69. SECOND EPILOGUE
SECOND EPILOGUE
SAYLOR: Eight Months Later
The cathedral on the Raven estate has stood for over two hundred years. Many Raven marriages and claimings have been witnessed within these walls. I don’t give a shit about the society, but I can’t wait to marry the man in front of me.
Axl looks down at me in his suit. He’s not wearing a tie, and the first couple buttons are open. My king doesn’t do ties. The ink on his neck climbs above his collar, and I smile knowing my name is on his chest. His watch covers the fresh Raven crest branded on his wrist.
His blue eyes don’t leave mine while the officiant reads whatever the fuck he’s reading. I’m not listening. Neither is Axl. We don’t need whatever vows the man is going to make us recite. I already know that he’s mine and I’m his, and nothing is ever going to change that.
He’s looking at me the way he always has—with possession so deep it makes my pussy clench.
I’m in a big flowing white gown because my mother insisted. Kynlee helped me into this dress two hours ago and told me I looked like an angel, and I told her to shut the fuck up. All of what’s about to happen on this stage is for everyone else. Life with Axl is what I fucking care about.
The front row is a wall of Sinclairs. Dane sits with Whitney’s hand on his knee, his expression unreadable beneath the approval I know is there. His sons and their wives are paired off down the line.
Priest stands behind Axl. He’s got his arms crossed, and the sleeves of his dress shirt are rolled to his forearms, showing off his ink. He tries to look serious, but I catch his mouth twitching when Axl glances back at him.
I can hear Kynlee crying behind me. She’s been emotional since she zipped me into this dress. I don’t know if it’s for me, or if it’s the unknown of what’s ahead for her when she faces the auction. Crew and Kase are watching her, whispering to each other.
“Do you take this man as your husband?” The officiant’s voice pulls me back to the room.
“I do.” More than fucking anything.
Axl’s jaw works, and his eyes go darker. The officiant turns to him and asks the same question.
“She’s been mine for years.” Axl doesn’t look at the officiant. He’s looking at me. “But yeah. I fucking do.”
Priest snorts behind him. A low laugh ripples through the Sinclairs. The officiant clears his throat and continues.
“You may kiss the bride.”
Axl doesn’t wait for the officiant to finish the sentence.
His hand is on the back of my neck, and his mouth is on mine before the last word leaves the man’s lips.
He kisses me hard. I curl my fingers into his jacket and hold him to me, kissing him back.
His tongue pushes past my lips, and I let him take whatever he wants because I love being owned by my king.
My pulse pounds between my thighs, and I’m already wet from the way his hand warms my back.
He pulls back just enough to press his forehead against mine. “Mrs. Hollister.” His voice is low so that only I can hear it. “We’ll give them their show, and then I have plans for you, little heathen.”
I’m counting on it.
I grin against his mouth, and he drags his thumb across my bottom lip before stepping back. He turns to face the room with his hand on the small of my back.
Dane rises first. Whitney is on his arm, and she gives me a warm smile as they approach. Dane grips Axl’s hand and pulls him in close. Whatever he says against Axl’s ear makes my husband nod once. Whitney cups my face the way she did when I was in the hospital and presses her lips to my forehead.
“I’m so happy for you, sweetheart.” She squeezes my hands before Dane guides her toward the exit. They don’t stay for claimings.
A few others rise and follow them out. The ones who want to watch settle into their seats, and the energy in the room shifts. This is what most of them came for. The ceremony is the formality. The claiming is the show for these fucks.
Priest steps around to the front of the platform and drops into a chair in the front row beside Kase. He leans back and stretches his legs out, crossing his boots at the ankles. “Whenever you’re ready, Your Majesty.” He waves his hand toward Axl.
“Fuck off, Priest.” Axl doesn’t look at him, but his mouth tips.
Kynlee squeezes my arm from behind and whispers, “I love you, slut,” before she moves to sit beside her brother.
They all asked me if I wanted them to leave and not stay for this part, but I told them to stay. If the rest of these fucks are going to watch, what difference does it make if they’re here?
The Sinclair brothers and their wives stay too.
Axl turns back to me, and I watch his jaw work. He knows what he has to do.
“On your knees, Mrs. Hollister.”
My thighs press together under this ridiculous gown.
I don’t look at anyone else in the room.
I hold his stare and lower myself to my knees in front of him.
The fabric pools around me on the stone floor, and I tilt my chin up because I want him to see what this does to me.
I’m not ashamed of wanting to kneel for him. I’m not ashamed of a goddamn thing.
He reaches into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulls something out. My chest tightens when I see the neon red glow between his fingers.
It’s his mask.
Axl slides it over my head. The red glow cuts across my vision. His thumb traces along my jaw. I’m looking at him through the mask.
“They don’t get to see your face when I fuck you.” His voice is rough and low and just for me. “That hasn’t changed, little heathen. That’s never going to change.”
My pussy clenches from his words. I can feel everyone watching. I can hear them whispering about what he’ll do next. And I don’t give a single fuck because the only person who matters in this moment is in front of me.
He stands and offers me his hand. I take it, and he pulls me to my feet, then walks me backward until my thighs hit the edge of the table behind us on the platform. The table is mostly only used for claimings.
He lifts me by the waist and carries me to the other side so my back is to the audience, then pushes my shoulders back until I’m lying flat. The gown spreads across the surface and spills over the sides. He positions himself between my legs and faces the room.
His hands slide up my thighs under the fabric, pushing the gown higher. His fingers hook into my thong and drag it down my legs. He holds the lace up for a second—just long enough—then tucks it into the inside pocket of his jacket where the mask was.
He leans over me, hands planted on either side of my head. His face fills my entire view through the red glow, and his mouth is at my ear. “You’re not getting those back either.”
I giggle as he looks up, nodding to someone.
There is movement near my head. I tilt my head up and see Priest positioning himself in front of the table. Kase follows, standing beside him. Crew takes the other side, crossing his arms over his chest.
The three men stand shoulder to shoulder, facing the room with their backs to the table. A wall of muscle and ink between what Axl is about to do to me and every set of eyes in this cathedral.
A murmur rolls through the crowd. Someone laughs, and I’m pretty sure it’s Thorne.
Axl looks down at me, and his mouth tips. “You didn’t think I was going to let any of those fucks see what’s mine, did you?”
“I fucking love you.” I’m smiling so hard my cheeks ache.
“A king always takes care of his queen.” He grips the fabric of my gown and shoves it up over my hips.
The air hits my bare pussy, and my back arches off the table.
His hand wraps around my throat, and he lowers his face to mine behind the mask.
“Now be a good girl and let your husband claim what’s his. ”
The clink of the buckle from his belt and the drag of his zipper make my heart race. Then the head of his cock is at my opening. I bite down on my lip behind the mask to keep from moaning loud enough for the whole cathedral to hear.
“You’re already soaked, little heathen.” He’s leaning over me, one hand beside my head, his mouth close enough that his words land warm against my neck. “Did kneeling for your king do that to you?”
“Fuck.” My voice is already shaky, and he hasn’t even fucked me yet. “Please. Do I get to come?”
“Yes, baby.” He thrust into me, giving me his full length. “What kind of husband would I be if you didn’t get off the first time I fuck my heathen wife? But not a fucking sound.”
His hand tightens on my throat, and he fucks me hard. My back arches off the table. I grab the lapels of his jacket because I need something to hold onto. My mouth opens behind the mask, and I fight to keep from moaning.
“That’s my girl.” He stops and stays buried inside me, leaning down so he’s right at my ear. “I can’t wait to get my pregnant wife home.”
My chest cracks open and tears fill my eyes behind the mask. He knows. I should have known he would figure it out. I haven’t told him yet. I was going to surprise him tonight, but he knows my body so well.
“How long have you known?” I whisper.
“Your tits have been bigger for two weeks.” He pulls back and drives into me again, slow and deep. “You think I don’t notice every single thing about what’s mine, Mrs. Hollister?”
I choke on a laugh that turns into a moan I can’t hold back. His hand presses harder against my throat, reminding me to stay quiet. My fingers twist tighter into his jacket, and my hips roll up to meet him because I can’t help it. I need more of him. I always need fucking more.
“If you think I was possessive before, you haven’t seen anything yet.” His mouth is in my ear as he plays with my clit. “And I’m going to give you every fucking thing you deserve.”
My eyes burn, and I nod because I can’t speak without sobbing. He strokes the side of my neck with his thumb where he has me pinned.
“Now come for your husband, little heathen.” He thrusts harder, grinding his hips against my clit with every stroke.
I grab the edge of the table above my head with one hand and fist his jacket with the other. My thighs are shaking around his hips, and every thrust pushes me higher on the table. The piercings hit a spot inside me that makes my vision blur, and I clamp my teeth together so hard my jaw aches.
“Not a sound, baby.” He’s watching my face through the mask while he fucks me. His hand stays on my throat, and he presses just enough that I have to fight for air. “That’s only for me.”
I come so hard my back lifts off the table and my thighs lock around him.
My mouth opens, but I bite the inside of my cheek until I taste blood to keep quiet.
His grip tightens on my throat, and he buries himself as deep as he can go, grinding against me while my pussy clenches around his cock as I come.
He groans and drops his forehead to mine through the mask. His dick pulses inside me, and the warmth of his cum fills me while his hips press hard against me. His chest is heaving, and his hand loosens on my neck.
He pulls the mask off my head. With his cock still inside me, he presses his forehead to mine.
“I love you, Mrs. Hollister.” His voice is tender, a contrast to my commanding husband a moment ago.
“I love you, my king.”
He pulls out of me and fixes himself before anyone can see a goddamn thing. He smooths my gown back down over my thighs and then grips my waist, lifting me off the table. My legs are useless, and I grab his arm to keep from going down. His cum is already dripping between my thighs.
Axl tucks the mask back into his jacket pocket with my thong and wraps his arm around my waist, holding me against his side.
Priest turns around first. He gives us a once-over and shakes his head. “You two done, or do you need us to stand here while you go another round?”
“Fuck off.” Axl keeps his arm around me, urging us toward the guys and then pulls Priest into a one-arm hug. “Thanks, brother.”
The Ravens who stayed are already rising from their seats, murmuring to each other as they filter toward the doors.
The Sinclair brothers and their wives are among the last to stand.
Fox catches Axl’s eye across the room and lifts his chin.
Tate gives a single nod. Thorne points at Axl and mouths something that makes Sloane smack his arm, and then they’re heading for the exit with the others.
Kynlee rushes to me. Her arms wrap around my neck, and she’s crying and laughing at the same time. “I can’t believe you’re fucking married.” She pulls back and holds my face in both hands, mascara streaked down her cheeks.
“I’m going to make sure you’re alright.” I grip her wrists and pull her to me in a long hug.
Axl lets me have my moment with Kynlee, but his hand stays on my lower back. He doesn’t stop touching me.
Crew steps up beside us as the last of the crowd clears the room. He holds up a black case and taps it twice with his palm.
“Are you two ready for the real rings?” He glances between us. “I’m set up in the back room.”
Axl looks down at me. He brushes the huge diamond on my left hand with his thumb. Beneath our rings, Crew is going to tattoo a band into our skin that will be part of us forever.
I lace my fingers through his and let him lead me out of the cathedral.
I’m now Saylor Reign Hollister—queen to Axl Kade Hollister, and in several months, I’ll be the mother of his child. I will kneel every day and serve my king.
And it’s my fucking choice.