Father Anthony, who was a newly minted priest, gulped at the determined look in the groom's eyes. Oh dear Lord, he prayed, let this wedding truly be a union of two loving hearts. Because if it was not, he would need miraculous strength to keep this man from marrying the woman in his arms.
"Dearly beloved … "
Yanna started to struggle. She had to get out. She had to leave. She had to … she just had to do whatever she had to do to stop this marriage. It was insane. They weren't ready. Too much had happened, and too little time had passed for her to forget how very easy it was for Constantijin to treat her like she was a waste of his time.
Constantijin picked Yanna up and when the priest stopped talking, an astonished look on his face, Constantijin said calmly, "Don't stop, Father. She wants to marry me. She only needs to get past her paranoia."
Father Anthony cleared her throat. " … we are gathered here … "
Behind him, he heard the groom say, "Everyone, please turn your backs. I won't ask you again."
Constantijin didn't wait for their answers. He lowered Yanna to her feet, cupped her face, and kissed her. Knowing how sensitive her breasts were, he simply dug his hands into her strapless top and cupped them.
Everyone quickly turned their backs upon realizing what was about to happen.
Walter roared, "What the---"
Carole elbowed him. "You know how stubborn your daughter is. Iron head, remember, dear? I think it's time for us to excuse ourselves. We'll come back once it's safe." Walter was still growling, but Carole successfully dragged him away.
She murmured soothingly, "Let's just go to the deck and enjoy a breath of fresh air."
It was a good thing they had left by then as not a second later, Yanna had let out a moan, Constantijin having sucked on her nipple.
Yanna was torn between embarrassment and arousal. Why was Constantijin doing this to her?
Constantijin lifted his head. "Father, you're not speaking."
The priest jumped and then said hastily, " … in the face of this congregation and these witnesses … "
Constantijin calmly lowered his head again and returned to sucking her breast.
Yanna's fingers sank into his hair, trying to futilely pull his head up. She opened her mouth to demand that he let go of her, but when Constantijin bit her nipple at the same time, she ended up moaning instead.
Alyx stole a look at Daria, who was giggling next to Nik. "We're not looking, but we still hear her so there's really no point not looking, you know?" Her voice was pained.
" … we, their families and friends, form a community of love---"
"Is this even legal?" Saffi whispered to her husband.
Staffan, who had been uncomfortably feeling aroused at the knowledge that a couple in love was also making love in the same room as they were, looked down at Saffi and swiftly looked away right after. If he looked at her longer than a few seconds, he was pretty sure he would start making love to her, too.
"Staffan?" Saffi insisted.
"---that we may support and encourage them … "
"He will make it legal. That is all that matters." Staffan's voice was strained. Damn you, Kastein, he thought. If this ceremony didn't end soon, he was going to leave with his wife and fuck her in the nearest private corner.
Constantijin straightened up, only releasing her breasts when he heard the priest was midway through the ceremony. Yanna had a confused expression on her face. But he knew it wouldn't last for long.
And it didn't. He saw the moment her senses came back, and when she frowned at him, he didn't give her a chance to throw a hissy fit. He was doing this for their own good, and soon she would see it his way, too.
Constantijin closed his mouth over hers, swallowing whatever she had to say.
"The covenant of marriage is sacred and is not to be entered into lightly … "
His hands shaped her bare breasts, caressing them with sure fingers. Yanna was still struggling in his arms, beating his shoulders half-heartedly.
"Do you, Constantijin Kastein, take Yanna Everleigh to be your beloved wife … "
When the priest paused for his answer, Constantijin lifted his head and growled, "Yes."
The priest cleared his throat. "Do you, Yanna Everleigh, take Constantijin Kastein to be your beloved husband, to have and to hold … "
When it was Yanna's turn to answer, Constantijin used that exact moment to flip her skirts up so he could hold her thigh. Yanna stiffened against him, but ignoring it, he let his hand move further up. She was panicking now, thrashing and shaking her head wildly.
He held her head secure with one hand, kissing her still, while his other hand continued with its upward journey until he found his target. His fingers held the silk of her panties. He caressed her flesh over it before determinedly tearing it apart.
Yanna moaned against his mouth.
He was not yet done, though.
His fingers quickly encountered her wetness. She was not just moist. She was drenched, and he sank one finger in. She moaned again, the sound of it telling him that she had surrendered to his touch. "Do you want more, schat?" he whispered against her lips before moving his head up.
She moaned one word very clearly, "Yes."
The married couples exchanged heated looks at the sound of it. Those without partners looked away uncomfortably.
Every time she was required to say yes, Constantijin simply raised the heat factor a notch higher. He thrust two fingers in and then three, increasing the speed and force of his thrusts. As the ceremony came near to its end, Constantijin knew it was the same for them. Yanna was nearly sobbing now, and he was panting with desire. The only way he was able to keep them from making too much sound was to keep on kissing her.
But he still wouldn't last forever. It was only a matter of time before they both came, and he sure as hell hoped they wouldn't be forced to do so here.
He lifted his head again. "Father, could you please get to it?" He did his best to be polite, but the words came out as a growl.
Father Anthony tried to speak faster. " … with the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife."
As everyone clapped, Alyx muttered in relief, "Thank God."
Constantijin's breath whooshed out of him.
It was done.
He slowly raised his head. "Yanna?"
The priest said, "You may now kiss the bride."
She slowly opened her eyes, which quickly filled with tears. Gradually, she became aware of what was happening – and what had happened. She was married now.
Yanna waited for the panic to hit her again, but it didn't come.
Instead, she felt the most absurd kind of happiness, the kind that threatened to consume her from within. She was that happy.
She looked up at Constantijin and placed a hand lovingly against his cheek. Looking into his silvery eyes, which were bright with the sweetest and most tender kind of love, she whispered, "Thank you for being so patient with me."
Their lips met, a chaste kiss that was somehow sexy and satisfying at the same time.
"Can we look now, man?" Staffan asked laughingly.
"NO FUCKING WAY," Constantijin answered readily. Yanna was still half-naked, after all.
"I love you," Yanna whispered. "Thank you for not leaving me even though I had become temporarily insane."
"I will never let you go," he said unsmilingly.
"I know." She swallowed hard, but it was no use. The tears started to fall. God, she had been such a fool. And Carole was right. Now that she was married to Constantijin, the fear was gone and the most beautiful sense of rightness had settled over her. She was home. She was where she was destined to be, and here she would stay until the end of her days.
"I love you," Yanna choked out. "I couldn't have done this if not for you. And now, oh God, I'm so, so happy. I'm thrilled to be married to you and I can't wait to start our life together, to hear people call me your wife. Mrs. Kastein. I'm so happy … " She paused, trying hard to find a way to let him know just how touched she was at the extent of his efforts. "I'm so happy I could scream it---"
A wicked smile suddenly formed on his thin beautiful lips, making Yanna pause and blink at the sight of it. "Your wish is my command, Mrs. Kastein."
Her eyes popped open as she realized what that wicked smile was for.
Yanna tried to take a step back, but it was too late.
Oh shit.
His arm went around her waist. Before she could figure out what he was planning, he was hauling her back to his arms, one hand cupping her breast once more. Yanna still tried to struggle, but when he lazily started playing with her nipple, she moaned.
Staffan growled, "Congratulations, Constantijin, Yanna. And now we're out of here." He dragged a bemused Saffi with him, intent on getting his wife naked as soon as possible.
"I think it's time to leave, too," Alyx muttered and nearly raced out. She said over her shoulder, "For the sake of your soul, Father, you should leave, too."