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“You can take the blindfold off now, Cecilia,” Linda says with excitement.

I take in a lung full of air and slowly let it out. Then I raise my shaky hands and begin to untie the blindfold behind my head. When it slips off and I finally open my eyes, my breath catches in my throat. Those tears I’ve been trying to hold back finally let themselves fall freely.

Thank goodness for waterproof makeup.

“Oh...” it’s all I can manage to say as I take everything in.

An elegant, fit-for-royalty dress stares back at me.

A white ball gown flows to the floor with a little train.

The top half of the dress looks like a corset, but when I turn to see the back, it’s completed with see-through fabric, giving a nude effect except for the line of white pearl buttons that goes up my spine.

As predicted, the sleeves are lace with flower designs like the rest of the dress. And a pretty tiny pink belt separates the corset from the bottom half. It’s something you’d see a princess wearing at a royal ball... and it’s perfect.

My fingertips come to my lips as I stare at my reflection, the waterworks never stopping their journey down my cheeks. Marcus passes me a handkerchief to wipe them away, which I take hastily and dab at my face.

“This is it... this is the one,” I whisper.

“Silas is going to lose his mind when he sees you!” Morgan says.

I turn around to look at my friends and find them all crying along with me. Morgan wipes her eyes with a tissue, and Emma sobs and blows her nose into one while covering her face with another so that we can’t see her in such a state. Even Aubrey has watery eyes and sniffles every few seconds.

“Ugh! This isn’t fair. I want to get married too!” Em practically shouts through her cries, which makes us all laugh.

“Don’t worry, Em. Your time will come.” Morg pats her thigh and rubs her back.

“My brother’s single,” Aubrey announces, quieting the room completely with shock. Her eyes widen when she notices our reactions to her comment. “I just meant that he’s a good guy, and I could totally see you two together.”

“Aw, babe, that’s so nice of you, but I don’t think your brother is into me.

We’ve been around each other for the last couple of months, and he’s never even hinted to having an interest. Actually, I’m pretty sure he finds me annoying.

” She laughs. “And anyway, I’m seeing someone.

But if ever it doesn’t work out, I’ll keep that in mind. ” Em winks at Aubrey.

“So, Cecilia. Are you saying yes to the dress?” Linda asks with a hopeful smile.

I look at her, then turn back to the mirror, admiring the dress once more. Seeing myself like this, in the perfect dress, makes it all so much more real. It makes me realize how much I can’t wait to marry my man. My Silas.

“Yes.” I grin. “I’m saying yes to the dress.”

~ Six Weeks Later / April ~

It’s been four long days without Silas, and I’m excited to have him home. Although I know it won’t be the greatest few days. The team didn’t make the playoffs, and Silas has been in a mood since they lost the game last night. And I don’t blame him. I know how much he was hoping they would make it.

They had started the season strong, but then it went downhill and didn’t stop. Sometimes I wonder if I may have played a part in him being distracted during the season. But every time those thoughts surface, Silas quickly shuts them down.

Still, I wanted to do something to take his mind off their loss. It’s why I came up with a fun little idea to cheer him up when he gets home, which should be any minute now.

I planned a little game of hide and seek, but with a twist. When he arrives, he’ll find a Nerf gun lying against the door, with a note attached to it written:

Last one standing gets anything they want tonight.

ANYTHING.

Come find me xx x

That’s why I’m hiding out near the end of the backyard behind a rose bush. The snow has finally melted away, and we’ve been lucky to have warm spring weather already. They’re expecting rain later today, but we should be fine.

I’m barefoot and kneeling out of sight, wearing a simple red and white polka dot wrap-around dress.

One of Silas’s favorites since all it takes is a simple pull of the belt and the whole thing falls off.

It’s probably why I decided not to wear anything underneath it.

I know how much he loves watching it fall.

My phone suddenly vibrates in my hand. I look down and find a text from Morgan.

Morg

Clay just arrived. Your man should be there in a few. Have fun! Wink emoji

Since the boys had taken one car, I knew Sy would be dropping off Clay before coming home. I told Morgan what I had planned, and she agreed to be my lookout and let me know when her husband got home.

With my own Nerf gun in hand, I crouch to the side of the bush where I have a clear view of the back door. Milo lies in the grass next to me, but he’s my secret weapon. When Dad gets close, he’ll let me know.

I wait quietly, listening for a sign of Silas. Ever since we moved out here, I’ve been using his SUV for work because I hadn’t bought a car when I came to New York. Which means Silas has been using his truck. His big, loud truck that I will definitely hear coming, and so will Milo.

Right on cue, the rumbling sound of the truck’s motor grows closer until it shuts off. I’m too far away to hear if he’s gotten out or not yet, so I wait patiently, watching Milo’s reactions.

Suddenly, our growing little guy’s head whips up, ears flexing forward. In a rush, he gets on all fours and darts to the back door and through his doggy door we had installed for him.

I duck lower, making sure to stay well hidden, and spy into the house. Since the back portion is mostly full glass walls, I can see Silas’s form moving through the lower level, hoisting the gun up and ready to aim.

Watching him take it so seriously makes me giggle. My man is still a child at heart, and I love every bit of it .

He leaves my line of sight for a few minutes, most likely looking through the rooms, then I see him entering the kitchen. I move back completely, making sure he can’t see me. But that also means I can’t see him. It’s quiet for a few seconds, but then I hear the patio door slide open.

“Milo, come here, boy. Where’s Mama? Go find Mama,” I hear Silas say.

Oh, the asshole! That’s totally cheating!

Seconds later, Milo shows up in my face all happy, jumping up and down and barking back to his dad.

“Shh! Milo, no. You were supposed to be on my team! Go see Daddy!” I whisper shout, flapping my hand at him in hopes it will get him to leave. But it doesn’t.

I decide my best attempt at survival is to run. I look up quickly to see where Silas is positioned since I haven’t heard him coming with all the ruckus Milo is making. He’s lowered himself in some sort of crouched walk and is making his way over to me by the back.

The instant he sees me peeking over the bush, he shoots, but I’m faster. I duck down and jump into action. With my gun in hand, I get to my feet and sprint away from him, shooting behind me without looking.

Foam bullets fly everywhere, yet not one seems to hit me as I zigzag around the backyard, trying to get away. Suddenly, Silas stands facing me a few meters away, gun aimed at my head. I stand frozen in defeat as he pulls the trigger. But nothing happens, he’s out of bullets.

Ready to call victory, I raise mine, aiming at his chest and shoot. Turns out, I’m out of bullets, too. Well, fuck me.

Time passes slowly as we watch each other, then a slow, wicked smile spreads over Silas’s handsome face. “Run, little mouse. Run.” And then he takes his first step.

I throw my gun to the side with a scream and spin around, running away from him. But he’s faster. I manage to get five steps in when he launches himself on me, causing us both to fall.

I wiggle out of his hold and turn onto my back, wanting to keep my eyes on him as I crawl backward, but he catches me by the ankle. Shrieking, I try to kick him off, but it’s of no use. He’s too strong.

I still don’t give up, trying with all my strength to shake him off. Pushing, pulling, kicking, and slapping, but nothing works. We may be playing, but Silas and I always take our games seriously.

Suddenly, he’s above me, settled in between my spread legs.

He grabs both my wrists and places them on either side of my head, digging into the ground.

And that’s when the magic happens. Silas crashes his mouth to mine, our tongues battling one another for dominance. For a different kind of victory.

Silas rises to his knees and removes his shirt, throwing it back as I sit up, needing his mouth once more. But before my lips reach his, he grabs me by the throat and pushes me back down to the ground, then takes hold of my hands once again.

Raising my arms higher above my head, Silas crosses them at the wrist and holds them in place with one hand. The new position stretches out my body in a slightly uncomfortable way, but I love it.

He grabs the tie at my waist and tugs it loose with his free hand, letting my dress fall open. Exposing my naked body to the world. Sy takes my lips again with a bruising, ferocious kiss, then trails his assault along my jaw, down my neck, and to my breasts, where he bites and sucks viciously.

We haven’t said a thing to one another, but no words are needed in this moment. The plan was to get him out of his head, and with the brutal attack he’s giving my body, I would say the mission was successful. We needed this. He needed this.

With his free hand, he undoes his pants and tugs them down just enough to take his impressive length out. I’m a soaking, wavering mess as he rubs the head against my slit, then presses down on my clit. My moans become the only sound that can be heard during this quiet afternoon.

A growl rumbles out of his throat when he sees how wet I am for him. With the head of his cock positioned at my entrance, he grabs the back of my thigh and lifts it higher to give himself additional room. With one powerful thrust, he pushes mercilessly into my body.

A wailing cry erupts from my lips as my back arches fully off the ground.

There was no foreplay, no preparation. No matter how many times we’ve had sex, my body still needs prepping and a moment to adjust to his imposing size.

But he doesn’t grant me that, no, he just takes what he needs from my body. From me.

And I gladly volunteer my willing temple to him.

As I give him free rein, a droplet falls from the sky, landing on my cheek. Then another and another. Soon the sky is crying along with my pleasured moans, but nothing deters my future husband from his conquest to paradise.

This isn’t sweet and passionate. We aren’t making love to one another.

This is fucking, remorselessly barbaric.

He pounds into me repeatedly, his grunts mixing with my cries.

I feel him everywhere all at once, his shaft ripping me apart from the inside in the most beautiful way.

Despite the cold splatters of rain hitting me, my body is an inferno ready to burst.

My toes curl, nails digging into my palms as I explode violently.

My vision darkens, eyes rolling to the back of my head, body arching up to meet his as I scream out his name.

He pumps a few more times, then spills his warm seed deep inside of me.

A thunderous roar ejects from his lungs, powerful enough to scare any wild beast out of its home.

He releases my leg and wrists, coming down to his forearms on either side of my head. His own rest in the crook of my neck as we both pant loudly. The sky is still pouring down on us, but we don’t pay it any attention, this is our moment.

“Thank you,” Silas whispers against my skin, kissing it longingly.

My hand comes to his hair as I slide my fingers through it. “I’d do anything for you, Silas.”

He lifts his head and gazes into my soul, eyes filled with emotions. “My beautiful, perfect wife.” He lowers his lips to mine.

When he pulls away, I bring my fingertips to his face, brushing away wet strands of hair. Then I slide them down his nose and over his lips, completely entranced by him. I’ll never stop being fascinated by this man. How this beautiful, perfect man can be in love with me.

“Let’s move up the wedding,” I say. Silas creases his forehead at my offer. “I don’t want to wait any longer. We don’t have a reason to wait anymore, so let’s have it sooner. Say, next month?”

A breathtaking smile spreads over his lips as he registers my words. “Yeah? You think it’s possible to have everything done by then?”

I nod, blinking rapidly to try and avoid the raindrops. “We’ll make it happen.”

“Okay, let’s do it.” He laughs and wraps me in his arms. We’re both drenched from head to toe, shivering slightly from the cold.

“I love you, Silas,” I murmur into his ear.

“I love you too, Minnie.”