The-Wrong-Bride-Ares--Raven’s-story-(Maura,-Catharina)_bibis

jacket. “It’s unfortunate that you’re hiding my favorite parts of your body.”
She strokes my chest, and I grab her hand, keeping it in place over my heart. “Your favorite parts,
huh? If my cock isn’t your favorite part of my body, then I’m not doing my job properly. I promise you
that I’m about to remedy that.”
She smiles at me, a hint of wonder in her eyes. I suppose this is as surreal to her as it is to me. We
were never meant to be together. We were never meant to be so perfect together.
“Allow me to make you another promise, Raven.” I lift her hand and grab the ring she designed,
placing it at the tip of her finger before I look into her eyes. “You and I started our marriage under the
worst possible circumstances, and even now, it feels like so much stands between us, like the odds
are stacked against us. I don’t know what our future will hold, Rave, but this much I promise you:
throughout our entire marriage, you will be everything to me. I will prioritize you above all else, and
I’ll do everything in my power to ensure you’ll never feel like you’ve had to sacrifice anything to
marry me. I know the road we’ve chosen to walk isn’t an easy one, but I can’t think of a better partner
on this journey.”
Raven smiles at me, her eyes filled with unshed tears. My hands tremble as I push her ring onto
her finger. I wasn’t even this nervous when I proposed to Hannah. That had just been a formality, but
this? This is a real moment between us, one I didn’t think I’d ever have.
I hand Raven the ring she designed for me with a sheepish smile on my face. “Do you want to put
that on me, or should I put it on myself?”
She shakes her head and grabs my hand, placing my ring at the tip of my finger, mimicking my
earlier movements. “Ares,” she says, her voice trembling. “You were never supposed to be mine, but
now that you are, I promise to give this marriage my all. It’s been odd for both of us, and I know
we’re still adjusting to being together. You’re right to say that so much is still uncertain, but this much
I promise you: for the rest of our lives, I’ll be true to you in every way. You’ll be everything to me,
and I’ll do everything within my power to be the best wife you ever could’ve asked for.”
She slides my ring onto my finger, her hand trembling the way mine just did. Our wedding was a
farce, but this moment between us? That’s as real as it’ll ever get.
“Are we really doing this?” she whispers.
I nod and drop my forehead to hers. “We already did, Rave. We’ve been married for a month now.
It’s about time we face the facts and work toward a future together.”
“Do you truly see a future with me, Ares? When we first got married you… well, you mentioned
leaving me in three years. Do you still want to? I need to know. I can’t… I don’t want to get hurt.”
I cup her cheek and look into her eyes, my thumb brushing over her lips. “I will never let you go,
Raven. Fuck what I said. I was a fucking moron who didn’t realize that he’d struck fucking gold.
You’re my wife, for better or worse. Only you. For as long as I live.”
She sniffs and smiles through the tears that fill her eyes. “Promise me. You told me you never
break a promise, so promise me that you’ll be mine for the rest of our lives. No matter what.”
I drop my forehead to hers and inhale shakily. “I’m yours, Raven Windsor. Forever. I promise.”
I pinch her chin and tilt her face toward mine as I lean in, taking her lips in one long, leisurely
kiss. Her arms wrap around my shoulders, and I push up against her, deepening our kiss. Fuck. How
many times have I fantasized about kissing her when I really shouldn’t have? Being able to take her
lips so freely is surreal.
“Tomorrow,” I whisper against her lips. “Let’s announce our marriage tomorrow.” I know that
announcing our marriage means a lot of additional eyes on us, and it’s bound to make Hannah panic,
but fuck it. I need the world to know that she’s mine.