his.
With a soft shake of his head and a gentle chuckle, he murmured, “I just had an epiphany, my wonderful Eleanor.”
“Oh?”
He stroked the double diamonds on my finger, thoughts clouding his gaze. “Ever since I met you, there has been one question that never had an answer. I thought I had it when I first told you I loved you, but...I have a much better response now.”
“What was the question?”
Sully ignored me and turned to the celebrant. “Can you please bind us now?”
I shivered as the celebrant nodded and clasped his hands. “Do you, Sullivan Aiden Sinclair, take Eleanor Grace to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
“I do.” His rumble sounded like the volcano I’d always likened his temper too. The quiet cracking of tectonic plates, the absolute threat of power ready to be unleashed at any moment.
“And do you, Eleanor Grace, take Sullivan Aiden Sinclair to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“I have a middle name too. I’d like to add it, please.” I glanced at the suited celebrant. “Jinx.”
Sully sucked in a breath, swaying enough that he grabbed his cane and spread his legs in the sand for support.
I smiled, desperate to kiss him, wild to get him into a bed so we could finish our final vows with his body inside mine.
The celebrant sighed but repeated his question. “Do you, Eleanor Jinx Grace, take Sullivan Aiden Sinclair to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“I do.”
“In that case, I pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Sully jerked me into him, but instead of planting his mouth to mine, he nuzzled into my hair and whispered against my ear. “Who are you, Jinx? Who the fuck are you to destroy me, restore me, and ultimately make me the happiest monster alive?”
I shivered as his tongue licked the shell of my ear.
We had an audience. Waves licked around our bare feet, soaking our hem and cuffs. Two parrots flew around our heads, not appreciating that they’d been excluded, and eyes watched us as Sully once again broke tradition.
“Who are you, Eleanor?” he murmured.
And I knew exactly the answer he wanted.
The question he’d asked since the beginning.
The question that had dragged a whole suitcase of answers with it but never gave quite the right one.
I’m yours.
I’m your other half.
I’m your ever after.
I’m...
“Who are you, Jinx?” Sully asked again, biting the simple pearl dangling in my ear.
I had the answer.
The only answer.
“Who am I, Sully?” I kissed the whiskers on his face. “I’m your wife.”
His entire body shuddered. His exhale made him bow into me. And his voice wobbled with awe. “Damn fucking right you are.” Pulling my head back with his fist in my hair, he crushed his mouth to mine. He once again smashed apart any wedding expectation of a simple public kiss and made the beach ignite with roaring fire as his tongue plunged past my lips and plastered me hard against him.
His cane dug into my dress. His arms banded around me. And his kiss made me breathless and aroused all in one.
I met his hunting tongue with my own.
He groaned as I dropped all propriety and kissed him as savagely as he kissed me.
We kissed as if we’d survived the wreckage of life and were truly shipwrecked on this sinful paradise.
We kissed until Cal drifted away with Jess, the celebrant grumbled and returned to the helicopter, and my father turned off the video feed, leaving us all alone in the warm-licking shallows.
We kissed until even the sun bowed to our need, extinguishing itself into the sea in a flaming orb of blood and carnage, summoning the cloak of night to keep our kisses and our animalistic drive to ravage each other far away from innocent stars.
Chapter Forty-Five
MY WEDDING NIGHT AND my body had almost reached its limit.
How fucking sad was that? How fucking embarrassing.
Five weeks since I’d woken, and I still suffered so many effects from harpoon wounds and helicopter falls. I cursed my weakness, but I was also rather proud. I’d earned those bruises and scars in defeat of my enemies and the defence of those I loved.
I’d earned them.
I would wear them with pride, even if it meant having wild sex with Eleanor would tax every last power I had left.
“We’re at my old villa.” Eleanor glanced up as we slowly made our way down the sandy laneway. Thanks to everyone leaving during our wedding kiss, we had no transportation. Even Pika and Skittles had abandoned us.
Not that the short walk from the beach to Jinx’s old villa was an issue. It was an honour to walk beside her as birds roosted and the shadows of bats flickered just out of sight. I hadn’t intended to return to Nirvana tonight.
I’d...done something.
I’d gambled on a new recipe Peter Beck had been working on and set up a surprise for Eleanor. I had no clue how she’d take it.
“Let’s go inside,” I said, digging my cane into the sugary sand and doing my best not to lean too heavily on her. If I couldn’t walk unassisted, then I’d married her under false pretences, and that would be blasphemy.
She was my wife.
She’s my wife.
Fuck, I’d never get tired of that.
Slinking out from under my arm, she dashed to the door and pushed it open. Waiting for me over the threshold, she laughed suddenly, eyeing up my slow, steady stroll. “You broke so many wedding traditions today, I’m wondering if I should break one of my own.”
“Oh? Which one?”
“I think the bride should carry the groom over the threshold.” She ducked out of my reach as I swiped for her.
“Say such things again and I’ll have to punish you for trying to emasculate me. That kiss before almost ensured I fucked you right on the beach—with or without an audience. I can’t control myself around you, and I definitely don’t need you carrying my ass across a stupid doorway.”
She winked and darted inside. “Ah well, plenty of time for you to sweep me off my feet and complete that particular tradition later.”
“I’ve already swept you off your feet.” I grinned, closing the door behind me and wiping at the heat on my nape. “I’d say I was pretty successful at it, seeing as my ring is no
w upon your finger.”
She held up her hand, catching the Hawk diamonds in the sconces around the villa. They glittered with every promise and pledge I’d given. “They’re stunning, Sully. I love that Pika and Skittles are included.” She wrinkled her nose. “Where are those birds anyway?”
I shrugged, moving slowly but steadfast into the living room. “Getting drunk on hibiscus probably.” From here, I could see the surprise laid out on Eleanor’s bed. Familiar black boxes with purple orchids stencilled on the top.
For the past three weeks, I’d worked fairly hard, emails and theories, new concepts and trials. I’d achieved a few things during my work hours that I hadn’t divulged to Eleanor.
One, there were hints of a pandemic brewing that required swift vaccines and expensive research to inoculate mass populations. I’d tasked the scientists on Monyet to deconstruct the current viruses on hand to hopefully provide at least some immunity, if and when that pandemic spread.
I wasn’t opposed for Mother Nature to kill off the parasites of mankind, but I also couldn’t stand by if it was in my power to protect someone’s loved one.
Not now.
After falling for Eleanor, she’d ensured I had a deeper well of empathy. Too fucking much really. I couldn’t stop putting myself in other husband’s shoes, watching their wife succumb to infection and disease, knowing I had the resources to at least give a fighting chance for improving people’s odds.
Two, thanks to Eleanor’s flippant remark about using Goddess Isles for couples with marriage problems, I’d asked Cal and Jess to look into how employing a few psychiatrists and counsellors could work and offer a sexual vacation away from the strain of arguments, domestication, and mistakes. I wasn’t interested in opening my shores just yet but possibly in the future.
Euphoria could once again be used. A program redesigned to provide a safe space for couples to unleash their anger and hopefully remember why they loved each other in a virtual reality program away from any stress of reality.
Three, the destruction of elixir in Geneva meant no more of the overly potent, potentially suicidal drug now existed. However, I had been dabbling with another panacea in a flurry of emails with Peter Beck. I still used the aphrodisiac extract from purple orchids but had requested it be mixed with a different formulation.
Fifth a Fury (Goddess Isles, #5) Page 34
