Owned by the Dom: Part Two (The Owners) (29 page)

“How do you know the men are going to be on time?” Veronica asked.

“They didn’t have a bachelor party. We forbid them to have one,” Ursula said.

Prue smiled. “Most men have a bachelor party to celebrate their last night being single. James still growls at men who talk to me. He’s not sad to leave his single life behind.”

She’
d asked James if he wanted a bachelor party. He’d told her he didn’t. When she’d tried to tease him with strippers and fancy girls he’d told her she was the only woman he wanted stripping for him and him alone.

How could a woman not want to marry a man who refused to have a bachelor party?

Veronica tapped her on the shoulder. “You’re done.”

Their parents were going to be at church. They weren’t happy about her getting married without them meeting James. She didn’t care what her parents wished. If they’d met James and didn’t like h
im, she’d still marry him. He was her other half, the one man she could see herself spending the rest of her life with.

She stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her two toned hair looked shocking against her tanned flesh. She’d been spending a lot of time sunbathing when they were home. Wearing a white wedding dress and having pale skin didn’t appeal to her.

“You look beautiful,” Veronica said.

Tapping her sister’s hand, Prue stood up. All the women cooed at her and Ursula. Having a shared wedding was probably the best decision for all of them. Prue hated the limelight as much as Ursula.
Sharing the attention would help them both get through it.

Becky handed her the bouquet of red roses. “Look at you, black and blue hair, white dress and red roses.”

Prue burst out laughing. Tears were in her eyes. “I can’t cry. I’ll ruin my makeup.”

She took several deep breaths to calm her emotions. “I can’t believe I’m getting married.”

“You better believe it,” Anya said.

“Time for us to leave.” Rebecca came through the doorway and smiled. Prue rarely saw the other woman smile.
From what James had to tell her there was little for Rebecca to smile about.

The other women went first. She turned to Ursula, taking another deep breath. “Are you ready for this?” Ursula asked.

“No, I’ll never be ready for this. I’ll be ready for marrying James, but why do we have to do it when everyone’s watching? I’m going to fall and look silly.” She stared at her roses feeling the panic rise.

“You’re not going to fall. I’m here. Stop panicking.”

They walked down the steps together. The limos waited for them. There were two, one for the bridesmaids and the other for them.

Ursula climbed in first
, and then Prue did.

The drive was short
, and several people stopped to wave at them.

“Stephen warned me that there might be press waiting,” Ursula said.

Moaning, Prue tensed, waiting as the church came into view. There, outside the church were the camera crews.

The limo rolled outside the door. Lucas, Sean
, and Cadeon were there to help them outside.

“Is James okay?” Prue asked.

“He’s waiting at the altar,” Cadeon said. “We’re here to help you inside. We saw the press and knew they wouldn’t be a welcoming sight at your wedding.”

Nodding, Prue took their hands grateful for the peace that came the moment they were inside.

The next few minutes went by quickly. Prue’s father came out of the main room of the church. He stopped to look at her. Prue stared down the length of her dress. “Hey, Dad,” she said.

“I’m annoyed I didn’t get to meet him, Prudence. I expect to meet him as soon as the ceremony is over
, and I’m going to trust your judgement that he’s a good man.”

Unable to say anything else, Prue linked her arm with her father’s
, and then the music started playing. Ursula’s dad shook her dad’s hand, and once all the introductions were made, they started the slow walk.

The bridesmaids walked down the aisle first.

Prue’s palms were sweaty. They walked into the main room, and her gaze found James. He stood in a tuxedo looking calm and in control. Everything and everyone else fell away from the room. The only two people who mattered to her were herself and James. This was their moment together.

“I love you,” he said, mouthing the words to her.

She mouthed the words back to him. Her father cleared his throat, and then they were slowly walking. Prue didn’t turn her gaze away from James’s. He helped her to focus on him and not anyone else. Nothing else held meaning in those moments with him. Cameras flashed, and people sighed as they passed.

When they got to their men, Ursula
’s and Prue’s fathers each removed their veils and kissed their cheeks. Stephen and James came to take them.

The instant their hands touched Prue felt everything fall in to place. There was nothing else in the world but them.

He smiled at her, and the grip on her fingers kept her nerves in check.

The priest continued on with the wedding. Their vows were spoken
, and when he pronounced them man and wife, Prue couldn’t have been happier.

James pulled her in close, wrapping his arms around her. She succumbed to his kiss, which was nothing more than a tease of the senses. He took control, plunging his tongue inside her mouth, stroking her with the promise of more.

“You’re my woman now,” he said, breaking the kiss.

“I’ve always been your woman.” She lifted his hand where the wedding band lay that she placed on his finger. Prue pressed a kiss to the gold. “Forever and for always.”

He cupped the back of her neck then smashed his lips against hers. She moaned, and the room went up in whistles from their audience.

Prue broke the kiss this time then looked over her shoulder to see Ursula with her
man doing exactly the same.

James stared at his bride while she danced with Ursula on the floor. The black and blue of her hair looked startling against the white dress she wore. He sipped the beer in his hand as his thoughts returned to the night to come.

When he got her home he intended to make love to every square inch of her body. There would be no part of her left unturned when he got to her. He’d spoken with her parents, and her father didn’t like the fact he wasn’t introduced before the wedding. From what James had learned, Prudence and Veronica kept a lot of secrets from their parents. Both of the women loved their parents, but it looked like they kept them in the dark about a great many things.

Kevin and Tate came to stand next to him. They each held a glass of the finest brandy in their hands.

“Great wedding, James,” Tate said.

He smiled at both men. Rebecca sat at the table alone. She sipped from a bottle of water and watched the proceedings. The other woman had always been the woman to stay away from such events. Ursula didn’t like it and made sure Rebecca got involved.

“When do you think one of you will be walking down the aisle?” James asked.

“We’re not going to. Rebecca doesn’t want us,” Kevin said, draining his glass.

“You’re going to give up?” James looked between the two men.

“There’s a difference between giving up and knowing where you’re not wanted. I’m going to get another drink,” Kevin said, walking away.

“He’s having a hard time. We’ve both decided to call it a day together,” Tate said.

“What do you mean?” James focussed his attention on the man before him.

“We both agreed to love Rebecca. Our feelings have never changed. We can’t go on like this. We both don’t want to give Rebecca up, but there is only so much rejection a man can take.”

Tate slapped him on the back then walked away.

Prudence was still dancing with Ursula. Sipping more of his beer, James went over to where Rebecca sat alone staring down at the table.

“Is this seat taken?” he asked, pointing to the one beside her.

“No, have a seat. This is a beautiful wedding, James. Prudence adores you.” Rebecca looked at his woman with a soft smile on her face.

“I adore her. How are you coping?”

When her husband beat the shit out of her, each one of the Owners took care of her in their own way. No man hurts a woman. Lloyd had put Rebecca in the hospital twice, and she deserved some happiness now that the man who’d used her was gone.

“I’m doing great. It’s nice being around people again.” Her hands shook as they tucked some hair behind her
ear.

“Tate and Kevin are in love with you. Why do you keep rejecting them?” he asked, tired of beating around the bush.

“I’m not rejecting them,” she said.

“They’re doing everything in their power to show you how much you mean to them, and you’re not giving them any clues if you even want their attention.”

James took her hand in his. She was so much smaller than he.

“I’m going to give you some advice. Let them in, Rebecca. Tate and Kevin will never hurt you, I guarantee it. They’re good men.”

Tears shone in her eyes with each word he spoke. “Lloyd was supposed to be a good man.”

“He wasn’t vetted by me. There was some shit with my father
, but he was trying to get Lloyd out of the club. I promise you, Tate and Kevin would only ever cherish you. Please, open your heart to them and at least give them a chance. That’s all I’m asking for, to give them one chance.”

She stared across the dance floor in their direction. “I don’t know if I can.”

“I didn’t tell Prudence how much she meant to me when she was taken. We argued all the time, but I never said the words. The moment I couldn’t tell her, I regretted it. Don’t allow your fears to take control and eventually turn into regrets.”

He kissed her fingers then moved away to find his woman. There was nothing more for him to do
other than wait and see what that his words were understood.

“Mind if I cut in?” he asked Ursula.

“No, I’m going to find my husband.”

Ursula wandered off. He wrapped his arms around his wife, pulling her in close. Her glorious scent surrounded him.

“Hello, Husband,” Prudence said, smiling up at him.

“Hello, Wife.”

They chuckled. Prudence rested her head against his chest.

“This is the best day of my life,” James said.

She looked up at him, her bright eyes filled with tears of happiness.

“
Mine, too. I can’t think of anything better.” She stroked his chest, letting out a sigh.

“
’Til death do us part, baby.” He kissed the top of her head, holding her close.

The rest of the guests fell away. James closed his eyes with his woman in his arms and basked in the happiness consuming him. No other woman would ever compare to her. From the moment he first met her when she was eighteen, James had been smitten. He stroked her back, pressing against her body.

“I can’t wait until we’re alone,” Prudence said.

“I can’t wait either. We should have gone to Vegas to get married.”

She laughed. “You are bad. Ursula would have skinned you alive.”

“Probably.”

James held her and stared at where both of their hands were connected. The gold bands of their wedding rings glinted in the light. Prudence was his wife, and he only needed one other ceremony in order to make her his in every sense of the word.

They made their excuses to leave before midnight
. Stephen and Ursula were going away on their honeymoon as soon as the night was over. James had told the other man his plans for his honeymoon.

Arthur was waiting to take them
back to his home. On the drive back Prudence curled up against his side.

“You don’t mind waiting for our honeymoon, do you?” he asked.

“No, I don’t mind. I know you’ve got something planned, but I just don’t know what. I’ll find out,” she said.

James knew she wouldn’t find out until the event was actually happening. Everything had been put in place to make the event memorable and worthy of calling Prudence his sub.

****

Arthur drove away from the house as James opened the door. He lifted her in his arms. Prue squealed as he walked over the threshold.

“Isn’t it customary for the groom to carry his bride across the threshold?” James said, putting her to her feet.

She giggled at the silly custom. James picking her up always started her. She was worried in case he dropped her. He hadn’t gotten angry with her for inviting Melanie to the wedding. The sight of the woman didn’t alarm Prue. She’d feared the old feelings would return with Melanie being close,
but in fact, Prue had felt stronger for seeing the woman.

“Thank you for being good to Melanie today,” she said.

James froze under her hands. “I didn’t like the fact you’d invited her to our wedding, but I could see why you did. She looked good, and Lucas kept her company for most of the event. I was worried about you, Prudence.”