“My wife.”
2
Hayes
Twenty Years Ago
“Inow pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your lovely bride,” the judge declares from his bench where he sits overlooking the nearly barren courtroom.
Raegan gives my hands a gentle squeeze, drawing my attention back to her… my wife.
Fuck, she’s beautiful.
Despite there being zero natural light in the room, her fair skin looks sun-kissed and a warm glow emanates from all around her. Those emerald eyes I love so much lock with mine and I’m hypnotized… forever lost in her.
“Are you just gonna stand there, handsome? Or are you gonna kiss your wife?” she chirps quietly.
Oh, I’m going to do a lot more than kiss her.
I don’t say that last part.
Instead, I encase her face with my hands and pull her to me, just enough so I can lean down and lay my lips on hers, claiming her as my own. She quietly hums a moan against my mouth and I seize the opportunity to slip my tongue between hersoft, pillowy lips and dance it with her own until we hear a throat clear behind us.
Right.
We’re not alone.
Damnit.
We pull apart and between her chest heaving with breathlessness and the flush creeping up her neck, I can tell she’s just as affected as I am. If only we were alone. I’d lay her out in the middle of this courtroom and consummate this union in a very explicit way.
My dick twitches in my pants at that thought and I silently curse him, willing him to stand down before I embarrass myself even more in front of her parents.
“Honey,” Raegan’s mother sniffles, grabbing her hand to pull her away. “Are you sure about this? You just met him… what? Six weeks ago? What do you even know about this boy?”
I raise a brow.She does know I can hear her, right?
“Jesus, Mother,” her sister Sutton interrupts. I’ve only met her once before today, but I like her already. “Leave her alone. She’s a grown woman and can make her own mistakes.”
My brows raise at her passive aggressive slight.I’d like to take my previous statement back, please.
“I know all I need to know, Mom. I promise you, I know what I’m doing. I love Hayes and he loves me. I don’t know how I know, but I know he’s going to take care of me and treasure me. He won’t hurt me.”
“What about school?” her father cuts in, his tone sharp and unyielding. “You’re too young to get married. You should be focusing on your classes and your career.”
It’s a little late for the warnings, considering we’re already married.
“It’s a little late for all of this, don’t you think?” she stresses and I can’t help but let out a quiet chuckle at our identical thought process. “Hayes is my husband now. Get used to it. I can go to school and have a careerandhusband at the same time.”
She steps backward until her back meets my chest and I protectively slide my arm around her middle, pulling her tighter into me so she knows I’ve got her.
“I know this all seems rushed,” I cut in, determined to assure them that I do indeed have her. “But you can rest assured that I have no intention of keeping your daughter from her schooling or her career.”
“Where are his parents? Do you even know his last name?” her mother inquires rapid-fire, ignoring me and proving my words mean nothing to her.
Raegan scoffs. “Where his parents are is none of your business… and of course, I know his last name!”
Her response is about as indignant as can be and I find myself biting my lip, working hard to school my face. I know she doesn’t know the answer to the first question because I rarely talk about my parents. I also don’t think she actually knows my last name even though it’s written–plain as day–on the marriage certificate and the judge said it–out loud–less than ten minutes ago. Her parents had to have heard it as well, but there’s clearly a lot of emotions swirling around right now, so I guess they get a pass.
