Chapter 27 #2
His lips don't give me time to respond, and the moment his tongue touches mine, a too-loud moan escapes me. The sound that follows comes from him and shows me that I'm not the only one who feels there are too many layers of clothing between us.
His fingers continue to penetrate me, and when he intensifies the movement, his mouth moves to my neck and he bites me...hard.
I take a well-deserved gasp of air, and in that moment, my entire body locks up as I come. My walls clench around his fingers, and the sounds filling the room make heat rush to my cheeks.
Damien withdraws his fingers, dragging them over my slick skin, spreading the mess he’s drawn out of me until I’m trembling again. When he brings those same fingers to his lips and tastes me, letting out a growl, I’m certain my pulse doubles.
"Hmm, sweeter than any fantasy of mine. See you in the garden, s?onko." And he leans down to kiss my cheek.
I'm too numb from the orgasm, from his gesture, that I know I stand there for two minutes, staring at the door he left through.
How the hell did I cave in less than ten minutes around him? This marriage is going to eat me alive. I just know it.
Over sixty people are milling about downstairs. Each table is decorated with Franklin tea flowers because my future husband somehow got hold of an entire truck full of them and made me coordinate where they should be placed.
I'm fidgeting at the entrance when suddenly two hands wrap around me from behind, and I jump.
"This is what happens when you don't visit me more often," Henry's voice rings out behind me.
"You scared me." But my voice is light and amused.
He makes me do a few spins, and his eyes shine with delight.
"You look divine, amorino."
My heart leaps in my chest because when he's near me, I feel my mother's presence. I feel like I'm not so alone.
I take his hand and have to remind myself not to rush my pace, to give him time to walk at his own rhythm.
I show him every detail, and when we reach the garden, I have to suck in air because everything is perfect.
"Wow, someone didn't spare any expense." His tone is amused, but I feel him tense.
My uncle lives in a modest house in Austin, has had the same car for ten years, and religiously wears a linen shirt I gave him when I got my first paycheck, so I understand why in his eyes this location is overwhelming. It would be for most people.
I look for Damien, but my eyes land on Roman, who, sensing my gaze, turns and comes toward me, leaving the man he was talking to hanging.
His eyes narrow in my uncle’s direction, and taking a step in front of Henry, he extends his hand.
"Roman Borisov."
"Henry, Roxy's uncle," he responds, swallowing hard, and I have to stop myself from rolling my eyes because Roman has activated his "I'm the head of the Russian mafia and can break your legs with a thought" side.
Turning to me, Roman says, "You look wonderful, Roxy."
"I'm checking the wedding gift, just so you know," I tell him, and a smile settles on my lips as Roman just shakes his head and laughs.
Turning to my uncle, I take his hand.
"I'd like you to walk me down the aisle—or, I guess, to the priest, considering the ceremony will be outdoors and we don't exactly have a church and altar, but..." I stop because I already see the answer on his face.
His gaze is lowered and sad.
"My leg is killing me, amorino. I didn't want you to be alone on this day, but it's already an effort just to stand."
A wave of guilt hits me because I didn't even ask him how his pain was. This man flew all these hours for me, and I couldn't even see he was hurting. What kind of person am I?
I swallow the lump forming in my throat and manage to whisper, "I'm sorry for putting you through this."
"For you, I'd go through it every time, but I don't want your memory of this moment to be of me in pain."
I nod slightly, and Roman clears his throat. He's dressed in a gray suit without a tie, and if I get a little closer I can smell something like oranges and sea breeze.
"It would be an honor for me if you'd let me escort you, Roxy. We're not blood, I know that, but after everything that happened with Luna, I feel like you're a sister to me, and if you want..."
Before he finishes, he notices my eyes welling up, and though I want to find the strength to make a joke or somehow hide the wave of emotions that's overwhelmed me, I can only nod and lower my gaze, biting my lower lip to control my tears.
"I'd be very happy," I whisper, and without being able to control it, a tear escapes.
Roman's hand settles on my shoulder and squeezes gently, then he leaves to talk to someone behind me. And I appreciate that he didn't stay to watch me ruin two hours of makeup with sentimentality. Exactly what I told Luna I didn't want.
"I'm sorry, Roxy," Henry's voice sounds beside me, and again I'm reminded that I'm broken.
The fact that this man is always cheerful when he talks to me on the phone doesn't mean his health is fine.
"Why didn't you tell me about the pain?"
For a few moments I just watch him look at the cane he's holding.
"What's the point in worrying you?"
"You're my uncle. You're the only relative who gave two shits about me, Henry. The only one who listened to me. When you're in pain, call me. You know I'd drop everything for you."
He pulls me in for a hug and whispers in my ear, "You have her eyes."
My throat blocks up again with a thousand emotions because I wish she were here today.
This isn't my real wedding, but it's the closest to what I would have wanted it to be.
I always believed I'd have a marriage born from love, after a year-long engagement and at least thirty dates and several lasagnas cooked together.
I feel a tingling at the base of my neck and, without meaning to, I turn and look around.
"Did something happen, Roxy?" Henry's voice makes me turn back to him.
"I guess there are just a lot of eyes fixed on me," I murmur.
And somehow I know that among them is that obsessive gaze, capable of leaving a trail of blood in its wake just to reach me.
Instinct tells me that somewhere in this elegant, smiling crowd, a predator is hiding who would kill without blinking, just to have me.