Scorch (Virtues & Lies 2)

Prologue

Christopher

My heart is thumping in my chest. You’d think it’s nerves the way it’s making me sweat, but it’s all excitement. I feel like I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life. And watching my gorgeous bride walk towards me, her belly swollen and a teary smile on her beautiful face, I can’t contain the happiness swelling my chest.

“You okay, man?” Casper, her brother and my best man, whispers with a knock to my shoulder.

I can’t find the words to tell him how fucking incredible I am. And the best part of it all, is that she looks just as happy as me. The small bouquet in her hand shakes as she reaches me. And before her father, the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, hands her to me, she’s already handing her sister her flowers and grabbing hold of my hand.

“Hey,” she murmurs, her nose scrunching with her broad smile.

“Hey, morena.”

Her eyes flutter at the endearment, her hand squeezing mine. “I’m early.”

“And beautiful.” Pressing a chaste kiss to the side of her head, I take a moment to memorise the elation glowing on her fetching face.

The last few months have been fraught with tension, disaster after disaster, but her strength has never wavered. She’s been a rock, and I know just how lucky I am to have her.

Arabella Gladstone wasn’t just bred for this life; she was born for it.

Benedict gives me a firm pat on my back before he joins his wife and my parents. There aren’t many other guests apart from a handful of our closest friends. We wanted to keep this low-key and private, unlike the big production that our mothers have been helping Arabella plan for the last few months.

The registrar goes through all the formal introductions and readings. She’s quick and to the point, something we made sure of when we had our meeting with her.

“Are you, Christopher Alfred Sinclair, free to lawfully marry Arabella Louise Gladstone?”

I chuckle lightly at the way Arabella rolls her eyes at the full use of our names. “I am.”

“Are you, Arabella Louise Gladstone, free to lawfully marry Christopher Alfred Sinclair?”

“I am.”

She squeezes my hand a little tighter, our side glances meeting, and with her rich chocolate eyes so bright, I can’t help but smile. My heart races a little faster as we get to the part we’ve both been waiting for.

“If you could both face one another.” The registrar gestures for us to turn, and although her dress isn’t big or over-the-top, I can’t help but laugh at the way Arabella kicks the hem so she can move. Her belly touches my stomach as our toes meet, and it’s got to be the most perfect moment we’ve ever had.

And it really gets her too, because tears fill her eyes, and before she can blink them away, they tumble down her cheeks.

“Oh Jesus…” She shakes her head, taking a deep breath, and before I take her other hand, I pat her tears dry. “Bloody hormones!” she whispers.

God, I love her so much. I don’t think she’ll ever fully understand how much.

Taking her other hand, I pull her closer so that her feet are sandwiched between mine and our bodies are as flush as can be. Her belly presses to me tight enough that when our little girl moves, I can feel her.

Fuck, my insides tremble with so much emotion, I have no idea how I’m holding it together anymore. Up until this point, today was about Arabella and me becoming tied to one another in every possible way. But standing here, like this, I realise that this is so much more. We’ve always been bound to one another. Through all our ups and downs. Break-ups and make-ups…there was never any doubt that in the end it would always be me and her.

But right now, like this, we’re not just me and her. We’re not us. We’re a family. Me and my girls. And fuck if that isn’t something that makes everything we’ve gone through worthwhile.

I know today is bittersweet for her. With all the people we care and love around us, Kit is missing. Her best friend. The one other person she would love to share our day with, and he’s fighting for his life.

My heart pains for her, because I would give anything to make her happy. I would do anything to have him here. For Arabella, I would move every motherfucking mountain if I could. I’d tear down heaven and raise hell just to make her smile.

This woman, she’s not just my existence—she’s my soul.

“Repeat after me. Christopher first and then Arabella.” The registrar looks and sounds like she’s about to join in the tear fest. “I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, Christopher Alfred Sinclair, take you Arabella Louise Gladstone, to be my wedded wife.”

As I repeat her words, my breath snags. It feels like we’re on the precipice of making every one of my dreams come true.

The registrar repeats the words for Arabella, and even before she’s finished speaking, Arabella is already going. “I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, Arabella Louise Gladstone, take you, Christopher Alfred Sinclair, to be my wedded husband.”

“The rings?” Looking between us, the registrar smiles.

Casper stands beside us, searching the inside pockets of his suit jacket. As he swallows down his fading smile, his eyes flit from me to Arabella. I know he’s winding her up because he’s the most responsible guy I know.

“Casper!” Gritting at him through her

teeth, she gives him a scowl.

“Okay, okay…” He takes the royal blue box from his trouser pocket, opening it before he hands it to the registrar.

She looks a little intimidated by the sheer size of him. The tattoos visible on his hand and neck probably don’t help her perception of him.

Handing me Arabella’s ring, she takes a step back. I made sure to let her know I had this bit covered earlier.

I thread the gold-and-diamond band onto Arabella’s finger, up to her second knuckle. Her lashes glitter with her happy tears. Taking a moment to gather myself, I let my eyes wander over her stunning face. All I want to do is kiss every delicate inch. I want to smother her with all the love I can’t contain.

“When I first saw you, I had no clue that we’d end up here. Me, you, and our little girl. I always knew that you were it. My future. You look at me and I see all the things we can be and do together. You’re remarkable, and your love…your strength, it gives me hope and joy. They make me a better man. A man who will always love you messily, fiercely, and relentlessly. I can’t promise you perfection, but I vow to always protect you from harm. To stand beside you through the good times and to carry you through the rough ones.” My breath hitches with the hiccup of her silent sob. Her hand trembles in mine, and I hold it a little tighter. “I promise to always listen to your advice. I’ll even take it once in a while.”

She chuckles at that with a shake of her head.

“I promise to never brag, even if I always win.”

Her chuckle rumbles to a quiet laugh.

“I promise to always cherish and honour your big, feisty, and resilient heart, Arabella Gladstone. You’re my breath, my heart, and my life. Forever would be nothing without you. I love you.”

There’s a silent pause, and when I thread the ring over her knuckle, there are audible sighs and sobs from our guests. Bringing her hand up, I lower myself the rest of the way down to press a kiss to her band.

Arabella’s a shaking, teary mess, and I know it’s not the done thing to kiss your bride before it’s all official, but fuck it. I haven’t kissed her in over twenty-four hours; I don’t want to wait another second.

Patting her cheeks softly with the back of my fingers, I dry her tears. Her eyes flit between mine with her heaving breaths, and as I cup her face, I bring my lips flush to hers. Savouring the warmth of her skin, I wrap an arm around her waist, lifting her onto my toes. She’s so tiny that I still have to bend my knees in order to reach her.

“I love you, Belles.” I press another kiss to her plump lips. “Forever will never be enough. Ever.”

Hands grasping onto the lapels of my suit jacket, she pulls herself higher, the tips of her toes rolling on mine.

“Good,” she breathes, eyes boring into mine. “I don’t want forever, Christopher, or a lifetime. I want eternity. Moons, suns…history. Infinite light years. Forever will never do.”