The nervousness had faded from Damen’s visage and actions. All she saw was the man who had been there for her, who protected her and fathered her son with her. He was sexy and strong in his dark tux, and his green eyes shined bright with joy behind his glasses. Her heart stuttered in her chest, and when Damen held out his hand, she placed hers into his palm.
“I, Damen Marquette,” he said, “give to you, Heaven Burk, this ring, as a symbol of my commitment to love…”
He paused at the word love, and Heaven swallowed, staring at their joined hands. Damen gave hers a gentle squeeze and a tug. She looked up at him to find him staring back, and he repeated his vows. “To love, honor, and respect you.”
Someone in the audience sobbed, and Heaven suspected it was Jada. Tears rolled down her own cheeks, and she sniffed. She wasn’t imagining it. Damen emphasized the word love, and as she listened to him, her heart swelled.
“I choose you, Heaven, above all others, to be my wife.”
Above all others. The words resounded in her mind again and again, threatening to make her explode in sheer joy. She had thought this day would be just a ceremony as the words of their vows said, a symbol, but it was more than that. Each word she and Damen spoke held meaning, and now as they finished speaking their promises to one another, the minister announced, “You may kiss the bride.”
Damen guided her into his arms and kissed her deeply. Heaven melted against his chest, letting him trap her hands between them. His fingers slid along her sides to her hips and threatened to continue around to her butt, but she caught him and drew him away. A cheer with laughter rose from the audience.
“I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Damen Marquette.”
Gideon ran forward and threw his arms around Heaven. She hugged her son and bent down to kiss his cheek. “Mom,” he whispered, “you look really great.”
“Thanks, baby.” She kissed him again.
Nita wandered over to Damen, and he drew her into a hug and a kiss that she squirmed away from. Gideon stuck his hand out to Damen, who brushed it aside and swept his son into his arms. Gideon looked like he was on cloud nine. Her son would probably never get enough of Damen’s attention. Damen had suggested they take the kids with them on a brief weekend honeymoon. Then at winter break, they would do a longer family getaway to Cancun. She had agreed since they were all so new. The more time together, the better.
Since the reception was taking place on the second floor, there was no need to go anywhere. Heaven accepted all the well wishes and hugs and then turned toward her husband to find him watching her. She smiled and raised her eyebrows. “What?”
“You’re—”
A commotion rose in the back near the restaurant’s entrance. Damen broke off and frowned in that direction. When the two of them spotted the bodyguards on the move, Damen drew her closer to his side.
“What’s going on?” She stretched to her toes to see, but several of the guests were taller than her and stood in the way.
A man came into view, tall and scraggly with a full beard and long greasy hair. Pete reached for him, but the man dodged and started along the aisle. Several of the guests cried out in alarm and darted out of the way. Damen shoved Heaven behind him along with Nita.
“Gideon, get behind me,” Damen ordered, but Gideon took on a fighting stance as if he would help fend off the madman.
Heaven reached out and dragged her son to her side with one hand and Nita to the other side. Nita clutched at her, eyes wide. Heaven figured the girl must be scared if she was willing to hold onto Heaven. Why was this happening on her wedding day?
“Guy, get him, damn it!” Damen barked.
Heaven looked out from behind Damen’s wide back just as the giant bodyguard slammed the intruder face first on the floor. Weaver joined him on the other side, holding the man’s arm in a punishing grip behind him. The entire room quieted down as Heaven guessed everyone wanted to hear what was being said.
The man groaned in pain. “Is this how you treat family?”
Creed burst through the crowd from somewhere and thrust Pete aside, who hovered above the other two guards. “Let him up!”
“Who is that dirty man, Daddy?” Nita inquired in the lull.
For some reason, Gideon scowled at her. She stuck her tongue out at him, and Heaven felt Damen starting to relax as the guards pulled the man to his feet. Creed and Damen stared at the man, but Stefan darted forward and drew him into a hug, slapping his back. “It’s been too long.”
The man shrugged and flashed a white smile amid the excess of hair. “Yeah, it has, Stefan. You haven’t changed. Creed and Damen, you guys scared of me, or what? Your fancy bodyguards almost dislocated my shoulder.”
Creed took his time stepping forward, and he folded his arms over his chest, annoyance simmering. “I didn’t expect you to show up here after I bailed you out—for the hundred time, I might add.”
“What’s a buck or two amid family?” The man spread long arms out to the side, unrepentant of the inconveniences he’d apparently caused Creed.
Damen moved closer. “You’ve been helping him, Creed? You never said.”
“Didn’t you know?” The man slapped Creed on the shoulder. “Creed’s the unofficial head of the family, and I am family. So where’s the beautiful bride? That’s why I’m here after all, to meet my new cousin.”
Heaven gasped. “Cousin?”
Damen turned and drew her to him. He seemed less than enthusiastic about introducing her, but he did anyway. “This is my wife Heaven and our son Gideon. Heaven, Gideon, this is my cousin Duke Marquette, the thorn in the our family’s side.”
“Heaven,” Duke barked excitedly. He started forward as if he would hug her. “Welcome to the family.”
Damen stepped in front of him, blocking his path. “Touch her, and I’ll do what Guy didn’t.”
Duke chuckled. “Whoa, our little Damen has grown up. I thought you were against violence.”
“You’d be surprised what I would do for Heaven.”
“Spoken like a man in love.”
Heaven cleared her throat, embarrassed. “It’s nice to meet you, Duke.”
“Likewise. Looks like my cousin did good the second time around. Never liked that—”
“Duke,” Creed ground out. “You’re late, and you’ve got a big mouth.”
Nita was staring curiously up at Duke, and he had just been about to insult her mother. Heaven didn’t know what to make of the man. He looked like he’d just spent the last month sleeping in an alley, but at least he didn’t smell like it. She studied his face. He needed a shave, a haircut, and a shower, but no mistake about it. Duke had the Marquette green eyes and the arrogant nose and jaw line. He was family. Where had they been keeping him?
Jada came along and grabbed Heaven’s hand. “Come on. Let’s get you out of this dress and into something more comfortable.”
Damen touched her belly with one hand and looked into her eyes. “I wanted to have a quick chat with my wife.”
Warmth rushed through Heaven, and she smiled before offering him a feathery kiss on the lips. “Wait for me. I’ll be right back.”
She slipped away, and her head was full of thoughts of Damen the whole time she changed. Jada chattered nonstop, but Heaven couldn’t help replaying Damen’s vows in her head and how he had said he would do anything for her. Was it just about Gideon, or was she reading more into it? She knew what her heart believed, but the stupid thing wanted to take leaps and bounds beyond reason.
Jada tapped Heaven’s shoulder. “Are you listening to me? Never mind. Don’t answer that. All you can think about is getting back to your husband.”
Heaven drew in a shaky breath. “My husband. Is that weird or what, Jada?”
“It’s not weird. It’s great, and you’ll get used to it soon enough and start calling him fool.”
Heaven laughed. “I will not.”
Her friend cackled. “I’m just kidding, but I know how you feel. This is new and wonderf
ul and scary at the same time. All I know is he looks like the sensitive type.”
“Sensitive?” Heaven thought about it. “I guess you’re right. Damen was always pretty blunt about blurting out his thoughts, but he was never unkind and always thinks of others. He’s so sweet.”
“You love him?”
“Yeah, I love him very much.”
“I know you, Heaven.” She pointed a finger at Heaven. “You’re scared he doesn’t love you, but he married you.”
She nodded, too unsettled to say why.
“It’s not about the kids.”
Was the freaking woman reading her mind?
“It’s about a man and a woman. He is the sensitive type, and nobody needs that kind like you need it. You tried to hide how bad it was with that asshole Leon, but we could guess. We didn’t know how far he crossed the line, but we knew he wasn’t the nicest to you in private. I tried to get you to leave and offered you a place to stay.”
“I know.” Heaven heaved a sigh. “I just didn’t want to drag anyone else into my problems.”
“Now you’ve got Damen. He looks like the real deal, Heaven. Hold onto him, and if there’s ever any misunderstandings, talk it out together. I want to see you completely happy and satisfied. Else, I’m flying back down and busting his balls for him.”
“Ouch.” Heaven laughed. “You saw what happened with their cousin. Really think you have a chance with the bodyguards?”
“I don’t know. I feel like I want to try something anyway. They’re so big and muscular. Yummy.”
“Remember Marco?”
Jada growled. “I should have stayed single. Crap, what am I saying? You’re all set. Go find your husband and let him convince you he loves you.”
Heaven let Jada shuffle her out the door. She hadn’t meant to give the impression she was unsure of Damen’s love, but it must have been written all over her face. He had admitted he loved his ex, might still love her, but he had also offered himself to Heaven to have for always. Maybe Heaven should tell him what she really wanted.
“Psst, Heaven.”
She stopped and looked behind her. Damen stood at the office door signaling to her. Heaven headed back his way and tumbled forward as her husband hurried her into the office. He encircled her in his arms and backed her to the door, trapping her with his body. Heaven brought her hands up to his face and stroked along his jaw. Her heart beat faster, and she leaned in to nibble his bottom lip. He smelled so good, and already she felt his hard-on pressed against her belly.
“We’re not having sex in here,” she announced.
He grinned. “I wasn’t planning on it. Not that I’m not tempted, but I’ve heard stories about Creed and Shada.”
“Ew.” She managed to get out of his hold and walked over to his area. “They didn’t do it on your desk, did they?”
“Probably not.”
She glared at him. He smirked.
“Why do I have the feeling you’re just pretending to be grossed out by the thought?”
“I never said I was grossed out.” He strode over to lean against the desk and patted his chest. “I need you in my arms.”
She tried to keep the smile hidden from her face but melted into his hold. Damen’s fingers danced along her spine, sending chills of delight racing over her skin. She nuzzled his chin and kissed it then sought his lips. He slanted his mouth above hers and parted her lips. Heaven welcomed his tongue into the warm recesses of her mouth, eager for more. Her pussy throbbed to be filled with his dick, but she knew that would come later when they were alone.
After some time, she drew back and flattened her palms on his chest. She tried to look into his eyes but failed because she was so damn nervous. “Damen.”
“Hmm?”
“Um, you said…” Courage failed her, but she blew out a breath and dredged up more from her toes. She was glad he waited in silence rather than rush her. “You told me your body is mine, right?”
“Yes, and we solidified it today.”
“What if I don’t—”
“Don’t want my body? I’m not convinced.” He plucked a taut nipple she didn’t even realize he’d seen. Heaven smacked his hand away.
“No, that’s not what I mean, Mr. One-Track Mind.”
He chuckled, and she realized he’d just used it as an excuse to do what he just did.
“What if I want more than your body?” Oh jeez, I shouldn’t even be asking him this five minutes after we’re married. We had an agreement. I can’t ask for more.
“Tell me what you want, Heaven.”
She dared to peek up at him. His beautiful eyes were trained on her, calm, self-assured. She waited a beat, and he pushed his glasses higher with two fingers. Her heart fluttered.
“What if I told you I want your heart too?” She raised her chin higher. “What if I said I want you to love me, to be in love with me and only me?”
“Hm, that’s an interesting concept.”
“It’s not a concept!” His continued amusement pissed her off, but she had come this far, and she couldn’t turn back. Damn it to hell, she loved him. She loved him over a decade ago, and that love might have died down or disappeared over the years. Their reconnect and the way he treated her these days brought it all back with a vengeance. Heaven began to think Damen had influenced some of the changes in her. She could have gotten the ball rolling by moving to New Orleans, he gave the decision momentum. Either way, she was bolder, stronger, and determined to speak up for herself. She wanted what she wanted, and she needed to make it crystal clear. “I want your heart, Damen!”
“Oh, my sweet Heaven.” He leaned closer to her face and kissed her cheek as one would a child. “That’s impossible.”
She stiffened.
“I can’t give you what I don’t have.” He drew back and looked into her eyes. She tried to move, but he held her trapped against him. Their bodies met from her belly down. Her airway was beginning to close. If she passed out, would he let her hit the floor for being stupid enough to push for more than they agreed on? No, Damen wasn’t like that. He’d catch her every time, even if he was pissed off at her, and that’s what made it so hard to be with him like this.
A coldness washed over her. “Oh. I should have known…”
Damen brushed a thumb across her lower lip. She swallowed.
“Heaven, when I first met you, you were like a breath of fresh air. I was awkward and gangly and too full of my own intelligence. You swept it all away in an instant because when I spoke to you, I forgot who I was. You were from another world, or a star, and I craved you so badly.”
She pulled her mouth away from his touch. “I already know how much you want me physically.”
“No. You don’t.”
Heaven glared through a sheen of tears.
“You can’t understand, but I don’t mind showing you each day. Besides, it’s more than that. As I said, you were something different to me, an enigma I had to figure out. I didn’t understand what I was feeling. You could almost call it an obsession. I identified it back then as lust. You disappeared before I could figure you out for myself.”
She didn’t speak again but lowered her gaze. The lump hadn’t lessened in her throat but lodged there like it had become a permanent fixture. Well, this wasn’t the first time she had been hurt. Maybe over time she could learn to stay with him and let it be enough. She wouldn’t back out or give him up. That part was firm in her mind.
“Heaven?”
“What?” She snapped the word, irritated and hurt at the same time.
Damen touched his forehead to hers. “It looks like you still don’t understand.” He drew in a breath and blew it out. “Let me make it plain. I can’t give you my heart when you already have it. I don’t own my heart. You do.”
Heaven’s mouth fell open. Grinning like a damn idiot, Damen shut it with one finger. The bastard. He had to know he’d scared the hell out of her and tore her apart. She put space between their faces and frowned into
his. That’s when she saw it. Damen let the mask fall away. Damen—her husband—hid his emotions behind jokes and good humor.
He loved her. Heaven remembered the time she had caught the look in Creed’s eyes when he looked at Shada. She recalled the jealousy that had washed over her to think of a man feeling for her the way Creed felt about Shada. Here was Damen, expression wide open, showing her he cared.
Just in case, she said, “Say it. I want to hear the words.”
He cupped her face with both hands. “I love you, Heaven. I loved you then, but I didn’t know what it meant to love a woman like I love you. I loved you when I met my ex and when I came to love her, I still loved you.”
She wrinkled her brow. “Are you serious? How can you be sure?”
“Because you’ve always been there. I felt guilty, like I was betraying her. I didn’t let myself fantasize about you, but I was fully aware I held you in a special secret place. No one but me knew I hadn’t gotten rid of you completely.”
“Damen, I don’t know what to think about that. I feel bad for her.”
“Don’t.” He frowned in confusion. “Or do if you want. Don’t misunderstand me. I convinced myself you were gone for good because that’s what you wanted. I believed the life I lived after that was the life I would continue to lead, and Vida would be a permanent part of it. That’s why I was able to love her and why I was able to be...affected…so harshly when she left.”
Affected, he said. She smiled because Damen was still a man who didn’t feel comfortable sharing all his feelings. He’d been hurt by his ex-wife leaving him. Now she understood it a little better herself. Damen loved her, and she left. He thought his life with Vida would be different. Instead, Vida left too. That’s why Damen had pushed for her and him to get married practically the moment they met again.
“You refused to let me get away again,” she said.
He made a noise of agreement.
“I admire you, Damen.”
He groaned. “I’d rather you say you love me.”
She laughed. “I love you.”
He snatched her close and kissed her lips for a long, dizzying time. After a few frenzied heartbeats, he released her to speak.
Damen (The Marquette Family Book Two) Page 15
