Page 80 of Flame
He grins. “Maddox.”
“It’s perfect, Foxx.”
“Do you think so?”
I return his smile. “It’s exactly what I would’ve picked for myself.”
“By the power vested in me by the State of Florida, I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the minister declares. “Foxx, you may kiss your beautiful bride.”
“Jess, get your chicken before it gets in the cake,” Banks says from behind us.
Everyone turns to see a big orange bird perched on the back of an empty chair, poised as if it will dive into a cake on a card table. Another one with black in its white feathers, scurries down the walkway nibbling at the rose petals.
“You can’t manage to contain your birds for a ten-minute wedding ceremony?” Kixx asks, standing to help Jess.
“I’m not denying them the right to free-range because Foxx decides to get married,” Jess says, making everyone laugh.
Everyone except Foxx.
His displeasure over the chickens tightens his jaw. As much as that tic does things to me—things he better be ready to quell as soon as we get out of here—I don’t want him tense.
“Hey,” I say, touching his face so he’ll turn to me.
“I’m sorry Jess’s chickens interrupted your day.”
“It’s okay. It’ll make today more memorable.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see an expanse of orange feathers. It’s followed by a loud roar of profanities, laughter, and shouting.
I keep my gaze locked with his until his grin returns.
“Actually,” I say, pressing my lips together. “It’s not okay.”
He lifts a brow.
“You’re going to need to apologize for that when we get out of here,” I say. “And once won’t be enough. This hurt me deeply.”
Foxx smirks, sliding a hand around my waist and dragging me into his chest. I gasp as reality suddenly getsreal.
I’m Mrs. Foxx Carmichael.
He licks his lips, his face inches from mine. “This won’t be the only thing touching you deeply today.”
My legs turn to gelatin. “Careful, Mr. Carmichael, or we might not reach our honeymoon.”
“I’m sorry, everyone,” Damaris says. “Iris gets to keep the cake.”
“I’d like everyone to stop for a moment and take note that, for once, it wasn’t me who ruined things. It was Jess,” Banks says.
A commotion breaks out again, but I lose interest.
Foxx’s hands coddle my face like a precious stone. He stares into my eyes as if his heart will stop beating if he loses contact. Slowly, his mouth falls to mine.
His warm and commanding lips own mine as his hands caress my head and lower back equally. I give in and turn over control to my new husband.
Warmth blossoms in my chest as Foxx’s lips brush against mine. Dizzy, I lean into the kiss, inhaling the scent of his cologne and absorbing the heat of his breath.
This kiss is a promise of things to come.
