She glares at me.
"Quiet," I beg.
She closes her eyes.
"Thank you," I offer, and remove my hand, but when she opens her eyes, she's still pissed.
Kirill points at me, cautioning, "Your vows are not just words. They are to guide you for eternity. When in doubt, there are only three solutions. Persuade. Provide. Protect. There is nothing else."
Persuade. Provide. Protect.
He doesn't take his stare off me.
I nod. "Understood."
He motions to my hand. "You may give her the rings."
My chest tightens. I slowly slide the band on, then the diamond ring.
She stares at it, and I can't tell what she's thinking.
Shit. Did I fuck it up?
"I hope it's your taste," I say quietly.
Kirill interjects. "By the authority granted to me from the high and mighty Omnipotence, I now declare you, in The Underworld and all societies, eternal for life, Mr. and Mrs. Sean O'Malley Jr."
Theomsstop. The crowd pounds their feet, raising and lowering their torches.
Kirill roars, "You may kiss your bride!"
A tornado of anxiety rips through my gut. I take a deep breath and lift Zara's veil.
The blush reappears on her cheeks, making my cock harder. I circle my arm around her waist and tug her against me. Then I slide my hand through her hair, tilt her head back, and move my mouth to her ear.
She gasps.
I murmur, "It's you and me forever, my little brat."
She trembles against me.
I kiss her lobe and then her neck.
Her hot breath hits my cheek, and adrenaline soars within me.
The stomping of the crowd turns louder and faster, keeping in tune with my beating heart.
I tighten my fist in her hair and kiss her jaw until I can't resist anymore.
All the years of stopping myself from having her have come to an end. The world spins, and my body rings with the energy of the arena.
My lips touch hers briefly, and I pull back, studying her.
She's looked at me with lust in her eyes too many times. Tonight, it's magnified into a thousand flecks of what's now mine and what's still to come.
I tease her with my tongue, continuing to watch her, unable to tear my gaze from hers.
She flicks back, staring at me just as closely, and diving deeper into my mouth.