Chapter 13
“You sure you want to go through with this?” Fox said from besideme. He’d changed into a matching tux, ready to perform his role as best man. In front of us, waiting patiently, was the officiant who would be marrying Savannah and me in a few minutes.
“Fuck, yes,” I replied confidently, more sure about marrying Savannahthan anything in my life.
Admittedly, I was surprised to find she’d taken the dresses to our roomlike I’d instructed her to. I was even more surprised when I knocked on the door to tell her she only had fifteen minutes left, and her response was that she would be ready.
Part of me wondered if she was up to something, that shemight try to run again. Not that I was worried. I meant what I said to her earlier; there wasn’t a single place in the world where she could hide from me, and thanks to herimpulse decision to run while we were in Portland, she’d given me the perfect opportunity to ensure I would always be able to find her.
While Savannah slumbered on our plane ride to Vegas thanks to the propofol running through her veins, Brian conducted a little procedure on her.
I doubted my sweet Savannah would ever realize she now had a tiny tracker implantedin her neck.
So, yeah. Savannah could run to the deepest, darkest corner of theearth, but I’d have a way to find her, and I would take great pleasure in punishing her for running. Hopefully, it wouldn’t come to that though, from the devastation that twisted on her face when she thought Liam was dead, I didn’t think Savannah would be going anywhere.
It irked me that Savannah still cared about Liam. After everything he’ddone to her, she still cared about the prick. Soon enough though, I’d make sure the only man to dominate her thoughts would be me.
I glanced at my watch, finding it was one minute past the hour. Shewas late. Another one of my pet hates, and something she was going to have to learn quickly.
The temptation to pull my phone out and check the tracking app was overwhelming, but I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt.Savannah needed to prove that I could trust her beforeI loosened the reins. Until then, she was going to be tethered to me, with a collar and leash if need be.
“You think she got cold feet?” Fox chuckled, adjusting his bow tie.
I scowled at him and once again checked my watch. Two minuteslate. Just as I decided to give in and grab my phone, the door to the room where the ceremony was being held opened, and the concierge who’d been allocated to our suite stepped in.
“She’s ready, Mr. Carson,” he said.
A rush of excitement flooded me, mixed with relief that she hadn’trun. In a few minutes, Savannah would be mine for the rest of our lives, and the entire world would know she belonged to me.
There would be no divorce down the line, no other man taking myplace. She might have been forced into this decision, but I intended to make her see that this was the best decision she’d ever made, and that there was no other man for her.
“Let’s get this show on the road,” Fox said, slapping me playfully onmy shoulder.
Sherry, the only other guest at the wedding, sat up straight, eager tomeet the woman whose wedding she’d helped plan over the last few weeks.
I may have told Savannah that we were getting married becauseshe’d run, the truth was, I’d planned this moment from the second I laid eyes on her.
I straightened my bow tie and nodded to the concierge. “Bring her in.”
Dutifully, the concierge disappeared out the door as gentle musicfilled the ceremony room. I stared intently at the door, exhilaration coursing through me as I waited to get my first glimpse of my wife-to-be, and hoping like fuck she’d be impressed with the style of the room.
Huge bouquets of white and pink roses in beautiful crystal vases linedthe aisle Savannah would be walking down any minute. Rows of empty chairs were decorated with white satin chair covers, pink sashes wrapped around the backs, and tied into elegant bows.
Running down the middle of the aisle was a pristine white carpet,littered with pink rose petals leading up to the arch Savannah and I would be married under, and where the officiant waited. Behind him were two huge glass doors that opened onto a balcony, and gave us front-row seats to the magnificent dancing fountains.
Everything was perfect.
Seconds after the concierge disappeared, the door opened again. Mybreath caught in my throat as Savannah stepped into the room, apprehension on her face which contorted into one of awe when she took in the room.
She looked fucking incredible. With how things were left between usan hour ago, I half expected her to defy me and turn up in her crappy clothes, refusing to get married in anything I’d provided for her. So I was more than happy to see she’d opted to wear one of the dresses I’d had specifically made for her.
The light ivory dress she was wearing happened to be my favorite outof the two, and I didn’t know if she recognized it or not, but it was a style similar to a dress she’d drawn in one of her old sketchbooks.
Elegant lace sleeves covered the length of her arms, and the bodice,adorned with tiny crystals, appeared to glisten under the delicate lighting in the room.
In her hands, she held a teardrop bouquet made up of the samewhite and pink roses in the room. The bouquet shook in her hands, and I wanted to march down the aisle and pull her into my arms to reassure her she had nothing to be worried about.
I was going to take good care of her from now until the end of ourdays.
As Savannah took another step into the room, the full skirt rustled,and the tip of her high-heeled shoes poked out from underneath.
I’d left the shoes, a bag of makeup, and hair products in our roomwhile she was unconscious. She’d made good use of it in the short time I’d given her, her blonde hair hung down in soft curls, and she’d placed a delicate ornament slide on one side to keep it off her face.
I’d never seen Savannah with makeup, and in all honesty, I thoughtshe was stunning without it. But with the small amount she’d put on, her features were breathtaking.
Cream eyeshadow was dusted lightly on her lids, and her beautifulgreen eyes were framed with black liner and mascara. Her cheeks were tinged with a soft pink blush, and her lips glistened from the clear gloss she’d put on, making me want to devour her mouth.
Taking a breath, she took tentative steps towards the three of uswaiting under the arch, her eyes fixed on me, and a small nervous smile on her lips.
I wondered if she’d found the lingerie I’d left with the makeup, andwas wearing it under her dress. I fucking hoped she was, and I fully intended to find out as soon as the ceremony was over.
“You look beautiful,” I said to her when she reached me, momentarilyforgetting that Fox was standing by my side, or that Sherry and the officiant were watching with bated breath.
“Thank you,” she replied, unable to hold my eye as the flush on hercheeks spread to her neck. “You look very handsome too.”
I grinned, feeling like the happiest son-of-a-bitch on the planet.“Thank you.”
“Shall we begin?” the officiant said, pulling my attention away frommy sweet Savannah.
When I gave him a nod, Fox reached out and took the bouquet fromSavannah, placing it on a table behind him. I took Savannah’s hand and together we turned toward the officiant, ready to take our vows.