I also know he’s in the ceremony room up ahead—because I’ve had these little tingles pulsing under my skin, which only happens when he's nearby. A-n-d that’s the sad thing. I hate this man, but I'm so attracted to him. I may have slept with him, but instead of getting him out of my system, it’s only primed me, so I want more of him. Which makes sense, in a way. I was foolish to think I could get him out of my system by sleeping with him. He was my first, and I was bound to develop feelings for him. But I didn't anticipate that the physical draw to him would continue to grow.
And the enforced absence of the past week has made me so mad at him, and that has only fueled my desire. Bet it's all part of some evil plan to make me desire him further. Bet he's trying to show me I’ll never be rid of thoughts of him, the images of how he fucked me, how I wanted him to destroy my pussy again, how—I love to hate him. My core clenches, and my thighs tremble. I shuffle my feet to try to release the pressure between my legs.
"You okay?" Mira murmurs. She’s wearing a pantsuit, also pink, that shows off her figure. That was my only criteria for her and Abby and Solene. They could wear anything, as long as it was pink. Abby’s wearing a dress with a sweet-heart neckline, and Solene’s wearing a pink, leather mini-dress with berry-red, over-the-knees boots with seven-inch high heels, which confirm she's a world-famous popstar.
Between Solene and Declan, they created quite a stir when they walked up the steps of the Town Hall. Of course, this being London, people were too polite to approach them, but there were enough girls holding up their phones to record their entry, albeit from a distance. Now, Abby turns to me and says, "You ready?"
I shake my head.
Her gaze softens, she closes the distance, and takes my hand in hers. "Can I confess something? When I asked you to find Knight a wife, I secretly hoped he’d come to his senses and realize you were the woman he’s been looking for."
"You did?" I gape.
"The only person I mentioned my plan to was Cade. No secrets from my husband.” She chuckles. “And the one person I couldn’t breathe a word to was Knight. If he’d found out, he’d have made things very difficult. I knew I was being wishful. I wanted us to be sisters, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up. So, when you told me Knight had asked you to marry him, imagine how floored I was."
"Me, too," I murmur.
She searches my features. "I’m aware the circumstances of him asking you to be his wife aren’t ideal. I know he probably did it because he's under a deadline—"
I wince.
She tightens her grip on my hands, "—but trust me when I say, you are the best thing that’s ever happened to him."
"And me? What about me?"
"He’s not easy to get along with—I’ll be the first to admit that—but he’s a man of his word. If he’s marrying you, it’s for keeps. If he’s taking his vows, he’ll do everything in his power to abide by them. Also—" She glances away, then back at me. "Also, he has feelings for you."
"Yeah, we both want to murder each other," I say dryly.
She laughs. "Relationships have been built on less. Look at me and Cade. He wanted revenge for what I did to him when we were younger. I swear, that man made my life miserable, but when I needed help, he was the only one I could turn to, and then—"
"Oh, they’re ready for you," Mira exclaims.
"This is it, babe." Solene grins at me.
My heart seems to stop, then starts up at such a heightened pace, my breath catches. The blood drains from my face and I sway.
"Hey, hey." Abby wraps her arm around me; so does Mira. Bracketed between two of my friends, I grip the bouquet of blue feathers I opted for instead of a traditional bridal bouquet. Blue because I needed something blue.
"Deep breaths," a new voice commands.
I glance up to find a gorgeous woman wearing a dress that clings to her every curve, with a matching jacket, hair piled on top of her head, and pencil-thin stilettos marching into the room. "I’m Giorgina, and I came to find out what the hold-up is about."
"Hey, Gio." Solene tips up her chin. Her tone is cautious. The two women—who could not be more opposite in the way they’re dressed—eye each other up.
"Nice get up; goes with the image," Gio offers.
"Nice dress; a step up from your usual Barbie Doll outfit." Solene smirks.
The two chuckle, then move toward each other and embrace. Solene steps back. “Gio, meet the bride, Penny, one of my closest friends.” Solene dips her chin in my direction. “Penny, Giorgina used to be Declan’s manager in LA, but she’s moving to London.”
Gio turns to me and her features soften. “I realize we don’t know each other but I’m privileged to be here on your special day.”
“I can do with all the support I can get.” I curve my lips and paste on my trademark smile. My fake smile. The one which convinces everyone that everything is fine with me. Everyone but me… And Knight. He’s the only one who can look through my false cheer. The only one who demands I be honest with him, when he himself never is. The only man who knows the real me asked me to marry him. In a way, this should be a perfect match; only, it isn’t. Because it’s all fake. His proposal, his reason for asking me to be his wife. All of it is as fake as my smile. I straighten my lips. Perhaps if I hadn’t pretended everything was fine things wouldn’t have come to this stage?
“Good thing Rachel booked the largest room in city hall to accommodate everyone,” Mira chirps.
“Eh?” I blink.
“This is the only room in the place which can accommodate up to fifty people, it was smart thinking on Rachel’s part to have booked it given the number of people attending your wedding has increased,” she explains.
Solene turns to Giorgina. "When did you get in from LA?"
"This morning. I flew in with Knight."
"You did?" I frown.
She tilts her head. "It was coincidence that we were leaving around the same time. Also, I can’t say no to flying private. Beats commercial, any day," she sniffs.
I narrow my gaze. "You and Knight—"
"—have never met before. I’m here because I lost a bet to Rick, who insisted I accompany him to your wedding. Not that I have anything against you."
"You’re against weddings?"
She looks at me with respect. "You catch on fast."
Except when it comes to Sir Bosshole, apparently. I should have cut my losses and found a way to pay off the money I owe him. Instead, I seem to be caught deeper in the web he’s spun around me. It’s almost like he’s trying every way possible to bind me to him and make it difficult for me to escape him. Including not using a condom when he fucked me. Did he do that on purpose? I blink. Nah, not possible. He wouldn’t have, would he? On the other hand, what if he did it subconsciously? What if he really does care about me but can't admit it, even to himself?
"Oh, hold on, I have something for you." Giorgina dips into her handbag, then comes up with a brooch. "It belonged to my grandmother, who had a very happy marriage—unlike my own mother. And since I’m never going to get married, I thought you should have it." She nods in the direction of my dress. “May I?”