Twisted Together, стр. 108

Masculine whispers snapped in the silence followed by a curse. Q finally snatched the gift with a sharp nod.

Q raised his arm, showing me what he’d been given. My heart leapt into my throat.

A collar. A black diamond-studded collar with a gold ring at the front.

Of course. My heart thundered.

His eyes implored me. Please…I’ve never asked you to be less than human.

And he wasn’t now. He was asking me to announce to everyone present—to him, to me, to the sanctity of marriage, that he was my master.

He is. In every way.

In an effortless move, I swayed forward. “Collar me, maitre. Keep me forever,” I murmured, scooping my hair off my shoulders, waiting for him to fasten it.

Q leaned forward, his fingers shaking against my skin. His eyes swam with adoration, body trembling with love and need. “You’re given me the ultimate fantasy, esclave. You’re giving me the right to collar you. You’re giving me something I’ve always wanted but have always been too afraid to take.” His lips pressed against my temple. “Thank you, Tess. Du fond du c?ur.” From the bottom of my heart.

He wrapped the soft leather around my neck and over my brand. It irritated, but the discomfort was nothing to the surging possession in my heart. Q might collar me but I collared him in return. My ownership was invisible—wrapping him in unseen chains—chains unlocked only by my soul.

I shivered as his knuckles brushed the back of my skull. He carefully cinched the buckle, marking me as his. Marking me as belonging.

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 nipples, 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 fucking 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 fucked. 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 fucking masterpiece. Full and feminine and so fucking 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 fucking beg just for a taste. One glorious taste.