The Auction (Club Indulgence Duet, #1)(84)

"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.





26





Riggs

Two Weeks Later





The wheels screech on the ground, and the plane comes to a stop. I softly stroke Blakely's cheek. "Pet, wake up."

She stirs but snuggles closer to me.

I chuckle. "Come on, sweetheart. Time to wake up."

Her eyes flutter open. It takes her a moment to realize she's on the plane. She sits up, claiming, "Oh, I fell asleep."

I kiss her on the lips, replying, "Yeah, you were tired. We need to get going."

She rises, and we get off the plane and into my Porsche, which is waiting on the tarmac. It's only four in the morning, but I can't avoid reality anymore.

We stayed in Hawaii for two weeks. Hugh's been going crazy over the phone. He even told me about the safe and the rampage he went on. He fired the security team, and since he hired them, I didn't care. I don't trust anyone on his payroll.

He had the security footage reviewed. Our techs told him it had been tampered with but they were unable to trace the source. Still, Hugh's blaming somebody from the night security.

He spent the last ten days ordering me to get into the office and continuing to ask for my location. I kept it brief, telling him via text I was dealing with personal shit. Then I stayed in Hawaii longer to piss him off. But in all reality, I was enjoying my wife more than the joy I got from angering him further. Yet the time has come to finish Hugh off. Plus, I must ensure that Blakely gets her deal signed with one of these agents.

It's barely five when we arrive in Malibu. I debate about taking the surfboard out for a few rides but decide against it. There's too much to do today.

I shower, then go out to the kitchen.

Blakely pours a mug of coffee and hands it to me.

"Thanks," I say.

We sit down at the table, and she sips her coffee.

"Okay, pet, you have to make a decision. Which agent are you choosing?"

She groans and puts her hand over her face. "Can't you do it for me?"

"No, we've gone over this," I remind her.

I've done everything possible to steer her toward Jack Secroy over Noah Kingsley. Both are offering the same deals at this point.

Blakely wants complete freedom over her music, so I made sure both contracts clearly state she has full control. There's no doubt in my mind that Jack and Noah can take Blakely to the top. But something is telling me not to trust Noah.

It first happened when I caught him checking out Blakely's ass. It pissed me off. And then he had the guts to flirt with her in front of me. She was oblivious to it, but I'm sure as hell not. And while I won't trust any guy with her, something tells me that Jack is a better bet than Noah.

"Please just decide for me, Riggs. You're better at this," she whines.

I internally fight not to decide for her. I firmly answer, "No. Everything you said you wanted is in these contracts, and I've ensured you won't get screwed financially. But this is your career. So listen to your gut. What does it say?"

Please don't pick Noah.

She hesitates.

I wait, my heart racing.

She finally says, "Jack's really nice, but—"

"But what?" I question, my gut dropping.

She cringes, claiming, "He's a tad ruthless, don't you think?"

I grunt. "Yeah. I like that about him. What's wrong with ruthless? It gets you places in this industry."

She winces again.

I repeat, "What's so bad about being ruthless?"

She looks toward the window, tapping her fingers on her mug.

I take her hand and lace my fingers between hers, gently demanding, "Tell me."

She squeezes her eyes shut. She confesses, "Something about him reminds me of my father. I don't think I can work with him."