Page 9 of Splintered Security (Aspen & Evergreen #2)

shit to do

Anni

I wake in the morning in the same position as yesterday—tucked into Ren, facing him. He’s got at least a foot on me and carries himself with the poise of a military man. I would never take him for a cuddler.

But he’s so good at it. Too good.

Today is the day. Today I free myself while shackling Ren.

I want to hate myself, but what I know about the man whose arms I’m wrapped up in is he wouldn’t have agreed had he not meant it. He’s a man of his word, and that word is gold.

For one moment, I snuggle in deeper. I know it’s folly. This pretending won’t help either of us. But he’s warm and strong. His chest is solid and broad, not to mention his steady breathing is lulling me into a deep sense of security, and maybe just a little snooze.

Warm soft lips hit my forehead as stubble tickles my brow. “Morning, Sunshine. Time to rise and shine.”

“I’m too comfy to rise or shine.”

My cocoon vibrates with laughter, before his face dips lower. Navy eyes hold mine. “It’s our wedding day. There’s shit to do.”

“That sentence right there is the entire argument around Die Hard . Is it an action movie? Is it a Christmas movie? Nothing makes as little sense as—” I dip my chin to make my voice deep, “‘It’s our wedding day. There’s shit to do.’ So romantic. Make me swoon, why don’t you?”

His body continues to shake, but he holds my gaze. “ Die Hard is a Christmas movie. Every man knows this. Romance is recognizing that and not pretending it’s not.”

His eyes dance with mirth.

“Oh no.” The sudden realization comes out on a groan.

“What?” His strong arms squeeze me.

“You’re a morning person, aren’t you? This is two days in a row of you being chatty and awake. Early.”

“It’s hardly early, Anni. It’s nearly eight.”

“What?” I spring off the bed and move in panicked circles, never quite making it anywhere. There’s so much to do and we need to leave in ninety minutes.

Strong hands on my shoulders and low words above me bring my circles to an abrupt halt. “Calm, baby. No need to stress yourself out. We have time.”

Not much. Not enough. There’s shit to do was the understatement of the day. “I’ll give you Die Hard if you make me coffee and give me every last minute we have this morning. ”

“Done.” He kisses the top of my head and saunters out of the bedroom.

I’m not a fast showerer. I’m not a fast anything in the mornings, but today is special. It’s not a surrounded-by-family-and-friends moment of love to be shared, but it is my day. My day with Ren, even if it is a wedding I coerced him into due to bad decisions and shit outside my control.

I can’t think of that today. I have too much to do and too little time to do it in.

Besides, thinking of August today will bring the melancholy and tears. And I need one day that doesn’t bring either.

I step out of the shower I took at warp speed and settle at the vanity.

Ren hands me a steaming cup of coffee, squeezes my shoulder and, without a word, strips out of his boxers, stepping into the shower.

His back is to me the whole time, but… Damn, that ass.

Damn those thighs sprinkled with black hair.

But his back. His back silences everything. Two nights ago didn’t wreck his back. Two nights ago added to the wreckage of his back. Maybe one day he’ll tell me. Or maybe I’ll be one of those girls who would do anything to know Ren’s secrets but who never will.

I sigh and avert my gaze from the mirror and take a big sip of coffee. I slather on all the lotions and potions and work my hair from the towel. No need to attempt drying it with all this steam, but I can add the serum and detangle, using the normalcy of the routine to calm my racing thoughts.

Ren apparently is the opposite of my sloth-like preparation speed.

He showers, shampoos, brushes his teeth, and shaves in ten minutes—maybe less—and leaves the room.

He’s left the house, actually, claiming he’ll be right back and not even giving me the alarm code.

“No need, Sunshine. You’re not leaving and no one else is getting in. ”

I use the time to blow my dark hair out in sleek straight sheets down my back, pulling a section back behind one ear and pinning it with a shimmery clip. It’s a new school look on old school glam, and I’m pleased with how it turns out.

My makeup is soft and dewy but with enough effort that it looks elegant, not underdone. Teeth brushed and coffee breath nixed, I dress, add a lovely rosy shimmer to my lips, and check the final look in the mirror.

I’d say “It’ll do” but it’s so much better than that.

It’s the sharp intake of breath that snaps my attention to the door.

To Ren in a charcoal suit with a gray silk tie.

Ren

I’m stunned. Annika is always beautiful.

Always.

But this is…

“You are stunning.”

“Thank you. ”

The soft smile that melts across her face is the best reward I’ll ever receive.

Stunning.

She looks down, brushing imaginary nothings from the bodice of her dress.

And the dress… It’s a shimmery peachy-pink but silvery—I don’t know what you call it.

But it’s strapless and hugs every place on her body.

The hem stops just above her calves, and her legs in those jeweled heels are enough to bring me to my knees.

The woman could ask me to crawl across glass in that dress, and I’d sign up to do it twice.

“Fuck me.”

Her head snaps up. “Is it okay?’

Is it okay? I move to her, crowding her space, and take her chin to lift it to me.

“Annika Garver, you have always been beautiful. You are beautiful—as a teenager, in bomb debris, in my tee. But today you’re showing the world what I’ve always known and long since acknowledged, that you are incredible.

I couldn’t ask for a more beautiful bride. ”

A blush hits her cheeks, and my dick roars to life. I want to watch a blush like that paint her face when I make her come.

Well, at least a man can fantasize.

“You ready?” I extend a palm to my fiancée and lead her through the house to the kitchen. When we get there, I open the fridge and hand her what I ran out to get this morning—a simple bouquet of white roses. It’s not the over-the-top thing I see in movies, but I did my best with the time I had .

“Thank you, Ren.” She looks from the flowers to me as tears pool in her eyes. I use a thumb to swipe them away.

“Don’t cry, Sunshine. Not today.”

She giggles, and I pinch my brows together in confusion.

She deepens her voice to mimic me, “Don’t cry, Sunshine. There’s shit to do.”

“Pretty much.” I put a hand to her back and guide her through the garage to the SUV. We’ll need to talk about her car, but later. Now, I’m going to marry the stunning woman by my side.

The Courthouse is busy, but not overly so.

It’s Colorado, so we could’ve said our own vows privately and signed the certificate and been good, but there’s something about witnesses that’s important in this ruse.

There’s also something about a witness to this kind of vow that makes it harder to break. At least to someone old school like me.

When we stand before the clerk, I remove Anni’s bouquet and hand it off to one of the staffers. I take both her hands in mine and pledge my name, my life, and my love to her.

“I, Lorenzo Giani Gallo, take you, Annika Garver, to be my wife. To love and to serve. To protect and to guard. In laughter and in tears. I promise to be faithful only to you until the day I die. This is my vow.”

And I mean every word of it.

Her face is dazed, almost stunned, but her gentle smile, so unlike her, is reassuring.

“I, Annika Garver, take you, Lorenzo Gallo, as my husband. To love and to cherish. To annoy and to help. In the good times and in the not-so-good. To honor with my life and with my body. Forsaking all others until I die. This is my vow to you.”

I exhale, relieved at her words.

Releasing one of her hands, I reach into my pocket to grab the rings I bought yesterday. I lift the diamond rings and slide them onto her finger, kissing the knuckle where they rest.

She stares at her hand before looking into my eyes with a sadness I can’t read. I lift the second ring and hand it to her. Her relief is palpable, so much so that I wish I’d clued her in to my plan when I bought these yesterday.

She slides the ring onto my finger and gently places her lips to the sleek black metal with yellow gold on either side. It’s heavy, its weight a reminder of my vow to her and only her. When her eyes lift to mine, my traitorous dick joins the party.

“By the power vested in me, by the State of Colorado, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

The last word hasn’t even left the clerk’s mouth before I slam my mouth down on my wife’s and claim it like a drowning man claims a life vest.

I plunder and take. Our tongues war, not for dominance but for more.

My arms wrap around her back, and I bend deeply at the waist, drinking deeply at her mouth.

She’s mine to protect.

She’s mine.

At least on paper.