Page 82 of Deserter

I crossed the room and took his hands in mine, letting the vest drop to the floor where it belonged, before placing his palms against my belly. “Baby, they should already know who I belong to, with or without the vest. You’re the leader. They should recognize me on sight and know that I’m off-limits.”

Comedian had been right. Jamie had dealt with the three bikers who’d talked of gang-raping me, to the point that they wouldn’t even raise their heads to look at me when I was at the clubhouse.

His lips parted and he ran his tongue across his teeth. “You really don’t wanna wear that kutte, do you, princess?”

Okay, that hadn’t worked out liked I’d hoped.

“A lion doesn’t have to tell people it’s a lion, does it? I’m yours… forever and ever. Just let me wear Yiayia’s wedding gown… please.”

Jamie chuckled. “That’s Yiayia’s and it fits?”

I swatted his shoulder. “Yes, it fits. I guess she had a secret of her own.”

He slid his hand down the satin and cupped between my legs. “You don’t wanna wear the kutte, you don’t have to.” When I looked up at him questioningly, his face became serious. “Gonna mark you one way or another before you leave this room though. You may not have my name on your back, but you’ll feel me running down your thighs the rest of the day.”

I nodded my agreement as he walked me back toward the vanity, bunching my dress up in his hands. When he spun me around to face the mirror, I was struck again by the contrast between us. I looked almost virginal in my cream gown while my biker looked like he’d just escaped Hell. The demon sent to spirit me away to the underworld.

“You know, the ancient Greeks believed that you couldn’t have a wedding without Hymen, the god of marriage ceremonies. As the bride was led to the groom’s house, they would call out his name.”

“Hymen, huh?” Jamie asked, resting his hand against my throat. “Could’ve sworn I took that from you and, if I recall correctly, it was my name you were screaming.”

I exhaled softly. “Does it bother you that your bride has been compromised?”

I expected a chuckle or a smirk, but Jamie lowered his hand with a frown. “Why would that bother me? I dragged you into this lifestyle and as fucked up as it is, knowing I’m the one who defiled you fills me with pride. I’m all you’ve ever known… I’m all you’ll ever fuckin’ know.”

We watched each other’s reflections in silence before he guided me forward. “Stay like this,” he commanded, pushing my chest against the cool surface of the vanity top. His belt buckle jingled and then he was pressed up against me. “Watch me, baby.”

I let out a low groan as he sank into me but kept my eyes on his reflection. His face was a mask of concentration, even as his fist clenched around my dress.

My lower back ached from being on my feet the day before, but it was forgotten as soon as he began thrusting inside of me. The next few minutes passed in a blur of rough breathing and a low growl against my neck as Jamie filled me.

I stayed hunched over the vanity as he straightened, afraid my legs wouldn’t hold me up. He playfully swatted my backside. “Let’s get you put back together. I got a surprise.”

My flower crown had shifted and fallen over one eyebrow. I straightened and secured it with another bobby pin while Jamie adjusted my dress.

“There you are, baby. Good as new.”

“What’s the surprise?”

He ran the pad of his thumb along his jawline. “That’s actually why I came in here—just got a little distracted. Wait right here.”

He returned with my father in tow and I sank down onto the small bench in front of the vanity in shock. “Daddy? How long have you been here?”

In other words, were you on the other side of the door the entire time? How much did you hear? Does this room smell like sex?

Jamie gave a slight shake of his head, as if answering all three of my questions simultaneously. “He was waiting at the bar with Comedian. I’ll give you two a minute to catch up and then we’ll get started.”

The door closed with a soft click and my father dropped down next to me on the bench. “Celia, you look stunning.”

I slipped my hand into his, as if we hadn’t spent the last seven months not speaking to each other. “Did Mama come too?”

He looked down at the floor and shook his head. “She’ll come around. She just needs more time. I bet by the time this little one comes along; things will go back to the way they were before.”

Things would never go back to the way they were before and, with the exception of not having my mama by my side, I preferred it that way.

“How did you know to come?”

“Jamie stopped by and when your mother refused to let him in, he camped out on his bike until I got home from work.” He paused and clenched his jaw. “I haven’t done right by you in a long time, Celia. I dragged you into this whole mess.”

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