The Auction: A Dark Romance: Chapter 25

Since I woke up, I’ve stared at the ring on my finger, still in shock, wondering if I was dreaming. I’ve not moved except to pinch myself a few times.

Riggs’s deep laugh tears me out of my trance. ‘Are you having second thoughts, pet?’

I turn over in the bed.

He sits back in an oversized chair, shirtless, his eyebrows arched.

‘No, I’m just…’ I glance at the radiant, flawless, who-knows-how-many-carats diamond shining on my hand. I admit, ‘I’m still in shock.’

His lips twitch.

I sit up. ‘Why are you watching me sleep?’

‘I always watch you sleep,’ he confesses, which is another surprise. I’ve only caught him once, the night he drank too much.

Flutters fill my stomach. I ask, ‘How long have you been awake?’

He shrugs. ‘Since around four. I went down the street to catch some waves.’

I blurt out, ‘I would’ve gone and watched you.’

He shrugs again, and it hits me how laid-back he’s been since we got to Hawaii. I’m not used to this new Riggs, but I like it. He says, ‘Maybe tomorrow you can.’

‘How long are we here?’ I question, never wanting to leave Hawaii. It’s beautiful, and I haven’t been here since I was a child. Like his normal style, Riggs has gone over the top to ensure our privacy, but I’m not complaining.

‘A week, possibly longer. I have some business deals I might need to close next week, so we have to play it by ear, pet.’

‘That’s okay. I should get moving. It looks like a beautiful day outside,’ I state, glancing out the window, then rising. The water twinkles from the morning sun. Two volcanic islands, Molokini and Kahoolawe, look like they’re a swimmable distance, even though it’s too far.

Riggs stands, then dangles a skimpy white bikini in front of me. He leans into my ear. ‘Put this on, future Mrs. Madden.’

Flutters fill my belly. I bite my smile. He’s been calling me that since he proposed last night. And I have to admit, I love it.

I slide my arms around his neck and inquire, ‘Should I change my stage name?’

He stares at me a minute and then shakes his head. ‘No, Ears said you had the perfect name. Leave it as Fox, but you’re legally changing it to mine.’

I softly laugh. ‘Is that so?’

His chest puffs out. He squeezes my ass and asserts, ‘Without a doubt. Now get your suit on. It’s perfect weather.’

‘Yes, Sir,’ I say.

He winks and goes into the bathroom. I put on my suit. We leave the suite and walk across the grass until we get to the sand.

There’s no one on the beach. Crystal-clear water gently laps on the shore. An oversized blanket covers the sand, and we sit. I stare at the water in awe.

‘It’s gorgeous, isn’t it?’ he asks.

‘Yes.’

He adds, ‘Makes my Malibu place look crappy, huh?’

I laugh. ‘I wouldn’t exactly say that. And how is this beach not filled with people?’

Riggs grunts. ‘Easy. I paid everyone off.’

I gape at him. ‘I don’t even want to know how much that cost.’

‘Good thing you don’t have to worry about it, then,’ he claims and lies down.

I assess the property again, then slide over him, drag my fingers over his chest, and innocently ask, ‘So no one’s watching us?’

Mischief explodes in his expression. He flips me onto my back so fast that butterflies dance wildly in my stomach. His eyes twinkle, matching the water. I’ve never seen him look so happy, which makes my heart soar. I’d do anything possible to keep him looking like this.

He questions, ‘Are you sure you want to marry me?’

‘Are you changing your mind?’ I blurt out.

‘No, I want to know if you’re sure you want to marry me,’ he repeats.

‘Yes, I’m sure,’ I reiterate.

‘Good.’ He scoots me off him, grabs the snorkeling gear, then slings me over his shoulder.

I shriek.

He slaps my ass and carries me into the water until it’s past my neck. He states, ‘There’s a reef about 100 feet out from here.’

‘Really?’

‘Yeah. Let’s go see what we can find.’

We swim to the reef and snorkel for hours. It’s like being inside a fish tank. Brilliant yellows, oranges, purples, blues, and greens pop everywhere beneath us. Sea turtles swim so close we can touch them, but Riggs warns not to.

When we tire, we head back to shore. Riggs tosses our snorkeling gear on the sand, then pulls me back into the water. I secure my limbs around him, and he kisses me, then asks, ‘Are you sure you want to marry me?’

My stomach dives. I fret, ‘Why do you keep asking me? Are you trying to get out of it?’

His lips twitch. ‘Is that a yes, pet?’

‘Yes, of course. Please stop asking me.’

Approval lights up his expression. ‘Good. Marry me tonight.’

I gape at him.

His lips twitch. ‘Is that a yes?’

‘Tonight? You want to marry me tonight?’ I question.

He chuckles. ‘Yeah. Let’s do it at sunset, right here on the beach. You, me, the officiant, and no one else.

‘Don’t I need a dress?’

‘It’s hanging in your closet,’ he informs me with a self-satisfied smirk.

I gape at him again. Then laugh. ‘Of course it is.’

His grin widens, then his face turns stern. ‘I still haven’t heard a yes from you, pet.’

I tease, ‘Why don’t you kiss me and show me how much you want to marry me tonight? Then I’ll give you my answer.’

He doesn’t hesitate. His lips meet mine, our tongues slide against one another as soon as possible, and he holds my head, dominating me into full submission.

I grind my lower body against his erection. He retreats, muttering, ‘How’s that?’

‘Sold,’ I chirp.

His lips grin against mine. He slides his palm over my ass and announces, ‘Okay, time’s ticking.’ He pulls me up toward shore.

I laugh. ‘You’re serious? We’re going to get married tonight?’

‘Unless you don’t want to?’ He arches his eyebrows, but there’s a vulnerability in his expression.

It hits me that Riggs is nervous, which I find pretty cute. It’s not a look I ever see on him. I slide my hands on his cheeks, repeating, ‘Stop asking me.’

He closes the distance between us and palms my cheek. He softly states, ‘Don’t wear a lot of makeup. I prefer you like this.’

My butterflies go crazy. I nod. ‘Okay. If that’s what you want, that’s what you shall get.’

He leads me into our suite and says, ‘I’ll get ready in the other bathroom.’

I open the closet. My heart races faster. A sleeveless, mermaid-style wedding gown with spaghetti straps, lace overlay, and a court train hangs in front of me. It’s the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen. It’s backless and dips right before my ass with an elegant string to secure it.

A pair of silver-heeled sandals lie on the bed. Inside a glass box is a fresh, white lei, complete with a clip for my hair.

I shower, then dry my hair, leaving it in beach waves. Then I secure the lei on the side of my head. I apply a tad of eyeliner, mascara, and pale-pink lip gloss.

Riggs steps into the suite. He’s wearing white linen pants and a matching button-down shirt with rolled cuffs. His ink peeks out on his lower arms and chest. He freezes, dragging his eyes over me in approval, and my butterflies go crazy again.

He steps forward and spins me slowly. ‘You’re gorgeous, pet.’

I glance back at him. ‘You’re super handsome, Mr. Soon-to-be-Husband,’ I declare, but my voice shakes slightly. I add, ‘Can you tie my dress?’

‘Of course,’ he replies, then laces the back. He steps in front of me, assesses me again, then states, ‘But there’s something you’re missing.’

‘What?’ I fret.

He slides his hand over my gold collar and releases it. Then he pulls a platinum choker out of his pocket. It matches my ring perfectly. Diamonds the same size are laced all around the metal, and tiny rings are set around it, along with a few bigger ones. It’s a work of art, and there’s an engraving on it. It reads:

‘It’s beautiful,’ I gush.

He secures it around my neck. I go to the mirror and touch it, tracing the edges of the diamonds, then the rings, wondering what goes through Riggs’s mind when he selects my collars. Does he think about what he’s going to restrain me to?

I touch the bigger ring on the back, stating, ‘This is stunning.’

He steps behind me. His lips hit my ear, and he claims, ‘My soon-to-be wife is stunning.’ He pecks me on the cheek, then picks up my hand and kisses the back of it.

He says nothing else and guides me out of the room and onto the deserted beach, except for one person.

A female officiant wears a purple flowing dress and a matching lei in her hair. She chirps, ‘Welcome. My name is Makayla.’

‘This is Blakely, and I’m Riggs,’ he states.

The sun begins to set. It’s a clear night with no clouds anywhere.

Makayla goes through the process during the short ceremony. She recites the normal vows, which we’re to each repeat after her, but at the end of his vows, Riggs adds, ‘I vow to prove you wrong and work on my faults.’

It brings tears to my eyes.

Makayla turns to me and repeats the normal vows, and I take my turn saying them. At the end, I add, ‘I vow to always accept all of you, your faults and all.’

A look I’ve never seen on Riggs’s face forms. It’s a mix between happiness and darkness, and I guess it’s fitting since it represents all that’s really him.

Makayla pulls us out of our trance, announcing, ‘By the power vested in me by the state of Hawaii, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride.’

Riggs steps forward and holds my face in his hands for a moment, staring at me until I’m almost shaking with anticipation. Then he kisses me. It’s raw, consuming, and everything I’ve ever wanted from him.

And I wonder if this is real or if I’m dreaming. I never thought I would see Riggs so happy or that I’d be able to say that he’s truly mine, not just at this moment but forever.

All I want to do is keep us like this for the rest of our lives. And nothing within me believes anything could ever change the love I feel for Riggs or how I always want him to remain my everything.