Page 50 of Adored By Them
We kiss each other over and over again before I pull back, remembering something.
“I want a long engagement.”
“What?”Edmund has the gall to look offended.
Troy nods.“Of course, little girl.You want time to plan everything, don’t you?”
“Oh, I thought you didn’t care what the wedding looked like,” Edmund starts.“But that was because you didn’t care aboutthatwedding.It wasn’t your choice, so you didn’t care about the details.”
“Exactly.”I grin at them.“Now that getting married is my choice, I want to be the biggest bridezilla you ever saw.I have opinions on everything from cummerbunds to what kind of ribbons should be tied to the favors.”
Both men raise their eyebrows, intrigued.
“I heardbrat-zilla, notbride-zilla,” Edmund says, “didn’t you, Troy?”
“Definitely heardbrat.”
“Well, I’ll behave for my daddies,” I hedge.“But for everyone else, I get to be bossy and pick out every detail, right?”
“Absolutely.”Troy’s kiss is swift and full of heat.
“You’ll be the most spoiled bratzilla to ever live,” Edmund adds.
“Can you start spoiling me by taking me inside to celebrate our engagement?”
“Fuck yeah.”Troy helps me up, then bends to collect the pool rings.“So, who wins?Your pool ring counts for more than all of ours.But there are two of us, and we got four, together.”
I give him a big, smacking kiss on the cheek—then I do the same for Edmund.“We all win.I’ll spank you both some other time.Right now, we celebrate.”
They take me inside, dry me off with a towel, then proceed to make me very, very wet again.
* * *
Troy
Two years later…
The music is soft and romantic.Flowers adorn everything from the rows of chairs to the archway where we stand.Sunlight streams through the trees in colorful beams.
Edmund shifts subtly from foot to foot.Nobody else would notice, but I’m standing right next to him.I know his tells.I know he’s nervous.
I’m not, but then again, I’ve never been left at the altar.It wasn’t her fault that time, though, and we all know it.And we have extra security in place.Not from Damiano this time—although apparently his experience is impeccable.But from Ironwood, who is now happy to work with us because we are no longer part of the Layton crime family.
It feels good to earn money in a more legitimate way.True, we’ve still benefited from our time in the family, and the money they amassed over the years.But we’re doing what we can to benefit society, to balance out the wrongs of the past, present, and future.
My mind is wandering.Guess I am a little nervous.
Dani’s friends Rita and Leah walk down the aisle, followed by her cousin Rachel.After that comes Dmitri, Elias, and Wallace as groomsmen.
Everyone looks great.Happy.Laidback.Dani wanted a romantic, fairy garden vibe.She wanted everyone to “chill,” she said.When I told her I’d feel more chill in a t-shirt and shorts instead of a tux, she stuck her tongue out at me and earned herself a spanking.
But I’m wearing the tux.And I’m doing it with a smile on my face.
Arky strolls up the aisle, our ring bearer.He looks dignified as fuck with the bow tie he wears as a collar, and the little pouch attached that holds all three rings.He comes right up next to Edmund and me.
“Sit down, boy,” I whisper, bending slightly so I can give him an ear scratch when he complies.
There’s a shift in the music.I straighten up, clearing my throat.I’m not nervous.More excited.Hopeful.
