Page 7

CHAPTER 7

CARTER

B right lights shine down on me and Kai as we stand in front of a bunch of motherfuckers we don’t know. His face is set in a mask of indifference, though the sweaty palms that he keeps rubbing on his pants says differently.

The wedding venue is decorated to within an inch of its life, flowers and other adornments choking off every square inch that’s visible. The pews are packed with men dressed in sharp suits and women with elegant dresses and jewelry on their wrists, ears and around their necks that can be seen from space. Anyone that is anyone is here, and I hate it.

After taking a glance around the room, my eyes land on the man I’m set to marry. I can’t deny it, Kai looks good. His black suit and crisp white shirt—the same thing I’m wearing—is more fitted than mine, his muscles on display. His arms look as if they’ll burst the seams of his jacket. I won’t lie, that show of his form is hot as fuck.

I’d rather eat a bullet than tell him that.

His long blond hair is pulled back into a sleek ponytail, which shows the high contours of his cheeks and brings out the gray of his eyes. His plump lips are set in a hard line, making a dimple I didn’t know he had pop out.

If it were up to me, Kai and I would have gone down to the justice of the peace and signed the paperwork and been done with it. But Dad and Charlie said having a large wedding would send a bigger message. Some rival families are here out of respect to witness our union. Any one of them could be the ones after my family. I don’t trust any of these bastards that are seated here today, but we prohibited guns, and everyone was searched at the door. We all also have on bulletproof vests. We’re as safe as we can be.

The wedding officiant’s words cut through my musings, and I have to keep my snarl to myself. I can’t wait for all of this to be over so I can go back to ferreting out who the fuck is after my family.

“We are gathered here to recognize the union between these two men, Kaison St. Clair and Carter Whitlock. If there is anyone here who do not want to see these two together, speak now or forever hold your peace.”

Kai raises an eyebrow at me, and I mirror it, daring him to say he’s not going to go through with it. In this, I would follow his lead. But he just smirks and looks pointedly at the wedding officiant.

After a respectful pause, the officiant continues. “Do you, Carter Whitlock, take Kaison St. Clair, as your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, through sickness and in health, from this day until the end of your days?”

I swallow past a dry throat. “I do.”

“And do you, Kaison St. Clair, take Carter Whitlock, as your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, through sickness and in health, from this day until the end of your days?”

“Yeah.” I raise an eyebrow at his flippancy, and he glares at me. Through clenched teeth, he says, “I do.”

The officiant looks at him for a few beats but continues quickly when Kai shoots him a death glare. “Can we have the rings please?”

Declan hands me the ring as Nico hands Kai his. They’re black titanium rings that Dad gave me, saying he commissioned them just for us. Whatever. One less thing I have to pay for, I guess.

“Now repeat after me,” the officiant says. “With this ring, I thee wed.”

Grabbing Kaison’s sweaty hand, I slide the heavy ring on the third finger of his left hand. “With this ring,” I say looking up at him, “I thee wed.”

Once the ring is on his finger, he slides the ring on my finger, not breaking eye contact. “With this ring, I thee wed.”

“By the power vested in me by the state of New Jersey, I now pronounce you husbands. You may now kiss the groom.”

I wrap my arm around Kai’s waist, wanting to get this over and done with so I never have to touch his lips again. It’s already too much that we can’t skip this part. I’m willing to admit that I tried to find any reason not to kiss Kai, but Dad just looked at me, told me to stop being a bitch and kiss him to seal our union. My pride stung at Dad thinking I was a bitch.

He stiffens in my arms, but I don’t care. I lower my lips to his and peck him lightly.

But Kai isn’t having that. The fucker threads his fingers in my hair and holds me steady, forcing my lips open with his tongue. I pull against him, but before I can get away, he bites down hard.

Hissing, I snatch my lips away, looking at him with all the anger I can muster as I swallow down the coppery taste of my blood. He looks back at me evenly, a small smile on his face, like he’s one upped me. We’ve been at each other’s throats for years; he should know better than to think he can beat me.

I grip him by the back of his neck and pull him in for another kiss, shoving my tongue into his mouth, dragging it across his. We exchange the metallic taste of my blood, Kai’s body betraying him as he slides closer to me. His hard dick brushes against my leg, the firm length rigid against my thigh.

I pull away from the kiss, thumbing his lower lip to clean a bit of blood that’s stained his face. Kai drags dazed eyes over to me, then they infuse with agitation before he slaps my hand away.

The officiant raises his voice so everyone can hear him. “I now present to you, Mr. and Mr. St. Clair-Whitlock.”

Hand in hand, Kai and I walk down the aisle amongst the fake cheers and phony smiles of our guests. With the exception of Dad and Charlie—since they were able to protect their families—no one else is happy for us. They’d probably rather be anywhere else than seeing this sham marriage.

I’m in agreement with them.

When we step into the hallway, Kai drops my hand and rubs it against his pants as if to wipe away my touch. I don’t care. He can pretend to hate my touch all he wants, but now I know the truth. Kai got hard for me from a kiss. His body doesn’t lie. He might hate me, but he wants me. I can’t wipe the smug look from my face, no matter how much he glares.

Loud music blares through the speakers at the reception, though no one dances. Everyone is too busy sitting at the round tables with elaborate centerpieces, stuffing their faces with the best food money can buy.

Kai and I sit at the table at the head of the reception hall. He looks as disinterested as I feel. Only another hour or so and I can get out of here, out of this suit and into clothes that feel like me.

And I can get away from my husband.

I can’t believe I’m married. I look down at the black titanium ring on my finger and wish like hell I could take it off and toss it away, but I have to keep up the appearance that we’re happily married, a single unit that will ride or die for each other. I notice Kai looking at his as well, a curious expression on his face. What thoughts are running through that blond head of his?

As I wait for the cue from Dad that I can get the fuck out of here, I look around at the people that are assembled. Is one of them responsible for this farce? Are they the reason I’m married to my enemy, tying myself to him to keep my family alive? Is someone that wants to see our downfall in the crowd?

The clinking of a fork on a glass draws my attention to the DJ booth and I glare over at Charlie. He doesn’t pay me any mind, a phony smile pasted on his face as he glance around at those assembled. “Thank you all for coming today,” he says, his annoying voice weaseling its way into my ears. It grates on my fucking nerves. If I could go the rest of my life without hearing it, I’d die a happy man. “I’m glad to give my son away to Carter Whitlock, who I know will treat him with love and respect for the rest of their lives.”

Something about what Charlie says nags at my brain. He sounds almost gleeful about no longer having to deal with Kai on a daily basis.

I glance over at Kai, who has his hand wrapped so tightly around the glass in his hand that I fear it’ll break. When he meets my gaze, he lets the brief flash of hurt bleed from his eyes and adopts a bored expression. But I saw it. I saw the pain from his father’s words. Again, a heavy feeling settles in my belly, and I fucking resent it. It doesn’t matter that he’s hurt. It doesn’t fucking matter.

“Now, if you’ll join me in a toast to the happy couple,” Charlie continues, holding his drink out to us. “I wish you both many, many years of happiness, as husbands.” He sips his drink, his hard gaze locked on Kai. Something passes between them that I can’t decipher.

From the side of my mouth, I ask, “What the fuck was that?” Kai just shakes his head, and sits back, running a hand over his ponytail. I leave it alone. He might be my husband, but he’s not my responsibility.

Dad steps up next, almost snatching the mic from Charlie’s hand. They glare at each other for a moment, then Dad turns to our table with a small grin. “You look great, kid,” he says and I smile at him, dipping my head. “I never thought you’d be getting married, and I didn’t think I’d be getting another son. Kai, welcome to the family, kid. I can’t wait to get to know you. I know you’ll make my son very happy, as he will you.”

I know these are empty words, meant to make others think this is a marriage of love, not convenience, but I think Dad chose those words on purpose. We both see what a piece of fucking work Charlie is and how poorly he treats Kai.

Normally, this isn’t a business of love. Fathers raise their sons to take over for them, to run the families like a well-oiled machine, devoid of any emotions. That’s not how I was raised and I’m still one of the most feared men on this side of the Mississippi. I hate myself for admitting it, but seeing how different Charlie’s relationship with Kai is than mine with Dad’s rubs me the wrong way.

Kai looks at Dad with a confused expression, probably wondering what his angle is. But there never is an angle with Dad. What you see is what you get. Our families may have been at odds for decades, but Dad is looking at the bigger picture. Kai will be around far longer than Charlie if the natural order of things transpires. Why not get to know his son-in-law if they’re going to work together? I don’t want to get to know him, but Dad isn’t as short sighted as me.

“To the St. Clair-Whitlocks,” Dad says, holding up his glass. “May your futures be bright.”

People echo his words and drink. We take a sip of our champagne dutifully.

I’m ready to go and I lean over to tell Kai that we need to leave, but the DJ announces it’s time for our first dance.

Knowing I have to dance at least once with my new husband, I stand and hold my hand out to him. Kai grudgingly places his palm in mine, and I lead us to the dance floor. The DJ puts on some slow jam, and we wrap our arms around each other’s waist, swaying back and forth to the music.

It’s fucking awkward. I want to be anywhere but here, staring into Kai’s eyes like he’s the only man in the world for me. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

With a crooked smile, he whispers, “Don’t get any bright ideas, asshole. There will be no consummating this marriage. Your dick will stay dry until we divorce, or I die. And I plan on you beating me to the grave.”

I bark a laugh, and I know it looks as if we’re having a loving conversation. “Judging from how your cock is trying to bruise my thigh right now, I’d think you were ready to fuck me in front of all these people. Or take my dick.” I give him a thoughtful look. “Yeah, you look like you’d let me pound you into the floor.” I lean closer to his ear. “Keep dreaming, dear husband. Hell will freeze over before I bless you with the dicking of your life.”

“You’re full of yourself. I’m betting you’re overcompensating.”

“You’ll never find out.”

Thankfully the song ends, and we separate. I watch in amusement as Kai tries to discreetly rearrange himself in his pants. The tight briefs I have on keep my secret.

We don’t stay much longer after that. I thought it was risky to even have a reception, but I was ignored. Having too many of us in the same place isn’t wise, but the day ends without bloodshed, so my apprehension was unfounded.

Kai and I take separate cars, Gavin riding with me. That bodyguard that’s permanently attached to Kai’s hip is moving in with us as well. So, along with me and Gavin, two other men full of testosterone will be under my roof. What could possibly go wrong?

Gavin looks at me a smirk playing on his lips. “Mr. St. Clair-Whitlock. How does it feel to be a married man?”

“Kiss my ass, Gavin.”

He turns serious. “It’ll be fine. You don’t really have to be faithful to him or nothing. You don’t even have to like that cocksucker.”

“I know. I just haven’t wrapped my mind around the whole thing, even though I’ve had time to. It’s a terrible idea to have Kai under the same roof as me. We can barely go without socking each other in public. This house will be a fucking bloodbath if he pops his usual shit.”

Gavin shrugs. “Just stay out of each other’s way.”

“He’s in my house. He better stay out of my way.”

We pull up to the house, Kai’s car right behind mine. A moving truck sits in the driveway, and I scowl at it. I can’t wait to find out who is behind the threats of war on our families. I’ll fucking skin them alive for forcing me and Kai together like this.

Kai climbs out of his car, looking up at my place with a blank expression. Despite how he tries to cover it, I know he’s impressed. I had the place built when I was twenty-one and it’s still a showstopper. The two-story modern house with large bullet proof windows that allows tons of natural light gives the house an airy look. From the outside, the large chandeliers in the foyer and sitting room are visible as well as the artwork on the wall. All the bedrooms are upstairs, each with the same large windows as the bottom floor. The bedrooms are also equipped with a hidden entrance to my panic room in the basement.

I’ll show Kai that one day. Right now, I want away from him. I can still feel the ghost of his lips against mine.

After giving my place the once over, he looks at me. “Where do I sleep?”

I motion for him to follow me without a word. I wave the bracelet on my wrist against the sensor on the door and it pops open. “Is that smart?” he asks, stepping inside behind me. “What if the power goes out?”

I sigh and turn to him. “That’s what keys are for. Don’t come in here trying to change shit. This is my house now and it’ll be my house when you leave. Got it?”

He nods with a small grin on his face. “Got it. My room? You’re not expecting us to share, are you?” The look of horror on his face is genuine, mirroring my own.

Scoffing, I jog up the stairs to the room furthest from mine. “Fuck no. You’re going nowhere near my room.” I push open the door and let him walk through. “Sleep here. And stay the fuck out of my way.”

With that, I stroll to my room to try to forget my horrible wedding day.