She heard him walking away to the side of the church that would put him at the front of the podium.
Willa turned back to Lily and Beth who were standing by the door that led into the chapel. Both were wearing their pearl bracelets as she was wearing the same one around her own wrist.
The saleswoman who had “helped” her and Lucky previously at the jewelry store had glowered at her angrily when she had asked for someone else to wait on her. Willa didn’t feel guilty giving the commission to someone else for the expensive bracelets while the saleswoman had stood, watching enviously.
“Are you ready?” Beth asked with tears of happiness that were mirrored in Willa’s own eyes.
“I’m ready.” Willa smoothed down her dress for the final time.
“Pastor Sparks is already up front,” Lily told her.
The pastor from Jamestown had agreed to perform the ceremony for them.
The ushers opened the door.
“Here we go,” Lily said softly, stepping forward.
Beth followed behind her sister.
“He’s there,” Willa whispered, seeing Lucky waiting for her beside the podium.
“Was there any doubt?” Angus asked.
Curling her arm through his, she didn’t take her eyes off Lucky. “None at all.” She crossed two of her fingers that were holding the bouquet. “None at all.”
* * *
Willa paced back and forth in the small bathroom, knowing Lucky had to be wondering what was taking her so long. She sat down on the edge of the tub, feeling as if she were hyperventilating.
“He wouldn’t use his knives on our wedding night,” Willa whispered out loud to give herself courage.
“Did you say something, Willa?” Lucky’s voice from the other side of the door had her jumping to her feet, double-checking that the door was locked.
“I said I’ll be right out!”
They had decided to stay at her house tonight then leave for their honeymoon to Jamaica tomorrow afternoon.
She took another glance at herself in the mirror. The black, baby doll gown came to her knees, and the bodice dipped between her breasts, giving a generous view. The gown was daring for her, but it didn’t scream ‘come and get me’, either. Willa wished she had been more adventuresome when she had picked her lingerie for her honeymoon. The prices on those flimsy bits of material had been hard to talk herself into, though. She thought the one she had on was seductive, and the best part was she had found it for thirty percent off in the expensive store.
The most expensive one had been a present from Sex Piston, and she had packed it in her suitcase, but she was seriously debating taking it back for a refund. There was no way she could ever envision herself wearing the minuscule bra and panty set.
Her hand went to the doorknob. She could do this. Lucky had shown her twice what kind of pleasure came from being with him. He wasn’t going to hurt her. She wanted him so badly her mother would be ashamed of her, because a good, Christian girl never let her body’s needs control her.
She turned the lock, twisting the door handle then gradually opening the door. She didn’t know what she had expected, but seeing Lucky sitting on her bed, playing PS4 wasn’t one of them.
Travis had left Charlie’s behind, explaining he had several at his ranch for the ranch hands to use and that Charlie would have it here for when he visited.
“Wanna play?” Lucky threw her a quick glance. “I’m winning.”
“That’s a real shocker.” Willa tentatively sat down on the bed next to him.
He was only wearing a pair of shorts, and her eyes traced down the tattoos on his legs. Most of them were religious. The one on his thigh made her want to trace the outline of Mary to give her the courage she had always wanted. The sad look on her face and the tear rolling down her cheek touched Willa. She wondered what had made Lucky pick the ones he had inked on his body.
She placed her pillow against the headboard, giving herself an unrestricted view of the ones on his back without him knowing she was staring. They were different, not religious. They were symbols of violence and destruction.
The center was a Navy Seal insignia with a snake wrapped around it from the bottom up, leaving the face of the snake glaring back. Objects surrounded the insignia: two revolvers with a metal chain wrapped around the barrels of the gun, linking them together; brass knuckles; a hand of cards; and a razor knife. The whole tattoo had a layer of shadows, giving it an eerie effect.
She didn’t want to know why he had chosen those. She shivered as she reached out to trace the hand of cards. Then her eyes went to the horseshoe on his shoulder, seeing the scarred flesh beneath, the ridges giving the horseshoe a more realistic appearance. The four leaf clover hid what looked like another scar. The largest scar was covered by an elephant with its trunk up. Her fingers traced each of the symbols.
“Why did you get the rainbow?”
“Because of God’s promise in the Old Testament after the flood.”
“Oh.”
Lucky threw down the controller and, picking up the remote, he turned the television off. He turned, scooting down slightly on the bed, and then flipped onto his stomach with his head at her waist.
“The dolphin?”
“Protection.”
“Is that one a cricket?”
“Yes, crickets alert you to danger. They stop chirping when someone gets near.”
“Good luck symbols don’t go against your religious beliefs?”
“God created them all,” he said simply. “Besides, I don’t put my faith in them; I put my faith in Him.”
“A little extra luck never hurts.” Willa smiled, running her hand over his shoulder.
“Exactly.” His hands went to her hips, scooting her down in the bed to lie next to him.
Willa stared up into his hazel eyes. “How did you get those scars?”
“I was shot a few times.”
“More than a few. I counted six.”
Lucky wiped a tear away from her cheek. “Siren, I don’t want to see any tears from you on our wedding night.”
Willa turned her face to the side, unable to bear looking at his beautiful face. “I could have never met you.”
His hand turned her back to face him. “I’m here, exactly where I was meant to be.” Lucky touched the corner of her mouth with his.
“I can’t believe I started laughing when Pastor Sparks read your first name.”
Lucky smiled against her lips. “What’s so funny about Lucky David Dean?”
“I thought Lucky was your nickname.”
“My mother named me when I was born three months premature, and the doctors told my parents I wouldn’t make it. She always said I started life with a lucky star in the sky, but my father gave all the credit to
God. He named me David because he said I had to fight giant obstacles to live. Each week, they said something would go wrong: my lungs, my kidneys, and then my liver. The doctors said I was a miracle,” he finished wryly.
Her arms wound around his neck. “I believe that, too.” Her hand went to his face. “You’re so beautiful.”
“Men aren’t beautiful.” His mouth went to the cleft of her breasts. “You want to know a secret? Your breasts are sexy as fuck.”
“You like my breasts?” They were the only part of her anatomy that she wasn’t embarrassed by.
“Siren, ‘like’ isn’t the word I would use.” He rose slightly, pulling the spaghetti straps down until her breasts were uncovered, and her rosy nipples were peaked. Then Lucky took one into his mouth.
Willa buried her hands in his hair. “Lucky, there’s something you should know. I don’t take pain very well.”
His tongue began playing with the tip of her nipple. “Siren, there is pain …” His teeth latched onto her nipple. The tiny pain didn’t hurt, but the fear had her center melting. “Then there’s pain.” His hand slid under the hem of her gown, finding the tiny, black panties, and he slipped his hand underneath.
His fingers found her clit, rubbing the nub until she tried to twist to escape his torment. However, Lucky didn’t allow her to flee his torture, plunging a finger inside to stroke her pussy into grinding back against the palm of his hand.
Willa moaned. “I can’t catch my breath.”
“Take a deep breath and hold on. It gets better,” Lucky taunted, adjusting his body.
He slid down the length of her body, tugging her gown up and exposing the lace panties with the tiny red bows that were tied at the side.
“Isn’t that convenient.” He untied the panties, easily removing them. “You need to buy those in every color.”
“I’ll watch for them to go on sale.”
“Buy them, anyway. I’ll give you my credit card.” Lucky kissed the smooth flesh he exposed.
“I’ll still wait for the sale. I don’t believe in throwing money away.”
Lucky chuckled against her. “This is a surprise.”