Page 175 of Merciless Obsession
I stroked my chin. “You know the main thing I tell my clients before they sign anything? Make sure they read over everything or have someone who understands what they’re signing read it for them. Remember those papers I had you sign a few days back?”
Realization filled her eyes. “But how?”
“You know by now money talks.” My hands went back into my pockets. “My dad’s a judge and I’m a lawyer who knows how to work around the red tape. And now you are Mrs. Ziora Nichole Tavarez.”
Ziora stared at me in disbelief. Like a fish out of water her mouth opened and closed before finally pressing together. She lifted her left hand and stared at the ring.
“You’re serious. We’re married.”
“I joke a lot but not about this. When I told you that you were mine. Did you think I was lying?”
She blinked blankly at me before inhaling deeply.
“Get out!”
“Excuse me?” I frowned.
“Get out!” She rubbed the center of her chest. “I need to be alone. Get out!”
I checked my watch. “You got twenty minutes then I’m coming in here and dressing you myself if I have to. Don’t keep me waiting for too long.” Flashing her one last grin, I turned and walked out of the room.
Ziora might not agree with how I went about it, but it was something we would get over later. She and I were meant to be together. Now we were bound together and this marriage was forever.
Just as Iwas about to knock and open the door to the room Ziora was in, it was yanked open and there she stood, looking breathtaking as ever.
I had to inhale deeply and adjust myself. I knew she would look good in the dress, but I wasn’t prepared for just how stunning she would be. My nostrils flared. A bittersweet feeling filled me. While I wanted to keep her hidden, I also wanted to show her off as the beauty she was. Even the cast on her foot didn’t take away from it.
“God you’re—” I started but she put her hand up, halting my words.
“No. You don’t get to talk. I talk and you listen.” My mouth twitched. I nodded for her to proceed and crossed my arms over my chest.
She took a deep breath and pushed it out. “First, I don’t care about a wedding. Marriage was never important to me anyway. The honeymoon, though, is another story. Soon as this other case is over, we’re going to Fiji for a week because I’ve alwayswanted to go, and Bora Bora for another week, because it was my sister’s dream place to visit.” I nodded and opened my mouth but she continued. “Not done, this is theabsolutelast time you ever make any more life changing decisions for me. My life is not going to change either. I’m still going to take hacking jobs, run my blog, and other things I have going on with no interference from you. As for your family, I respect what you guys do and I want to be involved, following us wrapping up The Veil stuff. I know Emmet does a lot but I’m just as skilled and can take some of that load off him.”
I quirked a brow up while mirth played on my mouth.
Her demands weren’t anything unreasonable. I would entertain them and talk with Nazai about her requests.
“Also, as your wife, you need to know I am still Ziora and I am my own person. I don’t want you stalking me and keeping tabs on my every move. I get it saved my life, but I don’t and won’t live in fear. I never have and I never will.”
That wasn’t something I was agreeing to but I would let her think I agreed. As long as she wore her rings I’d always know where she was.
Ziora sighed and this time her face softened. She stepped forward and grabbed me by the tie. “Lastly, the only reason I’m not storming to the courthouse to get this annulled is because the way you fight for and defend me is something I’ve craved my whole life. My parents never protected me, my teachers didn’t care. No one gave a damn about the poor girls from the toxic household, so I had to grow tough skin and learn to be my own defender. As much as I hate to say it, it feels good to have someone on my side to do it for me. I also know you will always go above and beyond for me without caring what anyone has to say and I love that. You unlocked a kink inside of me I didn’t know I had and the way you look at me…”
I swallowed thickly. “How do I look at you?”
Her lashes fluttered. “Like I’m the only woman on earth. Like you’d walk through fire to get to me, like you want to worship me until you’re blue in the face.”
I sucked in a deep breath. “You’re the first person to ever look at me like that. To show that much attention to me. Even if it was unwanted in the beginning, I realized I loved being the center of someone’s world because for the first time I was seen and valued. You agreed to help me find my sister’s murderer, killed the guys who harmed me, and although most would deem you batshit crazy and run, I oddly find your ways strangely attractive.”
Ziora paused for a second then leaned up and kissed me. “And finally, while you might not be able to truly love me in the traditional sense, I believe you do. Your actions are possessive, obsessive, and over the top, but I’ve never felt more safe and secure in my life because of them. And well, I’ve never felt it before, I can admit, that the way my heart is racing now and every time I lay eyes on you, that I’ve fallen for you and I’ll love you for the both of us.”
Not wasting any more time, I grabbed her by the nape of her neck and kissed her. She was right, I might not be able to comprehend feelings like everyone else or articulate love, but I didn’t care about all that. As long as she was by my side, every day I would show her the closest thing to love I could muster.
“I’m clinically incapable of feeling love, but know the intensity that runs through my veins for you is the closest thing to it.” Pulling away from her, I gazed in her eyes and stroked the back of her neck. “You understand that till death do us part isn’t just a phrase.”
“I think I’ve been around you long enough to understand what I’m signing up for.”
“Good because the day you try to leave me is the last day you see the outside world. Killing you would kill me, but I’d lock you up and keep you as my personal toy.”
