Tears dripped down my cheeks as he pulled away. His eyes were liquid too, matching my love ounce for ounce. With immense tenderness, he licked my tears away, washing my face clean of happiness. “God, I love you.” His voice was barely there, but I bloomed bright and radiant.
The celebrant cleared his throat. “Do you, Quincy Mercer, take this woman Tess Snow as your lawfully wedded wife, now and forever, from this day forth?”
Q clenched his jaw. “Je le veux.” I do.
My lips spread into an awed smile.
I do. I do. I do.
“I believe your maid of honour has the next requirement,” the celebrant said softly.
Suzette gently tapped my hip, bringing my attention to her. In her hands rested a looped leash and something hidden. Pressing the small unknown item into my palm, she whispered, “You’ll know what to do with the leash, mon ami.”
I nodded, thanking her silently. I knew. Of course I knew.
Turning back to Q, I held both items in shaking hands.
The celebrant asked, “Do you, Tess Snow, take this man Quincy Mercer as your lawfully wedded husband, now and forever, from this day forth?”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. If I spoke or moved my body would explode into a gazillion dazzling sparks. This must be how it felt to have dreams come true. This homecoming.
I revealed the gold and titanium steel band for the first time. I held my hand out.
With a small smile, Q placed his palm in mine, spreading his fingers, giving himself to me. His touch was just as unsteady.
Nerves made everything intense. Nerves made everything real.
This is real.
My eyes glassed, softening lines, blurring edges. Carefully and solemnly, I slid the ring Suzette had sourced over Q’s wedding finger. My heart increased its beat. The ring slipped into position—a golden symbol forever marking him as taken.
Mine.
The symbol of our unity sent tears swelling behind my collar. I couldn’t swallow the salt, too overwhelmed. I managed a whisper. Just a whisper. “I do.”
Letting Q go, I unravelled the leash, clipping the end onto the ring of my collar. Threading the soft leather through my fingers, I ceremoniously handed the end to Q. “Toujours.” Forever.
He fisted the leash. His fingers turned white, his body shaking with amazement. “Toujours.”
We’d exchanged our vows in numerous ways. We’d proven our words weren’t empty against sickness or health. We’d solidified every promise. Brought truth to every claim.
We wore each other’s brand and mark.
We were no longer separate people. We were one.
One of the same.
My heart thrilled faster as Q tugged me downward, a hard smile on his lips. His mouth landed on mine and the marquee, guests, and everything else shot from comprehension. His tongue entered, dancing in a ceaseless waltz.
His dark taste unlocked the final piece of the true Tess. My journey was over. I’d gone from weak to strong to tamed. I’d gone from lost to scared to found.
The sun rose inside, spreading golden tendrils through my body, coaxed deeper by every lick. My core rippled, desperate for physical connection. I was no longer cold and confused. I was no longer alone and unloved.
I was home.
For always.
Q deepened the kiss, combusting the sun into a raging ball of fire. Heated lust stole my limbs, pebbling my ni**les, drawing wetness between my legs.
Breathing hard, he let me go. “I need you alone. Now.”
The moment Q pulled away, the celebrant raised his voice. “It is my greatest honour to present to you for the first time. Mr. and Mrs. Mercer.”
Mr. and Mrs.
My heart tripled its wingbeats.
Our friends clapped and rice rained from above, full of black glitter. The little pricks of confetti stung but I wasn’t contained by my flesh anymore. I’d expanded to something so much more.
Q wrapped his arms around me. Plucking me from the pedestal, he slowly lowered my body down his. Every slip was delicious torture. The heat of him. The hardness of him.
My feet touched the ground; Q smiled. “Hello, Mrs Mercer.”
I moaned as his hand slinked up my side, deliberately catching the side of my breast. “Hello, Mr. Mercer.”
“I’m so glad fate gave me you,” he whispered.
“I’m so glad I deserve you.”
His eyes darkened. “You deserve so much more than me, esclave. But it’s too late. You’re mine, and I’m never letting you go.” Time stood still as we stared into each other’s eyes.
His hand cupped my cheek, hot, claiming. “We did it.”
I accepted his feathery kiss. “We’re married.”
Q kissed me. “Nous ne faisons qu’un.” We are one.
Chapter Sixteen
My absolution
My treasure
It was done.
Tess was mine.
Legally.
Spiritually.
Every f**king way she was mine.
My fingers tightened on the leash, dragging her closer. I loved having control. Having her restrained in such a debasing but incredibly powerful way. The anxiety I’d carried finally faded. I had what I needed. I had her oath. I owned her soul.
My lips captured hers again, tangling with two emotions. I wanted to strip her right there and take her—injuries be damned, witnesses be f**ked. But at the same time, I wanted to beat Frederick and Franco for forcing my truth to light.
They had no right to dress Tess that way, or provoke me into accepting there was nothing wrong with our relationship. Suzette had been out of bounds.
I was going insane having Tess half-naked. She was my wife. I wanted her covered.
But then you won’t be able stare.
And I wanted to stare. So damn much. Tess was a f**king masterpiece. Full and feminine and so f**king tempting.
Pulling away, I readjusted my rock-hard cock. It hadn’t calmed down since I’d set eyes on her when she entered the marquee. Her white dress had been stunning. She’d been stunning.
She still is.
I groaned, drinking in her garter belts and lace. Goddammit, I had no willpower. No control. She may wear the collar but she dragged me around by my cock. I panted for her. I would sit at her feet and f**king beg just for a taste. One glorious taste.
“Shit, Tess…I need you. I need to sink inside you and come. I’m going to explode.”
My c**k hurt jammed in my trousers. My balls throbbed with the need to come. It didn’t matter my body was drained. My shakes weren’t just from nerves but agony slicing through the painkillers. Nothing would stop me from taking her. I didn’t care if I was slightly lightheaded and queasy. Sex. Sex would make it all better. Sex with Tess.
Happiness danced down my spine.
Sex with my wife.
Tess laughed, patting my na**d chest. I hissed between my teeth as her gentle touch caught a bruise. The pain and pleasure shot to my cock, rippling with need.
This isn’t a laughing matter, esclave. I’ll turn your smiles into moans of ecstasy.
“I need you, too. But you need to rest, Q. Don’t expect me to bow to you tonight.”
“Bow to me? I want you so f**king much I’d ignore the safe-word with how much I need you.”
Tess looped her arms around my back, following my tattoo. “Sparrow, Q. Sparrow until I get you into bed.”
I groaned, anger giving me energy to get through the next few minutes. “You can say sparrow all you like, but it won’t stop me from taking you.”
Taking the final piece of you.
Her lips parted, understanding my unsaid threat. “You can’t—you need to heal.”
Grabbing her close, I muttered, “I’ll heal when my c**k is inside your beautiful ass. Now say your goodbyes. We’re leaving.”
Reluctantly, I let her go.
With wide eyes, she moved away to hug Suzette. The leash on her collar tugged my fist. I opened my fingers, letting it slip free.
She was swallowed by the small crowd, all wishing congratulations. Every guest stole time with my wife. Time. That bitch was yet again getting in the way of me and my goal.
Tess disappeared under well-wishes—the only part of her visible was her loose curls and black feather headdress. Shit, I needed to cover her. I cursed everyone staring at her beauty. I wanted to gorge their eyes out for seeing what was mine, but smug male pride tempered my rage. She was mine. Not theirs. They would never be allowed to touch. Only me.
Didn’t f**king matter though. My c**k was too hard. My instincts too feral.
I stormed forward, tugging at my jacket to throw over Tess’s body.
Then darkness smothered my world as the little cocksucker who spoke out during the wedding, wriggled through the crowd and intercepted Tess. He tapped her on the shoulder.
She turned to him.
She turned to him, smiling, wearing the f**king sexiest corset and black lingerie. Her br**sts tantalized, spilling over the supple leather. Her long legs closed the distance in a hug.
She motherfucking hugged him. Dressed like that.
I want his blood.
My heart shot painful adrenaline through my body. No amount of stitches, gunshots, or broken ribs could stop me from beating the little cunt into a pulp. Tearing my blazer off, I closed the distance. “Tess, get away from him.” Ripping her from Twerp’s arms, I slammed my jacket around Tess’s front.
She gasped, pushing at my blazer imprisoning her. “Q—what on earth?”
I breathed hard, never taking my eyes from the little f**ker who’d had his hands on my wife.
What in the flying f**k was he doing at my wedding?
“Q, calm down. You’re not thinking straight.” Tess’s voice only pissed me off.
The boy curled his arm around a pretty brunette dressed in yellow. He brought her forward, distracting me for a second—intentionally showing he had his own girl and respected that Tess was mine. “That’s a rad tattoo you’ve got, mate. Never been a fan of needles myself but I can appreciate the art.”
Tess jumped in. “Q, this is Brax Cliffingstone and his girlfriend, Bianca. They travelled all the way from Australia to see us marry, so a thank you for coming would be nice.”
A thank-you? They flew on my f**king money. Suzette would no doubt present me with a bill a mile long once we got home.
“Brax, Bianca, this is my husband, Quincy Mercer. I could go on and on about how amazing he is but that’s irrelevant—you can guess how special he is because I married him.”
Husband.
She called me her husband.
Special.
She called me special.
The words starved some of my anger, relaxing my screeching muscles.
Twerp’s blue eyes met mine, apprehension tangling with false bravado. “Hey, mate. Nice to meet you finally.” He stuck out his hand. “Congratulations. I’m super glad you guys were able to work out whatever issues you had. I’m stoked for you.”
What the hell had Tess told this delinquent? Her emails. My teeth gritted. The emails she sent when she blocked me out. She’d talked to him when she couldn’t talk to me.
The frustration and anger rose, reminding me of the intense pain Tess had caused.
Fuckwit’s eyes fell on Tess’s cle**age. It was fleeting. But it was there.
My neck rolled. Fists clenched.
Yep, couldn’t do it. I’d kill him.
I yelled, “Suzette. Donne moi quelque chose pour couvrir Tess ou je vais —” Give me something to cover Tess or I'll—
A black embroidered dress appeared from nowhere, matching the crimson sparrows of my velvet blazer. “Here you go. I’ve come prepared.” Suzette gave me a wary look, holding up the wraparound dress for Tess. I dropped my blazer, shoving Tess toward Suzette.
I had to admit Suzette had done an amazing f**king job—I wanted to murder her, but she deserved a substantial raise for putting this venue together in five days.
My heart hammered while Tess slipped into the dress. Suzette secured it with a large bow at the back. The second Tess was encased in something suitable, I relaxed a little. Just a little.
Tess smiled. “Thank you. I feel better not being so exposed.”
Me, too. I’d been ready to murder everyone.
Suzette grinned. “Not that you have any cause for being shy, but I understand.”
Goddammit, my nerves. The overbearing monster inside prowled, snapping its jaws. The beast wanted to go suicidal. I felt threatened. Threatened by a boy from Tess’s past.
There was no reason to be. But try telling that to a beast that didn’t listen.
He’s just a stupid boy who will never deserve Tess. Me, on the other hand—I still didn’t deserve her but too f**king bad—she’d married me.
A headache overshadowed the rest of my injuries. I managed to unlock my jaw enough to say, “Merci. And I’m sorry for my temper.”
I scanned the room out of habit, searching for anyone out of place. The guests smiled, milling around now that the service was over. Not that they were guests. Mrs. Sucre didn’t count, nor did Frederick, Angelique, or Franco. There wasn’t one unfamiliar face. Apart from the dickshit in front of me.
“It’s okay, mate. Totally understand.” Brax nodded, opening his mouth to say something equally annoying in his Australian twang.
I couldn’t do it.
Growling under my breath, I said to Suzette, “You’re in deep shit for inviting him.”
Tess scowled, whacking my shoulder. “Q. That isn’t fair. She did it for me.” Smiling gently at Fuckwit, she added, “Sorry, Brax. Q’s been through a lot the past couple of days. We really ought to be leaving. He needs to rest.”
A geyser of temper exploded from my mouth. “Did you just call me weak, Tess? I’m perfectly capable thank you very much. I’m not going to pass out from a simple conversation.”