13. Easton
Easton
I’m a saint.
Spending two nights sleeping next to the woman who drives me crazy with lust and not acting on it is a fucking miracle.
Definitely a saint.
Or a masochist.
Maybe both?
All I know is after today, keeping my hands to myself is going to be harder. Because in the next hour, Vivian Lenore Garnett will become Vivian Lenore Ralston.
Mrs . Easton Talbot Ralston.
She’ll be my wife and the world will expect me to show it. And I’m not talking about the rock I’m about to put on her finger.
I’m talking PDA.
And if I have my way, lots and lots of PDA.
Of course I’m not expecting Vivi to be on board with that just yet. I plan to woo her.
Two nights ago I told her I wanted to make up for all the things her parents failed at and the biggest one is loving her unconditionally.
Yes, she’s a little awkward at times. Blunt to the point of brutal. But I like that about her. She isn’t going to kiss my ass to please me. That kind of behavior is why I’ve spent over two years celibate.
Fawning women are a complete turn off.
I like a woman with a mind of her own. Independent and capable, my ideal woman would see me as a complement to herself, not who she is.
Unfortunately, as I’ve gotten older—richer—the only women looking my way are fake and more interested in my bank account than me.
Vivi isn’t like that.
And in—I glance at my watch—fifty minutes, she’ll be my wife.
“What are you grinning at?”
Looking at the woman beside me, I can’t help but smile wider. “You.”
“Me?”
“Yes. You.”
The frown she gives me makes me laugh.
“I’m happy to be doing this with you.”
“I’d hope so. This might be a marriage of?—”
“Nope. Not convenient. Real.”
“Easton.”
I twist to face her and take one of her hands in both of mine. “Look. I know we’re rushing this so we can adopt Cade, but it’s not the only reason I’m happy to put a ring on your finger and you know that. I’m not expecting you to dive into this as deep as I am, but I am expecting you to give it, us , a chance.”
“You want to pretend?—”
“No. No pretending. The things I want to do with you are probably illegal in some states.”
She makes a snorting sound. “That’s just sex.”
“It’s more than that. And doing this ass backward isn’t going to help, but we need to do this now, you know that.”
“For Cade.”
“Yes, we’re doing this for Cade. For us we’ll do something else.” The more I talk, the more my mind spins with ways to ease her into a real marriage.
“What?”
“We’ll date. We’ve had our first and while it wasn’t the standard first date, it was a good one. After we finish up here, I’ll take you to lunch, which will be our second date. We’ll keep dating like any other couple only we’ll live together and raise our son.”
I put emphasis on the last two words because I want her to understand Cade will be hers as much as mine when this is done.
Her nose scrunches up adorably and I have to restrain myself from leaning forward to kiss the end of it.
“People are going to expect us to act like we’re in love. I don’t want anyone knowing we’re doing this for Cade because while that’s what we’re doing, it’s not the only thing happening here,” I say.
“What is happening exactly?”
“I’m falling for you. Fuck, I probably already have, but I know it’s early days in our relationship and we’ve been put into an unimaginable situation that will test us beyond our limits because we’re not prepared for it.”
“I think we’re doing okay.”
I grin. “We are.”
“So this is a real marriage? As in you want to have sex with me?”
My body snaps taut. I’ve tried not to rush things but if she’s going to throw around questions like that, I can’t be held responsible for my answers. And those answers are liable to be physical ones.
“That’s what you mean, right?” Her head tilts to the side and those scrutinizing eyes study me. “You want us to fuck like we’re really married.”
A growl is her only warning. The shocked breath that bursts from her is swallowed by my kiss.
A kiss that starts as a way to shut her up, to let her know I’m serious, and ends in a frenzied clash of lips and tongues, hot breaths and pleasured moans.
I have no idea how long we devour each other when a throat being cleared loudly pulls us apart.
I’m sure my gaze is as shocked as Vivi’s.
I’ve never experienced a kiss like that.
A whole body, need it or I’ll die kiss.
With my future wife.
A slow smile curls my lips and I know to my bones, this is going to work. If she’ll open herself the way she just did, Vivi and I are going to have a great marriage.
“Judge Tobin will see you now.”
I’d forgotten our audience. With a shake of my head, I wipe my mind clear of thoughts of stripping Vivi naked and kissing her all over, and turn to the guy standing in front of us. “Thanks.”
Standing, I reach back and offer Vivi my hand. When she takes it and gets to her feet, I don’t let go. I give her a little squeeze and together we follow the guy into the judge’s office.
It’s like any other office I’ve been in except for the life-size picture of young woman. There wouldn’t normally be a problem with a portrait on the wall. And I guess Judge Tobin doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with it, but there is no way I’d have something so revealing anywhere anyone other than myself could see it.
I know the second Vivi catches sight of it. Her steps falter, her hand grips mine tighter, and her gaze snaps to mine. I will admit the idea of having an image of a scantily clad Vivi to look at is appealing. But the last place I’d have it on display is in my office.
“That’s Mrs. Tobin.” Judge Tobin smiles at us from the other side of his desk and I can’t decide what the look on his face is. It’s a little too cocky for my liking.
“She’s beautiful. You must love her very much.” Vivi’s words seem to placate Judge Tobin and he moves out from behind his desk to greet us.
“As are you my dear.” He takes Vivi’s hand in his, lifts it, and lowers his head to press his lips to the back of it, and I want to punch the guy in the nuts. “Your future husband is a very lucky man.”
“I’m the lucky one,” I say. “Which is why you should get moving, so she can’t come to her senses and change her mind.”
I hope the joke will get things rolling, and get him to let go of her hand.
I’ve never been a jealous person. But I find Vivi brings out the green monster hiding inside me and when he doesn’t show any sign he’s going to back off, I slip my arm around her shoulders and all but pull her from his grasp as I move us deeper into the room.
“I’m so thankful you were able to fit us into your busy schedule.” My words are designed to flatter him. I know for a fact the guy is on the verge of retirement and doesn’t preside over many cases these days; he’s the court’s resident wedding officiant.
“There’s always time for a wedding.” He turns to his assistant. “Is their paperwork complete?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. Good.” The judge turns back to us. “Do you have vows written or are we doing a standard ceremony?”
“Just your standard one.” I glance at Vivi and grin. “We just want to get married.”
She wraps both arms around my waist and looks up at me with hooded eyes. “He tells me every day with words and actions how much he loves me. I don’t need him to say them today.”
I grin. We didn’t talk about how to play this and the fact she’s rolling with it only makes me want her more.
“Perfect. Now let’s get you two love birds married!” The judge points to a spot off to the side. “If you’ll both stand over there.”
Doing as he says, we wait patiently for him to get ready. I don’t know what I expected but it isn’t for him to have a wardrobe change.
Opening a concealed cupboard, he takes out a black suit jacket dotted with bright sparkling red hearts.
Vivi hides her laughter with a fake cough and I swallow mine back, biting the inside of my cheek to keep any sound in.
“Right, now we’re ready.” He holds up a book as red and sparkly as the hearts on his coat.
I look at Vivi but she doesn’t appear any more knowledgeable than me. With a shrug. I reach for both her hands and turn us to face each other.
“Excellent. Exactly how I want you,” Judge Tobin says as he steps up beside us.
The corner of Vivi’s mouth twitches and I know she’s holding back a smile. My own mirth wants to break free except I’m pretty sure the judge would not appreciate us laughing right now.
I know weddings are serious and often solemn out of respect for the sanctity of marriage and I know this guy is serious about his love of presiding over weddings. If the coat didn’t give it away, the matching book did.
“Dearly beloved, we’re here today to witness the joining of two hearts.”
Vivi coughs discreetly into her shoulder and I abuse the inside of my cheek again as we both struggle to keep straight faces.
Our relationship has been upside down and turned around, no reason why our wedding should be any different.