Page 13 of Bartholomew
A husband who now got to kiss his wife.
A smirk lit up my face, and I leaned forward. Levi’s hand on my elbow gave me just enough pause to remind me that I was not in Abditory, and this was not just any woman.
I leaned forward, my hand moving around the back of her neck and pulling her towards me, her chin lifted to the angle I wanted her at.
Our lips met, and, damn, had I been right. They were soft as velvet and plump. The kind of lips that made me want to nibble on them until she gasped and opened her mouth to me, letting me taste her sweetness.
It lasted a moment or two longer than was appropriate, and then she pulled away. Exuberant music poured from the organ, letting us know it was time to leave. I walked her back down the center aisle of the sanctuary, smiling and waving at the congregation as we passed. The doors at the back of the church opened.
And then we were alone.
Levi had said that they would immediately usher us down to the basement of the church for what sounded like the most despicable thing I had ever heard of. But no one was there.
I had half a mind to take her into my arms, to pull her in for another kiss.
I had half a mind to take her by the hand and pull her out of this church and out of this life. Plan be damned.
Instead, I turned to her and pulled her close into my arms for the first time. Her body was all curves and softness as it aligned with mine.
“Thank you,” I whispered against the top of her head.
“For what?” she asked, pulling away and looking up at me with sheer confusion in her eyes.
“For a wonderful first day as man and wife.” She blushed beautifully under my praise, and I tucked that tidbit away to use another day. “Delilah, I want you to know that —”
“Right this way, our happy newlyweds,” Elder Shepherd boomed jovially as he barged through the doors. The words I wanted to say stuck there on the edge of my lips as the whole ensemble of Elder men shuffled in past him, quickly herding us down the hallway and towards the door.
The door that led to the staircase.
The staircase that led to the room.
And finally, they led us through that last door into said room. The room that was the place that would soon hold nightmares for me, for the rest of my life.
I took Delilah’s hand in mine, pulling her closer to my side as man after man filed into the room.
I knew what was going to happen. Levi had talked to me, at length, about exactly what would occur. I thought I had been ready for it. I thought I would have been able to stomach what was about to happen.
I was wrong.
I was so fucking wrong. And I knew just how wrong it was when Elder Christian walked through the door.
Delilah’s father.
He was actually going to be here, to bear witness to the inspection and consummation of his own daughter.
I felt the bile rise up into my throat. I turned towards her then, towards Delilah, and saw that same look of confusion cross her face.
Oh, fuck.
Levi had told me that Ruth had been completely clueless when it came to this part of the wedding day. Her mother had told her nothing. I suddenly wondered if Delilah’s mother had done her the same act of disservice. With four sisters already married, surely that wasn’t the case.
“Let us begin,” Reverend Jacob announced as he waltzed through the door like God Almighty himself.
I took Delilah’s hand and pulled her towards me until her eyes met mine.
“I’m here,” I stated dumbly. I didn’t know what to say. How was I supposed to convey — here, in front of the Elders — everything I wanted to say?
I watched as the smile came back to her lips, but it was a half-smile. It wasn’t the genuine look she had possessed in those brief moments outside of the sanctuary.
