KELLAN WARD
Kellan paused from taking the bite on his fork and put down his utensil. Fragile hope bloomed in his chest. "Are you sure, Aurora? Yesterday, you insisted that you would only marry Aiden Cross. And now ... what do you want? My money? My property? My life? I will give them all to you. Just don't leave me."
"I won't leave you. I don't want your stuff, Kellan. I want you." Her voice was steady, her gaze unwavering as she put her hand on top of his. The simple contact sent a jolt of electricity up his arm. "I know it's hard to believe. But I'm serious. I want to marry you."
Kellan studied her face, his eyes tracing the familiar lines of her brow, the curve of her lips, searching for the slightest flicker of deceit. He found her expression to be sincere.
But she'd fooled him before.
And his heart, his stupid, naive heart, wanted her so much that it overrode all logic, all sense of self-preservation. It wanted to believe her, over and over, and this time was no different.
"If you're lying," he said, his voice raw, "you better keep lying, Aurora. I won't give you up. Not ever."
"Deal," she said, flashing another heart-stopping smile. "And husband? Stop mentioning Aiden Cross." A look of disgust passed over her features. "He's such a douchebag."
"We agree on that," Kellan replied.
"Oh! If we need my household registration that might be a problem. My family has it locked away."
"You don't need it to get married," he said. "But we will need it to transfer you to my household registration later." He couldn't wait to officially make her a Ward, severing her last legal ties to the family that had mistreated her.
"Okay," she said. "Let's get married first." Her bright smile disappeared, replaced by a look of worry. "What should we do about Aiden?"
He cupped her chin, his thumb stroking the delicate line of her jaw. "I won't let you stain your hands with that dog's blood. I've already sent him to the Ward Family Hospital. He'll recuperate there while being guarded. As for what happens after ... that will be up to you." He dotted his mouth with a cloth napkin. "Are you full? The Civil Registration Bureau will open soon."
"I'm full." She stood up, excited, and stretched out her hand to him. Her fingers were slender and cool in his. "Let's go," she said enthusiastically. "Hurry!"
It was the urgency in her voice that undid him, the eagerness to claim him as her husband.
And she would be his wife. Finally.
***|***|***
Two hours later, they walked down the sun-drenched steps of the Civil Registration Bureau. Each held a red booklet. The government-issued documents felt monumental, worth more than any contract he'd ever signed for Ward Enterprises. Inside was proof positive that Aurora Moon was the official wife of Kellan Ward.
Kellan stared at the picture with its stark red background. They looked like any other young, beautiful couple in love. He looked stern, the gravity of the moment freezing his features, while Aurora's smile was radiant, reaching her eyes. We're a legal couple, he thought, his heart filled with warmth. I married my little butterfly.
"I'm so happy," said Aurora. Her shining gaze and wide, unguarded smile made his heart flip. She grasped his forearm. "Let's post this on Moments, Kellan."
They reached the bottom of the outdoor staircase, the city humming around them, oblivious to the seismic shift in his world.
Kellan stared at her, his brow furrowed. He thought she might ask for a secret marriage. And he would agree because he would do anything for his wife. For his Aurora. But she wanted a public declaration. "You really want people to know that we're married?"
"Yes!" She paused, her smile faltering as she searched his face. "Unless ... you don't want to?"
"I want to. Definitely."
Aurora's smile returned, brighter than before. "Let's take photos of our booklets first. And then the second picture will be of us holding them. Is that okay?"
Kellan nodded. They each took photos with their respective phones, the flash glinting off the gold-embossed characters on the red covers. He watched her delicate fingers arrange the booklets for the perfect shot, her concentration absolute. Then, they stood close together, shoulders touching, holding up their open booklets for a selfie. Her cheek was pressed against his arm, and he could feel the warmth of her through his jacket.
Kellan typed: Married the love of my life. I'm hers forever. And she's mine.
Aurora's post, he saw from his own screen, was simpler, more effusive: Happy to be Mrs. Kellan Ward. I love my new hubby!
"I'll hold on to these," said Kellan, his voice firm. He took both booklets from her, his fingers brushing against hers. He tucked them into the interior pocket of his jacket. "I need to go to the company to take care of a few things." The mundane reality of business felt surreal after getting his most ardent wish granted.
"I'll go with you," she said, lacing her arm through his as they walked toward the waiting Maybach. "We can go to lunch later."
"Whatever Mrs. Ward wants, Mrs. Ward gets." He tapped her nose. "You sure you won't be too bored?" He couldn't imagine the vibrant, restless Aurora content to sit quietly in his corporate fortress.
"I'll sketch on my tablet," she said, her voice light. "Maybe take a nap on your fancy couch." She reached up on her tippy-toes, her body leaning into his, and kissed Kellan's cheek. The touch was soft and fleeting, but it branded him. "I don't want to be away from you."
"As you wish," he said. His gaze dropped to her mouth, to the lips that had just graced his skin.
"Are you going to kiss me?" she asked, her voice a teasing whisper, her eyes sparkling with challenge.
"N-no," he stammered. The thought of kissing her here, now, with the world watching, was overwhelming. "We're outside. Everyone can see us."
"So what?"
"Hush. Get in the car, little butterfly."
"Will you kiss me then?" she asked as he opened the back door to the Maybach. She slid inside.
He leaned in to buckle her seatbelt. His body caged hers in the intimate space of the doorway. The scent of her perfume, something light and floral, filled his senses. "If I kiss you," he said, "I won't stop. So not kissing you is for your safety." It was the truth. One taste, and the careful control he was clinging to would shatter completely.
"I don't want to be safe," she insisted.
"Be good, Aurora."
She crossed her arms and pouted. "Okay," she said. "But later, I get to be bad."
He chuckled. She was so adorable. He shut the door, sealing her inside, and took a steadying breath before rounding the car to get in on the other side. He settled into the leather seat and immediately grasped his wife's hand. She responded instantly, clasping her fingers within his.
"You forgive me?" he asked. He lifted their joined hands so he could rub his cheek with her fingers.
"Let's see your performance later," she said, giving him what he could only call a naughty smile.
He leaned over, his lips brushing the delicate shell of her ear as he whispered, "Don't worry, wife. Tonight's our wedding night. I promise to perform very, very well."