Page 16 of Kingpin's Baby
He strokes his thumb possessively over my fingers, lingering on the gold band. The silence draws out as we do nothing but stand there, gazing at each other, my hand in his. My heart is his too.
“Very good,” the priest says softly. “And Miss Smith?”
The pillow with his ring is there, and Jasper doesn’t release my fingers, still stroking firmly but slowly, with what feels like possessive instinct.
My hand slides over his and his grip tightens for a split-second before he lets me go and offers his fingers.
“I give you this ring as a sign of my love.” I try not to think about how one-sided this is. All the advantages for me, all the risk and prosperity on his side…
Wait, what about a prenup? This is a marriage of convenience, he was very clear about that. But when we split up, Jasper will forfeit half his very considerable wealth.
He’s abillionaire. My head spins.
“Now, to sign the register. This way, please.” The priest’s eyes twinkle behind his thin-framed glasses.
“What about a prenup?” I hiss as we follow, darting my gaze to the side, hoping the priest and his assistant won’t hear.
“No need.” Jasper’s fingers tighten on my arm, but his voice remains unruffled. He hurries us after the priest, into a little antechamber where there’s a small table with a book lying open. He sits me into the single chair.
“But—” I protest quietly. He isn’t protected at all. I’m so stupid, how could I have done this? I don’t want Jasper to suffer for helping me.
“I said, no need,” Jasper repeats, soft but uncompromising. “You are not backing out now. Sign, princess.”
Is he worried I’m not going to marry him? I flick my gaze to his eyes, and they’re steel.
I pick up the pen. I don’t care about the money, or even the citizenship that started all this. I lovehim. If I just need to trust him? Okay. I do.
My boss’ hand holding the page, I write my name—I still don’t have a proper signature, what is one supposed to be?—as Jasper looms over me. This is official, and we’re faking, and while when we said the words at the front of the church it felt romantic and exciting, this feels… I don’t know. Heart-thumpingly confusing. Because why didn’t he want a prenup?
And why did he seem upset that he thought I might back out?
No sooner than I’ve lifted the pen from the paper, Mr Booth plucks it from my fingers, scrawls an elegant but illegible signature next to his name, tosses the pen aside and pulls me to my feet.
Then he lets out a deep sigh, as though he’d been holding his breath and drags his gaze proprietarily down my body.
“Wife.” And though it’s a low rumble, there’s a smile in his eyes.
“Ah-hum.” The priest clears his throat. “The rest of the ceremony, Mr Booth.”
My boss grabs my hand and leads me back to our place amongst the flowers and candles in the church.
He doesn’t even bother to turn us to look at the priest, his green eyes dark in the shadowed light.
“I now pronounce you, man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
My heart rate kicks up as Jasper tips up my chin with one hand and slides the other around my waist to draw me to him with such tenderness I can barely cope.
“Mine,” he whispers so quietly I think I’ve imagined it before our lips touch and every rational thought flies. He kisses me like it’s his right, which I suppose it is. I’m putty in his hands. We’re doing an excellent impression of a couple so in love that we can’t restrain ourselves when he glides his hand to hold the exposed nape of my neck.
In part because fifty per cent of us are.
He kisses me with equal intensity to earlier, pressing our bodies together. He’s hard where I’m soft, and the contrast steals my breath away. When he withdraws, I’m left panting and flushed. Jasper smiles slowly while I’m still mush.
“Come on, princess.” Lacing his big fingers with my smaller ones, we walk back down the aisle to the clapping of his men, and more music of the type that epic moments running across fields are made to in movies.
And I begin to think that spectacular as our wedding has been, this isn’t what I’ve been anticipating.
No. What I’m looking forward to is tonight. Once I’m in my fake husband’s bed.
