Page 30 of Cherished Union

“Good girl. What about being blindfolded?”

I bite back a whimper. What the hell is happening to me?

“I’m going to have so much fun with you, Addie. So fucking much. I bet you’re soaked, hmm?” he growls again against my skin. “My pretty virgin, soaked, wanting my cock.”

“Hayden,” I hiss, unable to deny that I am.

He releases a dark chuckle as his hands tighten on my hips. “I’ll take care of you, Dove, don’t worry.”

I roll my eyes as I look up at him. My breath is taken from me as I see the most handsome smile on his face. Gone is the angry man that I always see. He’s actually relaxed.

“You’re so beautiful,” I breathe.

His brows knit together, and he glances down at me, his whiskey eyes so clear. “Keep going, Dove,” he growls. “You won’t make it to the reception with your cherry intact.”

I have a feeling my cheeks are going to be permanently stained red with him around.

“Hayden,” his mom, Edwina, says admonishingly, and I hide my smile. He’s the boss of Indiana and yet his mom talks to him like he’s a teenager. “Let the poor girl breathe.” She tosses me a grin. “Congratulations, to the both of you. I wish you both a happy and healthy marriage.” She pulls me into her arms and hugs me tight.

“Thank you,” I respond politely. I'm not used to this closeness with people. Hell, I don’t even remember the last time I had a hug from someone other than Vivi.

Edwina must sense my discomfort because she pulls back. “Don’t mind us, Adelina. We’re very happy to have you be a part of our family.”

Being a part of the Gallagher Clann seems akin to a cult. They’re all extremely close, and that’s not something I can get my head around. Besides Vivi, I’ve never had that closeness with anyone, and Vivi is more like my child. From the moment she was born, I was the one who would feed her, change her diaper, and watch over her. That hasn’t changed in the years that have passed. My parents aren’t like Liam and Edwina—who adore their children and it shows. My parents put their marriage and social standing above all else.

“Alright, Ma,” Hayden says, his hands tightening on my hips. “Maybe you can go and ward off Granny Margret before she gets a wild hair about great-grandchildren.”

Oh God, the woman sounds like my nonna. Speaking of which, I haven’t seen her today. That’s not like her. She is usually in the fray, wanting to meet everyone.

“What’s wrong, Dove?” Hayden asks as we walk toward the exit. He’s keeping a tight grip on me.

“Just wondering where Nonna is,” I reply, my gaze scanning the crowd.

“We’ll find out. Stay close to me,” he instructs as we step outside of the church. “Oh, and Addie, your father comes near me, I’m going to fucking kill him.”

I gape at him, wondering how the hell he managed to keep a straight face while sounding murderous. “What?”

He turns so that he’s blocking everyone’s view of me. “You think I didn’t notice the marks on your hand? The ones he put there?”

I sigh. “It’s done. It’s over, Hayden, don’t worry about it.”

His nostrils flare, his eyes narrow, and I’m pretty sure he’s counting to five. “That cunt hurt you, again, Addie. That’s not fucking okay.”

I step closer to him and press my hands against the lapels of his tuxedo. “It’s not, but, Hayden, I’m no longer going to be around him. So for today, we pretend that everything is okay, and then tomorrow, I never have to see him again. You did that. So, thank you.”

His eyes grow soft, and before I can even blink, his lips are on mine again. I cling to him, kissing him back this time, loving that I feel safe in his arms.

Maybe, just maybe, being married to him won’t be so bad?

CHAPTER11

HAYDEN

“Son, why do you look as though you’re about to level the place?” Da questions as he brings his beer to his lips.

My gaze is firmly on that cunt, Aldo. Whoever thought it was a good idea to have a father daughter dance is going to die. Fucking bastard. My wife is currently tense as a bow as she dances with the man who almost killed her.

“Who set this up?”

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