Chapter 4 Chapter 4
Emerson
I didn’t bother finding out why Darcy had suddenly agreed to the contract.
I couldn’t care less about the reason.
The only thing that mattered was that the papers were signed and there had been no need to resort to plan B. I had a feeling she would have loved that a lot less. Picking up my cellphone, I immediately put a call across to my right-hand man, Rafe.
He picked on the second ring.
“Have the venue prepared,” I instructed. “The wedding will be held tomorrow as planned.”
“Sure thing, boss.”
I ended the call, deciding I was done with work for the day. Now that I had Darcy’s signature on the pages of the contract, there were a few things I needed to take care of before the wedding tomorrow. It didn't escape my notice that she’d entirely missed the consummation clause.
Which stated that she would be officially tied to me, and therefore all I was concerned with, if we ever had sex.
Penetrative sex.
It was a long-standing gang rule, put in place long before I ever became leader. It existed for one reason: to safeguard the women, particularly if a leader’s wife ever carried an heir. Now that I knew she hadn’t read it…
I clenched my jaws and stood to my feet.
The bridge would be crossed when the bridge would be crossed.
The next morning, I sent Darcy the wedding venue and asked her to show up in the wedding dress I’d instructed to be delivered to her apartment.
She sent a message in return, letting me know her parents would be in attendance. It pissed me off that she hadn’t thought to inform me before making the decision. Another thing that would change after the wedding. I had to be pre-informed of whatever move she was making.
Every. Single. One.
My phone beeped with a text from Rafe.
They’ve arrived.
I fixed the lapels of my shirt, checked out my reflection in the mirror, and then made my way out of the room to the rooftop of the hotel. I’d planned a small, private ceremony, not wanting the news of our wedding to make it to the media until we were completely done.
There was no saying the amount of people who would try to stop it from happening.
Rafe was waiting by the door of the rooftop. He nodded in greeting as we made our way to the Priest. The door opened a few seconds later and Darcy walked in with her parents. Her mom moved to the side as her father began walking her down the aisle.
She'd worn the dress, and it fitted her perfectly.
Just as I'd known it would.
I kept my eyes on her until she was standing before me, her father moving to join her mom at a corner.
She stared down at my outstretched hand, her eyes lifting to mine in silent confusion. I jerked my head in the direction of the photographer Rafe had hired. “We need everything to appear as it’s supposed to for the media.”
Her shoulders tensed. “Of course.”
She slipped her hands into mine, taking a step forward until there was only a foot’s distance between us. Flashes of light exploded around us as pictures were taken. She might be overwhelmed with grief about her failed wedding to Paul, but I was very much in the present.
One of us had to be.
“Do you, Darcy Mendez, take Emerson Castellano to be your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness…” Darcy’s gaze became unfocused, no doubt memories of her failed wedding coming to the forefront of her mind. The priest finished with his statement, and we waited for her answer.
“I do.”
We were halfway done…
The priest turned to me. “Do you, Emerson Castellano, take Darcy Mendez to be your lawfully–”
“I do.”
Her eyes looked suspiciously wet, probably at finally hearing those two words said back to her. Too bad it wasn’t from the man she actually wanted. My hands subconsciously tightened around hers and her eyes fluttered back open.
The priest was giving the final instruction.
“…pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride,”
My gaze fell to her lips. Her bottom lip was fuller than the first, just slightly. They were very tempting. Her cheeks flushed under my perusal and I wondered how deep her flush could become under the right conditions…
I curved my arm around her and pulled her against me. She let out a small gasp and I barely gave her time to recover before I covered her lips with mine. They were soft. Very soft. So soft I wanted to pull at them with my teeth and see if they would draw blood.
I gripped the back of her head, titling my head at an angle and taking as much as she could give.
Gods, but she tasted even better than I’d imagined.
She steadied herself against me, her hands coming up to grip my forearms. Little moans escaped from her, fanning my madness. Her chest rose and fell heavily against mine but I wouldn't relent. I could only take and take and take–
She pulled herself away from me.
Her eyes were partly widened in surprise as she stared at me, struggling to catch her breath. The flashes around us brought me back to the present. Beside us, the priest cleared his throat.
He gave me a small nod to signal the end of the ceremony.
Darcy looked a little dazed, but she was doing a good job of hiding it. Her parents came to her, awkwardly closing their arms around her in a hug. Her eyes met mine over their shoulders. Rafe appeared beside me, and I turned to give him my attention.
“The pictures are ready to be posted. We’re only waiting for your permission,” He informed me.
I thought about my younger half-brother.
Paul would be out of his mind with rage. With confusion.
With the need to avenge.
He hated losing anyone to me. Never mind whether or not he valued them in the first place. Our father came to mind then. A small smile played around the corner of my lips. I couldn't wait to see how dearest Paul would react, what he would do.
The look in my eyes gave Rafe the order before my mouth ever did.
“You have my permission.”
