Page 28 of Captive Union
“No.” I tuck a piece of her hair behind her ear. “I just want to see you smile again.”
She doesn’t respond as we walk farther into the greenhouse and reach the spot where Jones and Scott are stationed. Scott offers me a high five, which I ignore. He pouts but doesn’t say anything. Why he thinks we’re friends is beyond me. I just needed someone to be a witness, nothing more.
“Are you ready?” Jones asks.
I nod, then look at Kira. She waits for a beat before nodding herself. I stand up straighter, smiling smugly.
“We are gathered here today …” Jones begins, reciting the typical wedding speech jargon. I’m only half listening as I gaze down at Kira. Fuck, she looks good in that dress. I’m hoping she’ll give herself over to me tonight, but I doubt it. I want Kira to desire me the way I desire her, and that will only come in time if I don’t rush her into sex.
When Jones asks us to say our “I dos,” I don’t hesitate. I say my vows with confidence, letting them flow through me. I know this is right.
When Jones asks Kira if she’ll take me as her husband, she hesitates, her eyes flitting around the room to look between me, Jones, and Scott. When her eyes land back on mine, I give her my warmest smile.
Kira inhales deeply before saying clearly, “I do.” Not a whisper. I’m impressed.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss.”
I cup Kira’s face in my hands. Her body stills as I lean down and brush her lips with mine. I let them linger a second longer before pulling away. Kira blinks her eyes open, looking like she’s in a dream.
“Come on,” I say, taking her hand and guiding her back inside. “Let’s enjoy dinner.”
It’s just the two of us at the dining table in the grand dining hall. We’re on opposite ends of the large table. If only I were closer, I could feed her some of my food and make a bit of foreplay out of the situation. Kira looks tense, even from where I sit, as she takes a bite of her food.
“Did you enjoy the wedding?” I take a sip of my wine. “I hope I made you pleased with it?”
“It was … nice, actually.”
“Nice?”
She nods. “In fact, I appreciated that there wasn’t a large crowd of people watching me get married. It would’ve been too much. The fact that it was just us and two other people made me feel … more comfortable.”
“That makes me happy to hear.”
She smiles slightly. “I figured it would. It’s just the truth, though. I’ve never been one for hundreds of eyes on me. You … gave me the wedding of my dreams.”
I smirk, taking another drink of my wine.
“But,” she continues, “I’m married to a man I still don’t really know.”
“So, not the man of your dreams, I take it?”
She clears her throat, blushing. “I don’t know. I just know that if I were still home and marrying another man, my mother would have planned something huge and flashy. Honestly, I wouldn’t have gotten a say in my wedding there, either. So I think you got lucky planning something small scale.”
“Or I just knew what you’d like.”
“How would you know that?”
I steeple my hands under my chin, gazing at her darkly. “Because I’m observant. I can read your body language. Understand your facial expressions. You’re a more reserved person. Based on that information, I had a feeling you’d like a small wedding.”
She purses her lips. “That or you didn’t want to invite a lot of people so my brothers wouldn’t find out where I am.”
“Can’t it be both?”
“You’ve asked me that before.”
“And what’s your answer to it?”
She sighs. “I guess it can be.”
