Page 29 of Cherished Union

I glance at him as he reaches for my hand, as we get ready to take our vows. His eyes darken when he looks down at my hand. His thumb caresses the skin, and that’s when I realize my father left indents in my skin when he dug his nails into me on our walk to the altar.

The priest begins to speak and relief washes through me.

“Hayden Gallagher and Adelina Gallo, have you come here to enter into marriage without coercion, freely and wholeheartedly?"

“I have,” Hayden and I respond in union.

"Are you prepared, as you follow the path of marriage, to love and honor each other for as long as you both shall live?"

“I am,” we reply.

"Are you prepared to accept children lovingly from God and to bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?"

“I am,” I reply as Hayden’s gaze once again darkens as he clearly replies the same.

I pull in a ragged breath at the predatory gaze he has as he begins to say his vows.

“I, Hayden, take you, Adelina, for my lawful wife, to have and to hold from this day forward,

for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.”

Swallowing hard at the sheer confidence in his voice, I recite my own vows. “I, Adelina, take you, Hayden, for my lawful husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.”

Everything happens so quickly. I can hear soft cries coming from my mother, along with Hayden’s, and I want to roll my eyes. It’s ridiculous. It’s not as though we’re going anywhere. We’re getting married. That’s it.

The priest says a blessing over the rings, and now it gets serious. Hayden reaches for my hand, and I see the beautiful ring he has for me to wear. A symbol of our union. It’s simple, beautiful, and perfect. Not too flashy, but just right. I wonder who he got to choose it for me.

“Adelina, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” he says clearly as he pushes the ring onto my finger.

I reach for his hand and hold on tight to the ring I have for him. It’s simple too, not too dramatic. He’s a boss and needs something that’s elegant and simple but also extravagant to show off. My hand trembles but I push through, my voice concise as I repeat the words that he has just spoken. “Hayden, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” I slide the ring onto his hand and take a steadying breath.

This is it. There’s no going back now. We’re married. I am now Adelina Gallagher.

The priest continues with his words, letting our guests know that we are married. Claps sound out, and I know there are a lot of people happy today, to see the Irish and Italians join once again.

The entire Gallagher family are here, including the original head of the Clann, Henry. The old man has the sweetest smile, and his bright blue eyes are filled with knowing. He’s not as pushy as the rest of the men in the family, but I see a lot of similarities between him and Hayden. They both watch intently, studying everyone around them. Like animals watching their prey. It’s unnerving, to say the least.

“You may now kiss your bride,” the priest says, and I swallow hard at his words.

Hayden takes a predatory step toward me, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips. “Mine,” he growls, his hand snaking around my nape. He pulls me flush against him. Our lips touch, and he kisses the breath from me. It’s a hard, dominating, chaste kiss, one that’s a promise of what’s to come.

Cheers ring out throughout the church.

“You look beautiful, Dove,” he whispers as he pulls his mouth away from mine.

I feel bereft as he releases me, my lips tingling from our kiss, and my body goes cold, missing the heat he gave me.

“Thank you,” I reply with a smile.

“Belonging to me won’t be so hard, Dove. I’m not your father. I’ll never hurt you.”

“What about your kink?” I say before I’m able to stop myself. “You like to hurt women in bed, right?”

His gaze drops to my lips before it returns to my eyes. “Pain turns into pleasure, Addie. You don’t like what I have to offer, that’s fine. But will you at least be willing to try?”

I stare at him, my cheeks flooding with heat. We’re in the Lord’s house and he’s talking about this.

He moves so that his mouth brushes against my ear. “Would you like me to tie you up?” he breathes against me, and the thought of being tied to a bed, at his mercy, shouldn’t send thrills through my body, but it does. Heat pools in my stomach.

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