“I vow to honor you, protect you, and keep you. I give you this ring as a symbol of my ownership, authority, and commitment.”
A sharp gasp echoes from the pews, and I don’t need to turn to know it’s Kara. If anyone else thinks his vow is a little unorthodox, they know to keep it to themselves.
“Um, all right. Sienna, it’s your turn.” Father Steven takes a breath, as though getting ready to enter a battle he has no chance of winning.
As he says the words, I slowly move to stare at him.
“I’m sorry, what did you say?” I ask, because I couldn’t have heard him correctly.
Kaz grips my fingers tighter when I try get out of his grasp.
“You heard him. Now say it.” He orders thrusting the larger of the bands at me.
“I did hear him, but he must be mistaken. Those aren’t the usual vows.”
“Your fiancé wrote them specifically, Sienna,” Father Steven mutters.
My uncle clears his throat from his position in the front pew. An order to get on with it.
“Fine.” I clench my teeth. If he can write his own vows, so can I.
“Just as he said them,” Kaz leans forward. “Exactly those words.”
I stare at him, unbelieving this man glaring down at me with such hatred is the same man who made me scream his name last night.
He’d been charismatic, so easy going.
Had it all been a joke? Did he know who I was last night, and thought why not play around with me like some toy?
A cat batting the mouse around before going in for the kill.
“With this ring I promise you that from this day forward you will never walk alone.” I shove the ring over his thick ring finger, pushing harder when his second knuckle gives some resistance.
“And the rest of it.” He grabs hold of my hands before I can let him go. “All of it, Sienna. Before our families, give me your vows.”
I might vomit on his shoes.
Standing up straight and lifting my chin, I spit out the words he’s chosen for me to recite before God and our families.
“I vow to honor you and obey you.” I stop, swallowing down the bile rising in my throat. “I give you this ring as a symbol of my…loyalty…obedience, and commitment.”
“Good girl,” he mutters, low enough that only I hear him.
Well, me and my vagina. While my brain knows what an asshole he’s being, she doesn’t seem to understand that those words that made me so aroused and needy last night aren’t the same words uttered here.
“Excellent.” Father Steven looks ready to collapse; he’s so relieved we’ve gotten through the horrific vows.
“I pronounce you man and wife. You may—uh—kiss the bride.”
Before I can take a step back, Kaz’s hand slides beneath my veil, holding me steady as he crushes his mouth over mine.
My insides melt, and it’s last night all over again. Except, this time the kiss cuts off short, and he glares down at me. His nostrils flare.
Everyone is standing and clapping for us.
“I think we’re supposed to walk down the aisle.” I tell him, gesturing.
He grabs my hand in his and pulls me down from the altar.
