Page 70 of Ashes

She made me feel infinite and I didn’t know how to deal with that realization.

My mind was still focused on Barrera, but she was making me recognize that there might be more to this life than my revenge.

No, Jamal, you have to stay focused.

I pulled my eyes away as the crowd stood to watch the bride enter and I followed suit. I was sure Kenna looked beautiful in her dress, but my eyes landed back on my wife.

And throughout the entire ceremony, I found myself unable to stop staring at her.

CHAPTER 18

JAMAL

We’d been herefor the last six hours and the festivities were only now winding down. Most people who had been in attendance were still here, but a few had already gone home.

About an hour into the reception, the bridal party, including my wife, had left to prepare for the traditional part of Kenna and Shareef’s wedding. Sienna had told me they’d decided to do both in one day instead of having their guests come to the celebration of their union on two occasions.

She’d walked back into the room right after Shareef’s family and him had made their entrance, an MC guiding them through every step of the ceremony. She wore a goldasoebithat matched the other bridesmaids’, a veiled Kenna in the center dressed in a burgundyaso-okethat matched Shareef’sagbada and fila.

I’d watched Sienna dance for the first time and couldn’t tear my eyes away. Throughout the entire day, she’d radiated a lightness that I hadn’t seen in her before.

I wanted to see her this way all the time.

I’d been sitting in my seat at our table, swirling my glass of scotch that I still hadn’t touched as I watched over my wife. She’d changed back into her red dress when Kenna and Shareef changed into their final outfit.

My skin heated all over again and a surge of… need crashed over me. The need to touch her, to taste her. I was so close last night but retreated when she was in my reach.

What-ifs swirled in my mind and I shook my head, trying to rid myself of the consuming thoughts, but kept failing miserably.

I’d been willing her to look my way, but she was immersed in a lively conversation with another man I’d never met before. My fingers tightened over my drink when she laughed at something he’d said.

Again.

Irritation flared in my chest when he put his hand on her forearm and stepped closer.

Doesn’t he see the ring on her finger?

Possessiveness rushed through me and before I knew it, I was crossing the ballroom and sliding an arm around her waist. I pulled her into me and pinned the “didn’t understand boundaries” man with a hard stare, challenging him and whoever was watching to touch my wife again.

I pressed a kiss to her temple. “Hey,mon amour.”

I turned to the gentleman who kept touching her, sticking my hand out and rising to my full height. “I don’t think we’ve had the pleasure of meeting. I’m Jamal, Sienna’s husband,” I said, placing an emphasis on the word husband. It might make me sound like an asshole, but I didn’t really care.

He slipped his hand in mine but looked at Sienna when he spoke. “I had no idea you were married.”

“Newly married,” Sienna explained.

“Happily and in love,” I added, squeezing his hand before letting it go. “We were just about to leave, actually.” I felt Sienna’s glare on the side of my face. She was about to say something when I dropped my lips to her ear, “It’s not a suggestion.”

Despite her glaring, I could see the goose bumps breaking out across her skin. She slightly pulled away from me and gave whoever she was talking to a tight smile. “It was nice seeing you again, Kyle.”

Again?What did she mean,again?

I straightened my back up and watched her say goodbye to her friends and their family. Kenna and Shareef were both looking at me as I watched a seething Sienna walk back to me.

I gave them a small smile and waved them goodbye. I wanted to feel bad for having to leave early, but seeing another man’s hands on my wife erased any guilt I might have conjured inside of me.

When Sienna made it back to me, I held out my armand she took it. Then I led her out of the ballroom and toward the entrance.