“I’ll be the best daddy in the world baby, I’ll love and protect you with everything I am, and I’ll fight for you no matter what. I’ll always stand by you, and I’ll be your best friend. I’ll encourage you to be the very best you can, and try my hardest to help you achieve your every dream. I promise to love you and Mummy forever. I promise to make you happy, and I promise to beat anyone up who upsets you.” I laugh through my tears and Damon looks up at me smiling. “I promise I’m keeping you both forever.”
I fall to my knees in front of Damon and wrap my arms around his waist. He wraps me in his arms and kisses my head. “Are you okay beauty?” I nod my head, and my words come out as a snuffle.
“I'm..... So....orry, I'm just so happy,” I tell him. Damon lets out a bellowing laugh at my words, his entire body shaking mine, and I playfully hit him in the stomach. He holds me as I take a moment to compose myself. When I pull back he kisses me sweetly on the lips before bringing us to our feet. He turns me so we’re now facing each other again, and I take a deep breath before I say my vows.
“Damon, before I met you my life was empty. I was lost, still figuring out who I was and what I’m meant to do with my life, figuring out who I’m meant to be. You are the sunshine that brightens up even my darkest days. You make me better, and you make me want to be the best person I can be. You are my other half that I didn’t even realise was missing until I met you. You make me whole again. I love you so much, more than I ever thought possible, and being your wife and the mother to your daughter are my greatest achievements. I will love you for eternity.”
Damon lifts my hand and places my ring at the tip of my finger, and I watch him as he repeats the words the officiate asks. His eyes never leave mine.
“Do you Damon, take Ella to be your lawfully wedded wife?” She looks to Damon, who hasn’t looked away from me, his beautiful smile fixed on his face as he says “I do.” He pushes the ring fully onto my finger and places a gentle kiss on my wedding band, then holds his hand out for me to do the same.
Tears are flowing down my face, and I can’t help them, I feel so happy and loved.
“Do you Ella, take Damon to be your lawfully wedded husband?” Before I can answer the baby gives a massive kick that makes me grip my stomach. “Okay baby, I'm getting there,” I giggle. Everyone starts laughing but silences quickly as I take Damon’s hand in mine again “I do.”
Damon doesn’t wait for us to be declared husband and wife, he pulls me to him and his lips meet mine hungrily, my arms wrap around his neck as he pulls me closer. I can hear whistling and cheers behind me but I don't care, this moment couldn’t be any more perfect.
I am finally Mrs Ella Hunt.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
DAMON
I’ve never in my life seen anything as stunning as Ella. I watch her walk to me holding on to Tom’s arm. I smile so fucking big when she looks at me it aches my jaw, I must look like a fucking chimpanzee, but I can’t help it.
She’s mine.
I’ve been waiting for today for a long time, now it’s finally here. I know my plan has worked. She loves me like she needs to.
She looks fucking stunning in her dress, her baby bump showing nicely. It hugs all her curves, showing everyone exactly what I’m gaining by marrying Ella.
As soon as her eyes meet mine I’m lost. Everyone and everything around me disappears. She’s all I see, all I’ve ever seen. My beauty doesn’t know how much power she holds, but she will. She’s going to find out soon, and it needs to be before Leona can get to her.
Tom and Ella reach me and he kisses her cheek again before giving me a nod and walking off to Lacy. I pull Ella to me and enjoy the feel of her in my arms. I hope I get this forever. I hope I don’t lose her.
I need to tell her everything, but I can’t think about that, not yet anyway. I needed her to say I do first, and she has, but I need to enjoy it before my past comes to haunt me.
It's done, she's my wife. There is no going back, only forward. I look around the reception and notice Sandra and Steen. The gleam in Sandra’s eyes is enough to know a storm is brewing, that my time is coming to an end.
The past can never be washed away forever.
Ella needs to know who I am, see the beast in me. She deserves to. I know she’s wanted to tell me something but she doesn’t need to. Nothing will change who we are.
“Ella, I know you’ve wanted to tell me something,” I whisper. Her forest green eyes widen, she thinks I’m asking her what she wanted to say now, but I’m not. “I know who you are, Ella.” I lean forward bringing my lips to ear. “I knew your sister.” I pull back and look in her eyes as she takes in what I said.
It’s time she learnt the truth. She might think she knows who I am but she doesn’t, not really.
Ella Knight knew nothing.
Ella Hunt will know everything.
It's time I avow my sins.
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Alicia Taylor
Alicia Taylor was born and raised in the East Midlands town of Derby, England, where she lives with her family and mass of animals - she's a huge family and animal lover.
Writing powerful love stories and creating Alpha males with a dash of darkness has become a passion of mine, and I have many stories and characters swirling in my head that I can't wait to share with you all. Is it weird to have so many voices in my head? I'm not crazy, I promise... maybe a little bit.
Connect with alicia
Facebook profile | Facebook Fan page | twitter | BLOG | goodreads
Natalie Townson
Natalie Townson is 33, a mother of one beautiful little boy and lives in Gloucester in the UK with her Husband. Corrupted is her debut novel that is a book one of the manipulation trilogy, that she co writes with Alicia Taylor. Warped is book two in the manipulation series. She has had a love of reading since a young age and her favorite authors are Sophie Kinsella, J.S.Scott, Melody Anne and Stephanie Meyer to name a few.
Connect with natalie
facebook profile | facebook fan page | twitter | blog | goodreads
Acknowledgements
Alicia
Holy smokes, it’s that time again, and this never gets easier. First and foremost to my Natty Noo Noo – yes I just went there, now they all know my nickname for you… it’s got to be better than sweaty flange!! LOL. What can I say other than I love your face?! You’re a diamond babe, and I’m so proud of us.
To our amazing beta readers – Bec Sheldon, Lacy Almon, Shawnte Borris, Kelley Hawthorn-Jefferson, Emma Keating and Joanne Swinney. Thank you for taking you time to give us your feedback and for loving the story as much as we.
To our Corrupted Beauties – you ladies rock! You pimp your asses off and get our name out there. Thank you for everything you do! We truly appreciate all you do.
Our editor Carolyn at Write Right Edits – Thank you for all you do. Your services are outstanding and always on point.
Becky McGraw – Thank you for everything. All your help and advice has been priceless and the covers are amazing.
Bloggers – Thank you for helping us get our books out there. We appreciate everything you do.
To the authors in SSRU – You ladies make sprinting fun. Thanks for the sessions to write as much as possible.
To my mum and pops – you both are my biggest supporters, even if I do get embarrassed when you’re telling everyone and anyone that your daughter is an author. I love you. Thanks for all you support.
To my family – thank you for all your support and encouragement.
To my hubster and step-daughters – thank you for dealing with my absence when I’m lost with the voices in my head. Love your faces!!
To you, the readers – Thank you for taking a chance on our books. It truly is amazing hearing you love our characters as much as we do!!
Natalie
Wow can you believe it book two is already out and I hope you all enjoyed it. Where do I begin? As always my best friend f
orever and partner in crime Alicia, you are amazing lady and I loves ya, I'm so proud of what we have achieved.
To our wonderful Beta readers, Lacy Almon, Shawnte Borris, Kelley Hawthorn-Jefferson, Emma Keating and Joanne Swinney, thank you so much for your feedback and for loving the story we have to tell.
To our amazing street team, Alicia & Natalie's Corrupted Beauties you ladies work your socks off and I appreciate everything that you have done for me and Alicia.
Becky McGraw thank you for our amazing covers, I love them
Our wonderful editor Carolyn at Write Right Edits your amazing lady
To all my wonderful family, I love you all thank you for always being there for me when I need you.
To my bestest best friend Colette don’t worry there isn’t a pebbled nubbin’s in sight in this one. Your always there for me when I need you, no matter what I'm complaining about. Besties for life. I miss you and Mr L you need to move back.
My husband Ben, I love you so much, I will always love you, even when I'm torturing you with all my favourite TV shows.
My Beautiful little boy Joseph, you make me want to be a better person, I love you more than words can describe, you make me smile everyday just by being you, I love you sweetheart
Lastly to each and every person who bought Corrupted, your positive kind words are what drove us to write Warped. Thank you for all the support.
Warped (The Manipulation Trilogy Book 2) Page 24
