Page 27 of Bound to Him
There was a small gap in guests because someone was talking to the people in line behind them, and I leaned over to whisper, “You’re a delight to kiss.”
“Happy to please you,husband.”
“Is that how it’s going to be?”
“Yes, husband,” he said blandly.
Oh, I could break him, but I loved that he had the balls to try to take any sort of stand against me. That meant he wouldn’t be boring. “Good to see you with the right attitude,” I said and wrapped an arm around him. “I’ll have you barefoot in the kitchen in no time.”
He knocked his elbow hard against my side, but I only laughed as the next person came up to shake our hands. I snorted as I watched Edison Divine and his family sneak away without going through the line, and Noah noticed as well and deflated a bit. That pissed me off. I knew it was a sham, and so did they, but still.... It was rude. And worst of all it was a public slight on Noah. Other people would see them ignoring us.
The men who were at the casino last night came through the line, and they all had condescending smiles for Noah. Anger ripped through me that they would dare to do something like that when they knew Noah was mine for now. I drew him closer to my side when he shrank in on himself. Always one to keep my friends close, I made sure to smile as I greeted each man by turn. Archie Alfson was last in line and sizzled Noah with the kind of look a copperhead gives lunch.
“Thanks for coming,” I said and squeezed his hand harder than I probably should’ve. He was a smidge taller than me and I had to look up. His blond hair gleamed in the sunshine. I almost felt bad for the pissing contest because he was thin enough I wondered if he was recovering from an illness.
“Congratulations, Alton,” he murmured and slunk off.
We shook hands with so many people I started to wonder if extra ones had snuck in, then the line was done. Russ was flitting around fussing at his staff to move the flowers—and there was still one person waiting nearby, all alone.
The fuckingboyfriend. Christian.
He came over to me with his hand out, and Noah let out a distressed little sound that was confusing—or maybe not, if he loved this man and was married to me now. Christian was almost my height and had a chiseled face that would likely age well, and spite in his glittering brown eyes. He clasped hands with me and neither one of us pretended we weren’t trying to hurt each other as we squeezed.
“Your fiancé is a cheater.” He gave me a toothy grin.
“Husband now.”
“What-the-fuck-ever, bro.” He transferred his outraged attention to Noah. “And you never told me you were dating a fucking billionaire.”
“It’s all on paper. I can’t exactly pull a billion dollars out of the bank.” I made sure my words were delivered in that snooty Vert Island tone that always pissed me off, and it was ade-light to watch it work its magic on him, too.
“He didn’t tell me he was dating you when he had my dick down his—”
“Stop,” Noah whispered, and he looked like he was ready to throw up. These weren’t the concerned words of a boyfriend worried for the man he loved. No, this was the exact spoiled-brat shit I’d been afraid Noah would pull. Christian had his shiny toy taken away—nothing else. No questions about Noah’s well-being. No promises to help him escape my evil clutches.
Just spite.
“No,” Christian snapped, and his eyes widened until they were on the edge of deranged. “I liked you, Noah. It all makes sense now. You weren’t waiting for someone better to come along, you were already fucking him. What? You liked dick so much you had to have two?”
Noah reared back like he’d been slapped. “I didn’t do anything like that!”
Rage powered through my belly and I let go of Noah to drag Christian off to the side. Clover was standing nearby, and he kept an eye on the proceedings, so I couldn’t get too out of hand. I did sock Christian in the gut, though, and he gasped, bending forward to cradle his middle. “If you only understand one thing in that thick skull of yours, it better be this. Noah is mine. I wanted you here with your family so you could see that. Whatever stupid shit you had in your head about getting in with the Divines? Get it gone. I know your type. Do not contact my husband in any way or I will ruin everything you love.”
Christian tried to punch me, but I shoved him back, and he flailed as he landed hard in one of the silver chairs and it tipped. He swore as he untangled himself from the seat and stood up, holding his left elbow. “Have fun with my seconds, you fucker. Noah might be a smokeshow, but clearly he’s a fucking liar. You can chase me off, but he’ll be after someone else.”
“Fuck you, Christian. I told you that we weren’t going out. I never lied.” Noah stomped away down the aisle, but Clover chased after him. Christian and I both watched Noah nod stiffly in response to a question from Clover—probably he’d asked whether or not Noah was all right. After a back pat from Clover, Noah spun off toward the pine trees and power walked until he disappeared from sight.
Christian took a swing at me while I wasn’t paying attention, missed because he was a terrible fucking fighter, and I popped him on the chin in retaliation. He dropped like a sack of potatoes.
Clover wandered over and stared down at Christian. “He wasn’t very nice to your husband. He fell right over on his own. God works in mysterious ways.”
“I didn’t think you UU people spouted stuff like that?”
Clover laughed and waved a hand at me. Without waiting to see if Christian would get to his feet again or not, I set off in the same direction Noah had fled.
“You might’ve married him, but I’ve had my dick in him. Good fucking luck,” Christian bellowed at the top of his lungs.
I couldn’t handle the ire that surged through me, and my choices were walk away or kill the bastard, so I chased after Noah with my heart thudding too hard and my hands in fists. I shouldn’t care what the little fuck had implied, but it dug under my skin. Noah belonged to me now, and he was going to be mine or else.
