Free The Convenient Wife (A BWWM Steamy Marriage of Convenience Romance) by Imani King Page A

open.

 
    “Step inside and we’ll begin.”

 
    As Gigi and I stepped into the dark
room, the smell of flowers greeted us. The lights clicked on, and I saw there
was a small, but colorful arrangement sitting on top of a table beneath a white
wooden archway.

 
    I glanced over at Gigi to see a
smile blossoming on her face as the two of us stepped made our way toward the
arch, Mr. Holloway closing the door behind us.

 
    “The flowers are lovely,” Gigi said,
gently brushing her fingers over the petals.

 
    “Oh, I’m glad you think so. I don’t
work often, but when I come in, I try to have a fresh arrangement here for the
ceremonies. Everyone deserves to have flowers at their wedding, don’t you
think?”

 
    Now it was my turn to smile. I
wasn’t sure I ever met a nicer old man before in my life. Deep down, I even
wished my grandfather was like him.

 
    “Shall we begin, then?” he asked,
his smile as wide as ever.

 
    “Yes, please,” Gigi said, taking my
hand as the notary took his place in front of the arch, Gigi and I standing on
either side in front of him.

 
    I could feel the lump in my throat
again as we took our positions, the fluttering in my stomach returning in full
force. God, I couldn’t believe my own fake marriage was giving me the jitters.

 
    “Well, then,” the notary said with a
smile, “We are gathered here today to bind two people in the loving bond of
matrimony. A bond forged with compassion and understanding—a partnership.”

 
    I swallowed hard, looking into
Gigi’s eyes as the notary gave his speech. I felt a crackle of electricity
spark as she met my gaze. Something felt strange.

 
    “Do the two of you have any words to
say before we continue? Vows you wish to share?”

 
    “J-Just the usual,” I managed to
stammer out, drawing an amused quirk of Gigi’s eyebrow.

 
    Mr. Holloway chuckled. “Very well,
then. Do you, Georgia Lynn Deveraux, take Dorian Eugene Lambert to be your
lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold in sickness and in health?”

 
    “Isn’t there supposed to be a line
about death in there?” I asked.

 
    “Normally, but I found it a little
morbid—and with divorce rates these days, I thought it best to start leaving it
out.”

 
    I nodded, trying to avoid Gigi’s
glare as she returned her focus to Mr. Holloway. “How romantic,” I muttered,
and winced as she kicked me.

 
    “I do,” she said through her teeth.

 
    “And do you, Mr. Lambert, agree to
everything I just asked Ms. Deveraux?” the notary asked, his smile still as
sweet as ever.

 
    I wrinkled my nose. “I do.” And when
Mr. Holloway wasn’t looking, I stuck my tongue out at her for good measure.

 
    “Then by the power vested in me by
the State, I now pronounce you husband and wife,” Mr. Holloway said. He beamed.
“You may now kiss the bride.”

 
    I caught Gigi’s gaze, licking my
lips nervously as I turned toward her. Oh,
God, I thought, color rushing to my cheeks. I forgot about this part.

 
    I leaned forward, suddenly forgetting
the practiced methods I’d used on countless women over my entire adult life. It
was like the sudden fact that this kiss was supposed to mean something turned the act into something too arcane to even
decipher.

 
    Our lips met, stiffly at first, but as
a second passed, they softened into one another’s touch. I felt her warmth
washing over my mouth and tentatively placed my hand at her side, squeezing her
waist and bringing her closer. My stomach tingled when she gasped through her
nose.

 
    I closed my eyes, and without
realizing what was happening, I kissed her more deeply, more passionately, a
simple touch turned into a tight embrace that seemed to last for an eternity
and an instant all at once. It might have lasted longer, but the sound of a
camera going off pulled both of us back to reality.

 
    “I though you might want to remember
the moment,” Mr. Holloway said, smiling