I breathe deeply and concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other. For some unknown reason I have the insane urge to burst into spontaneous tears. Siva smiles at me. Almost there. Almost.
And then I’m there, at the altar, and my mom is putting my hand into Siva’s.
“Take care of her,” she says in a whisper.
“Always,” he answers and kisses her cheek. She moves a step away and takes her seat. Siva looks at me. His eyes are shining with pride and love. “You’re so beautiful,” he mouths just for me.
I blush as my heart reaches out and captures his words, holding onto them forever. I look him over, wanting to remember everything about how he looks in this moment. I never want to forget this.
The priest begins the spiel and unfortunately I miss most of it. Except the part where I say, “I do.” Siva squeezes my hand and slides a large platinum entwined diamond band onto my finger. I in turn slide his band on. It looks like it has always belonged on him. Now everyone will know he’s mine and I’m his.
“You may kiss your bride,” says the priest.
Siva’s hands cup my face and his lips come down on mine. My fingers twine into his hair like they have a mind of their own. I never want to let go. I want to hold him to me forever.
He chuckles and pulls away. “You’re all mine now,” he warns against my lips before kissing me again. He takes my hand and we turn toward the people assembled. Rajas glares at me but even his sourpuss attitude can’t ruin this day for me. I don’t know even know why he came—Siva insisted we had to invite him, or else he’d never live it down, but we both figured his father and step-mother wouldn’t show.
I look up at Siva. My husband. He’s mine. This moody man who drives me crazy but I love like no other is mine.
He leads me from the church and into the limo waiting outside. He leans over and kisses my cheek. “I thought I would die seeing you in this white dress and now I think I may die if I don’t get you out of it.” He smiles wickedly and his eyes darken.
My breath comes out raggedly. “But … everyone will be meeting us at the reception,” I say.
“Don’t worry,” he whispers conspiratorially in my ear, “we have plenty of time.” He places a kiss on my shoulder. “Plenty. Of. Time.”
***
Siva’s hair sticks wildly up around his head and several buttons are buttoned wrong on his shirt. I keep trying desperately to fix it. We’re a block away from the hotel Siva took me to the night he proposed to me. It’s so nice there we decided to have our reception there.
“I told you we shouldn’t have done that,” I scold, buttoning his shirt.
He laughs. “You seemed to enjoy yourself.” He grins smugly.
I shake my head and try to get his hair to lay flat. My hair is beyond repair so I pull out the remaining pins and let them fall onto the limousine floor. I pick up the diamond orchid clip from the floor and use it to pull some hair out of my face in an effort to look somewhat presentable. I smooth the skirt of my dress and fix the one shoulder sleeve.
Despite how movies make it look, sex in a limo is not as easy as you think it is.
Siva grins crookedly. “In my opinion it was worth it.”
“They’re all going to know,” I cry.
He laughs. “Who cares? We’re married. It’s what married people do.”
I want to smack the grin from his face. Instead, I say, “Siva,” but he only laughs harder.
Jerk.
The limo comes to a stop and he waggles his eyebrows. “Showtime.”
***
“You just had sex,” Lyndi blurts the second she sees me.
All the color drains from my face. “How’d you know?” I hiss between my teeth. “Is it written on my forehead?”
She giggles into her hand. “You both have the thoroughly just fucked look about you,” she says, waving to my appearance and then Siva’s across the room.
“Lyndi,” I cry.
She laughs, amused at my pain. “Well it’s true. Oh, and by the way, that Nate guy is gorgeous. Thanks for pushing us together. I wouldn’t mind getting him alone in a coat closet.” She adds with a wink.
My mouth opens and closes like a fish. She giggles at my expression but then sobers. “Oh, God, he’s coming over here.” She pats her vibrant hair and smooths her dress.
“Hello, ladies,” cajoles Nate. “You both look exceptionally beautiful. Thanks for inviting me. Congrats.”
“Thanks,” I say, moving in a way to purposefully push Lyndi and Nate together.
Nate looks at Lyndi and back at me and then back at her. “I was wondering if you would like to dance?” he asks her. “If you don’t mind.” He glances at me. “I didn’t mean to interrupt girl time.”
“Go ahead,” I say and give Lyndi a shove so she falls into his arms.
Nate catches her. “Are you okay?” he asks.
“Yes,” she says, a little breathlessly, “and I would like to dance.” I’ve never seen Lyndi lose her cool like this. It’s kind of nice to see I’m not the only one who gets flustered.
“Great.” He grins and takes her hand to lead her to the dance floor.
A moment later, Siva appears beside me. He nuzzles my neck and wraps his arms around my waist.
“Dance with me,” he pleads seductively in my ear.
I glance out at the open ballroom. The walls, like the restaurant, are black, gold, and cream. Here in the ballroom the walls are actually painted black with accents of gold and the floors are a cream colored marble. Everything screams money! at me. I didn’t want a reception any more than I wanted a church wedding, but Siva had insisted. He said if we were getting married we were going to do it right, after all you only get married once. What a crock.
But I’m learning he can get his way with me when it comes to just about anything. Besides, I am enjoying myself and I think he was right when he said I’d regret it if we didn’t do it this way.
I turn and grab him by the shirt pulling him out onto the dance floor. His caramel skin looks amazing against the white of his shirt. The smooth planes of his chest and stomach strain against the crisp white shirt taunting me.
“Feisty,” he growls and puts his forehead against mine. His black hair is soft against the skin of my forehead. A few strands are hanging in his violet eyes. He’s way too delectable for his own good. I put my hand against his cheek tracing the sculpted planes of his cheekbones. Then I run my finger over his scarred lip and then the dimple in his chin. He moves us across the dance floor in perfect rhythm. I’m not even paying attention to the music and I’m not sure how he is. He stares endlessly into my eyes.
I take his left hand in mine and play with the platinum band around his ring finger. “This,” I say twisting it, “is very sexy.”
He chuckles in my ear. “I’m glad.” He takes his hand out of mine and cups my cheek so I have no choice but to look into his eyes. “I’m so happy you’re my wife. But sometimes I feel like I’ve done too much bad in my life to deserve you. You’re so perfect. So … light. And I’m anything but perfect. And my soul it’s … dark. It’s not pure like yours.”
“Siva,” I sigh softly, my heart breaking at his words, “your soul isn’t dark. It’s anything but dark. How can you not see the good in you?”
He bends his head to mine. “I’ve done a lot of bad.”
“Everyone’s done bad in their life. No one’s perfect. But what makes the difference between bad and good is learning from your mistakes. You’ve done that. You’ve acknowledged you’ve done bad and you’ve learned from those mistakes. You’re good. When I look at you I see someone who’s good and kind and loving. I see the man I love,” I say passionately, meaning every word. “People can change if they want, and you did. Be proud of it.”
He grins. “That was quite a passionate speech, Mrs. Kapur.”
“I’m a passionate person.” I smile, glad to see some lightness return to chase away the shadows in his eyes.
He twirls me som
e more and then it’s time to cut the cake. The cake is a three tier black, white, and gold confection. Siva puts his hand on top of mine and we slide the knife down through the cake. The night is coming to a close, and for something I didn’t want in the first place, now I don’t want it to end.
***
We head back to the flat so we can shower and change before we leave for our honeymoon. Despite my mother staying at our place he drags me into the shower with him.
“Come on,” he pleads, slowly undressing me while he begs so he already knows he’s going to get his way.
He turns the shower on and we strip down completely. He kisses me, dragging me inside while the water pours down on us. He lifts my legs, and I find my back pressed against the cold tile.
I gasp when he slides inside me, my nails digging into his strong shoulders.
I throw my head back with a cry.
He kisses me, water mingling with our joined lips. I forget all about why we’re in the shower in the first place. This man turns my brain to mush.
“You drive me crazy,” he growls.
“Not as crazy as you make me,” I counter.
And it’s true. This man single-handedly drives me crazy.
Somehow we manage to get out of the shower and when we do I dress simply in a pair of jeans and a plain white shirt. I’m going to be on a plane for a while I so I might as well be comfortable. Siva dresses much the same only his shirt is long sleeved.
Siva’s already put our bags in his sports car. My mom is downstairs sitting in the living room waiting to say goodbye to us. She’s showered and changed out of her wedding attire. She’s staying in the room, which was mine when I first moved in here. Her plane doesn’t leave until tomorrow morning so Siva offered her the use of the flat so she wouldn’t have to pay for a hotel. I kind of have a feeling Nate won’t need his hotel tonight either if Lyndi has anything to say about it. They looked mighty cozy when they left … together.
My mom stands and tears glistening in her eyes. “My baby,” she says and wraps her arms around me in a too tight hug. “All grown up and married! Time goes by way too fast!”
“Mom, you’re squishing me,” I choke out.
“Sorry, Sloanie,” she apologizes and releases me. She holds me at arm’s length and looks me over. “You’re a woman now! A married woman and one day soon you’ll have a family of your own,” she sniffles and pats my cheek.
“Not too soon,” mutters Siva from the corner. I’m sure the idea of children horrifies him right now. We’ve talked about kids, but always in the far off very distant future. It’ll happen one day, but that day isn’t now.
My mom releases me and wraps her arms around Siva. He’s hesitant at first but slowly he hugs her back. “You’re a good man,” my mom tells him and I notice he stiffens in shock a little, “take care of my little girl. She’s all I have left.”
“You know I will,” he says, sounding a little choked up.
“Ya’ll have fun now,” she says in her thick southern twang.
I hug her one more time and kiss her cheek. “Bye, Mommy,” I whisper.
Siva takes my hand and we climb in the elevator. The doors slide closed and he turns to me.
“Are you ready to get away from everything?”
I smile. “I’m ready to have you all to myself. I certainly hope you left your cellphone behind,” I joke.
He grinned. “I left my work phone. I only have my personal phone.”
Siva opens the Acura’s door for me. He loves this car. It’s a nice car but I don’t like the feeling of sitting on the ground.
Siva climbs in beside me. I don’t know how he fits his long legs under the steering wheel. He smiles over at me and picks up my hand before kissing it. “I never thought this day would come for me. I never thought I’d find someone whom I love with every fiber of my being and I never thought I would find someone who taught me I was worth being loved. I’m beyond happy, no, I’m honored to have you sitting beside me. My partner, my friend, my life, my love, my wife, my everything. Thank you for teaching me about love.”
I’m not sure what to say to that speech and he doesn’t seem to want an answer. He simply squeezes my hand and drives to the airport.
The sun beats down on my bare stomach. We’ve only been in Spain for three days and I’m already several shades darker. My body is warm all over and I know I need to take a dip in the ocean to cool off but I’m so sleepy I don’t want to move. A much-needed wind ruffles my hair and I decide maybe I can take a five-minute catnap. Or ten. Or fifteen.
When I finally manage to open my eyes my sunglasses are falling off the side of my face and my hat has fallen off my head. I grab the big floppy hat before it can blow away and stick it back on my head. Siva lounges beside me on the towel.
“Hey, sleepy head.” He cracks a smile.
I blush. “Sorry, I know I’m not much fun.”
He chuckles. “It’s okay. I get to watch you sleep. You make cute faces when you sleep.”
I shake my head at him and sit up. “I’m going to cool off. Care to join me?”
He grins and fingers the string of my bikini bottom.
“Of course,” he says. He stands and puts his hands on my waist. He leans down from his towering height and presses his lips to mine. His fingers tangle in my blonde hair. “I love you, Sloane.”
I smile up at him. “I love you too. Don’t ever forget it.” I worry every day he might wake up and decide I don’t actually love him and leave. I know it’s silly, but I can’t help it.
“Never,” he says and then grins. “Race you?”
He’s gone in a flash, darting into the water. I can’t stop the smile splitting my face. I love when this playful side of him comes out. He’s suppressed it for so long.
I choose to walk instead of run. I prefer not to have people give me funny looks. I join Siva in the cool ocean water. It’s such a pretty blue-green color. I wish I could bottle it up. Siva comes up to me and pulls me against him. The water laps between our bodies. I run my fingers over the naked skin of his chest and arms.
“No shirt?” I ask.
He shrugs. “I am in the water.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “I thought you didn’t like to show your scars?” I run my finger over a pale raised ridge.
“You’re the one who taught me to bare my scars. I’m trying,” he whispers the last part. “It’s not … easy.”
“I’m glad you’re trying,” I say softly.
“Only for you,” he says and kisses me before he pulls me under water.
I come up sputtering. “Siva! Why did you do that?” I try to swat at him but water blurs my eyes and I can’t find him.
He laughs and shakes his wet head soaking me further like a dog. At least I’m already wet. “Because I wanted to.”
***
~MacAuley~
I narrow my eyes at the newspaper article. Married. She married him.
Him.
That absolute piece of trash. Anger always dripping from his words like sticky tar, and I’m the one she didn’t like. I’m the bad guy for trying to show her what she was missing.
I bet she went home that night with him and sucked his cock.
Bitch.
I throw the newspaper down along with my glass of water. The glass shatters and sprinkles across my skin. I watch the tiny red rivers of blood run down my legs. A shard is stuck there and I pull it out, closing my eyes as I revel in the pain. Pain means I actually feel something other than hate.
I hate him.
I hate her.
He ruined me.
She fought me.
I thought I’d found my revenge when I destroyed his house. But no, that hadn’t been enough. I needed more.
Alexa thought pushing herself at him would end them. But nothing worked.
NOTHING!
Hate bubbles inside me.
Hate is poison.
Hate is greed.
Hate is power.
I have a lot of hate.
I turn to Alexa who is lounging on the couch watching me. She fingers her dark hair with a fingernail painted bright red. Her lips are the same blood color and at this moment they’re lifted in a sneer.
“What are you going to do now, Mac?”
I narrow my eyes at her. “We,” I remind her. “We are going to make them pay.”
She smiles beatifically at me. She might not be Sloane but at least she’s a great fuck, and always ready and willing. “I hoped you’d say that. What do you have in mind?” She sits up eagerly, her top falling open to reveal her pert breasts and round pink nipples. I salivate.
I grin wickedly and pull the metal object from the end table beside the couch. I hold it up and her eyes widen.
“They’re going to pay and their going to do it with their lives.”
She laughs, the sound echoing off the walls. “I’m so happy I ran into you, Mac. We think so similarly. I certainly hope you have another one of those. I don’t plan to be left behind.” She reaches a hand out, scratching her fingernail down my bare chest.
“Don’t worry,” I growl with a smile, “you won’t be left behind.”
“Good,” she says with a smile to match my own.
~Sloane~
It’s early in the morning when the sickness hits me. I can’t get out of the hotel bed fast enough. I throw the covers off and run into the bathroom, my feet clapping across the floor, not caring how much noise I make as long as I can throw up safely.
I crash down onto the floor on my hands and knees. The tile floor hurts my knees and my wedding band clacks against the toilet. As soon as I get the lid up I promptly empty my stomach contents.
Temptation Page 21
