Dirty Obsession (Dirty 1)

We stop kissing.

“It won’t last, but I am going to more than enjoy it while it does.”

I blush. “Come on. The minister is waiting.” I start walking toward the door. “Unless you want to back out?” I ask, turning back to see Asher still standing, looking at me with his hands in his pockets.

“Not backing out. Just admiring your ass in that dress and all the different ways I plan on bending you over and taking you.”

* * *

In complete silence, we walk down to the beach where we are to be married. I’m still not sure he is going to actually go through with this. He’s known to be one to try and break women’s hearts. And I suspect he thinks, if he marries me and then breaks up with me later, it will make my pain that much worse. But he can’t hurt me if I don’t let him. He can’t break my heart if I don’t let myself love him.

As we walk though, I have a strange feeling that this is the worst idea I’ve had in a long time. I’ve never felt that marriage is important. My parents got divorced when I was young. Most of my friends’ parents are divorced. I’m not sure we are really supposed to be with one person all our lives. But, walking down to the beach with Asher, who will be my husband in a matter of minutes, makes me doubt everything I’ve thought before.

Asher grabs hold of my hand as we get closer to the minister, who is standing at the edge of the water with folded arms over a Bible. I suck in a breath when he grabs hold of my hand. I don’t know why his touch affects me, calms me, but it does.

Asher is the devil. I know that. But, somehow, the devil is what I need in a moment like this. Knowing who my enemy is and not being surprised by it, I guess, comforts me.

We reach the minister, but neither of us lets go of each other’s hand.

“Are you both ready?” he asks us.

Asher turns to face me with a large grin on his face that makes me grin as well.

“Yes,” we say in unison.

The minister starts talking, but the butterflies in my stomach prevent me from hearing anything he says.

Asher leans down to my ear and whispers, “Just look at the ocean. The waves. It will help calm you.”

I smile. I don’t think anything can calm me. But I look out at the ocean and watch the waves roll in, and then I immediately feel calm. It feels nice to know that, that is one thing we share. We both love the ocean.

And to fuck, the dirty side of me thinks.

“Do you, Sloane Hart, take Asher Calder to be your husband in sickness and health as long as you both shall live?”

I look into Asher’s eyes and see the waves reflected in them. “I do,” I say.

His eyes seem to twinkle just a little bit. Like he’s happy to hear it. I push the butterflies down. The look doesn’t mean anything. He is just doing this for the sex and to try and hurt me. That’s all this is.

“I do,” Asher says with a grin so wide that I’m afraid his mouth is going to be stuck permanently like that.

I feel my heartbeat race much too fast in my chest as Asher kisses me, holding me in his arms as he dips me backward, sucking all of my breath away. He slowly lets me back up.

“We’re married,” I whisper.

“We are, Mrs. Calder. Or are you not planning on taking my name?” he says with a wink.

I bite my lip and blush a little. “I think I’ll be keeping my name.”

Asher lifts me up, and I let out a high-pitched gasp.

It’s a wonder I can breathe at all after the ceremony. Thank God it was fast, or I’m sure that I would have passed out from the mix of the sun bearing down on me and my inability to breathe.

It’s too late to back out now though. I’m married. I just hope I made my life easier instead of harder.

Asher twirls me around, and for the first time since I was a kid, I feel like a princess. It’s not a feeling I ever thought I would want to experience. Not at my age. But I love the freeing feeling it gives me until I realize what Asher is doing.

“No!” I scream, grabbing hold of his neck and shoulders.