17. Naina
Chapter Seventeen
NAINA
Grabbing my hand, he led me out of his office and back to the living room.
I didn’t have the chance to look around his living room when we came in. It was large, decorated in grays and black. The most opulent thing were the large windows looking out towards downtown and the pier, the city on one side, the ocean on the other.
A woman in a red jumpsuit was standing by the windows, talking to Sami and Vera. I assumed she was the Augusta Vera had referred to. Grayson stood to one side, stoic as ever.
The woman turned when she saw us, her lips tilting up into the brightest smile. She left Vera and Sami’s side and walked towards us, immediately enveloping Kash into a hug. I didn’t let go of his hand, partly because I was surprised by the exuberant hug and partly because I didn’t know this woman hugging the man I was about to marry.
When she pulled back, she left her hand on Kash’s arm.
“Kassius, introduce me to your bride,” she said, smiling widely. “She’s just gorgeous.”
She had the same unfiltered, charming personality like Kash. Although with Kash, I wasn’t sure if it was a personality trait or an act to throw people off. The man intentionally tried to be complicated.
“Aunt Auggie, this is Naina Hollister,” Kash said. “Naina, this is Augusta Sutherland, my father’s youngest sister.”
Augusta offered me her hand.
“I consider myself the luckiest Sutherland because you’ll never hear about me.” She leaned in until I could smell her perfume. “I’ve been excommunicated.”
The fact that she was a Sutherland was so obvious now that I knew her identity. She had the trademark Sutherland black hair and light blue eyes, a haughty expression and a quality which seemed to scream ‘I am very expensive’. She’d glided across the room with confidence, a woman who was used to being the center of attention.
“It’s so nice to meet you,” I said. “Thank you for being here.”
“I was more than happy to officiate your wedding,” Augusta insisted. “It’s what I do.”
She laughed, and Kash got this murderous gleam in his eyes. Across the room, Vera’s cheeks colored a faint pink and she turned away to fuss with something.
“That is not funny, Aunt Auggie,” he said.
“It wasn’t your choice and you know it. Stop being butt-hurt.”
“I was deputized a long time ago,” Augusta explained to me. “Now, darling, stand right in front of the window. Sami, dear, find some flowers, and music. Vera, come stand with your cousin.”
She walked away to arrange Sami and Vera exactly where she wanted them.
“Is she Vera’s mother?” I asked Kash.
“No, that’s Aunt Amelia.” Kash’s looked at Vera. “If Augusta was her mother, maybe she would be less…”
He waved at her, as if that explained exactly what he was talking about. And maybe it did, to some extent. Augusta seemed vivacious and almost loving, whereas Vera appeared more stiff and formal, unless she was with Kash. She seemed to have no problem calling him out on his bad behavior.
Kash took my hand, leading me forward to where Sami, Augusta, and Vera were gathered. I shared a quick glance with Sami, whose determined expression fortified me.
I was doing this for us, I reminded myself.
“Now, face each other,” Augusta commanded.
Heart pounding, I turned to face Kash. Vera stood behind him and Sami behind me. Soft music started playing over the bluetooth speakers and I recognized it immediately. No doubt it was my sister indulging my love for 90s pop.
“Repeat after me…” Augusta intoned.
Kash and I repeated the vows after Augusta. They were the standard vows, and as someone who had never thought about what my wedding would be like, I didn’t mind it. Kash’s eyes didn’t stray from me even for a moment; they seemed to stare right into my soul. My stomach fluttered with butterflies, giant, banshee sized butterflies.
“To have and to love, as long as we both shall live,” Augusta said.
To have and to fake, more like it.
Kash repeated the words, his voice steady. When I hesitated, he squeezed my hands, in a gesture meant to offer comfort.
“Do you have rings for each other?” Augusta asked.
Before I could panic, Grayson stepped up next to us and handed Kash a ring box. Opening it, Kash pulled out two platinum wedding bands, a thin one for me and a thicker one for him.
“Excellent, exchange rings please.”
My hand shook slightly as I attempted to put the ring on Kash’s finger. He squeezed the hand he was still holding and I met his eyes.
“It’s okay, Goldie,” he whispered. “We’re in this together.”
Against all odds, his words made me feel better. He was leagues ahead of me and held all the cards in this deal. But when he said we were partners, I knew he meant it.
I slid the ring onto his finger. And when Kash slid mine on, his mouth twisted into a possessive grin. It was gone in a flash and I was sure I had imagined it. The ring felt strangely heavy on my finger.
We signed the marriage license, Samira and Vera signed as witnesses, and it was done. We were officially married.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” Augusta announced. “You may now kiss.”
“What?” I gasped.
Augusta grinned at me mischievously.
“A wedding isn’t complete until the bride and groom kiss,” she said. “That’s you two.”
I looked at Kash for help and he must have sensed my desperation because he turned to Augusta.
“Maybe we shouldn’t?—”
“Nonsense. If you are shy or against PDA, we’ll turn our backs,” Augusta said. “And Kassius, the first kiss sets the mood for the whole marriage, so make it a good one.”
Kash and I looked at each other. Oh god. This was really going to happen.
It wasn’t that I was shy or against PDA, although I wasn’t pro-PDA. I was afraid…I was afraid Kash was going to kiss me and I was going to like it. I was afraid I was going to more than just like it.
Kash stepped closer, closing the distance between us. Reaching out, he placed a hand on my bare waist, the heat of his palm seeping into my skin and setting my nerves on fire. I barely controlled the moan that threatened to escape.
He wrapped the other hand around the side of my neck and pulled me towards him, pressing me against his body. I gasped at the sudden closeness, pressing my hands against his chest to push him back but somehow leaving them there instead.
I felt his heart pounding against my hand, matching the rhythm of mine. In that moment, our hearts were one, beating to the same tune for once.
Kash’s eyes dropped down to my mouth and his own parted, his tongue peeking out to lick his full bottom lip. My mouth watered with how badly I wanted to suck on that lip.
“I’ll make it quick,” Kash whispered. I didn’t know if he was telling me or promising himself.
His lips brushed against mine, soft as feathers and I let out a shaky breath. My eyes fluttered close, and I took the chance, letting my tongue swipe out to taste that bottom lip. I took it between mine, gently sucking on it.
The action seemed to unlock something in Kash. He yanked me completely against him, his grip on my waist tightening painfully, his fingers digging into the soft skin. Pressing all my softness against his hardness.
Our mouths moved together desperately, slick and wet, tasting and licking. I’d never tasted anything like Kash’s kisses; like he wanted to memorize me, like he was desperate for me.
I gripped his shirt, holding him close. A dull throb began low in my belly, traveling between my thighs, and I squeezed my legs together.
I moaned into his mouth.
“Oh, dear.”
Reality filtered in like a splash of cold water. Kash and I pulled apart, breathing hard, mouths glistening. Awareness flickered between us.
The best kiss of my life was with my fake husband.