Wedding Blues #4
They were closing down their boutique hotel, which was an equestrian’s dream with large pastures, upscale barns as meeting places and a place to board horses if one desired.
From the pictures alone, I was impressed and it was less than an hour away, which made travel better for everyone coming in.
Only the bridal party and family would be staying on the premises but another Warren property was being rented out less than half an hour away and luxury charter buses provided to bring people to the venue.
Nev and Jada had been working hand in hand with Sasha providing input on certain cultural aspects.
Seeing my friends who were family get along well with the new people who claimed me made me feel as though things were going to be okay.
I’d made it home to find Ori reading in the library with his long body stretched out on the leather sofa.
His hair was down, glasses on his face looking every inch the gentleman.
“Was she there?”
He asked without apprehension, and it was clear that progress between the two of them had been made. Could almost feel the way he was undecided no matter what the answer to the question he hated himself for asking was.
“She was.”
I wanted to reveal everything I’d discussed with Faith but I didn’t want to overstep it wasn’t my place to tell him anything that had gone on and I felt like I’d be cheating her out of the chance to make things right if I did.
“Nobody got out of hand or anything, right? Everything still on track?”
“Why, Mr. Nakoa, it almost seems as though you’re eager to get me down the aisle.”
A ghost of a smile shadowed his face and I knew it was involuntary.
Somehow that made it endearing, which only irritated me.
I didn’t want him to respond with kindness but it was my fault for even making the joke to begin with.
We’d settled into this space of camaraderie.
We worked together and occasionally Ori used his tongue to make me cum.
I was still hesitant around him wondering when he was going to pull back from me again.
I was no better because guarding myself was second nature.
But my actions should’ve shown far more than my words ever did.
Shit was troubling the hell out of me.
“I wouldn’t have said yes to any of this if I wasn’t going to see it through.”
“I understand you’re a man of your word, that I never doubted. It’s the eagerness that’s confusing me.”
His brow dipped at my confession. “Confusing?”
“Yes.”
“How so?”
“It seems… out of character for you.”
“And just what am I, Semira?”
“A man. A complex one. One with layers but a man still.”
He shifted on the sofa but never broke eye contact. “If we’re speaking of me purely according to the disdain you have for my gender then my reactions fall in line with your expectations.”
“You think so?”
He sat his book down but kept his eyes trained on me.
“Yes. To you men are basic. They see something they like. Something that they would want that compliments them or their life and they take it. Physically, you have the type of beauty that would bring a man to his knees. A descendant of Andromeda herself.”
I wondered if he was under some type of influence because his words were damn near poetic. “Flattery? Or are you telling me that, like the aforementioned Habesha woman of myth you’re going to sacrifice me to a sea monster?”
A half smile graced his face making him look devilishly handsome. “I’ve been described as a monster and my family has multiple ties to the sea. In a way, you are being sacrificed. The only difference is I’m not about to let a weak chinned recessive gene Greek come and snatch you away from me.”
My legs were an utter embarrassment at the way they got weak and my thighs wanted to squeeze together.
“Possessive.”
A proud dip of his head was the precursor to his response. “Another trait that you can use as a mark against my gender. But I think that’s more of the win column with me.”
“Are you intoxicated?” I’d had my fair share of spirits today and I blamed it for the way my emotions were getting away from me.
“No. Why do you ask?” His tone sounded light and it was clear he found humor in my question.
“You’re far more loquacious than normal. Has something happened that has loosened your tongue?” I made my way closer into the room and balanced my hip on the side of the leather sectional.
“It occurred to me today that I’m getting married.
” I couldn’t understand why he seemed thoroughly bewildered at the idea.
He had known of this longer than me and pushed us along this timeline at this brutal pace.
We hadn’t gotten married sooner for the hope of the case being solved but red tape was holding up the investigation.
The investigation had continued despite resistance from the Clancy boy and he seemed more and more like the possible killer.
“That just occurred to you?”
He shrugged not regretting his choice of words. “Maybe sunk in is the better phrase.”
“Markedly.”
The corner of his mouth lifted in that semblance of a smile. “And not just married. This situation seems to be lucrative for my family and for me personally. I feel as though my ancestors have laid a gift at my feet in the form of your hand so I can’t lie that I’m not feeling…lighter than normal.”
It was my turn to laugh because he could not be serious. “You think of me with all my faults as gifts? Your ancestors must hate you something deeply to saddle you with me.”
“Compared to what I could’ve had?”
“You could’ve had a biddable, beautiful bride who would bend to your every whim.”
“Still don’t like me if you’d wish that type of hell on me, Mira.” He looked genuinely appalled at the idea.
“Hell? Sounds like a dream.”
He leaned back and spread his arms over the back of the sofa as though he were inviting me to take a seat.
Maybe that was my imagination running wild. “For an incel, maybe. As a man who is secure in my masculinity, I don’t have to worry about the thoughts of someone whose ass I could whip with my big toe.”
“Did you say your big toe?” I chuckled but something in the way he smirked had me indeed thinking he could kill a man with only his hallux.
Who the hell am I about to marry?
“Yeah. I like the fact that you’re…you. If you were some model of perfection mentally then we would make each other miserable. You would feel as though I were a threat and I would have to walk around here on eggshells.”
“So you like that I’m damaged?” The acceptance was nice but still stung somehow. I guess every woman wanted her partner, arranged or not, to think of them as perfect.
“I like that you’re a survivor. I don’t think you think you’re damaged; that’s the way you describe yourself to get people off your back. To have them unnerved and unwillingly press you because you don’t want to express yourself. It’s how you intimidate them, by pretending you’re weak.”
“There you go again thinking you know me.” I was battling a smile because his words made me feel good.
“I’m learning. I’m thankful that you’re not running scared at the sight of me. That my moodiness doesn’t bother you. That my dick having piercings isn’t something that makes you frown up. That my dick in general hasn’t sent you screaming. Well, he’s made you scream and cream but in a good way.”
My eyes rolled but I couldn’t help but smile. “Every inch the arrogant man I thought you were when we met.”
“But you know what the difference is between now and then Ka’iulani?”
“What’s that?”
He leaned forward removing his long legs from the sofa as if he were ready to pounce on me.
“You know I’m arrogant because every single thing I say or do I can more than back up.
” The heat flared between the two of us again and I had to wonder if the attraction we felt would ever dim once we got used to each other.
After living together for this amount of time, things only seemed to burn brighter. Hotter than before.
Lord, I’m in serious trouble.
ORI
“I might not be able to have children.”
All the levity of our interaction ceased with her words.
“Okay.”
She stood up from the arm of the sofa putting physical distance between us just like her confession forced emotional distance. “Okay? Isn’t this what this is all about? Legacy? Family? Survival?”
“This isn’t about any of that for me.” I lay back on the leather of the sofa allowing her the space she seemed to crave.
“Then what is it? Surely your grandfather or the other members wouldn’t want you to be married to a woman who was barren.”
“I’m not trying to be ugly but you realize you’re not the deciding factor in this, right?”
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “What does that mean? I’m going to be your wife.”
I nodded slowly, buying myself time to find the right words so this wasn’t so harsh. “You are. But it’s not your bloodline that would need to be preserved; it’s mine. You’re speaking of birthing my legacy, my family. If you’re not capable of doing that, there are other ways to ensure that happens.”
“With or without me.” Her accent was crisp even more of a sign that my words had stung.
“Yes. With or without you.”
Her look could only be described as heartbroken because she’d immediately thought the worst of me. “Wow, it’s that simple for you then.”
A statement. One that was infused with strength to protect the wound I’d made into her armor.
“Yes. That’s the black and white reality of the situation.”
I knew I’d pissed her off. My words were just another mark against men that a woman was only as useful as what they could provide for his benefit. Not just the invisible labor of a household but the physical labor of legacy. She was disgusted and more than anything disappointed.
And that ate at me.
“Well, I guess the deal is off then.”
The idea of that was humorous but I wouldn’t dare laugh at her. “Why would it be?”