I glanced at my watch for the millionth time as I paced the penthouse of the Grand Seraphine. Dominic, Nathaniel, Leonardo, Vincent and Axel sat in the suite, all dressed in black tuxedos like me, looking at me with amusement.
“Seb, if you pace any more, you’ll fall right through the damn floor,” Nate reminded him, a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
“The last time you were this nervous was the time you thought you got Phoebe Kasson pregnant when you were in college,” Leo teased.
“I can’t understand why they’re taking so long,” I grumbled as I slumped onto the sofa next to Dominic.
“Maybe she got cold feet, and decided not to go through with it.” Axel’s response got sofa pillows thrown at him.
Dominic’s phone rang and he answered. He chatted for a few seconds and hung up a huge smile on his face. “It’s showtime!”
Everyone made their way to the elevator, but right before I got in, Dominic placed his hand on my shoulder and stopped me. The others got in, and when the elevator closed behind them, I turned to Dominic.
“Sebastien, I’m happy that you found love. I see the way you look at Delilah, heck, we all do.”
Was it that obvious?
“Thanks,” I said not knowing what else to say.
“I know things haven’t been great for you the past six weeks not knowing who ambushed you, together with physiotherapy for your shoulder and all the pain you’ve had to endure.” Dominic’s blue eyes were intense as he continued, “But, you pushed through. You kept your head in the game, and we’re here today to watch the both of you get married. And we’ve got your back, this place is locked down tighter than Fort Knox, so don’t worry about anything. My only advice to you today is never stop pushing through.”
Dominic pulled me into a hug and he patted my back. When he pulled away, he smiled. “Now, let’s get you hitched.”
Ten minutes later, I stood in the front of the guests in the atrium of the Grand Seraphine, with Dominic, waiting for Delilah. The guests comprised of Emily’s best friend Kristi, who was coddling Lillian and sitting next to her was her boyfriend, Ethan. Even though my brothers had the opportunity to bring dates they chose to come alone, sat next to Mrs. Kensington, who was more than happy that another Quantum man was now off the market. I had invited a few business partners. The rest of the guests were from head office, minus the three women I overheard gossiping about Delilah and me, and my staff from businesses. I had decided to close my businesses for the day.
The front doors of the atrium opened, and as I adjusted my suit nervously I heard Dominic chuckle next to me. The organ music began to play and Emily stepped into view. She looked absolutely beautiful. Her hair was pulled up to the hop of her head with a few loose strands that framed her face. There were a few small flowers attached to her hair and in her hand, she held a small bouquet of lilac flowers in her hand. The champagne-colored dress she wore showed her curves and I heard Dominic inhale deeply next to me, and I smiled. Her eyes never left Dominic as she walked towards us. When she took her position, Lucy stood by the door, smiling broadly. She wore a frilly champagne-colored dress that fell all the way to the floor. Her brown hair was curled and fell loosely over her shoulders, and she held a flower girl basket in her hand. She walked toward them slowly sprinkling flower petals from her basket until she stood next to Emily.
When the wedding march began to play, the guests stood up and looked towards the door. Delilah stepped into view and I stopped breathing.
Dominic whispered next to me, “If you don’t start breathing soon, you’ll be passed out on the floor before Delilah reaches you.”
I nodded slightly, inhaled and exhaled.
Delilah looked nothing short of breathtaking. Her dress hugged her hourglass figure before it flared out into layers right above her knees. The front had a deep sweetheart neckline that extended towards shoulders. The long train behind her swooshed with every step that she took. Today, her hair fell in soft curls framing her face and falling on her shoulders. The long veil that hung in front of her face was secured to the top of her hair with a diamond comb. As I watched her walk to me, I couldn’t help but feel a bit guilty that Dean couldn’t be here to give away his sister since their parents were now deceased.
When she finally reached in front of me, Emily took her bouquet, which was a bigger version of what Emily had, and turned to me. As I looked at Delilah through the veil, I saw how scared she was, yet excited. I took her hands which were trembling slightly and rubbed my thumbs over them, and I visibly saw her relax.
“You look gorgeous,” I said softly.
“You don’t look too shabby yourself,” she smiled.
They both turned to the pastor who began, “We are gathered here today to join this man and this woman…”
An hour later, in the Grand Seraphine ballroom, I watched as Delilah threw her head back laughing at something Kristi said while Emily whacked her friend playfully as she rocked Lilian in her arms. Dominic was on the dance floor with Lucy while his brothers and Ethan chatted around their table. Mrs. Kensington had already left.
The wedding had gone off without a hitch and Delilah had outdone herself with the reception.
At the heart of the room was a beautifully set head table reserved for the bridal party, with delicate lilac florals, candles and gold-trimmed dishes. Nearby, tables were reserved for my brothers, as well as Kristi and Ethan. The white velvet curtain, drawn open, offered a sense of intimacy while they stayed connected.
After pictures, Dominic’s toast and the cutting of the five-tier cake, the first dance and each of my brothers taking a turn dancing with Delilah and officially welcoming her to the family. It was time to enjoy the rest of the night.
As I watched Delilah, who was now on the dance floor with Lucy, I couldn’t help but wonder what it would’ve felt like if Delilah had married me because she wanted to not because she was forced to because of the threat over her head and my stupid agreement. She had fit right in with my brothers, Emily and Lucy as if she was meant for us, meant for me.
I loved the fact that she still wore her wedding dress, minus the veil and the train, and hadn’t changed.
I made my way to the dance floor.
“Hey, Lucy, do you mind if I dance with my wife?” I asked playfully.
“It’s your special day, so I guess it’s okay.”
I crouched in front her. “I think it’s a special day for all of us. I got a wife; Delilah not only got a husband, but she got five brothers, a sister and an incredible niece.”
“She did get an incredible niece,” Lucy beamed, and I laughed and stood up. She ran off to sit on Dominic’s lap as he spoke to Leonard at the bridal table. I watched as she sank into him and instinctively, he wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close.
“She’s a special little girl, isn’t she?” Delilah whispered as she entangled her fingers with mine.
“That she is,” I said as I pulled my gaze from Lucy and Dominic to Delilah. “I’m just glad that she has another person in her life who’ll love her as much as we all do.”
Delilah didn’t say anything as I unwrapped her fingers from mine and placed them around my neck while I snaked my arms around her waist.
“Have I told you how stunning you look?” I asked as she swayed in my arms.
“Hmmmm, along with gorgeous, breathtaking, amazing, delicious? Yup, you’ve told me,” she giggled.
I leaned over and whispered, “I can’t wait to get you home, strip you out of this dress and make love to you for the first time as my wife.”
Delilah flushed. “Maybe we should’ve made a detour before coming straight to the reception area.”
My cock hardened in agreement and I looked at her and she tried to pull back.
“Sebastien, no!” she tapped me lightly on the chest. “I know that look in your eyes. If we leave here now your brothers are going to know exactly why we left.”
I grinned, “But everyone knows what we’ll be doing tonight, so why can’t we get the party started early?”
Delilah turned a deeper shade of red and I tilted her head and kissed her. Her grip tightened on my tux as she responded hungrily. She moaned softly as she pulled away gently from me.
“Mr. Quantum, are you trying to get me to change my mind?”
I smiled. “That depends, is it working?”
Just then a loud crash was heard across the room, and I pushed Delilah behind me protectively. I heard chairs being pushed backwards as I scanned the room. I breathed a sigh of relief when I realized a waitress had accidentally bumped into someone and a tray of glasses fell to the ground.
“That’s my cue to get away from you. I’ll go see if I can help.”
“Sweetheart, you know you don’t have to.”
“I do, because if I stay here any longer with you, we’ll do more than make out and Lucy will be scarred for life.”
I chuckled as she gave me a light kiss then hurried to the waitress who was having a meltdown. I made my way to my brothers who were having a lively chat. Before I could even sit I was handed a glass of champagne and had to choose a side on the debate of which Quantum brother was least likely to ever get married. My money was on Vincent, hands down.
As the night wore on, Delilah and I danced some more, and made out, before we broke off to our different groups, her to the ladies and me to the men. She looked happy and I was enjoying myself, almost forgetting the real reason I had gotten married in the first place.
After our last make-out session, I decided to sit by the bridal table knowing, that if I sat at the table with my brothers they’d see my hard on and never let me live it down.
As I sat by the table I noticed an envelope with my name on it. As I picked it up, the hair on the back of my neck stood up. It had the same handwriting as the letter that came to the office with Delilah’s picture in it.
I opened the letter and scanned the words.
It was another threat.
Motherfucker.