I needlessly smoothed my hands over my gown and made my way into the room, heels clicking across the gold and wine-red marble.
Three massive crystal chandeliers with dimmed lights hung in a horizontal line down the center of the room. I traveled beneath them to where Judas stood in his dapper, jet-black tuxedo facing away from me. I was halfway to him when he turned around.
He looked so freaking good. I couldn’t believe this man was all mine. My heart began fluttering inside my chest as if it had sprouted wings. It was all I could to smile at him. The tuxedo fit him like it’d been designed specifically for this moment.
His gorgeous silver eyes took their time moving from the tiara on my head to the short train flowing behind me. He began to stride towards me, his movements measured. As soon as he reached me his hands were grabbing for mine.
“You were supposed to wait until I got to you.”
“I needed to meet you halfway.” He spread my arms out and looked me up and down again. “You’re fucking gorgeous. I’m the luckiest asshole alive you’re mine.”
“I just thought the exact same thing,” I teased. “If you wanna change your mind I suggest that you, do it now.”
He let my hands go and gently grabbed my waist.
“You’ve had me from the day we met. I knew you’d be mine ever since. You’re going to be the mother of my children. My confidant. My queen. Whatever kind of a heart I have, it’s yours.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. He gave me a simple brush of the lips until my tongue darted out and teased the seam between them. He opened them for me with a soft sigh. I toyed with his nape, holding myself back from running my fingers through his silky soft hair.
As the kiss deepened and hands came to cradle my face, his touch remained gentle, as if he didn’t want to mess a single hair on my head.
“I love you, Judas,” I whispered against his lips.
“Resta sempre con me.”
I leaned back with a light laugh. “What does that mean?”
“Ask me on our fifth anniversary.”
“Okay, Romeo.” I patted his chest, and he caught my hands, holding them against it.
“You sure you don’t wanna elope?”
“Are you insane?”
“Debatable.”
“After all the hours I put into this? Not just me, but our friends and families too. We are not eloping. I’m wearing this gown to the end of the aisle.”
“You heard her, Casanova,” Nova called from behind a large pillar.
I looked down at our feet and laughed. I’d forgotten she was in here taking pictures. Judas tucked a finger beneath my chin and lifted my head. “Are you ready to be Mrs. Barron?”
“Let’s do this.”
I’d always said to destroy someone powerful you needed power.
I had it now.
The rings on my finger tied it to me.
The scorpion curled around a single red rose inked on my shoulder, showed it to anyone who looked at me.
Every day my husband found a way to remind me his power was mine.
The blood flowing through my veins ensured it couldn’t be taken even when I was lying cold and dead in the ground.
Standing near where we’d cut the cake, I watched all the couples and singles dance to the tune of Luther Vandross. The room had come together beautifully. The red-up lighting against the deep golden walls made the floral centerpieces pop.
Gemma and Zacharias were in their own world while Saint danced with his wife’s girlfriend. Even Theo had been dragged out a few times by Maisie since being paired up as a bridesmaid-groomsmen duo. I sipped my cocktail and continued people watching.
“Why are you hiding in the corner?” I grinned around the rim of my glass as he wrapped me in his arms from behind.
“I needed a break.”
“And I need you.”
“Not until after this reception you don’t. Do you know how long it took me to choose these flower arrangements? They stressed me out more than the dress. You’re lucky I don’t fill the atrium with them.”
He slid his hands to my hips and kissed me on my neck, just beneath my ear.
“I love you in this dress. You should wear it every day.”
“I probably will.” I let my head fall back to rest on his chest.
He locked his hands together just above my navel and went quiet for a few minutes until we both laughed at the confused look on Otto’s face when the DJ changed the song from sappy to a more upbeat rap song.
“You know half these have probably never listened to John or Cardi? Think they’re offended?”
“Half these people sell pussy, drugs, or guns, and just finished burying a body before they got dressed to come here. I think their constitutions can take it.”