She does look adorable. Romany is dressed in a little cream dress with matching socks and baby shoes, and a little silk Alice band with tiny flowers on it around her head. Leah is dressed very similarly to my daughter at her request. Leah wanted a cream princess dress, and matching shoes, her dark curls have been straightened so that she could have her hair French braided, and she looks beautiful. “She looks perfect, Leah, you both do.”
“Do you really think so, Roman?”
“I really think so,” I tell her with a kiss to her head.
“Daddy, I’m going to dance with a boy today!”
I groan, and my dad’s eyes widen. In his eyes, Leah will always be a little girl, and boys are not allowed. My sister doesn’t look her age, but to the outside world, she’s a woman. No one outside of the family knows that she has special needs, so men often come on to her. Leah doesn’t understand the art of flirting and often gets upset. Dad tries to protect her from it, but it’s not always avoidable. Though if Leah wants to dance with a boy, it’ll be a member of the club. As she’s taken a shine to Bones, it’ll probably be him. I’ll allow it because I know he would never do anything untoward. He’d have no spine if he did.
“We’ll see, Leah.”
“Mommy said I could.” She pouts, making me chuckle.
Dad groans, but nods his head to let Leah know it’s okay. She smiles happily and walks away with Romany. “That girl will be the death of me.” Dad laughs while shaking his head and walking away from me.
I pray this day is everything Marley has hoped for, but what if I’m wrong and she hates it?
There’s nothing you can do about it now, Roman; it’s all sorted. Marley will either love it or hate it. You’ll soon find out.
“Stop worrying. She’ll love it.”
I narrow my eyes at Ace as he hands me a glass of water, which I need right now. A beer would have been better, but I don’t want to smell of alcohol before the wedding. “How’d you know what I was thinking?”
“There’s a couple of weeks difference in age between us. We’ve been close since we were babies. I know everything about you as you do me. I even know what you’re thinking. Plus, it’s written all over your face.”
Typical. Prick always could read me like a book.
“You’ve got nothing to worry about, Roman. Marley loves you. You’re all she’s going to see when she walks through that door.”
“I hope so. I don’t want to disappoint her.”
“You won’t. Trust me.”
“She’s here!” Someone yells, and my heart rate picks up.
Here goes.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Marley
Wow, you look amazing, Marley.”
“Thanks, Elie.” I stare at myself in the mirror. The dress, my makeup, my updo, all seem a little much for a hog roast. Moreover, if Elie weren’t dressed in a light blue dress with her hair done up, I’d be wondering what the hell was going on.
Roman took Romany with him this morning and told me to get a couple of hours extra sleep, and that Elie would pick me up in her car this afternoon. I was glad for the extra rest, Romany was a little fussy last night. I think she had a bit of a tummy ache, bless her.
“Are you going to stand looking at yourself all day, or are we ready to go in?”
I laugh and pull myself away from the wing mirror. “I still don’t understand why we had to dress up. I thought you said these things were casual.”
Elie bites her lips nervously before replying. “Yeah. Anyway, let’s go in.” She grabs my hand and drags me inside the clubhouse. I don’t see what the rush is!
Elie pulls me through the clubhouse, and out to the back where the hog roast is being held. Only it’s not a damn hog roast, and I think I’m about to throw up! There are so many people here, all looking smart, and every one of them looking at me.
I think I’m in shock as I look around. I don’t understand what’s going on, but the whole place looks fantastic. I’ve never seen so many twinkling lights and flowers in one place before. It looks like someone is about to get married. Deep down, I know it’s me, and tears begin to form in my eyes. I stare at the man-made aisle where a red carpet lays, and at the end is a preacher waiting for me to join the man I love.
I link eyes with Roman, he’s watching me with a smile on his face, and I swear I see tears in his eyes. He’s looking at me like I’m the only woman in the world to exist at this moment. My lip quivers as I smile at him. This is my wedding day, and the man I love organized this beautiful scene for us.
I laugh slightly as Elie hands me a beautiful bouquet of white roses. She remembered my perfect bouquet. “Thank you.”
Elie leans in and kisses my cheek. “Happy wedding day, sweetheart. Now, go get married.” She winks and then takes her seat beside Wrench. I stare at him for a moment. I feel emotional as I look at him because if it weren’t for Wrench, I wouldn’t have met Roman. If I hadn’t met Roman, I wouldn’t have my daughter.
Wrench means so very much to me, and I don’t think he has a clue. My lip quivers, and I reach my hand out to him. Wrench gets out of his seat and takes my hand in his own. I wrap my arms around his waist for a moment and rest my head on his chest. “Thank you.”
“For what?” He whispers.
I look up at him and smile. “For coming into my life. I’m where I am now because I met you.”
“Because you saved me.” Wrench winks and I laugh.
“You mean a lot to me, Wrench. You, Elie, and little Kaleb.” I take Wrench’s hand in mine. “I want you to know that I am so grateful to have met you and that I love you like a brother, and I always will.”
Wrench cups my cheek and smiles. “I love you, too.” He hugs me again for a moment before pulling away. “Go get married.”
“Will you walk me down the aisle?” Wrench’s looks stunned. I don’t have any family of my own, and there is no one else I’d rather have me walk down the aisle than my best friend. “Please?”
“I’d be honored.” He offers me his arm. “Shall we?” I laugh and nod my head while taking the crook of his arm.
God, this is it, I’m going to walk down this aisle and marry the man I love. My stomach is turning over in the best way possible. I’m aware of the people either side of me, smiling at me as I walk toward Roman. However, I have eyes only for him. I watch him unashamedly wipe a tear from his eye as I reach him. Wrench places my hand in Roman’s before kissing my cheek and then taking his seat next to Elie.
“Surprise, baby.” I giggle as Roman brings my hands to his mouth and plants a kiss on my knuckles. “I hope this is okay. I wanted to make today special for you.”
I look around the room, my eyes landing on my baby girl in Leona’s arms, and I breathe in a deep, happy breath. I turn my eyes back to Roman and smile. “This is so okay, Roman. This is perfect, and I love you so much.”
“I love you more.”
“If everyone is ready, let's get started.”
Both Roman and I take a deep breath. And so it begins.
* * *
I dance in the arms of my husband – a slow dance that has me sighing happily. Today has been beyond anything I could have imagined. We’ve been married for five hours already, and the reception has been out of this world. Roman and I said our vows, and I cried when the preacher pronounced us Man and Wife.
The club had organized this beautiful reception for us. There seems to be an endless supply of food and alcohol, and everyone has danced their hearts out. Seeing so many children laughing and having fun had me forgetting the past and enjoying the present.
“I hope today has been everything you ever dreamed of.”
I look at my husband and smile. “And much more.”
“So you’re not pissed that I did all of this behind your back?”
I shake my head, still smiling. “Not at all. Today has been more than I could have hoped for, Roman. I will always remember this day, and I’ll tell our grandchildren all about how their won
derful grandfather surprised me with such a beautiful wedding.”
“Grandchildren, huh?”
I nod my head while wrapping my arms around his neck. “Of course. Romany is bound to have one or two babies.”
“Not until she’s at least thirty. Any younger and I’ll kill the man who knocks her up. Hell, I’ll kill any man who touches her. Period!”
I bite my lower lip, trying to hide the smile. That was such a Dad thing to say! I grab the back of his neck and pull his lips to mine, and I moan into his mouth as we kiss with passion. “Do you think anyone would miss us if we disappeared for ten minutes?”
Roman looks around the room, checking if anyone is watching us. No one is, everyone is too busy dancing or talking. Roman smirks at me, and takes my hand, leading me out of the main room. I laugh as I run to keep up with him.
Roman pulls me inside the nearest room, slams the door shut, and pushes me back against it. He grabs the hem of my dress, lifting it above my waist while kissing my neck. I groan loudly because that alone has me so hot for him. “We’re not making it to the bed, Marley.”
“Good. Now... Oh god, Roman, that feels so good.”
“Yeah?” I nod as his fingers toy with my soaked pussy through my silk panties. “Christ, I can’t wait for tonight when I get to peel these layers off of my wife.”
“Roman...” I groan loudly.
“That’s it, ride my fingers, baby.” I move my hips in time with Roman’s fingers as they fuck me hard and fast.
“Roman, please. I want to come with you inside of me. Please. Please!”
“I love it when you beg.”
I unzip Roman’s pants, as fast as I can, both of us freeing his hard cock. He grabs me under my ass and hoists me up. I lock my legs around his waist as he slides my panties to one side, and pushes into me in one hard thrust. Oh, god!
“Oh my god, yes!” Roman pins my hands above my head with his left hand and grabs my ass with his right hand, and he slams into me over and over again. Relentlessly, deeper, and harder. I will never get enough of the feeling of having my husband inside of me like this. It feels so good!
I want to touch him. I want to drag my nails down his scalp. “Let me touch you, Roman, please.” He grunts around sucking on my neck, but he lets go of my hands, and they find their way into his hair. Roman grabs my ass with both hands, pushing deeper inside of me, and his shaft rubs hard against my clit, sending shockwaves of pleasure through my body. My pussy walls quiver with the force of his thrusts, and I feel like I’m dying from the pleasure of it all. “Roman... I’m coming. Oh, god, I’m coming!”
“Come, baby. I’m with you!” My core muscles tighten around his throbbing cock, and I can feel him spilling his seed inside of me.
Roman buries his head in the crook of my neck as the tremors subside. “I fucking love you so much, Marley.”
“I love you, my beautiful husband.” I wrap my arms tightly around his neck. “I love you so much. Nothing and no one will ever part us. We’re a family. You gave me a family, and I will always love you for it.”
Roman pushes my hair out of my eyes with a smile on his face. “This is the first day of the rest of our lives. I will always be here for you, and there won’t be a day that goes by when I don’t love you. Let’s get back out there and dance with our daughter.”
Roman pull out of me and sets me on my feet. I right my clothes, while he does the same, and an idea forms in my mind. “Roman?”
“Yeah?”
I smile and fall deeper in love with him as he looks at me. “Can we make a quick stop before we go back out there?”
Roman narrows his eyes. “Where?”
I run my hands up his chest, stand on my tiptoes, and wrap my arms around his neck. Roman smiles and holds me around my waist. “I want you to give me a tattoo.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “You do?”
I nod my head. “You’re my husband, and I want you to give me a tattoo that will show the world I belong to you.” His lips hit mine, he kisses me savagely, and my knees almost give out.
Roman and I sneak past the main room, down the long hall to the sixth door on the left. I can’t help the smile that creeps across my face upon reading the sign on the room. “Roman’s tattoo studio.” I read it aloud.
My husband looks down at me with a smirk on his face. He then leads me inside and tells me to sit down on the reclining bed. I breathe deeply through my mouth because I’m nervous. Roman sits on a stool beside the bed and smiles at me. “Have any idea what you’d like a tattoo of?”
“Erm...” No idea at all. “I’m not sure. All I know is that I want people to know I’m yours.”
“Do you trust me?”
I giggle and nod my head. “More than anyone in this world.”
Roman nods. He then begins sketching something down. I can’t see what it is. I’m guessing he’s going to keep it to himself until it’s ready. Once he puts down his pen, I watch him fixing things so he can begin putting his work on my skin.
I feel sick. I’ve never had a tattoo before, and I’m not sure what to expect. Nova once told me that tattoos don’t hurt. She has four or five of them, yet both Elie and Brooke told me that they hurt so much they’d never get another one.
“Hey,” I open my eyes. I hadn’t realized I’d closed them. Roman takes my hand, uncurling my fist. “Baby, you don’t have to do this.”
“No, I want to. I’m just nervous. Is this going to hurt a lot?”
Roman chuckles. “You’re asking the wrong person.” He runs his finger along his arm. Right, he’s covered in them. “But as a tattoo artist, I will tell you that it can hurt on certain parts of the body. Every person is different, Marley. What hurts one person might not hurt the next.”
I nod my head. I guess I knew that. “I can do this. I’ve been through much worse.” I laugh because I realize how stupid I’m being. I’ve been battered, shot, stabbed, and God only knows what else, and here I am nervous a tattoo might hurt.
“That’s my girl,” Roman leans in and kisses me. “Now, where would you like this tattoo.”
I stare into his big green eyes. I don’t know what I did to deserve this man, but I know that I’m going to do everything in my power to keep him. I never knew I could love anyone the way I love Roman. Hell, I thought this kind of love only existed inside of romance novels. However, it does exist because I’m living it.
I reach over and cup his cheek. Roman leans into my touch without taking his eyes from me. I feel emotional. I’m not sad; I think I’m just overwhelmed. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”
“Nothing.” I shake my head, a smile on my face as I wipe a tear from my cheek. “I guess I’m a little overwhelmed with how much I love you. I don’t know what I did to deserve you, Roman.”
“I could say the same about you. You’ve changed my whole world, Marley. I never knew anything was missing in my life until you walked into it.”
“Ditto,” I whisper.
“There are no words I can give you that would do justice to how I feel about you, Marley. I love you is all I have.”
“That’s all I need.” We reach for each other at the same time, and we hold each other for a few moments. Everything we’re feeling in this moment flows through the two of us, and I know right now that he’ll always love me.
Finally, I’m ready for my husband to ink my skin. I’ve decided to get it across my heart, that’s where he belongs. I won’t lie, the second the needle touches my skin, my eyes roll in pain. It’s not pleasant; I can tell you that!
Though I’m grateful that Roman works quickly, he’s done in a matter of ten minutes. I’m dying to take a look and see what he’s stamped on my skin for all time.
Roman wipes away the access ink, then rubs petroleum jelly across my chest, and tells me to take a look.
My legs are still shaking as he helps me to my feet. I’m so excited to see what it is that laughing all the way to the floor length mirror on the left wall. My jaw drops, and my eyes
wide as I take in the sight before me. I don’t know what to say. My eyes shoot to Roman and then back to the mirror. It’s beautiful and perfect, and I’m in awe of how well my husband knows me.
“Do you like it, baby?”
Tears fall from my eyes as I nod my head. “It’s perfect. Oh, Roman, I love it!”
His smile is wide. “That’s what I like to hear.”
I stare at my tattoo some more. The white and pale pink wedding rose with today’s date in roman numerals is everything I could ask for. I even love that above the rose is written Propery of Roman. I would never have allowed anyone else to write something like that on my body. However, the fact remains that I am Roman’s, and I love it.
Something else catches my eye as I look closer. “Roman is that...?” I’m lost for words.
I look at him through the mirror as he stands behind me with his hands on my shoulders. “I thought it would be nice to incorporate the glue that binds us.”
Romany. Inside the petals of the wedding rose, is my baby girls name. I didn’t think Roman would want Romany’s name added to a tattoo that was meant for him. I planned to ask him to sketch something for my baby another time. God, I love him so much for this.
“Do you really like it, baby?”
I turn to face him and smile. “It’s crazy how well you know me, Roman. What you’ve done is exactly what I wanted. Our special day, our baby girl, and you, what more could I have asked for?”
“Thank God you like it.” He takes a step back from me and removes his cut, then his shirt. What the hell is he doing? “There’s a reason I gave you that tattoo, Marley,” He points to the tattoo across his heart, and my eyes widen. I think I’m in shock.
“When did you do this?” Because it looks brand new.
“Last night. I managed to get Red to do it for me.” I had no idea Red knew how to do tattoos. “Think it’s stupid?”
Crucify Thy Demons: Snakes Henchmen MC Page 19
