The Auction (Club Indulgence Duet, #1)(83)

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: Forever owned. Love, Riggs.

"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."