Page 16 of Thorns of Love

“You forgot to buy the matching shoes,” she hissed, then stepped over to the front of the plane. And the whole time the priest looked back and forth, almost amused. I bet he’d come up with another few hundred thousand to add to the price tag.

The moment she was within my reach, I wrapped my arm around her slim waist and pulled her chest-to-chest with me. Her eyes flashed with defiance and I swore I got a hard on. There was no doubt our marriage would be lots of push and some pull, but we’d always meet in the middle. She’d be mine and I’d be hers.

My eyes bore into hers, getting lost in those depths and my heart thundered under my chest.

“Stop looking at me like that,” she whispered under her breath.

“Like what?”

“Like I’m yours. There’s some crazy carnal possession lurking in your eyes. I’m nobody’s possession.”

My lips curved. “Fine then, I’ll be your possession.” But she’d be mine too; she just didn’t know it.

Without glancing at the priest, I ordered, “Start.”

The priest’s thick Russian accent filled the cabin as he started to talk about marriage and the value of vows. I bent my head down, my lips brushing against Tatiana’s lips.

“I’ll protect you and our children. I’ll cherish your body every day and night,” I murmured low so only she could hear me. My lips brushed against her earlobe, the scent of roses overwhelming all my senses. I watched in delight as a shiver rolled down her body. “I’ll give you pain and make you scream, but always in pleasure. From this day forward, I’m yours and you’re mine. It’s my vow to you.”

Her delicate neck bobbed as she swallowed, but she tried hard to keep her mask on. Too late. It was slipping with each day. I’d shred that thing to pieces. I only wanted the real her. All her happiness. All her sorrows. All of her.

“Do you, Illias Konstantin, take Tatiana Nikolaev as your lawfully wedded wife to live together in holy matrimony, to be with you always, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.” My answer came swiftly and firmly. I’d known it was her I wanted all along. After all, I’ve lingered in the shadows for years until I could claim her again.

The priest turned toward Tatiana, his eyes on her and I wanted to claw out his eyeballs. Fucker! I should order him to look away and then just make her say ‘I do’ so there wasn't a chance of her changing her mind.

I clenched my teeth, controlling my possessiveness and the urge to kill. After all, he was a priest.

“Do you, Tatiana Nikolaev, take Illias Konstantin as your lawfully wedded husband to live together in holy matrimony, to be with you always, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?”

She stared at me, the promise of defiance and retaliation in her pale blue gaze, but she knew there was no way out of this. The baby in her belly only sealed the deal.

“I do,” she gritted the words between her clenched teeth. But the promise of making me regret this danced in her furious expression.

I smiled, totally up for the challenge. She had yet to learn that I always win. Unlike my father, I’d never give up on our family.

Turning to Boris, I retrieved two small boxes. I opened the first one revealing the Blue Nile eternity diamond white gold wedding band. I took Tatiana’s hand into mine and slipped the ring onto her graceful fingers.

“It’s a perfect fit,” she murmured, her eyes on the elegant piece.

“Because we’re the perfect fit.” Her eyes flickered to me, something in them I couldn’t quite read. Almost as if she was pleasantly surprised. Though knowing Tatiana, she was probably trying to get me to lower my guard so she could pounce and then get back to her brothers.

Never.We were one final sentence away from being husband and wife.

I placed the other ring, a simple white gold band into her palm, then watched her slide it onto my finger.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the priest said. “You may kiss the bride.”

Before he even finished the announcement, I pulled her against my chest and grabbed her by her nape.

I pressed my mouth against hers, the softness of her lips always surprising me. I fucking loved kissing her. Her little sighs and moans could drive a man wild.

“My love knows no boundaries, Mrs. Konstantin,” I murmured against her lips. “Remember always that I’m yours, but you’re mine too.”

“Love!” she snickered. “This isn’t love. It’s lust. You should be able to recognize it.”

“Touché,” I retorted wryly.