Scorch (Virtues & Lies 2)

Sucking her lip into my mouth, I silently vow to give her all the time and history she wants. I vow to spend eternity loving and protecting my soul.

“You’re not married yet!”

“Shut up, Freddie!” I spit at my cousin, lowering Arabella back onto her feet.

“Okay,” the registrar laughs when we’re settled again and Freddie’s gotten back in his box. Twat!

Arabella takes the black-gold-and-onyx ring extended to her, threading it all the way down my finger without any hesitation. “There. You’re mine, to infinity and beyond, Christopher Sinclair. I love you, cariño.”

Throwing her arms around my neck, she pulls me down to her, crushing her lips to mine, her fingers twining in my hair as her tongue licks into my mouth.

I drop my hands down to her thighs and lift her until she’s looking down on me, the tips of our noses pressed to one another, her smile beaming down on me. And I really do believe that happiness is something tangible. I can feel it radiate between us, and I swear even our little girl feels it because she’s going crazy in her mama’s belly.

“Mrs. Christopher Sinclair,” I murmur before pressing another kiss to her lips. “Sounds good, don’t you think?”

“Perfect.”

Reluctantly I put her down, twisting my fingers in her soft, long brown curls. I kiss her forehead, the tip of her nose, and then slowly I touch my lips to hers one more time.

I could kiss her for the rest of time, and it would never get old.

“Let’s make it official.” Twining my fingers with hers, I take her to the table the registrar is standing over, a pen in her hand ready for us to make this binding.

Pulling out the chair for my wife, I help her sit and then hand her the gilded pen my grandmother brought with her. It was my grandfather’s. He used it to sign all the most important contracts. He used it on their wedding day. My parents used it, too. And now, we’re using it.

My eyes cloud over with tears at the ache in my chest. I miss him. He should’ve been here. He should be sat with our families, celebrating with us. Instead he’s dead. Murdered.

I’ll avenge him yet though.

Watching as Arabella signs her name, I take comfort in the thought that he’s looking down on us. Although I can’t hear him physically, I can imagine the prideful words he would have said. How happy he would’ve been for us. He loved Arabella like she was his own grandchild.

He was always asking for great-grandchildren… My hand drops from the back of the chair to Arabella’s belly as I lean over her to sign.

Taking the heavy pen from her, I hold it tight in my grasp, taking a second to let everything sink in. To memorise every little detail.

I wrap my left arm around Arabella’s shoulders and sign the register. Crouching down beside her, I let our mothers get their photos. They look like they’ve just sat through one of their chick flicks with all the hearts in their puffy eyes.

Once they’ve taken enough, I stand to help Arabella up so that Casper and Georgina can sign the register too.

Whilst they’re doing their best-man and maid-of-honour duties, I allow myself another good look at my wife.

The floral and feathery lace of her ivory dress makes her olive skin glow. It moulds to all the dips and curves of her petite body, and all I want to do is get her back to the hotel and strip her of it. I don’t care how beautiful she looks in it. I want all her skin.

“My husband,” she says, stretching up on her tiptoes. Her hand cups my face, her thumb stroking the top of my cheek.

“My beautiful wife.”

“Do you like my dress?” she asks, spinning in front of me.

“I think I’m going to love it more when it’s on our hotel room floor.”

“Me too.” Eyes wide on mine and a flush staining her cheeks, her teeth sink into her full lip.

Swallowing, she comes closer, her hands slipping under my grey jacket and settling on my hips. Her face burrows into my chest, and holding her—my wife—is the most incredible thing I’ve ever done.

My heart feels so big in my chest that it might break me apart. I can’t understand how it’s possible to have so much love for one person. I would give my life for this woman and our child. I would lie, steal, and kill for them.

Our guests surround us, congratulating and fawning over Arabella. I don’t let go of my girls until we have to leave the registry office.