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There was no hesitation on my part. “I, Tristian Hawkins, take you, Belle Montgomery, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, ’til death do us part, kitten,” I vowed, whether she wanted to believe it or not.
—Belle—
From the moment I stepped into the church, it was one thing after another. The guests in attendance, some I recognized, others I didn’t. I tried to pretend as if this was just another part of my job, sacrificing my life for the woman I’d become. The seconds turned into minutes, the minutes into hours, the hours into what like days as I stood there with Tristian at the altar. I felt as though I was having an out-of-body experience. He held my hand throughout the entire ceremony, grazing his thumb in a back-and-forth motion against my skin.
I’d be lying if I said it didn’t calm me in a moment of pure panic. The familiarity of his touch was evident in the way my body responded to his simple gesture, making the ceremony move much faster. Once the minister turned to Tristian and said to repeat after him, I thought I was going to pass out.
I never expected him to face me and shift his hand up to caress the side of my face. The way he conveyed his vows to me was another emotion I hadn’t predicted. I wasn’t prepared for the effect this man still had on me. Words couldn’t express how much I wanted to hate him, but at that moment, I didn’t know what I felt for him. His vows felt so real, confusing his role in my life.
Did he mean them?
And now…
The pastor nodded for me to repeat after him. Suddenly, my throat locked up and my chest seized, tightening to the point of pain. It was my turn, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. Instead, I played along, once again pretending like this was just another meeting, another thing I had to do to prove to my grandfather that I was worthy of being the heir to his dynasty.
With all the courage I could muster, I peered into Tristian’s gaze, trying to find the boy I once loved and not the one who’d hurt me for years after he’d left. I didn’t see either of those things. The only thing I saw was my future flashing before my eyes.
“Belle, please repeat after me,” the minister ordered.
I couldn’t move.
I couldn’t speak.
I was barely breathing.
In and out, Belle. One deep breath in, one deep breath out.
As if reading my body language, Tristian reached for my hands and held them in his firm grasp. The simple caress of his touch calmed me all over again.
I did as I was told like always, repeating, “I, Belle Montgomery, take you, Tristian Hawkins, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish,’til death do us part.”
What did I just do?
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss—”
A deep growl within my newlywed husband’s chest erupted before he crashed his mouth onto mine with a sudden passion I wasn’t anticipating. Instantly, my lips burned as he kissed me in a way I’d never been kissed before.
Or maybe I had… When he kissed me the first time.
Memories of that evening tore through my mind at a rapid speed. I couldn’t keep up with where I was at the present time. Part of me was there with him while the other part was sixteen and had never been kissed before. His lips devoured my mouth, quickly making me realize this wasn’t just a kiss.
This was all possession.
His claim on me.
It was primal.
Heady.
Dominant in every way.
His soft tongue.
His scent.
His body pressed against mine.
It was all too much.
