by Shaw, Leia
“You really love him? Even though he’s a man?”
“Yes.” She sipped at her cooling coffee.
“Is he good to the two of you? He’s not bossy or abusive?”
Scarlet almost spat her mouthful of coffee out on the table. Um...hm...maybe a little bossy, but so was she, and Reece liked them that way.
“He’s good to us. He’s a sweet and decent man, Mom. This isn’t about us being a novelty for him. He cares about us deeply.”
Her mother sighed and leaned back in her chair again, then stuffed an entire cookie into her mouth. When she’d chewed for a while and swallowed, she looked at Scarlet and grimaced.
“Whenever I think I’m open-minded, daughter mine, you come by and force it further open.”
Epilogue
One year later
Quiet murmurs drifted up the front stairwell of Jude’s house. Reece paced across the guest bedroom, biting her lip so hard it was starting to ache. The silky fabric of her dress brushed against her bare legs as she walked back and forth in front of the doorway. She hadn’t expected to be this nervous.
Sabrina burst into the room. “They’re ready to start.” Her friend looked her over then covered her mouth with her hand.
“What?” Panicked, she looked down at her ivory gown. “Do I look bad?”
Tears formed in her eyes as she shook her head. “You look...” Her voice trembled. “Gorgeous.”
“I do?” Her throat started to close up and her eyes grew watery. “Don’t make me cry! My make-up is gonna run!”
Sabrina jumped into gear. “Sorry! Here.” She turned the window fan on and shoved Reece’s face in it.
Music started and Reece recognized the song. “They’re starting!” She moved for the door. “I have to go.”
“Shhh,” Sabrina soothed, standing in her way. “Take a deep breath.”
The guitar interlude played softly. They’d rehearsed this. She was pretty sure she was supposed to be walking down the aisle right now.
Sabrina grasped Reece’s hands. “They’re going to drag out the song because Zen refused to wear the tutu skirt you gave her. Q figured she wouldn’t cooperate with the whole flower part either.”
She nodded, taking in deep breaths. All of that seemed insignificant now. The decorations, the choice in music, the color of the flowers... It was superfluous. All she wanted right now was to take that last step.
Both girls paused at the top of the stairwell and Reece looked down. Just below, in the middle of Jude’s transformed living room, sat their closest friends in rows of matching white chairs lent to them by a friend of Q’s.
Q chased a giggling half-naked toddler down the red muslin strip that made up the aisle. As she turned a corner, she knocked over one of the mason jars with a candle lit inside. Jude caught it just before it hit the floor.
This wasn’t anything like how she’d imagined her wedding. Jude’s house wasn’t exactly the vineyard she’d been eyeing since Grade Nine. There was no flowered trellis. No harpist playing in the corner as she walked down the aisle on her father’s arm. She hadn’t even invited him.
Barefoot with bright red toenails hadn’t been in her vision either. Even the season was all wrong. She’d wanted a summer wedding, not fall.
Finally the words to the song they’d chosen started. Grow Old with You by Adam Sandler played from Jude’s stereo system. Sabrina gave her a little push.
Shakily, she descended the stairs. Friends had told her to keep her eye on the groom as she walked down the aisle so she didn’t get nervous. At the bottom of the stairs, all the heads turned and familiar eyes stared at her. Flutters took off in her stomach as she searched helplessly for Malachi. Then she spotted him and they locked gazes.
He wasn’t smiling. Did she look okay? The dress wasn’t spectacular, like in her bridal magazines – a silky shift dress with some simple embroidered detail – but she’d stuck with understated considering the venue. Her hair wasn’t fancy either. Loose curls hung down her shoulders and she didn’t bother with a veil. Maybe he didn’t like it?
She froze at the start of the aisle. Then Malachi turned fully to face her and a giant grin stretched across his face. Her vision went blurry with tears as she smiled back.
“Hi, pumpkin,” someone said from behind her.
She turned in surprise. “Dad!” Any semblance of emotional stability washed away when she saw his smiling face. A half snort, half laugh escaped ungracefully as she flung her arms around his neck. “What are you doing here?”
“Scarlet invited me.” He set her away and looked her over. “You’re beautiful. I can’t believe you were going to get married without me.”
“I’m sorry.” Tears fell fast now and she was sure her make-up was fucked. Maybe she’d ask Q to photoshop the pictures later. “I didn’t think you’d want to come.”
“My only daughter gets married and you didn’t think I’d want to be here?” Determination written all over his weathered face, he stuck her arm in his then motioned to the aisle. “Come on. People are waiting.”
Somehow she made it down the aisle without fainting or falling. Her dad kissed her cheek then took a seat in the back next to her brother and Lisa. Scarlet must’ve invited them too. They both waved and she gave them a shaky smile.
After a deep breath, she turned to Malachi. He wore a dark suit with red and ivory accents. His beard was trimmed neatly and the hair he’d grown out the past year was tied back in a ponytail.
“Where’s Scarlet?” she asked.
His brow crinkled as he looked behind her at the stairwell she’d descended. Reece knew she wouldn’t be there. She hated attention and refused to go near the wedding aisle, even though she’d been just as excited to help in the planning as Malachi had been. The three of them had pored over design books and discussed ideas for months, trying to come up with something meaningful that also uniquely expressed their relationship.
Malachi’s face transformed into another wide grin. She turned to follow his gaze. Scarlet, dressed in a matching ivory pantsuit, came out of the kitchen and walked shyly toward them. The silky fabric of the suit hugged her body perfectly, as Reece had known it would. The color was gorgeous next to her pale hair. She was a beautiful ethereal creature. In Scarlet’s hand were three crimson roses, cut at the stem.
At the makeshift altar, Scarlet tucked one rose bud into Mal’s breast pocket then the other behind Reece’s ear. At her ear, she whispered, “You look beautiful, kitten.”
She grinned at Scarlet. “So do you.”
Malachi took the final rose bud and tucked it into Scarlet’s jacket pocket to match his. Then they all stared at each other awkwardly. Reece had completely forgotten what came next in the ceremony. As they continued to grin at one another, someone in the audience cleared their throat.
She turned toward the small crowd of friends. Jude was there, holding a squirming Zen. Sabrina sat next to them, smiling and sobbing. Q moved around the room, snapping pictures. Ivy was there in the back, with a big man holding her hand. Reece and Scarlet had gotten to know her and both adored her – and she was so happy for Malachi.
Near Ivy, looking happy and proud, yet also nervous, was Malachi’s petite sister, Naomi, who’d flown in from Oklahoma. He hadn’t bothered inviting the rest of his relatives, since they were hardcore Christian and would have stood on the lawn protesting the wedding, rather than enjoy the canapés. Mal’s friend Fredrick, the oldest-known kinkster in Cobalt Harbor, was there with his submissive, Peter. They sat next to Scarlet’s mom. Cross and Gemma and Izzy sat on the other side, each of the girls wearing sappy expressions.
Cross gave her an expectant look.
“Oh,” she exclaimed. “Right. Um. Because you all know three people can’t legally get married yet, we don’t technically need a priest or JP so our friend Cross is going to officiate.”
A warm haze settled over her during the rest of the ceremony. Cross assisted them in saying their vows – ones they’d written from sc
ratch that were clumsy and nothing like typical wedding vows. They exchanged rings and Reece felt an overwhelming sense of peace. The ring plus the silver bracelet with the padlock heart charm they’d collared her with last winter made her feel owned and cherished.
When they finished their vows, each of them teary-eyed but grinning stupidly, Cross announced to the room full of their loved ones, “I now, without any legal or religious power vested in me, pronounce you wife, and wife, and husband. You may kiss the brides!”
Laughing, they kissed each other, over and over, on their lips and cheeks, even though they were salty with tears. As their friends and family clapped and cheered, the Adam Sandler song played again – one she’d scoffed at weeks ago when they’d debated wedding music. They walked back down the aisle together and headed out to the reception area in the backyard, clutching each other’s hands like they had no intentions of ever letting go.
This was nothing like how Reece had envisioned her wedding day since she’d been a little girl. But their wedding was perfect – down to every last imperfect detail.
Acknowledgements
We’d like to thank some special people who helped make this book happen. One, our families who didn’t disown us when the laundry piled up so much they had to wear the same socks for a week so we could finish our book. Two, our amazing fans who bugged us every day for another book and who fell in love with Cross’s goofy sidekick from The Dom with the Perfect Brats. We love that you share your experiences with us – your joy, your frustrations, your personal stories that inspire us every day.
We have a special thank you for our betas; Jennie, Lina, and Thiemba. Without you to tell us when we’re great and also when we’re not so great, we couldn’t put out the perfect product for our readers. So thank you!
And finally to our editor, Nerine Dorman, who not only does an amazing job but also enjoys our work and encourages our pursuits.
About the Authors
Sorcha Black
Sorcha Black is the co-author of the Badass Brats series and writes about kinky bisexual women in poly relationships. She became a romance writer after meeting two nefarious authors on the internet. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Sorcha enjoys tattoos and foul language.
Find her at: www.sorchablack.com
Leia Shaw
Leia Shaw is the bestselling author of the paranormal romance series, Shadows of Destiny. Thinking up fae politics, plotting dragon power games, and calculating how fast werewolves can change forms has given her a way to express those dark places in her mind. More recently, she’s branched out into the erotic world and has written a humorous but heartwarming contemporary BDSM romance, 31 Flavors of Kink, and is co-authoring The Badass Brats series.
Leia lives in New England with her husband and two kids. Though she will go to her grave denying it, her husband insists she would be thrilled if he suddenly sprouted fangs.
Find her at:
www.leiashaw.com
Cari Silverwood
Cari Silverwood writes the way the world should be - dangerous and sexy with bullets piercing the darkness and lovers wrenched close by ropes. When you need escape, when you need that rough lover to bring you to your knees, here you will find stories to singe your fingers. The taste of adventure, the tang of BDSM, the burn of fantasy run wild. Brace yourselves, if you dare to read.
And...in this real world, she has a lovely family in Australia, with the prerequisite teenager who dwells in the dark bedroom catacombs…a husband who raises eyebrows when he catches glimpses of what she writes, and a furry menagerie of other animals barking, meowing, and swimming about the place.
Find her at: carisilverwood.com