Claiming His Bride

“I’ve always prided myself on my control. With you I don’t have it.” He drops his forehead to mine.

“You might not like that, but I kind of love it. Thank you for admitting that to me.”

He smiles, lifting his head. “You’re far too good for me, but you’ve already agreed you’d marry me.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a box. “I should have given you this already. We do the bands at the ceremony.” He opens the lid to reveal a stunning engagement ring.

“Mikael, it's too much.” I stare at a giant emerald-cut diamond with a halo of diamonds all around it, making it even bigger.

“I wouldn’t want anyone to miss it. The world needs to know you’re mine.” He smirks.

“No one is going to miss that.” I laugh.

“Give me your hand.” I hold it up, letting him slide the ring on my finger. “Now, are you going to get your dress on or do I have to carry you down in your robe and make the clergy marry us with his eyes closed because he’s not seeing you in only a robe when you have this on underneath?” He runs his finger along the top of my silk white panties.

“I’ll put the dress on.”

“Good girl.” He kisses the tip of my nose before he steps back. My mouth falls open when I see the outline of his erection. I watch as he adjusts himself. “I’ll see you downstairs.”

“Yes, I’m coming.”

“Soon.” He winks before turning to leave me blushing in the bathroom.

“Aurora?” Ruby calls. I slip off the counter and rush back into the bedroom.

“Let’s do this.” I grab my dress from where it’s hanging. Ruby lets out a laugh at how quickly I’m now moving.

I’m getting married. No way am I going to let the things my stepmother has said to me over the years get in the way of that. Today I have control of my life, and I’m picking Mikael. That man is going to be mine.

8

MIKAEL

“Mikael, we have a problem,” Marco huffs into my ear.

I grip the phone case tighter. “Let me guess. Blackstone has showed up?”

“Not exactly. The cops are here. They are investigating a kidnapping charge made by a woman named Mara Langley and corroborated by her daughter Isa. Mara claims she is Aurora’s mother, and that Aurora is being held against her will here.”

I glance over my shoulder at the bedroom door that’s slightly ajar. Inside, Ruby is helping Aurora into her dress. Quietly, I draw the door shut. “She didn’t come up with that on her own. Blackstone must’ve figured out the car you were driving that night belonged to me.”

“I guess. It’s the only way he would’ve known.”

“Ditch those plates and get new ones. Figure out who snitched at the DMV and take care of that person. As for the cops, how long do you think you can stall them?”

“Maybe thirty minutes.”

“Do so.”

I shove the phone into my pocket and plunk the back of my fist against the bedroom door. “You all done?”

“You hold your horses,” Ruby shouts through the wood.

Any other day, I’d give Aurora all the time she needed, but we have to say our vows and sign the marriage license as soon as possible. My hand falls to the doorknob, but it turns under my grip, and suddenly, Aurora is in front of me with lips rosy and eyes sparkling. The dress is stunning on her. The crystal-encrusted lace hugs every curve. The skirt of the dress is large enough that it could hide half a battalion. I step close, and the fabric collapses between us.

“You look breathtaking.”

She releases a soft laugh. “Thanks. The makeup and clothes are doing the heavy lifting, though.”

“Bullshit.” I tip her chin up with a knuckle so she can see how serious I am. “Never seen anything more beautiful in my life. I shouldn’t be allowed to touch you, but I’ve never been much for rules. Let’s go and get hitched so that I can peel this dress off your lush body and make love to you properly.”

Heat floods her cheeks and maybe even other parts of her. I wink and tuck her hand into the crook of my elbow. “I’m not going to kiss you again because if I do, we’ll never get downstairs.”

“Then let’s go. Ruby and I didn’t wrestle fifty pounds of fabric into submission for it to end up on the floor without so much as one photo taken.”

I’m momentarily struck dumb by the image of Aurora’s wedding dress lying in disarray on my dark carpet, and Aurora has to tug on my arm to get me moving.

“Sorry. Almost blacked out from excitement there,” I inform her.

“Suck it up, soldier,” she teases. Her tone is light even as her cheeks are still flaming. “There’s plenty of time for all your planned activities after the ceremony.”