Page 82 of Merciless Obsession (The Bloodline #2)

With a smirk on my face, I felt my heart swell at the tired smile on her face. After the night we shared, I didn’t let her sleep before having her shower and calling a car to take us to where the plane I chartered was waiting.

“I told you I wanted to take a trip to celebrate, and since I still have Orlando’s case to deal with, I had to make it something quick, at least for now.” I walked to the window and pulled the blinds open. “So welcome to Vegas. The city of sin.” My smile heightened.

“I wasn’t expecting Vegas to be your city of choice.”

Walking away from the window, I approached the bed, leaned down, and grabbed her left hand, bringing it to my mouth and kissing the ring.

“I have my reasons.” A suspicious look passed on her face.

“And those are?”

Licking my lips, I released her hand and grabbed the bottom of my sweater, pulling it over my head.

“That’s for me to know and for you to find out.”

The past three weeks had been hell for Ziora, not to mention the past three months had been nothing but trying to find out about The Veil.

I made sure, after leaving the family farmhouse, to plan a weekend she would never forget.

Preparing her old townhouse was just the beginning.

I decided it could still be beneficial to us and Ziora agreed.

She was supposed to be refraining from strenuous activities, but I couldn’t hold back anymore.

Now we had twenty-four hours in Vegas and I planned to make every minute count.

Ziora yawned and rubbed her wrist. My dick twitched seeing the marks from the ties I had on them just hours before. The photos I got for my room were picturesque.

Stepping forward, I placed my hands on either side of her and dipped my head. “Don’t plan to sleep anytime soon. I got you all to myself with no interruptions for the next twenty-four hours.” I nipped her lips.

I made sure to let my family know I would be MIA and not to contact me unless it was an absolute emergency, and even then, someone better had been dying.

She narrowed her brows and turned her mouth upside down. “Don’t I get a say in this? This is my first time in Vegas.”

I chuckled. “Next time, baby. This time I got everything covered.” I grabbed both of her hands and helped her up. She was getting better at moving around without her crutches. “Now get your sexy ass in the bathroom so we can wash up. We only got twenty-three hours to go.” I winked.

Her lips poked out. I could see the urge to defy me in her eyes. It caused my mouth to twitch.

I had no plans of taking no for an answer the whole time we were here, so Ziora had better prepare herself for an unforgettable time.

____

Ziora sat on the bench with one leg crossed, her arms folded, and her face balled up while she glowered at me. I stood in the mirror, straightening my tie and peeking at her every so often.

“We’re on a time limit, Bumblebee, and you’re gonna make us fall behind.” Satisfied with how I looked, I reached for my watch sitting on the counter next to me to place it on my wrist and turned around so I was now face-to-face with her.

“I’m not doing anything until you tell me what all this is?” Her eyes cut into slits and slid down my body.

Licking my lips, I ran my hand down my mouth and cocked my head to the side, then shoved both of them in my slacks pockets.

“Did you enjoy yourself today?”

Her lips pressed tightly together.

Before we left the hotel, I waxed her with the wax set I made sure was waiting for us when we arrived.

After that we grabbed food then went shopping.

I made sure Ziora knew there was no limit and told her to get whatever she wanted.

Following that, I scheduled her a hair appointment.

At first she was against it because she didn’t know the stylist, but the girl I used was well-known and did a lot of celebrities’ hair.

It was now in a curly updo with pieces hanging down the front.

Her nails and feet were done right after, then her makeup.

Now here we were at the chapel, which I had to blindfold her on the way to make sure she didn’t know where we were.

“Ezra.”

“I think we had a great bonding day. You look stunning too.”

“Stop avoiding the question!” Her cheeks puffed.

Chortling, I walked to where the dress hung on the back of the door.

According to my assistant, it was a white Vera Wang dress from her new collection.

It had a sweetheart neckline with an asymmetrical strap.

The bottom was puffy and stopped mid-thigh with a train on the back.

While I would have preferred her to have a custom dress, this would do for now.

Once in front of her, I laid the dress down on the bench next to her and decided it was time to reveal the real reason we were here.

“We’ll have a redo later, but as a newly married woman, you deserve a ceremony to embrace it.”

Her legs uncrossed and she leaned forward. “What the hell are you talking about? Married woman? Just because you got me a ring doesn’t mean we’re married.”

Sighing, I shook my head with a low laugh. Spinning on my heels, I walked to my things. I had a feeling she would start giving me some pushback eventually.

Finding the papers I needed, I walked back to her and handed them over.

She eyed them before snatching and reading them over.

“What the…” Her voice trailed off.

Her eyes bounced back and forth between me and the papers. “Ezra, what the hell is this!” She gripped the papers tightly and shook them. Her voice heightened and her eyes bulged.

“Now, Ziora, I know you can read perfectly fine. According to those papers, you’re my wife and I’m your husband.”

By now I was flashing all thirty-two.

“No.” Her eyes dropped. “No! Did you forge my signature?”

I stroked my chin. “You know the main thing I tell my clients before they sign anything? Make sure they read over everything or have someone who understands what they’re signing read it for them. Remember those papers I had you sign a few days back?”

Realization filled her eyes. “But how?”

“You know by now money talks.” My hands went back into my pockets. “My dad’s a judge and I’m a lawyer who knows how to work around the red tape. And now you are Mrs. Ziora Nichole Tavarez.”

Ziora stared at me in disbelief. Like a fish out of water her mouth opened and closed before finally pressing together. She lifted her left hand and stared at the ring.

“You’re serious. We’re married.”

“I joke a lot but not about this. When I told you that you were mine. Did you think I was lying?”

She blinked blankly at me before inhaling deeply.

“Get out!”

“Excuse me?” I frowned.

“Get out!” She rubbed the center of her chest. “I need to be alone. Get out!”

I checked my watch. “You got twenty minutes then I’m coming in here and dressing you myself if I have to. Don’t keep me waiting for too long.” Flashing her one last grin, I turned and walked out of the room.

Ziora might not agree with how I went about it, but it was something we would get over later. She and I were meant to be together. Now we were bound together and this marriage was forever.

Just as I was about to knock and open the door to the room Ziora was in, it was yanked open and there she stood, looking breathtaking as ever.

I had to inhale deeply and adjust myself.

I knew she would look good in the dress, but I wasn’t prepared for just how stunning she would be.

My nostrils flared. A bittersweet feeling filled me.

While I wanted to keep her hidden, I also wanted to show her off as the beauty she was.

Even the cast on her foot didn’t take away from it.

“God you’re—” I started but she put her hand up, halting my words.

“No. You don’t get to talk. I talk and you listen.” My mouth twitched. I nodded for her to proceed and crossed my arms over my chest.

She took a deep breath and pushed it out.

“First, I don’t care about a wedding. Marriage was never important to me anyway.

The honeymoon, though, is another story.

Soon as this other case is over, we’re going to Fiji for a week because I’ve always wanted to go, and Bora Bora for another week, because it was my sister’s dream place to visit.

” I nodded and opened my mouth but she continued.

“Not done, this is the absolute last time you ever make any more life changing decisions for me. My life is not going to change either. I’m still going to take hacking jobs, run my blog, and other things I have going on with no interference from you.

As for your family, I respect what you guys do and I want to be involved, following us wrapping up The Veil stuff.

I know Emmet does a lot but I’m just as skilled and can take some of that load off him. ”

I quirked a brow up while mirth played on my mouth.

Her demands weren’t anything unreasonable. I would entertain them and talk with Nazai about her requests.

“Also, as your wife, you need to know I am still Ziora and I am my own person. I don’t want you stalking me and keeping tabs on my every move. I get it saved my life, but I don’t and won’t live in fear. I never have and I never will.”

That wasn’t something I was agreeing to but I would let her think I agreed. As long as she wore her rings I’d always know where she was.

Ziora sighed and this time her face softened.

She stepped forward and grabbed me by the tie.

“Lastly, the only reason I’m not storming to the courthouse to get this annulled is because the way you fight for and defend me is something I’ve craved my whole life.

My parents never protected me, my teachers didn’t care.

No one gave a damn about the poor girls from the toxic household, so I had to grow tough skin and learn to be my own defender.

As much as I hate to say it, it feels good to have someone on my side to do it for me.

I also know you will always go above and beyond for me without caring what anyone has to say and I love that.

You unlocked a kink inside of me I didn’t know I had and the way you look at me… ”

I swallowed thickly. “How do I look at you?”

Her lashes fluttered. “Like I’m the only woman on earth. Like you’d walk through fire to get to me, like you want to worship me until you’re blue in the face.”

I sucked in a deep breath. “You’re the first person to ever look at me like that.

To show that much attention to me. Even if it was unwanted in the beginning, I realized I loved being the center of someone’s world because for the first time I was seen and valued.

You agreed to help me find my sister’s murderer, killed the guys who harmed me, and although most would deem you batshit crazy and run, I oddly find your ways strangely attractive. ”

Ziora paused for a second then leaned up and kissed me.

“And finally, while you might not be able to truly love me in the traditional sense, I believe you do. Your actions are possessive, obsessive, and over the top, but I’ve never felt more safe and secure in my life because of them.

And well, I’ve never felt it before, I can admit, that the way my heart is racing now and every time I lay eyes on you, that I’ve fallen for you and I’ll love you for the both of us. ”

Not wasting any more time, I grabbed her by the nape of her neck and kissed her.

She was right, I might not be able to comprehend feelings like everyone else or articulate love, but I didn’t care about all that.

As long as she was by my side, every day I would show her the closest thing to love I could muster.

“I’m clinically incapable of feeling love, but know the intensity that runs through my veins for you is the closest thing to it.” Pulling away from her, I gazed in her eyes and stroked the back of her neck. “You understand that till death do us part isn’t just a phrase.”

“I think I’ve been around you long enough to understand what I’m signing up for.”

“Good because the day you try to leave me is the last day you see the outside world. Killing you would kill me, but I’d lock you up and keep you as my personal toy.”

“There’s that psychopath I’ve heard about.”

I smirked. “And you love it.” I snuck a quick kiss. “Till death do us part, Bumblebee, and even after that our souls will reunite and rest in eternity together. Now wife, let’s go say I do.” I grabbed her and squeezed.

“I don’t want kids either, you won’t change my mind on that.” A stern expression rested on her face.

“That makes two of us. Why would I want something around that’ll take your love and attention from me?”

“God I hope I know what I’m signing up for.” With the drop of her head, she released a gentle giggle and shook her head. When she looked back at me, a smile that caused my inside to light up graced her face. “Who would have thought me writing about your family would lead us here.”

“Oh Bumblebee, trust me, even without that you were destined to be mine. So our paths were gonna cross.”

She giggled. “Whatever you say.”

Hand in hand we walked toward the main room of the chapel. The wedding and marriage might not have been the most traditional thing, but when it came to me and Ziora, it didn’t matter. Because in the end, nontraditional had become a recurring theme between us.

The End!