Her Reluctant Husband by Erica Marselas (books to read for 12 year olds .TXT) 📕

one second, he could look at me like I wasn’t the enemy, and I was doing this because I care about him, about his family, but he won’t.

"Do you have the rings?" Mr. Kelley asks and that causes Alex’s head to snap to attention and look to Kelley.

"Nobody said anything about rings,” Alex snaps bitterly.

"I have one," I say and release Alex's hand to pull the silver tungsten ring off my thumb. The ring belonged to my dad, and my dad loved Alex like his own son, so despite all of the craziness, I know he would want him to have it. Well, maybe he wouldn’t want Liz practically forcing us into marriage, but… "It was my dad's," I tell him. “Hopefully it will fit you.”

Taking Alex's hand, I slip the ring onto his finger. It slides past his knuckle with ease, making a perfect fit. His eyes glaze over as he stares at the ring, and he clears his throat roughly as he yanks his hand away from me. "I don't have a ring for you." He shrugs. "Sorry."

"Liz left one for you." Kelley pulls out a ring and by the gold band and three-square diamonds, I know it's Liz's old wedding band. The one her husband gave to her. She’d lost him only eight years into their marriage. When Kathleen and I used to play dress up, Liz would let us wear it. It made us feel like we were royalty or even brides.

It should've been Kathleen's. 

And by the dark look that washes over Alex’s face, I know he's thinking the same.

He shakes his head, turning away from the ring like it’s the most hideous thing he has seen. "I'm not using that. I'll get her something later," he grumbles. "Like something from a gumball machine."

"Alex," Ms. Gandy says sternly, “Liz wanted her—"

"It's fine," I say quickly cutting her off and plastering a tight smile on my face even though, it's as if he jammed another knife into my already bleeding heart. I wish for five minutes his words wouldn’t gut me like they do. "I don't need one to prove my commitment. It's just a ring."

“Commitment,” he mutters under his breath. “Like you knew what that was five years ago.” The bitterness seeps out of his voice and I'm about to ask him what the fuck he is talking about when he adds. “Can we get this over with?"

“June?” Kelley asks me, the ring still between his fingers, and concern written all over his face.

“It’s fine, really,” I whisper. “Join us together or whatever you have to do.”

Kelley tucks the ring back into his suit pocket and clears his throat to get back into action. "With the power vested in me and the state of Texas I now pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss your bride."

“Kiss? So, we really do have to play this up?” Alex mutters, and leans in to kiss my cheek, so soft I barely feel it.

“Come on Alex. Try to kiss her, really kiss her. She’s your wife. Act like it,” Ms. Gandy pushes, causing Alex to snort like a raging bull.

"Seriously?" He glares over at Ms. Gandy and Maggie who are nodding their heads.

"Seriously."

"You don't have—"

But my words are left hanging in the air as he cups my face and his warm lips land on mine. What I thought was going to be an overexerted kiss turns to more.

His tongue sweeps over my lips, gently asking for permission and I let him in. He tastes as good as I remember, and though his kiss is aggressive, like he’s trying to prove his hate for me, somewhere deeper, is the underlying passion burning between us. The evidence being when he moans down my throat and his not so subtle erection pokes me in the stomach.

As our kiss gets suspended in time, I grip the lapels of his tux, trying to hold on to it. Our light burns, even if it’s dim, very dim, and it makes me feel nineteen again and as if nothing bad happened between us. I might be only creating a fairytale for myself, one that will disappear when we separate, but I don’t care because, for one moment, the world is okay. For one second, I can have a pleasant dream.

His fingers tangle in my hair, as he pulls away, but his inviting lips are still only inches away. “Alex,” I moan, not wanting this moment to end.

All the clouds drift away, as his green eyes blaze into mine, a dark, soulless look, behind a raging fire.

"Better?" he asks gruffly, releasing his hold on my hair, but his fingers trace down my bare back, making me shiver. I’m still on a high from that kiss, and my body is awakened to his little touches.

I wet my lips preparing to answer his question, though I know it wasn’t for me.

I want more. I want to go back to the good.

"Much,” Ms. Gandy and Maggie agree at the same time. I’m only able to nod because words escape me at the moment.

Alex pushes his lips to my ear. "Don't expect that all the time. I only wanted to make our guests happy," he whispers snidely, and all the magic of the make-believe fairytale I was in moments ago is now totally lost. Now I can only kick myself for getting caught up in the what if.

“No, never,” I retort and push away from him. Lifting my dress, I step around his towering figure. “I think it’s time to go inside. It’s getting a little warm and I’m sure we all have better things to do.” Like all I want to do now is strip out of this dress and cuddle up with a book to try and forget this day.

“Never thought I would say this, but