Page 124 of Plunge into Obsession

“You may now kiss the bride,” the priest announced.

Gabriel wrapped his arms securely around the small of my back and pulled me in so that my stomach was pressed firmly against him—our child between us.

His brown eyes glinted in possessiveness just before he leaned down and took my lips with his.

Applause rang out around us, but I couldn’t pay them any attention, not when it felt like Gabriel was devouring me.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, and he kissed me harder, kissed me deeper.

I moaned, the sound drowned out by all the noise, but it didn’t matter.

Because he was kissing me.

I didn’t want him to pull away, but he did just that moments later.

I forced myself to hold still, to not follow his lips or look so… needy.

The last thing I wanted was to be needy with my husband.

He turned me around, and Raphael grinned at us, announcing loudly, “Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Cadorna!”

The applause grew louder as Gabriel took me in his arms. He whispered in my ear, “You are now officially mine for good. There is no escape from me.”

I should have been scared when he said things like that to me.

And I was.

I shivered against him, a little from fear and a little from something else. Something I didn’t want to delve into.

I turned and buried my face in his chest, and he held me a little tighter against him.

The whole time, all I could do was hope he wouldn’t let me go.

* * *

The reception was heldin the backyard as well.

I had only been here for a week and hadn’t explored the house thoroughly enough, which I now realized was a mistake because the property was much bigger than I’d imagined.

At least walking around this huge backyard made me feel less trapped.

It seemed like it had everything. A home gym on the edge of the property, which explained Gabriel’s impressive physique. A garden I would have liked to read in, filled with rose bushes and a variety of other flowers that I didn’t know the names of, plus a swimming pool near the gym.

I couldn’t even remember the last time I had gone swimming.

This place really felt like its own little world.

As if I could really convince myself of the pretty illusion of it all. That the fairy-tale wedding I’d just had wasn’t a story, but my life.

As soon as we’d said “I do,” and after we had taken all the pictures, enough that my cheeks were hurting by the end of it, the altar was taken down faster than I could blink.

A team of people had come in and worked their magic, and before I knew it, they had set up a nice tent that offered protection from the sun, and made the entire place feel unreal.

Lights twinkled above us.

This wedding would have been perfect… for some other girl.

I forgot how many men and women I met and shook hands with. Their faces all seemed to blend together in a blurry mess. Even though I hadn’t done anything physical all day, my muscles were sore, and I couldn’t wait for this to be over.

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