RA

g at the altar for

ar. The ivory dress felt heavier with every second. It hugged my body too tightly-strapless, the bodice pushing my breasts up and together,

heavy doo

s half-buttoned. His hair was a mess. He looked like he had thrown the jacket on in a movi

aisle and felt something c

a woman's perfume that was not mine. His eyes moved over my face, then lower, lin

," I said un

kno

ou just left som

witched. "M

rd's jaw tightened. I kept my voice

he wor

it m

tly how little th

ward. "It was never supposed to mean an

hoice. You couldn't even be

here

a man who alre

g closer to guilt-but it was gone too fast. The priest began

turned to face me fully. The cathedr

r than it should have. There was no softness in it. No perfor

t

rly. If I was going to be trapped, I

asted like ash. "For better or for worse. For richer or for poorer. In

lt like a lie I wa

econd something raw crossed

"to love and to cherish," his voice

wer vested in me, I now pronounce you hu

he side of my face. His thumb rested just under my

ispered, so quietl

e kiss

d hard against mine, and for one dangerous second my body answered before my mind could stop it. My breasts brushed his chest

st for a mom

. I felt the solid heat of him, the way his breathing changed, the quiet sound he made in his throat

ed bac

ulse was everywhere. His e

ispered. "We're married

le touched his mouth.

ecause there was no other choice that would not make a scene. His hand settled

when no one else cou

aid. "You now own a wi

elong to a man who won't pretend thi

we understan

e

. Someone called our names. Dante's hand stayed on my back,

e on my face fo

nning how to make him reg