CHAPTER SIX
Lorelei
All night, I kept wondering if I was making the right decision.
I always envisioned my wedding day to be something glamorous, and while I know that I won’t exactly be surrounded by family, I had always thought my grandma would be there to see me get married, and maybe a few friends.
I had gone over to the hospital to check up on her, and I hate the fact that I have to keep this a secret from her.
However, I know for a fact that she would never agree to me getting married to Desmond, which is why I have to do this without her.
At least Katherine would be there.
I find myself staring at my dresser mirror, several thoughts running through my mind as I think about what is bound to happen in the next few hours.
Getting married is no joke, and I have lost count of the number of times I have glanced at my phone, wondering if Desmond would call to cancel.
Clearly, he must be having second thoughts about getting to a woman he has only known for a few weeks.
On the way down to the café where I’d meet with Katherine, I keep wondering if I should change my mind.
I know Desmond is committed since he had texted me early this morning.
So far, he seems excited, but that doesn’t help dissipate my fears.
“You look glamorous this morning,” Katherine teases me as I walk up to her.
“Trust me, I’m a bit nervous,” I admit honestly to her.
“Don’t worry, I’m sure he is a good guy,” Katherine assures me as she holds my hand.
If not for Katherine, I am not exactly sure how I would get through this. Left to me, I wanted a rather simple ceremony, but Desmond had insisted that we at least wear something official, so with Katherine’s help, I finally found a suitable gown, nothing fancy.
“What if he cancels?” I suddenly ask Katherine as we step into the courtroom.
“That’s just your nervousness speaking, Lorelei,” Katherine assures me, but I’m still worried.
Desmond and I had agreed to meet this morning at the courthouse, but just like me, he could have thought over things all night.
He might have realized that marrying a woman like me is a disaster waiting to happen, and he might change his mind.
As if to quell my thoughts, a text from Desmond pops up on my phone.
I quickly open it, and I breathe in relief as I read the text.
On my way. Timothy had to go alter his tux. I’m so sorry.
Somehow, the text makes me laugh, and Katherine asks if everything is alright.
I nod and tell her that Desmond is on his way, and true to his words, Desmond appears ten minutes later, looking dashing.
I know how handsome Desmond is, but nothing could have prepared me for how breathtaking he looks in a suit.
The man is smoking hot, a fact that Katherine testifies to when she sees him.
“I know he looks good in his pictures, but damn, he’s hot!”
All I can do is smile, knowing that even though Desmond is ‘my husband’, we won’t be sharing the same bed. No, we would be living our lives separately, and Desmond is doing me a huge favor, one that I am immensely grateful for.
“Nervous?” Desmond asks me with a smile.
I nod slowly, not trusting myself to say a word.
He holds my hands in his and assures me that there is nothing for me to be nervous about.
I really don’t understand why Desmond is this kind to me, but I am grateful.
I barely listen to what the court official says as I can barely take my gaze away from Desmond.
All I know is that in a matter of minutes, Desmond and I were pronounced husband and wife.
“You may now kiss the bride.”
Desmond's eyes look at me, and I can feel something strong from them.
It feels almost like desire and want. He steps forward, the entire room fading away, my breath slowing down as I become too aware of Desmond.
His hands on my waist, Desmond leans in slowly, and our lips meet.
Soft, gentle, and warm. He kisses me slowly, my lips trembling as I enjoy his taste.
He tastes like coffee, and I crave more of his taste, but the sound of Katherine clearing her voice brings me back to reality.
I want Desmond. I want him so bad.
I have never felt desire this powerful, and this scares me. I have never felt this strong desire for a person before, and I am unsure of how this would affect our relationship.
“It’s nice to see couples in love,” the court official announces, and I feel my cheeks burn with embarrassment.
We sign all the necessary documents, and Desmond submits them while Katherine rushes to stand beside me. I am yet to recover from the passionate kiss Desmond and I had shared, and I am not sure I’ll ever recover.
“The man loves you. I know it sounds cheesy, but I can see the way he looks at you. This man is crazy about you.”
I scoff at her statement. I am not a child who believes in fantasy. Is it possible that Desmond sees me as a friend? Maybe. A love interest? No. There’s no way that’s happening. Yet, the way he had held and kissed me made me wish for something deeper.
Once the papers are submitted, we are officially married, and Desmond asks if I’ll go on a date with him to celebrate our marriage.
His friend, Timothy, who is also a witness to our marriage, mentions he has errands to run.
Katherine asks if he can drop her off on his way, and he tells her he would be glad to.
Both of them leave Desmond and me alone, and an awkward silence descends between us.
“Do you want to go on a date?” Desmond asks, his eyes on me.
“Yes, but after I change. Need to get out of this.”
Desmond protests, telling me I don’t need to change, but I explain to him that if we run into someone we know, it might be a little bit difficult to explain.
He reluctantly agrees, though it seems like he isn’t pleased.
We find an office for me to change, and even though Desmond offers to help me get out of my dress, I decline since it feels intimate.
I should have just accepted.
It takes a few minutes to change into something casual, and when I step out, I notice Desmond smiling at me.
“My beautiful wife,” he says as he pulls me towards him, his hands around my waist, just as he kisses me right on the lips.
His tongue searches mine, and something about this kiss feels primal, raw, almost as if he had waited for years to have this. When he finally breaks the kiss, Desmond looks at me, his blue eyes searching mine.
This is crazy!
“We should go for our date, my beautiful Lorelei,” Desmond says softly.
“Yeah. Yeah, we should,” I manage to say, not completely recovered from the kiss.
Desmond confuses me, and even though Katherine believes he loves me and my body desperately wants him, I am no fool. He isn’t my man, and he would never want me romantically or sexually.