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I watch them walk away, chatting animatedly, and go off in search of my own clothes for our quickie wedding.
Then she’s all fucking mine, and nothing will stop me from claiming her.
SIX
MATILDE
I am getting married today.I still have no idea why this is happening to me, of all people. Why did he choose me? I have two sisters who are also single and much, much prettier than I am. I still don’t know if this is a joke of some kind, like I’m being punked. I can’t figure out why he wants me so badly. He’s giving me the first taste of the pleasure he promised, but am I crazy for wanting more? Clearly, I don’t want him to kill my family, so sacrificing myself is my only option here. I don’t have to like it, and I don’t have to kiss him. I know that I’ll fall for him if I kiss him, and that can’t happen. I’ll do what he wants me to, but I won’t make it easy for either of us.
I’m sitting in the limo with my future husband and his siblings. And his mother. He has more than I originally thought. He’s got a much younger brother named Declan. He’s polite but nowhere near as energetic as his sisters. There are the triplets, Ashlynn, Aislinn, and Aubrianna. They look adorable in their peach-colored dresses. It even matches Cashel’s. The men are wearing peach-colored ties. It’s my favorite color, but there's no way they could know that could they? His mom, Trina, and stepmother, Fiona, are discussing the roses that I’m currently holding. Trina apparently started the plant when she was Mrs. O'Shaughnessy. I look over at Dorian. He’s talking to Derry about some business that will be handled tonight. This family seems to operate under the secrets get you killed motto that mine does. He looks like he got the proverbial canary, and I am so fucking pissed off. This is not how I imagined I’d be getting married. I thought I’d be surrounded by friends and family. I wanted the day to be magical. I thought the day would be all about me, basically being a princess marrying the man I love. The one man I can’t live without. I certainly didn’t expect to be forced down the aisle to the hottest asshole I’ve ever met. At least he’s letting us get married at a Catholic church and not some place tacky like Vegas. My mother will be able to forgive me, at least. He won’t let me call them until after we are married. My emotions are high as I listen to Cash talk to me animatedly. I’m not at all sure what she’s talking about, but her excitement is contagious. Declan stares out the window, looking sullen. He had the same mom as Cash. I hand my bouquet to Cash and move to the side seat beside him. Dorian eyes me but doesn’t say anything.
“Hi, Declan.”
“Hi,” he says, not really looking at me.
“What kind of stuff are you into?” I ask, praying it's something in my wheelhouse.
“Like what?”
“TV shows, movies, books?”
“Star Wars and Marvel.” Thank God!
“Oh, me too. Do you like Dungeons and Dragons?”
“Yeah! But no one will play with me. These guys don’t get it.”
“Well. I’m going to be looking for a new game since I’ll be living here. It won’t make sense to keep going to New York every Friday for my old one.” I’ve been playing with that band of adventurers since ninth grade, but change can be good.
“Can we start one?” he asks., smiling for the first time.
“Heck yeah. Do you have some friends that play? You could totally be the Dungeon Master.”
“You think?” he asks.
“Oh, for sure. You’d be good at it.”
“Wow. Cool. You’re going to be a cool sister-in-law, aren’t you?”
“Um… yeah. The coolest.” He laughs, and we spend the rest of the ride to the church talking about potential scenarios to roleplay.
If I’m going to do this, I’m going to do it well. I won’t hide from his family because they will be my family too. I already know that my bonding with his younger sisters will include a trip to the All-American Girl store. I just met them; that was the first thing they told me. I laughed and promised we’d go there soon. I’ll be setting Derry up with my sister, Theresa. She’s a bit brusque, but if anyone can tame her, it’s Derry. I think they are perfect for each other. Even his mom and stepmom are nice to me. I think they are a couple, but I won’t out them. It doesn’t seem like anyone knows about them. It’s just him that drives me fucking crazy. He’s such an asshole. Am I protesting too much? I still want to throat-punch him, though.
We reach the church, which is old and beautiful. Dorian holds my hand from the curb all the way down the aisle. It’s warm and strong. Stop it, Matty. Don’t think about him like that. He’s the monster who is forcing you to marry him. Forcing you to sleep with him. That does the trick. My heart hardens a little bit. Not fully, because Cash is pretty cool, and Derry isn’t so bad, either. It’s Dorian that’s awful. How am I going to do this? Can I really let him into my body?
“You were great with Declan in the car.”
“Oh, yeah. He’s a nice kid.”
“I can’t get him to talk to me in complete sentences. What you did was a miracle. Thank you. He hasn’t said much since my dad died. He never really knew his mother. I tried with him, but he wasn’t really having it.” That reminds me of what Cash said about him, and I don’t want to think about his good qualities. He’s an asshole who kidnapped me and is forcing me to do things I don’t want to do. Who am I kidding? I’m going to let this man fuck me within an inch of my life… I don’t have to like it…
Instead of thinking further about him and my whirlwind of emotions, I look around the church. It really is beautiful. I’m in awe of the stained-glass scene of Mary holding baby Jesus behind the altar. Two smaller windows on opposite sides depict other times in Jesus’ life. I’m introduced to Father Flannagan. He’s a young priest but friendly and knowledgeable. Apparently, this is the church we will go to every Sunday. This is my life now.
“I’d like to speak to the bride privately before the ceremony,” the priest says.
“That’s not necessary,” Dorian says, gripping my elbow.
“Then I’m not marrying you. Father Ryan will be back in two weeks,” he says, shrugging his shoulders. I smother a smile.
