Page 17 of Royally Bad

One heartbeat. Two. That was how long it took for me to decide I shouldn’t be settling in this man’s comfortable embrace. “Hah,” I mumbled, standing quickly. “That’s ironic, coming from a guy who probably keeps notches on his headboard.”

“Excuse me,” he said, adjusting his crimson tie. “I’m classier than you realize. I keep a list on my laptop, thank you.”

Was it worse if he was joking? Did Iwanthim to be the cocky playboy I’d pegged him for, or was it possible he wasn’t ... and that scared me more?

Shaking myself, I hurried—carefully—after Francesca. Inside the white tent, her mother and the priest were waiting. “Oh, there you are!” Mama Badd gasped. Ignoring me, she pulled Kain closer. Dusting off his shoulders, she pressed an orange boutonniere into his pocket. “Now remember, you go when the music starts, but notbeforeyour cousins.”

“I got it, Mom,” he said, kissing her cheek.

Crouching, Francesca petted her little dog. Someone had set him up with a tiny silver vest, a box tied to his collar. “Mic! You’re so cute!” The dog wiggled, licking her cheek.

The priest smiled kindly. “I’d better get up to the altar. See you in a few minutes.”

“Me too,” Mama Badd sighed. With a final pinch of her daughter’s cheek, she beamed. “I’m so happy. I’ve already ruined two packs of tissues. Make me proud, honey.” Fluffing her dress layers, she slipped out of the tent, followed by the priest.

Francesca stood up, flapping her hands at her hips. “This is it. It’s happening. Ah, oh no, I’m sweating. Can you tell?” Her skin had turned an amazing cranberry color.

“You’re fine,” I consoled her, handing her a tissue from the box someone—probably her mother—had thoughtfully left behind on the table. “Besides, nothing happens until the music begins.”

As if I’d summoned it, the sweet bells careened into our ears.

Kain said, “Nowit’s happening. See you, Sis.” He peered out of the tent, then motioned at me. “Let’s go, cousins are already walking.”

Grabbing Francesca in a hug, I laughed. “You’re going to make your husband very happy.”

Squeezing me, she sniffled. “Damn straight.”

“Don’t cry!” I cautioned. “Your makeup!”

Dabbing her eyes, she shooed me. “Go, go! Get out there. See you soon.”

I balanced on my painful heels and followed Kain. The sun blinded me for a moment when we stepped into the open. I lifted my hand to shield myself; in that instant, he linked his fingers with mine.

Such a simple touch shouldn’t have electrified me. It defied all logic, but logic doesn’t care a whit about emotions.It’s just lust,I promised myself.

Fuck, let it just be that.

Together we walked, and true to his word, Kain kept me from tumbling the several times my ankles wobbled. The number of people sitting in foldout chairs was amazing. Was this all family, or friends, or what?

The more I gleaned about the Badds, the more curious I became.

When we reached the end of the aisle, we were supposed to part ways. Kain wasn’t much for tradition, I guess, because he held my hand and followed me to stand on the left of the altar.

Every set of eyes fixed on us. Sweat pooled along my collarbone. “What are you doing?” I hissed at him under my breath.

He didn’t answer, he just let his fingers drag from my palm to my hip. He went further, outlining the shape of my ass ... the edge of my thigh. Kain didn’t give a shit who saw him or what he was doing.

This was a man on a mission.

Iwas his mission.

What happened next ... well, we’ve caught up to the start. Kain tried to finger fuck me in public, Francesca glowed in the sun, and everything looked awesome and grand, and how could it ever go wrong?

That was when the police showed up.

And then my world was changed forever.

- CHAPTER FIVE -

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