Twisted Together (Monsters in the Dark) (63 page)

Q cleared his throat. The celebrant didn’t move, waiting for the thick silence to disperse.

Say something!
I couldn’t read him. He’d shut down, trembling with colossal energy, glowing with everything he trapped inside. “Tess—” Finally a crack, a small doorway into his feelings.
“Je suis—”

Then he folded to his knees.

My stomach lodged in the tight boning of my corset. I’d never seen a man so proud, so strong and fierce, be so shattered and humbled.

Q’s ferocious eyes ensnared me.

“
Tess, je ne serai jamais capable d'exprimer à quel point je tiens à toi. Je n’aurais jamais les mots pour exprimer combien Je t'aime
.” Tess, I’ll never be able to express how much I care for you. I’ll never know the words to say how much I love you.

He looked away, gathering his thoughts. His back rippled with a deep breath. “
Je ne savais pas que j'étais seul. Je ne savais pas que j’étouffais ma douleur et mon besoin d’affection sous le travail. Je hais mon héritage, d’où je viens et je ne me suis jamais senti digne du bonheur. Mais ensuite, toi, esclave Cinquante-huit ans, est entrée dans mon monde. Tu m’as fait tout remettre en question
.” I never knew I was lonely. I never knew I smothered my pain and the need for connection beneath my work. I hate my heritage—where I’ve come from—and never felt worthy of happiness. But then you, Slave Fifty-eight, entered my world. You made me question everything.

“
Je voulais te briser. T’adorer. Te faire crier. Je voulais tant de choses mais par-dessus tout, je voulais ce que j'ai vu dans tes yeux brillants pour moi, que tu me fasses confiance. Je voulais ton âme.
” I wanted to break you. Adore you. Make you scream. I wanted so many things but beneath it all, I wanted what I saw in your eyes glowing for me, trusting me. I wanted your soul.

I reached down, begging him to take my hand. He did, pressing a sharp kiss to my knuckles. “
Tu m’acceptes pour ce que je suis. Mes ténèbres et le reste. Mes pêchés et le reste. Tu es mon égal. Mon professeur. Je suis ton disciple. Je suis ton propriétaire. Je ne pourrais pas être plus amoureux de toi même si j'avais deux cœurs au lieu d'un. Ma vie est à toi. Mon âme est à toi. Je fais le voeu de toujours te consoler. De toujours te protéger. Je vais pleurer avec toi. Je vais rire avec toi. Je t’enlacerai tous les soirs de notre vie.”
You accept me for me. Darkness and all. Sin and everything. You are my equal. My teacher. I am your disciple. I am your owner. I couldn’t be more in love with you if I had two hearts instead of one. My life is yours. My soul is yours. I vow to always comfort you. Always protect you. I will cry with you. I will laugh with you. I will hold you every night of our lives.”

Q’s voice deepened, filling with heartache and overwhelming love.
“Je ne déteste plus mes démons, car tu les combats pour moi. Je ne me sens plus seul parce que tu es mon refuge. Je ne me fais plus peur parce que tu contrôles ma bête. Je suis ton monstre, Tess. Je tuerai ceux qui t’ont fait du mal. Je nourrirais ceux qui s’occuperont de toi . Je ne cesserai jamais de chasser tes cauchemars et de t’offrir une vie parfaite.”
I no longer hate my demons because you fight them on my behalf. I no longer feel alone because you are my home. I no longer fear myself because you control my beast. I’m your monster, Tess. I’ll kill those who hurt you. I’ll nurture those who tend you. I’ll never stop hunting your nightmares or providing a perfect life.”

My legs wobbled. The conviction in his tone, the edge of violence in his eyes—he shot barbs right into my heart. The echoes of his vows would live in me for an eternity. He’d made me immortal with his words.

I believed every vow. I cherished every promise. I never needed to be afraid or lost. Ever again. Because he would protect me and I would protect him. Always.

His eyes latched onto the ‘Q’ branding my neck. His face tightened with passion.
“Tu portes mon nom, donc je sais que tu seras toujours à moi. Permets moi de passer l’éternité à te protéger et à t’aimer, esclave. Je suis à toi. Je suis ton monstre dans le noir pour toujours.”
You wear my mark, so I know you’ll always be mine. Let me spend my forevers protecting and loving you,
esclave.
I’m yours. I’m your monster in the dark forever.”

Silence fell as Q climbed to his feet, wincing. He looked drained but content as if he’d poured everything from him to me and had nothing left. His broken body needed to rest.

With a look full of black passion, he pulled me into a tight embrace. The celebrant didn’t say a word as Q’s lips pressed against mine. He kissed me with the fine edge of control and anger I was so used to.

His tongue slipped past my lips. I met his with mine, dancing together, making love together. I went limp in his arms. All the tension and love turned me from mannequin to puddle. I wanted the honour of pampering him, healing him. I wanted him naked in bed.

The kiss could’ve been a century or only a moment but it was the seal on our promises. A non-verbal agreement we were each other’s for eternity.

Pulling back, Q stiffened. His eyes narrowed on something behind me. I tried to shift in his arms, but Suzette appeared, eagerness vibrating around her. “Please let her go, master.”

Q’s lips pulled back into a snarl. “What are you doing, Suzette. It’s not over. Go away.”

She ducked her head, cheeks pinking at his temper. “I know. But allow me to do something before the final vow.”

My blood was replaced with molasses. Thanks to Q’s mind-twisting kiss nothing made sense. All I wanted was to be alone with him. I needed to bask in this sweet vulnerability between us.

Feminine hands landed on my shoulders from behind, tugging me from Q’s embrace.

Hey! Stop.

“Trust us, Tess.” Her—the woman who’d been singing. She smiled softly. “I’m Angelique—Frederick’s wife. Hi.”

My brain skipped, trying to figure out what the hell was going on. “Um—hi.” I stumbled in her hold, struggling to stay attached to Q. “Please, let me go.”

“Yes, let her go, Angelique. You don’t want me angry and you’re doing a damn good job,” Q snapped.

Angelique shook her head. “Not yet. Trust us.” She pulled harder.

My arms went from holding Q to holding air. The only part locked together was our fingertips. Q stood there, breathing hard, his face twisted with pain. He looked livid but too banged up to move. “Will someone please tell me what the fuck is going on?”

“I will. Come with me, Mercer.” Frederick jerked him, breaking the last remaining contact of our fingers. Q spun around, groaning in pain. “Roux—what the—” Frederick led him away, lending a hand as Q’s stitched up legs seized from standing too long.

Let me go!
I wanted to be the one who Q used as support. I wanted to hold him while his body healed.

Suzette cut off my vision, standing directly in front of me. “Remember when I said to trust me. That the second part was for him?” Her hazel eyes shimmered with nervousness. “Please…trust me.”

I looked over her head to a fighting Q. Both Frederick and Franco whispered in his ear, holding his shoulders to prevent him causing more injury.

“You’re ruining it, Suzette.” I swallowed my anxiety, battling with trusting whatever she planned to do. “Please—”

She smiled. “It will make sense. Just let it happen.” Her eyes flew to Angelique behind me. “Ready?”

“Yes.” Angelique whispered in my ear, “It will be okay. I promise.” Her hands fell to my sides just as Suzette gripped the front of my dress.

What the hell are they doing?

My eyes searched for Q but he was surrounded by his entourage. No doubt hurting himself trying to fight.
Let them do it. Get it over with.

I relaxed a little and Suzette took my silence as permission.

With a sharp nod, Suzette ruined my life. The wondrous gown, so brilliantly made and oh so beautiful, ripped with the echoing sound of a lightning bolt.

The fabric ripped from the sides as if the weakness had been deliberately sewn into the dress, splitting like a well sliced cake.

It only took one tug to turn the white masterpiece into a disaster on the floor. It pooled, dead and forgotten by my feet.

What has she done?!

My heart exploded at being stripped of the only wedding dress I’d ever wear. All the preparation this morning for nothing—it ended up in pieces on the floor.

I blushed, bringing my arms up to hide my corset-clad breasts. The swell of flesh teetered provocatively on top of the tightly cinched lingerie. The black sexy pantyhose were on display, complete with saucy bow, and glittering red sequin shoes. My knickers were black lace, hiding my decency with nothing more than darker detailing between the legs. The garter belts clipped to the corset, imprisoning my legs with frilly black stays.

I’d been transformed from bride to whore.

I gasped as someone undid my hair with a sharp tug, spilling the careful up-do to waterfall down my back in lazy waves. The black feathers stayed, quivering in my strands.

Q shoved Frederick off him, his mouth gaping. “How dare you fucking touch her!” He stomped forward, undeterred by agony, zeroing in on me. But Franco wrapped an arm around his shoulders, holding him steadfast. Frederick recaptured him, mumbling in his ear.

“I don’t care. I want none of this. What the hell are you doing!” Q wrenched his arm free from Franco’s hold. “This wasn’t your decision!”

Don’t hurt yourself!
My heart hurt for him. We were so private about our world. So sure no one would accept what we needed—so used to keeping it hidden.

To have his trusted friends expose us.

It hurt. A lot.

Standing in kinky lingerie sent embarrassment twisting my stomach, but it would be worse for Q. He hated others seeing me undressed. Especially dolled up like the slave he’d always wanted.

Wait…

My heart leapt.
Is that what Suzette’s doing?

I had to go to him—to give him comfort. I might understand what all of this meant.

“Tess. Stay.” Suzette planted a firm hand on my sternum. “It’s not over yet.”

“But—”

“Let her go!” someone yelled. “Crikey, what the hell is going
on
here?”

That voice. Oh, my God, I knew that voice.

My eyes zeroed in on Brax.

Brax!

Q followed my moon-wide gaze, bristling with rage. He didn’t look as if he’d survived a torturing session, more like ready to jump in the ring with anyone
stupid
enough to get in his way.

Shit. I feared for Brax’s safety.

My ex-boyfriend jumped up from his chair, pointing a shaking finger. “Stop!” He wore a pastel blue blazer and jeans, his floppy brown hair slicked with gel. He looked older than the last time I’d seen him, more of a man than a boy.

Brax pushed a girl—our old neighbour Bianca—out of his way, stomping into the aisle. “What is the meaning of this? You don’t strip the bride—it’s awful. Stop the ceremony. Right now!”

Q shoved Franco off him, taking a calculated step toward the reckless boy from my past. His hands curled beside his hips. He spoke softly but it rippled down the aisle, skewering Brax in the chest. “You have no fucking authority here, boy. I suggest you sit down. Shut the fuck up. And don’t give me a reason to escort you off this island with my fists.”

My heart catapulted from frantic to chaotic. What had Suzette done? She’d ruined an amazing wedding…she’d upset everything.

I bent down, scooping up my discarded dress. “Suzette, let’s fix this. Help.”

Q reached for me, flinching as his body was dragged backward by Frederick. “Calm down, Q. Jesus, let us do what we’re doing okay?”

Q threw his arms up, livid anger mixing with the painful sheen on his cheeks. “Whatever you’re doing, I demand it to be over. Someone cover Tess, goddammit.”

Suzette ignored my plea to fix my dress. She winged down the aisle, shoving Brax back into his chair. “Don’t interfere. You’re the only outsider here, so sit down and hush up.” Turning, she headed to Q. Terror glowed in her eyes, but determination lent strength to her features. “Please. Stop fighting. Let us do this. Trust me, Q. Please! Give me one minute, then you can kill me, smite me, whatever you want. Just let us do this.”

Q snarled, “How about you stop. Right now. I’m fucking done with whatever is going on here!”

I huddled, waiting for an explosion. The atmosphere in the room sparked with ignition—ready to blow up at any second.

The celebrant’s voice was the persona of calm in the horrendous storm. “Excuse me, everyone, but I have been made privy to this new arrangement, and I suggest you take the lady’s advice and let her proceed.”

Everyone froze.

Q breathed hard, his energy levels depleting. He stood panting, his face contorted with agony. “This is ridiculous.”

“I agree. You fighting is ridiculous. Stand still for one damn moment.” Frederick took his hands carefully off Q. When Q didn’t sprint out of the marquee or punch him, Frederick took the opportunity to rip the white blazer from his shoulders.

At the same time Franco tore at Q’s trousers. The material fell away, revealing shiny black slacks. In a blink, Q was disarmed of the illusion of pureness and re-dressed in darkness. His tie came undone, waistcoat, and shirt all ripped from his bruised torso.

What are they doing?

Q stood half-naked and I couldn’t control the desire spooling in my blood. The dampness between my legs multiplied staring at the man who owned my heart. The damaged man who needed to lie down and let me lavish him with love.

My eyes fell to the scarring ‘T’ above his heart, barely visible amongst fresh bruises. My heart flurried. My self-consciousness and doubt faded away, drinking in his perfection.

Frederick turned to a hidden pedestal, returning with a black blazer beautifully tailored with embroidered crimson sparrows.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Q demanded as the new blazer was shoved up his arms and positioned over his shoulders. His naked chest and tattoo stayed visible through the gaping of the fabric.