Total pages in book: 18
Estimated words: 17662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 88(@200wpm)___ 71(@250wpm)___ 59(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 17662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 88(@200wpm)___ 71(@250wpm)___ 59(@300wpm)
Huh?
"If we'll do this right," he murmurs, "then we can't do this with half-measures."
Is that why he's holding me at arm's length?
"The only time I'll kiss you is when we're man and wife."
Jacques
"Why must you torture me so?" Riri asks mournfully from the recliner seat opposite mine.
"You were the one who said you wanted to start our marriage right," I remind her.
"But to not kiss? Or even let me hold your hand? And---"
"Think of it as foreplay."
Riri lets out another heartfelt moan. "I can't believe you just said that. Now I want you even more."
It's a struggle to keep my expression impassive while my fiancée goes on grumbling about my hard-hearted ways.
A part of me is still reeling with how fast things have progressed between us. It almost feels like this whole thing is a fucking dream, but if it is that, then for once in my life, I don't think I want to face reality.
This girl had every right to make me pay for all the times I hurt her.
She could've made me suffer and have me eat humble pie.
She could've asked for anything, and I'd have given it to her.
Because the truth is, I didn't want to marry anyone else but her.
I'd rather lose everything than marry against my will.
But because my great-grandfather's will has given me the alibi I need to ignore logic and reason---
Riri lets out a gasp when the pilot tells us we're about to land, and she finally glances out of her window and realizes we're nowhere near Vegas.
"Snow..."
Her tone is full of wonder, and so is her gaze when she turns to look at me.
"Where are we?"
"Aspen."
Riri's hands fly up to cover her mouth.
"I take it you're pleased?"
"Are you kidding? Aspen has been on my bucket list since forever!"
"Is it?"
"Yes!"
She's practically bouncing in excitement when we're given the green light to disembark, and seeing her react with such genuine pleasure makes me want to spoil her all the more.
"I can't believe we're in Aspen," Riri keeps saying as I carefully lead her down the air steps. "And why Aspen but not Vegas?"
"Self-solemnized marriages are legal in Colorado."
"Oh."
I'm glad she's buying it.
Because there's no way I'm telling her how my secret obsession with her had me combing her social media accounts from the first time we met.
A limousine is already on standby to drive us to the hotel, and Riri asks shyly if she can take pictures.
"Of course."
"But I won't post anything, I promise. I just want to remember this day forever."
I watch her take photos of the wintry scenery outside our window.
I used to feel impatient every time Eva does this, and downright cynical with other women. 'It's all for fucking show' was what I always thought whenever other women take photos of where we eat or what we're doing.
Everything was always about what other people thought.
But with Riri, it's different.
It gives me pleasure to see her happy, and before I know it, I'm taking pictures myself, and all of them are of her.
Riri is like a little girl enjoying her first Christmas when we check in at our hotel, and I tell her I have a surprise in store for her.
"You're the sweetest man ever!"
I can't help but wince at the words, but Riri only laughs.
"You are, you know."
What the hell do I have to do with this woman?
How do I make her realize I'm not the perfect man she thinks I am?
Riri's reaction is priceless when she sees where we're having our wedding. My staff has effectively coordinated everything I asked for with hotel management, and they've successfully converted their ballroom into a paradise of all of her favorite flowers.
She starts sniffing as we sign our wedding documents, and by the time she helps me wear my wedding ring, her tears are falling endlessly down her cheeks.
I imagine it would be a simple task when it's my turn to help her wear her wedding ring. But the moment I reach for her hand, that's when it finally hits me.
This is real.
Riri is about to become my wife.
And I'm about to become her husband.
The truth nearly knocks me off balance, and my own hands start shaking as I help Riri with her wedding ring.
"I'm now your wife," Riri whispers.
"And so you are."
"Then that means...you can finally kiss---mmph!"
Riri
Finally, oh finally.
It's the first time I've ever been kissed, and I feel like weeping at the realization that my first kiss also happens to be from the man I love and married.
Oh, thank You, God, thank You.
My toes curl hard as my husband's lips part mine.
Am I allowed to thank You, God, that my husband has the softest and warmest lips EVER?
And oh, when his tongue slips inside my mouth, I just can't help it.
Thank You, God, thank You!
Because it just feels so, so good to have my husband kiss me, and when he starts sucking on my tongue---