Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
F acing a gilded mirror in one of the guest suites downstairs, Madison smoothed her hands down the soft, flowing fabric of her wedding dress. She loved this dress. It’s sheer, billowing sleeves were detailed with pearls and beads at the cuffs, matching the decoration at the waist. The neckline plunged into a deep V before flaring to a flowing chiffon skirt that hid her satin flats.
Madison had gone to the boutique planning to get something simple, but the moment she saw this dress, all visions of choosing something she could wear again disappeared. It was gorgeous, and airy, and… bridal.
Her lips pressed together as the butterflies in her stomach took flight again.
Don’t get carried away, she admonished her reflection.
The last three days had been… quiet.
Madison hadn’t seen Alex. Not once.
There had been text messages—short, direct. A couple of voicemails that were primarily logistical about their wedding day and questions about her preferences. But their paths hadn’t crossed.
And every night since moving into his house, she’d fallen asleep on the bed in Jax’s room, after singing him back to sleep.
Alex never came looking for her, and Madison wasn’t sure what to make of that.
Her gaze flicked back to the reflection.
Is it too much? Do I look desperate?
A soft knock at the door made her inhale sharply, shaking off the thoughts.
“Decent?” Cami asked, followed by the door opening.
Madison turned, hands brushing the sides of her gown as her best friend stepped inside, and she braced for Cami’s response.
Cami’s eyes widened, and then she blew out a long stream of air. “Whoa! You look crazy beautiful.”
Madison rolled her eyes, but her lips lifted.
“You look amazing, too.” Madison smiled at her friend’s floor-length, flowy yellow chiffon dress. Cami might not be thrilled about the wedding, but she was more than acting the part. “How’s Jax doing?”
Cami’s lips twitched. “He is not a fan of his outfit, but he looks freakishly adorable.” She gave Madison a sly look. “And the second Alex saw him, he took him from me.”
Madison’s brows rose. “Really?”
“Really.” Cami’s expression softened. “It was actually super weird. The two of them looked so happy to see each other, which is odd because they haven’t really spent any time together have they?”
Madison hadn’t told Cami about not seeing Alex, but her friend’s words helped alleviate her nerves.
“This is going to work,” she muttered, though she wasn’t sure if she was trying to convince her friend or herself.
“You ready?” Cami smiled brightly, and Madison didn’t miss that her friend hadn’t acknowledged Madison’s comment.
Five minutes later, she stood at the end of a long fabric runner, facing a large floral arch draped with white roses and ivy, waiting for the opening notes of the wedding march.
Is this actually happening?
Madison’s head buzzed, and she swallowed hard forcing herself to stay in the moment.
“Everything is going to be fine,” she chanted to herself.
The area behind the house was beautiful. She and Cami had arranged for a few flowers and some food, but it was clear Alex had done some wedding planning of his own. In addition to the arch and the runner, there were a handful of gold-backed chairs and white pillar candles in glass globes, adorned with roses, everywhere she looked.
She squinted. Are those lanterns suspended in the trees?
What Madison had imagined as a performative short ceremony had been transformed into a wedding .
Alex hadn’t needed to make this much effort, but he had.
Madison could see Cami standing at the front, and to her credit, she only looked mildly nauseous. Liev looked handsome in his black suit, grinning at her from Alex’s side. Alex’s thick, dark hair curled over his collar and his broad shoulders were encased in a dark suit.
Was he nervous? Bored? She didn’t know because she couldn’t see his face. Unlike the others, he hadn’t turned to look at her.
The quartet, twenty feet behind her, struck the first notes, and the butterflies were joined by full grown birds flapping inside her.
This was the moment brides were supposed to feel… Excited. Emotional.
The problem was… She wasn’t supposed to feel either of those things.
But she did.
Madison was halfway down the aisle when Alex’s shoulders lifted with an inhale, and he turned. She could feel the weight of his eyes, that unwavering focus of his, trained solely on her. Every nerve ending in her body lit up as his silver-blue eyes locked onto her. Her body tingled as his gaze slowly roamed over her, as if taking in every tiny detail before returning to her face.
When she reached him, his lips brushed against her cheek. “You take my breath away, Angel,” he whispered. Alex reached for her hand, his grip steady as he pulled her to his side, his familiar scent wrapping around her.
“Back at you, Charming.”
Alex smirked and squeezed her hand causing most of the tension to flow out of her. When she peeked up at him, he winked at her, and when she winked back, he smothered a laugh.
The officiant was speaking, but Madison barely heard a word he said.
Cami and James acted like Alex was some kind of monster, but it wasn’t what she saw. She saw the man standing beside her, the one vowing to care for her, and her heart swelled.
Stop it.
Get yourself together, and don’t get confused by the moment, she ordered herself silently.
Falling in love with your husband is the quickest route to heartbreak.
When it was her turn, Madison was proud that her voice only trembled a little.
Alex slipped a diamond band next to her engagement ring… And it was done. They were married.
Before she could take a steadying breath, Alex reached for her. His lips met hers, firm and warm, and his hand slid to the small of her back, pressing her into him. The slow, deliberate movement of his mouth over hers sent electric sparks shooting through her, and by the time he pulled away, her pulse was racing. For a moment she forgot where they were, until Liev started a slow clap.
Cami shot him a glare, but from his seat in the front row where he held Jax on his lap, James laughed. All Madison saw were Alex’s eyes blazing into hers, his breath uneven.
Then, before she could process everything, Alex took her arm and led her back up the runner toward a photographer already snapping pictures.
Where did he come from?
Madison blinked at Alex, who merely lifted a brow. “Did you think there wouldn’t be pictures?”
“No. I just didn’t… I guess I forgot.”
Why am I so flustered?
“ People will ask to see them.” The emphasis he put on the word reminded her why they were doing this and acted like an ice bath on her ill-advised romantic notions.
“Let’s start with the little boy,” the photographer instructed, adjusting his lens. Cami stepped forward, and to Madison’s surprise, Alex intercepted her, settling Jax against his chest.
The sight of Jax in his black suit, matching Alex’s, was doing funny things to her chest, and she blinked against the sudden stinging in her eyes.
Stupid early pollen.
Madison could feel Cami watching her carefully and quickly wrangled herself back under control.
Jax’s small fingers curled in the lapel of Alex’s jacket, and looked around curiously. However, after only a few snaps, he pressed his cheek against Alex’s chest and relaxed into him.
“That’s perfect,” the photographer enthused, and Madison agreed. The image of Alex, so darkly handsome with his arm wrapped protectively around the golden-curled toddler, was sending her hormones into freefall.
“Okay, Daddy, hold him a little higher.”
Madison stiffened, her eyes flashing to Alex’s face to see how he would react, but he only lifted Jax a few more inches.
“Now,” the photographer continued, “Mrs. Kovalyov, lean in slightly, one hand on your husband’s arm.”
Madison’s stomach dipped.
Mrs. Kovalyov.
Hearing it spoken out loud for the first time sent a strange shiver down her spine. They had never discussed whether she would take his name, but there was no way Alex wouldn’t insist on it. She knew on some level it should bother her, but she’d also be lying if she didn’t admit his over-the-top possessiveness was freaking hot!
Madison did as instructed, placing her hand lightly on Alex’s sleeve. Beneath the fabric of his suit, his muscles were solid, and the warmth of his body sank into her palm. Alex was silent, but she felt his gaze flicker toward her and the barest pressure of his fingertips where they rested against her hip.
She lifted her lips for the camera, and when Jax let out a sleepy sigh and burrowed deeper into Alex’s jacket, the expression shifted into something real.
She was happy.
Is that weird?
Glancing up, she found Alex already watching her, his gaze steady, unreadable. There was a flicker of something in his eyes which sent a ripple of awareness through her. Lowering his head, he brushed a kiss against her forehead. The photographer’s shutter clicked, but Madison barely registered the sound over the sudden, erratic rhythm of her pulse.
A few more shots and Jax squirmed, rubbing a tiny fist over his eyes.
“I think that’s his limit,” Madison murmured, reaching for him.
Before she had a chance, Cami stepped forward. “I’ve got him.” She scooped Jax up with practiced ease, planting a quick kiss on his cheek. “Come on, Jaxy. Mommy and Daddy have to finish getting their pictures taken.” She cast a smirk at them and carried Jax to where James stood by a small bar that had been erected on the stone patio.
The moment he was gone, the photographer clapped his hands together. “Let’s keep it simple,” he said. “Mr. Kovalyov, place your hand on your bride’s waist.”
Madison barely had time to brace herself before Alex slid his hand across the open back of her dress and under the lace panel on one side. She felt the shift in energy between them, and goosebumps rose as his fingertips leisurely stroked the skin over the side of her ribs.
She inhaled deeply, but it didn’t help. His cologne reached her nose, and the muscles low in her stomach tightened as a slow throb began between her thighs. His hand drifted higher until she felt one finger glide along the underside of her breast, and she jumped.
“Sorry. Ticklish,” she lied when the photographer frowned, and a rumble of laughter shook Alex’s chest, but he returned his hand to the curve of her waist.
The photographer’s cheeks were pink, and Madison had a feeling the man knew exactly how Alex had been tormenting her.
“Mrs. Kovalyov, tilt your face toward your husband, like you’re about to kiss.”
Her pulse stuttered.
Alex’s eyes dropped to her mouth, and his fingers flexed hard.
“Closer,” the photographer instructed. “Mrs. Kovalyov, can you put your hand on his chest and lean in?”
Madison placed her hand over his heart and moved closer until she was pressed against him. She could feel Alex’s heartbeat pounding just as hard as hers, and her tongue darted out to lick her lips. The air practically hummed with the crackling energy between them as he leaned in, his warm breath fanning her ear.
“I’m going to fuck you in this dress later.” The dark, silky tone sent shivers through her, and her breath caught just as she heard the camera clicking again.
Feeling insanely overheated, Madison jerked backwards. “I think we’ve got enough. I need to get back to Jax.”