I can hear the music swell on the other side of the doors and then before I can even react, they’re opening to reveal the long aisle to the front of the room where Luca stands with a priest. At least a hundred guests are in attendance. Alek told me that Luca wanted this to be a big affair. Show off our marriage. Make a stand.
Susanna is in the front pew, glaring back at me. I’m not sure if she’ll ever be happy about this but I have to hope that in time, she’ll come around. But today isn’t about my sister. It’s about the man I am going to marry.
My eyes settle on Luca in his black suit. He looks incredibly handsome. It makes my breath catch in my throat. The fact that this man is going to be my husband is dizzying.
I can’t move and it takes my mom gently nudging me forward to get me to walk. Alek is sitting beside Susanna, probably to make sure she doesn’t cause any problems. Traditionally, he would have walked me down the aisle but I wanted it to be my mom. I need it to be her. She’s the one who’s always given me strength my entire life. It was never my father and it was never Alek.
Life seems to halt as I walk down the aisle, like I’m suspended in an alternate dimension. But then it all comes crashing back when I reach Luca at the end of the aisle. He takes myhand after my mom gives me away and makes me stand before him as the priest begins the ceremony.
All I can focus on is Luca’s hands. How big and strong they are. How long and veiny they are. He has incredibly attractive hands, I’ll give him that. But that’s not surprising since his face is attractive as well. All of him is.
The sudden realization that this is the man who I will be married to forever hits me hard. That I’ll have to be alone with him. Be intimate with him. It’s surreal.
“Do you, Luca Moretti, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?” the priest asks.
“I do,” he answers in his attractive voice. I didn’t pay much attention to Luca’s looks the first night I met him in the club. I didn’t know he was going to be my husband then so it didn’t matter. Now everything matters.
The priest turns to me. “And do you, Nina Petrov, takes this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
I can’t help myself: I glance in Susanna’s direction. If looks could kill…
I want to beg Susanna for my forgiveness. As my sister, she’s been at my side my entire life. But I can’t live my life for her anymore. Not when Luca chose me. This is my chance to live my own life.
I turn back to Luca and look him dead in the eye as I answer: “I do.”
The little smirk he gives me tells me that he knows he owns me now.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss.”
Luca cups my face before pressing his lips gently to mine before pulling back. It’s barely a peck. A taste. A tease.
Yet, it leaves me wanting more.
Luca doesn’t say a word to me as we leave the church. Our guests follow behind. There’s a coldness to him on the drive to the reception. It’s being held in one of the nicest hotels in the entire city.
“Are you… ok?” I venture to ask.
“I’m good. I have a wife now. A certified alliance with Alek.”
“So, why do you sound so…”
He looks at me with those intense eyes. “Like what?”
“Cold.”
“I’m not the warmest of men, Nina. You should know that about me. But I’m not the worst. There are men out there who would do far worse to you than I ever will.”
Somehow, that’s not reassuring.
“Your sister did not look happy.”
I sigh. “My sister is never happy. It’s just who she is.”
“Is she going to be a problem? I don’t like people causing problems for me.”
“She shouldn’t.” At least… I hope.
We arrive at the hotel and Luca holds the door open for me and even sets his hand on my lower back but other than that, there’s no warmth to him. No passion. But then again, this marriage was one of convenience. Not love.
