Page 138 of Under Your Scars

With her between us, I glance at Elliot again, and take him in. He looks cold. Distant. With me, I expect that because he clearly can’t stand me, but he’s not normally like this around Bethany. I don’t like it.

My thoughts are cut off by the sound of processional music and the officiant begins to saunter down the aisle before taking his place at the altar. I turn my head, and just like always, when I see my angel, my heart stops.

Elena is standing at the end of the aisle, walking down with the small flower girl. Her loosely curled hair cascades down her back, the top half pinned back and out of her face. Her makeup is done so elegantly, with maybe just a little bit too much blush. That really doesn’t matter though, artificial or not, she’s stunning when she blushes. She’s stunning always, but I’ve never seen her so formal. She’s beautiful.

I start to imagine how heart-stopping she would be in a wedding dress, walking down the aisle towards me atourwedding.

The thought alone makes my heart squeeze and my dick hard.

Halfway down the aisle, the little flower girl begins running and lets out an excited squeal when Elena catches her, scooping her up into the air and blowing raspberries on her cheeks before plopping her down into her aunt’s lap. Elena takes her seat next to me, a big smile across her face. I press a soft kiss to her cheek.

“You look beautiful,” I whisper, just loud enough for her ears only. She winks at me and then turns her attention to Justin and Travis, who opted to walk down the aisle together. I rest my arm on the back of Elena’s chair and hold her hand in mine as she watches her brother recite his vows.

I couldn’t tell you a single word either of them said. All my attention was on Elena. I place a kiss to her cheek and tell her I love her, to which she turns her head and places a soft kiss to my lips.

After the ceremony, people begin to filter out of the space and Elena’s family sticks around to take some photos with the newlyweds. I linger in the doorway of the ceremony space waiting for Elena, and when she’s done, she skips over to me and loops her arm with mine. She leads me towards the reception space, and I begin to wonder if she’d want a big wedding or a small, intimate one. I’d prefer the latter, of course, but if she wanted a big wedding, I’d invite the entire state of New Jersey, and maybe even Texas too. I’d give her absolutely anything she desired if I got to call her my wife at the end of the day.

When we arrive at the reception hall, we stop at the bar for champagne and hors d’oeuvres. We make polite conversation with some of the guests. By the end of cocktail hour, I’ve got just about everyone in this room in my pocket, with of course, one exception.

Elena’s father.

I’ve had six glasses of champagne, needing one every time I catch him glaring at me. Elena notices.

“Are you okay?” she asks with amusement in her voice. “I’m usually the one drinking up all the champagne.”

I blow out air from my mouth through puffed cheeks. I lean against one of the tall cocktail tables, crossing my ankles and trying to relax. “Your father hasn’t stopped glaring daggers at me all night.”

She rolls her eyes and looks in his direction. “He’s being unreasonable. He still hasn’t apologized to me for Thanksgiving.”

I take a deep breath and remember what Bethany said to me, about not making Elena choose sides. I don’t want to do that, even unintentionally. “Maybe you should talk to him,” I suggest plainly. “My loyalty is with you, not your dad, but I don’t want him to think I’m filling your head with distaste for him. I’ll be his son-in-law one day, so he’s going to have to get over his issues with me.”

Not that I’ve gotten over any of mine with him.

Elena hums. “You seem very confident that we’re going to get married, Mr. Reeves.”

I growl and push her lightly with my chest until her back is against the wall. I grab a handful of her thigh and squeeze, hovering my lips over hers with a smirk.

“I seem to distinctly remember getting married months ago with a four-year-old as our witness, wife.”

“Wife?” a gruff voice repeats from behind me. I pull back to find Elliot standing there. I can practically see the steam coming out of his ears. Every time he looks at me, it’s like he thinks I’ve just committed a horrific crime.

I’ve committed a lot of those. Just none he knows about.

Elena clicks her tongue. “It’s just an inside joke,” she seethes. Elliot’s right side of his mouth twitches up in a jealous sneer, and he simply grumbles to himself before walking away. Elena reaches up to rub the base of my neck. “Don’t worry about him.” She rubs down the well-fitted fabric of my suit jacket. I’m wearing all black from head to toe, with an emerald-green velvet bowtie and pocket square. “You look good. I like when we get dressed up together.”

“Not as good as you, angel. You look spectacular. Especially your makeup.” I nip at her ear. “That blush matches the exact color of your chest when my tongue is inside you.”

CHAPTER 41

THE ANGEL

After dinner, Justin and Travis do a raunchy, energetic tango as their first dance. The DJ invites all the couples in attendance to the dance floor. I stay firmly in my seat, picking at the last of the vegetables on my plate. Christian stands and holds out a hand for me to take. I look up at him with a fork halfway in my mouth and raise an eyebrow at him. “Youwant to dance?”

He nods. “What kind of wedding date would I be if I didn’t ask you to dance?”

He takes my hand and pulls me to my feet, then leads me to the dance floor where a few dozen other couples are all swaying together. Christian pulls me close and places his warm hand on my back, and despite the layer of fabric between us, his touch sends a shiver up my spine. With my right hand laced with his, and my left hand on his shoulder, he begins to spin us in a simple circle.

I nuzzle into Christian’s chest, breathing in his expensive cologne and sighing at the warmth of him seeping into my cheek. We sway for two songs, even the more upbeat one, ignoring everyone around us.