Page 89 of The Oath We Give

“Coraline, do you take Silas to be your lawfully wedded husband as long as you both shall live?”

The judge’s words vibrate in the still air. Painful silence stretches before she takes a deep breath, squeezing my hands.

“I do.”

“Silas, do you take Coraline to be your lawfully wedded wife as long as you both shall live?”

The reality of this situation should be setting in, but for some reason, all I can think about is the end of this—when I get court ordered to kiss the woman in front of me, my lips skimming along hers so I can taste the sweetness of her mouth, melting away all the snarky words and smirks with my tongue.

“I do.”

“Do you have rings to exchange?”

Panic flares across Coraline’s face, but the corner of my mouth pulls up. I may not have planned for vows, but I did for this. I reach into my pocket, retrieving both rings.

I hand her mine, a simple gold band with an engraving along the inside that says #dd4a3d. My little secret, considering she doesn’t notice it as she slips it onto my finger.

Slowly, I return the favor, sliding the round solitaire diamond with a matching gold band down her finger. It’s not flashy or obnoxiously big; it’s a thing of stealthy beauty, mirroring the woman wearing it.

“By the power vested in me by the state of Oregon, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” The judge sighs, like this is her least favorite part. “You may now kiss the bride.”

Coraline’s eyes widen as my hand slips into her hair, pulling her closer. The feel of the ring wrapped around my finger is a feeling I’ll need to get used to.

“Nothing I can ever give you will resemble love, Silas.”

“Then I’ll pretend.”

Her breath hitches but I swallow it.

My mouth presses into hers in a hungry collision. I’m not soft or gentle; patience is the last thing on my mind.

Coraline’s lips part under mine, submitting before I even make her. My fingers fist in her hair, keeping our mouths shoved together, rewarding her good behavior by tracing the inside of her mouth with my tongue.

I dip in and steal my first taste of the Witch of Ponderosa Springs. The Cursed One.

For once, this town might’ve gotten something close to right. Her mouth is a spell.

She shivers in my hold, making her grip the front of my tux with both hands. Pulling me into her, she moves her lips slowly, thoroughly over my own. When she goes up on her tippy-toes, needing the extra height to get closer to me, as if she can’t get close enough, I smirk against her mouth. My free arm winds around her waist, pressing her flat against my chest before lifting her feet off the ground.

It’s everything a first kiss should never be. It’s not sweet or good-natured. It’s not delivered with love.

A soft whimper comes from the back of her throat, making me bite down on her bottom lip so she’ll give me more of that sound. I suck it into my mouth to fill me with her flavor, that dark magic stuck deep in her veins that tastes like fucking honey and sugar in the back of my throat. Coraline’s breasts rub against my chest, making me groan. Her body begs for me, for pleasure I know I can give her.

I want to fuck my wife, right in this room, and I don’t care who watches. Let them see her spread open on one of these wooden pews. Let the world see how pliable and so fucking good she is for me, with her legs shaking as she begs me to stop making her come, only for me to keep going until she finishes twice more.

More. More. More.

It’s the witchcraft of her tongue making me crave her in unhealthy amounts.

“Excuse me.” The judge’s uncomfortable voice echoes in my ears, making Coraline remove her lips from mine immediately. “There is another couple waiting to get married today.”

For a split second, I wonder if I can get Rook to figure out a way to have this woman fired. Against my desires, I set Coraline back on her feet, watching her fiddle with her hair, straightening out her dress.

We are leaving this room as husband and wife.

I know this marriage is fake. I have gotten very good over the years at telling the difference between what is reality and what is my mind playing games.

But nothing has felt more real than that kiss.