Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 39300 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 197(@200wpm)___ 157(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39300 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 197(@200wpm)___ 157(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
That I'll fuck up and destroy this somehow.
I can't fail her.
Her voice is steady as she echoes the vows back to me. It doesn't waver or shake. She's strong, sure. Fuck, she's incredible, a goddess made flesh.
Somehow, someway, I'm going to be a man worthy of her. Even if I have to work every goddamn day to prove it, I will. This marriage won't be a prison for her. I won't be a jailer. She'll be happy. She deserves that much.
Cash nudges me, his elbow digging into my ribcage.
I blink, and quickly realize everyone is looking at me expectantly. Shit. I missed something important.
"Ring," Cash mutters.
I slip my hand into my pocket, pulling out the diamond ring. It belonged to my mother. It wasn't her wedding ring—they never recovered that. But she always loved this ring.
I slip it onto Tempest's finger.
Goddamn. It looks good there. Like that's where it's supposed to be.
"With the exchange of rings and vows complete, you are now joined together in this most sacred commitment of marriage," McIverson says, a smile lighting up his craggy face. "By the power vested in me by the State of Tennessee, and by the power of your own commitment and choice, I now pronounce you married. Dalton, you may kiss your lovely bride."
I reach for Tempest, my eyes locked on her gorgeous face.
Fuck. I can't wait another second.
I haul her up against my body, crushing my lips against hers in a searing kiss. I don't give a fuck who's watching—I kiss her like we're the only two in the world. She gasps, looping her arms around my neck as she melts against me.
I devour her sweet mouth, groaning at the taste of her, the taste of us together.
"Wife," I rasp against her lips. My cock throbs painfully in my slacks at the sound of that word on my lips. I like it…Christ, I like it far more than I ever thought I would.
Tempest pulls back slightly, her eyes blazing with heat as they meet mine, and I know she likes it just as much.
"Husband," she whispers back, and I nearly come in my fucking pants. I'm in deep, drowning, and I don't even want to come up for air.
As soon as I release her, Cash claps me on the back, grinning. "Congrats, brother. Never thought I'd see the day."
Riley pulls Tempest into a fierce hug. "I'm so happy for you both," she says, genuine excitement in her voice. Of course she and Tempest already know one another. That's the thing with Riley—in this industry, she knows everyone.
We thank them before turning to sign the marriage license. My hand is steady, but Tempest's shakes, the only sign of nerves she's displayed since we left her hotel.
Does she regret this?
Fuck, I hope not.
"Let's get out of here," I murmur, my voice rough. I just want to be alone with her. I need to worship every inch of her sweet body until she's trembling and crying my name. Until she believes in this as much as I do.
One way or another, I'm going to convince her to give this a real chance—to give me one. Maybe I'm not worthy and I don't deserve it. I don't fucking know. But she's mine now. If I have to fuck my way into her soul to lay siege to it, I'll do it. Whatever it takes to claim her heart the way I'm pretty fucking certain she's already claiming mine.
* * *
The divider is up in the limo, giving us privacy, but Tempest is uncharacteristically quiet as we wind through the deserted streets back to her hotel. Her gaze is fixed out the window, her mind miles away.
"You regret it," I say softly, watching her.
If she says yes, it'll fucking end me. But it's not like I can blame her, can I? She agreed because I wrung it out of her perfect body, not because she trusts that this is really what I want.
She turns to face me, doubt ravaging her expression. "No." She swallows hard, glancing down at her hands. "I'm afraid you will."
My heart cracks at the vulnerability in her voice. Fuck. She wants so badly to trust me, but she's so goddamn afraid to let herself. She still doubts me, still doesn't understand that this is precisely what I want.
If I fuck this up, it's going to destroy her.
I reach for her, dragging her onto my lap. Despite her fear, she comes willingly, melting against my chest. I tip her chin up and slowly, deliberately meet her amber gaze.
"I'm not going to regret you, Tempest. Not now, not ever. You're mine. It's as simple as that." I seal my vow with a deep, bruising kiss, trying to pour every ounce of certainty and need into it. "Trust that. Trust me."
She studies my face for a long moment and then nods. "I'm trying," she whispers. "I just…"