Tying the Knot (Thalia Book 4) (The Thalia Series)

by Jennifer Bene

  Tying the Knot

  Jennifer Bene

  Text copyright © 2017 Jennifer Bene

  All Rights Reserved

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Cover design by Eris Adderly. http://erisadderly.com/

  ISBN-10: 1-946722-17-0

  ISBN-13: 978-1-946722-17-1

  Created with Vellum

  We have all been through such a ride with James and Thalia, haven’t we, lovelies? I can’t think of a more amazing group of people to dedicate this book to than all of the wonderful readers and authors who fell in love with Thalia’s story right along with me. The incredible people who believed in the darkness and the light right along with me.

  Each of you deserved this ‘happily ever after’ as much as Thalia.

  I adore you all.

  Contents

  The Thalia Series

  Characters

  1. Chapter One

  2. Chapter Two

  3. Chapter Three

  4. Chapter Four

  5. Chapter Five

  6. Chapter Six

  7. Chapter Seven

  8. Chapter Eight

  End Notes

  The Branding

  Bonus! A Kalen and James Flashback

  About the Author

  Books by Jennifer Bene

  The Thalia Series

  Security Binds Her

  Striking a Balance

  Salvaged by Love

  Christmas at Purgatory

  Tying the Knot

  Characters

  In an effort to not force you to re-read all of the books, I’m listing the characters from previous books that are involved in this book with a quick reminder of who they are to help you out. If you’re all caught up on the Thalia series, then go right ahead to Chapter One, lovelies!

  NOTE: If you have not read the Thalia series (what are you doing here?) there are spoilers below! And in this whole book. Really, you need to go back and read Security Binds Her!

  Thalia Reynolds – Main character. Kidnapped by Marcus in Security Binds Her, purchased by James.

  Marcus Williams – Our twisted and sexy villain that we love to hate. Well, we used to. (Pssst, he’s dead.)

  Anthony Williams – Marcus’ f*cked up and seriously psychopathic brother. He’s in prison.

  James Thomas Hawkins – British hottie and Dom who rescued Thalia. They’re engaged and getting married, ya know?

  Kalen & Maggie Reid – Married, kinky Scottish couple. They own Purgatory, the submissive training school that James and Thalia went to in Striking a Balance. Kalen is also James’ BFF. There’s a fun extra of their first summer together at the end of the book!

  Ailsa Reid – Kalen’s sister. Therapist at Purgatory, and Thalia’s personal therapist too.

  Julie and Antonio – A couple that James and Thalia met at Purgatory, they’re married now, and there’s another surprise about them in the first chapter.

  Analiese and Nick – Couple they met at Purgatory, both are from Germany. Analiese was always the quiet one, Nick is into rope and making Analiese make noise.

  Chloe / Lauren / Brad – A fun little FFM ménage trio from Purgatory. Chloe and Lauren like to play with each other, and Brad likes to play with both of them! They’re a mess, but we love them anyway.

  Katherine Hawkins – James’ younger sister. She lives in America, lives off her family’s money, and is charmingly ridiculous, but she really does love her brother.

  Henry and Evelyn Hawkins – James and Katherine’s parents. Old British money kind of wealthy, but very nice people.

  Jake – Mercenary hired by James to rescue Thalia in Salvaged by Love.

  Peter – Head of the security detail James hired to watch over Thalia when they came back to London.

  Beth Doherty – Woman taken by Anthony Williams in 2011, before he broke her and sold her off to a bad place. She was rescued when James and Thalia turned over the info on Marcus and Anthony to INTERPOL.

  Victoria Evans – Woman taken by Marcus Williams when he wanted a replacement for Thalia.

  Ready? I know you’ve been patient, lovelies. Go for it.

  Chapter One

  Two years, three months after the auction

  Most girls imagine their wedding at some point in their life, picturing the man who will stand beside them, in front of a sea of family and friends. Thalia had never really thought about it, never cut out pictures from magazines, or pinned centerpieces to boards online… but, then she got engaged.

  To James Thomas Hawkins. Her everything.

  And that meant flowers, and dresses, and cake samples, and centerpieces.

  Twelve months filled to the brim with planning, and appointments… and now it was finally time.

  If either Thalia or James had ever been religious, they would have held the wedding in a grand church inside London — although Saint James’ Cathedral would have never happened for obvious reasons. There would have been a long train on a pristine white dress, prayers and hymns. It would have been a formal celebration for all in attendance.

  Which Evelyn, James’ mother, would have preferred.

  Instead, they were at Hampton Court House in the countryside outside of London, with sprawling gardens, and a beautiful house with grand rooms, and, well…

  Everything was mass fucking chaos.

  “Where in the hell are my shoes?” Julie whined, turning in circles in the cramped dressing suite, which wouldn’t have been cramped at all if it weren’t filled with five bridesmaids all trying to put on complicated dresses, and one stunned bride-to-be.

  “Here they are,” Analiese answered, shuffling to grab the pale lavender heels hidden behind a pile of suitcases.

  “Jesus… I can’t see a bloody thing over my huge belly! I’m completely disgusting.” Julie threw her hands up, sullenly staring down at the basketball shape sticking out of the pale purple gown.

  “Oh, hush, ye look gorgeous,” Maggie chided, laughing. “If I had looked half that pretty at seven months pregnant, I would have been counting my blessings.”

  “Maggie is right, Julie. You’re still tiny!” Lauren stuck her tongue out when Julie turned and flipped her off.

  “You’re not the one exploding out of her bridesmaid dress, Maggie! I swear I should have had the woman give me an extra few inches.” Julie shifted to stare at the open back of her dress in the floor-length mirror, reaching back to try and make the two halves meet. “I don’t think it will even zip up. You’re going to have to tape me into this fucking thing.”

  “If that’s what it takes, Jules, we’ll get you in.” Chloe stood up from the floor, still clad only in underwear and no bra. “But, more importantly, has anyone found Thalia’s veil?”

  “I’m sure it’s here somewhere,” Thalia answered distractedly, sinking deeper into the chair as she stared out the window at the beautiful grounds surrounding Hampton Court House.

  “Chloe! What the bloody hell? You took out my vodka?” Lauren stared at her girlfriend, irritation puckering her mouth.

  “There’s several bottles of champagne on the table, just open one! Lord knows we could all use some alcohol.” Chloe waved a hand, but it had no effect.
<
br />   “Exactly my point, I put the bottle in here to give us all a little pick-me-up before the ceremony.”

  “That wouldn’t help me out much,” Julie snarked, and Maggie laughed.

  “Just wait until the little darling is born, then ye will be in for some real trouble!” Maggie turned around on the footstool to eye Thalia. “Are ye listening to this?”

  Smiling despite the razor winged butterflies assaulting her insides, Thalia shrugged and looked over the insanity that always happened when the girls were together. “It sounds pretty normal to me.”

  “This sounds normal to ye?” Maggie turned around and snapped her fingers. “Julie, would ye just sit down and stop fussing? Yer not the bride!”

  “Playing the switch today, Maggie?” Thalia grinned, and Maggie rolled her eyes.

  “Don’t ye start with me too, or I’ll Domme the lot of ye!” Standing up, Maggie picked her way around the bags and scattered clothes so she could grab Julie by the shoulders and push her down onto the couch beside a still sulking Lauren. “Sit, and breathe. Getting this worked up isn’t good for ye or the wee one.”

  Julie took a slow breath, leaning back against the sofa where her bright blonde hair formed a fuzzy halo around her head. “I know that, and I know I’m not the bride. But I won’t even be able to walk up the aisle to stand beside the bride at this rate. Jake is going to be dealing with a waddling mess who is sticking out of her dress like an overstuffed sausage.”

  “Jake is not going to care, Julie, I promise.” Thalia turned in the chair to stare at her friend. “He handles guns for a living, and deals with much more serious shit than a wedding.”

  “That’s my point!” Throwing her hands up, Julie let them drop to her sides and went completely limp, her lower lip trembling. “You’ve got me paired with the commando hottie, and I look like a blimp. A big, gross blimp.”

  “Julie!” Maggie sighed as the tears started. “Would someone pop the champagne? I think we all need some.”

  “I’m on it! Alcohol fixes everything.” Chloe jumped up, her breasts bouncing, and Thalia couldn’t help but laugh because the woman’s mocha toned back was striped with the lingering evidence of a flogger.

  Well, at least my ass matches one of my bridesmaids.

  Glancing back out the window with one more look of envy, Thalia shoved herself out of the chair. She was still in her yoga pants and tank top, the same ones she’d put on after James had given her the wedding day wake-up he’d promised.

  A trio of floggers, an unknown number of orgasms, and then he’d fucked her until she’d begged him to just let her skip the wedding insanity and sleep.

  That comment had earned her a swat from his hand that had tingled for half an hour.

  Dropping to her knees in front of her friend, she caught Julie’s tear-filled eyes. “Julie, come on, don’t cry. What did Antonio tell you just before you came in here?”

  “I don’t remember.” She sniffled, her nose turning red as her quiet crying continued. Pregnancy hormones and wedding day stress.

  At least she was a distraction.

  “Something about how you’ve never looked more beautiful than you do carrying his child? And that it was going to take him an effort not to punch Jake and take his place?” Thalia grinned when that drew a huff of a laugh from the normally vibrant woman, a smile tilting Julie’s lips at the edges.

  “That would be bloody stupid. I’m quite sure Jake is some kind of ninja.”

  “Exactly! At least you have the commando hottie, Julie. I have an aristocrat,” Analiese mumbled as she started to peel the foil off a second champagne bottle. “If I make a mistake and say the wrong thing, I’m possibly outing James to his coworker and the rest of the London elite.”

  “You won’t do that, Analiese.” Thalia sighed. “First of all, you barely talk to people you don’t know, and, second, Tom wouldn’t care anyway. He’s still stunned James asked him to be a part of the wedding party.”

  “I’m getting much better at speaking up and sharing what I’m thinking, which is exactly what I’m worried about.” Rolling her eyes, Analiese popped the champagne bottle and handed it to Chloe. “Think a ball gag would clash with the bridesmaid dress?”

  “Oh my God!” Julie cackled, and in an instant her tears disappeared, replaced with the wide grin that made her look so much more like herself. Soon, the whole room was laughing at the idea — but when Analiese pushed the champagne cork between her lips everyone lost it.

  Thalia was laughing so hard her cheeks hurt, stomach aching as she sat down on the floor to try and catch her breath.

  “I think Nick might appreciate an o-ring gag a little more!” Maggie shouted over the laughter, before erupting into boisterous cackles again.

  “Just what we need, a little service under the tables during the Wedding Breakfast!” Chloe took a sip of her champagne, carrying two other glasses to the couch to pass them off to Thalia and Lauren. Both of them were flushed bright red and unable to stop laughing at the picture of Analiese wearing a full-on gag.

  “Could you imagine the look on James’ parent’s faces? I would die! I would just fucking die.” Thalia groaned, stifling herself so she could sneak a sip of the champagne. Delicious and expensive — a treat from Kalen and James for all of them. Swallowing the golden liquid, she let out a long breath. “We’d have to move to Canada just to escape the infamy.”

  “It would absolutely hit the society pages.” Lauren winked at her when she glanced over, and Chloe simply grinned mischievously from her seat on the arm of the couch.

  “Ye two promised Thalia ye wouldn’t be naughty at the wedding.” Tilting her glass at the two of them, Maggie raised her eyebrows. “That means no making out in front of the vanilla aristos. Today is for Thalia and James.”

  “Boo! You know James can’t be the only kink-loving posh one.” Leaning down, Chloe brushed her lips across Lauren’s neck. “And I know for sure that some of the guests would like to hear the noises I can pull out of Lauren.”

  “Chloe…” The name came out on a breathy moan, Lauren’s back arching, her knees parting as her girlfriend slid a hand between them, stroking over the silken underwear.

  “Great, now I’m horny.” Julie sighed dramatically and everyone groaned in agreement as Lauren and Chloe separated from their kiss.

  “I’m sure there’s a bathroom somewhere where we could burn off a little energy… just to make sure we behave.” Lauren grinned, but Maggie snapped her fingers.

  “Not a chance. Do I need to go get Brad for ye?”

  “That sounds like even more fun!” Chloe giggled, tipping up her champagne to finish it.

  “Oh, it does? Then how about I run and snag Kalen?” At the mention of the man who had trained each and every girl in the room, Chloe and Lauren quieted with pretty pouts.

  “You wouldn’t dare. He’s James’ best man, he’s busy.”

  “Try me, girls. And don’t forget, Chloe, yer paired with Sean for a reason.” Winking, Maggie looked around the room and swallowed the last of her champagne. “All right… the wedding starts in less than two hours. We need to get into our dresses and get ready so we can all help Thalia into hers.”

  When no one moved an inch, Maggie set her glass down and clapped her hands together, smiling broadly when everyone sat up a little straighter.

  Channeling all of Kalen’s booming authority, Maggie raised her voice, “Right now, girls! Clock is ticking!”

  “Yes, ma’am!” The others answered, still occasionally giggling, and Thalia returned to her chair by the window to get out of their way. Hanging from a rack in the corner was her dress, still in its clear garment bag. All ivory colored lace, with a voluminous petticoat that made the plastic bulge around it.

  Just looking at it had her heart racing in her chest, tapping against her ribs as if to remind her that in a short time she’d be standing in front of over a hundred guests — and she’d have to speak. Swallowing hard, she reached down to tug the wad of papers from h
er purse that were supposed to be her finished vows. And they were kind of finished, mostly finished.

  Fuck.

  “Chloe, can I have some more champagne?” Thalia felt the shaky smile on her lips, and her friend read her like a book.

  “Have the whole bottle, girl. You need to relax before it’s your turn to get all fancy.”

  “Right… thanks.” Tucking the bottle on the floor next to her, Thalia curled up in the chair and started to flip through the pages as she steadily sipped the champagne.

  Everything is going to be fine, baby. The day will fly by.

  James’ words from that morning came back to her, and she rolled her eyes. Of course today was easy for him, he was used to society events. This was a piece of cake for someone raised in this world. He was probably sitting in the other dressing suite cracking jokes with his friends, relaxing without a single care in the world.

  Chapter Two

  “Ye okay?” Kalen asked as James tossed back the whisky in his glass, the large cube of ice rattling against the sides.

  “Of course, why wouldn’t I be?” Reaching up, James tugged at his collar, undoing another button as a flush of heat made him start to sweat.

  “Well, ye look like yer about to faint. Should I bring over a pillow for ye to swoon on?” With a grin, Kalen ignored the steady glare his old friend returned and simply poured another two fingers of whisky into the glass. “Talk to me.”

  “I’m fine,” James insisted. Turning, he leaned back against the table to watch the other men running a game of poker. They were chatting quietly, circled around the coffee table in front of the sofa, random taunts and laughs cutting in and out of the buzz. He knew he should be sitting with them, playing cards as they waited for Thalia and the girls to be ready, but every time he sat down his entire body thrummed with the urge to move.