Page 110 of The Billionaire's Secret
"You’re forgiven, considering…” Edward nods at someone I can’t see.
"We’re here now," Sienna’s voice interrupts. "Didn’t mean to steal the attention from the bride."
I glance sideways in time to see Sienna walk up to take her place in one of the chairs. She places one hand on her belly, waves at me. "I’m sorry," she mouths.
I shake my head. My gaze slips back to her belly. I can’t stop a smile from curving my features. How would it be to be pregnant? To swell with a child? Saint’s child. A girl with his dark hair and blue eyes, that nervous energy coiled in her as she beams at boys and reduces them to mush.
Jace dips his head and places his hand over Sienna’s. He kisses her forehead. They smile at each other in that secret way couples who love each other have. Something that I won’t.
Tears prick the backs of my eyes again.Jesus, the hell is wrong with me?
More waterworks. Must be the prospect of getting married for the first time that is doing me in. It seems…to mean something. Despite the fact that it is meant to be a sham; standing next to Saint, facing the minister, seems to signify a start. A change of circumstances. Something important.
Saint shifts next to me. Heat from his body flows around me, warms my chilled skin. Goosebumps flare on my arms.
Edward turns to Saint, "Do you, Saint Jordan Killian Caldwell take Victoria…" He turns to me.
"Just Victoria," I mumble.
"Take Just Victoria," Edward smiles, "to be your lawfully-wedded wife?"
Behind me, a chuckle runs through the crowd.
This is happening, really happening. I swallow hard. My palms begin to sweat and the bouquet slips from my hands.
Saint swoops down so fast, I blink. He straightens, holding the bouquet, then turns and shoves it at Damian, who takes it from him. He glances past Damian, who's lips curve in a genuine smile.
Saint makes a noise in his throat. A warning? Nah, it can’t be. He has no reason to be jealous anyway. When Saint is in the room, everyone else recedes into the background.
"Saint?" Edward prompts.
Saint squares his shoulders. I hear him take in a breath.Huh. Is he as nervous as I am?I peek a glance at his profile—patrician nose, square jaw, the hint of a cleft in his chin. His mouth tightens. His jaw tics… He is feeling something, all right. Perhaps this entire situation is as strange for him as it is for me? Of course, he’s the one who proposed it, so why does he seem so unsure?
He shuffles his feet and his shoulders flex.
"Saint?" Edward asks, his brow furrowed.
"Ask me again," he growls.
Edward wipes all expression from his face. "Do you, Saint Jordan Killian Caldwell take Victoria to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, to cherish and protect, ’til death do you part?"
Saint’s throat moves as his swallows. The skin of his knuckles is stretched tight. He’s...under pressure, all right. Nervous energy emanates from him. The force of his dominance pins me in place; it’s mixed with something else—anger, frustration, the usual edginess, but multiplied.
He rakes his fingers through his hair. It’s the first time I’ve seen Saint uncertain…unsure. My heart twists. A hot sensation stabs at my chest. I reach over and run my finger over the back of his palm.
He stiffens. Then catches my hand, threads his fingers with mine.
A murmur runs through his friends. Edward shoots them a glance. It dies down.
Saint straightens, grips my hand. He stares ahead. "I do." His voice is hard, confident. I swallow. If I closed my eyes and focused on his voice, I’d think he means it. If I bring my attention to where we are joined... Where his hand encloses mine, where he holds my hand firmly, his much bigger palm engulfing mine, I will have no doubt that he means every word of his promise.
I swallow. Heat flushes my skin. The blood thuds at my temples, my pulse pounding. This…this is so right… That surely, it is all wrong. This, whatever is between us, cannot survive. There is no space for it. We are two people colliding at the wrong place, wrong time… Nothing good can come of this… Unless I find a way to make this right. I have to hold on to the time I’ve been given with him, show him the real me. Love him, open myself up to him, and hope and pray that when I leave, he will not hate me. That he’ll realize I had no choice but to do what I did.
I draw in a breath, focus on Edward’s words.
"Do you Victoria take Saint Jordan Killian Caldwell, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, ‘til death do you part?"
"I do." As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I know that I mean it. Something inside of me seems to settle. A calmness washes over me. It’s as if my entire life, I’ve been headed in this direction. Everything I’ve done and experienced, all of it has brought me here, to stand next to Saint, holding his hand in mine as he turns to face me.
