The Wrong Bride (The Windsors, #1)

by Catharina Maura

I turn to my wife and gently cup her cheek, my heart racing. “You’re not fucking thinking straight if you think I’m going to sit there and watch you choke back tears. You’re my wife, Raven. She’s nothing but your sister to me. I don’t give a fuck about my past with her, and I don’t want to hear about it either. I certainly won’t fucking sit here and let her hurt you.”

“You’re always so fucking wet for me, baby. Tell me, my love, have you always wanted me this way?” She looks at me, her eyes heavy with desire. “Always.”

“I love everything about you,” I whisper

I push into her all the way, already fucking ready to come. “I love your heart,” I whisper as I place both hands on her ass, pulling almost all the way out. “Fuck, Raven. I think I love you.” I thrust into her hard, and she cries out. “Ares, oh God,” she moans.

I drop my forehead against hers and inhale shakily. “Yeah, baby. I think I’m fucking in love with you.” “Ares,” she moans, her eyes finding mine. Her gaze is filled with cautious hope mixed with lust, and she’s never looked more beautiful. “Say that again.”

“I love you, Raven. I love you.”

“Ares,” she whispers, her voice husky. “I love you too.”

Raven Pervs be perving, my love. I’m not convinced that half those accounts aren’t actually just secret fan accounts you’ve created to stalk me with, though. Ares to be fair, that’s a pretty good idea. I should make a few more and drown them all out. Brb, I have something really important to do.

“Not for long,” she tells me. “You might be the one he’s married to now, but once his duty to you is over, he’ll come straight back to me. I will always be the one he truly wants, the one he wishes walked down that aisle. And you, my darling sister? You’ll always be my replacement, the one he was forced to settle for. You chased after him knowing exactly what kind of damage you’d cause, but you failed to account for the damage it’ll cause you in the end. No matter what you do, you will never be me, Raven. Not only will you eventually lose Ares…you lost me too. I hope your marriage to him is worth it because it’ll cost you everything.”

He’d never deny me anything, even if he has to take it away from his supposed wife. But then again…you already know that, don’t you? You know better than anyone else that he loves me with all he’s got. After a love like that, how much could possibly be left? How could anyone else ever measure up?” She rises to her feet and throws me a hard look. “I will never forgive you for what you did, Raven. You might think things are going well with Ares and that you made the right choice in doing what you did…but mark my words. You’ll regret marrying him one day, and he will come back to me. He always does.”

“Don’t,” I whisper. “I don’t have the courage to listen to your answers. I’d rather let my fears eat me alive than hear you confirm Hannah’s insinuations. I don’t think I can survive hearing you say that a small part of you still loves her. But I’m also scared that you’ll pity me and tell me everything I want to hear without meaning a single word. I’m scared that everything between us truly is just a duty for you, and I won’t survive you discarding me for her.”

“Are you done speaking, my love? I fucking hope so, because it’s my turn.”

“You, Raven Windsor, are the single most unexpected yet best thing that has ever happened to me. I wasn’t truly living before you. You drive me up the fucking wall in the very best way. You make me laugh every single day, and you, my beautiful wife, make me feel things I’ve never felt before. I thought I knew what love was, you know? I thought it meant compromise, selflessness, and patience. Now I know better. True love is maddening, all-consuming, and it’s fucking selfish, Rave. It’s impatience and counting down the minutes until you get home. It’s being petty about all the men sliding into your DMs and it’s fucking you raw on our brand-new sofa because I need you with an intensity that extends beyond the physical. “It’s decorating our home together and actually caring about the details because I want our home to be ours. It’s arguing with you when I normally would’ve let things go, simply because when it’s you, I actually care about every single little fucking thing. That, Mrs. Windsor, is love. Or at least, I think it is, because how else would you define the way I feel? You’re everything I didn’t realize I needed, and now that I’ve had you, I can’t go back to the life I had before you. Not ever. No matter what.”

“I didn’t see it coming either, but here we are, baby. You and me. It’s just you and me in this marriage, Raven. There’s no space for anyone else, so stop letting her in. I know it hurts, and I know you love her. It isn’t easy to figure out how to keep her in our lives when each time we see her, we’re confronted with a past we both wish didn’t exist. I feel the same guilt you’re feeling, but it isn’t ours to carry. You and I have done nothing wrong, you hear me?”

There’s a lot I’m willing to overlook, but tears in my wife’s eyes aren’t one of those things.

She’s always loved Hannah in a way Hannah never deserved. I can’t risk fueling Raven’s guilt.

Hell, if I’m truly honest with myself, I fell for you long before you said I do.” She looks at me with wide eyes, a sweet blush slowly coloring her cheeks pink. “And I love you,” she whispers back.

“You fucking captivate me,” I murmur against her lips. “Every fucking piece of you.” She groans and wraps her legs around my hips, her body flush against mine. “I love everything you are, right down to your beautiful soul. I love you, Raven.”

“I heard Hannah and you had an argument? She’s been incredibly upset and told me that you and Ares…that you’re together?” I grit my teeth for a moment and take a calming breath. “Is that so? I assume you told her to accept the fact that she chose to walk away from him? Did you remind her that I’m married to Ares? What exactly is so surprising about me being with my own husband? Surely she isn’t thinking anything immoral. You raised her better than that, didn’t you?” Sierra’s lips fall open, and then she grins wickedly, nodding to herself. I roll my eyes at her and continue to walk.

“Sure,” I say. “I hope you told her the same thing, Mom. I won’t provoke her, but don’t expect me to tolerate her toxic behavior for even a single second, because I won’t.” “Toxic?” Mom repeats, outraged. “Don’t even bother denying it,” I warn her. “I have neither the time nor the patience to deal with any of the excuses you’ll make for her. I’ll be there this weekend, and I’ll bring my husband.”

I squeeze her hand in thanks as we round the corner and walk into Grandma’s living room, where the rest are already waiting for us. Ares’s gaze drops to our joined hands, and he narrows his eyes. “Let go of my wife,” he warns, his tone unyielding.

“You’re not wearing your wedding ring,” I say, my tone nonchalant. “You know, the one you told me Ares gave you?” Her eyes widen, and she shoots him a furtive look before looking back at me. “No, I stored it away safely. I didn’t want to risk anyone asking questions about it.” Ares grabs my hand and lifts it to his lips, kissing the back of my hand and positioning it so my wedding ring sparkles in the light just right. “Just wear it if you want,” he tells her. “It’s a relatively simple piece of jewelry. It’s nothing but a relic from the past.”

“We stopped pretending long ago, Raven, and you know it.” She looks into my eyes, and my beautiful, strong wife…looks broken. “Did we?” she asks. “Or are we just fooling ourselves? Even my mother is trying to push you two back together, and it’s exhausting, Ares.”

The ferocity with which I want to reassure my wife startles even me. I’m not even remotely concerned about Hannah—Raven is all I can think about.

“I love you,” I whisper. “I fucking love you with all I am, Raven.”

“You’ve always wanted her, haven’t you?” I look up at her in surprise. “What?” She huffs and looks away. “Don’t even bother denying it. Do you know how many times I heard you moan her name in your sleep? Did you really think I didn’t realize you were dreaming about her?” She runs a hand through her hair again. “If I’m honest, that’s one of the reasons I couldn’t go through with it. I always felt like I stole you from her, since she was always meant to be your fiancé. I can see it, you know? I can see why your grandmother picked her and not me. The two of you have always had a bond that made me jealous. It still does.”

“You’re going to walk around without them,” I tell her. “And each time you feel my cum drip down your thighs, I want you to remember how much I fucking want you. I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you, Raven. I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you. You’re it for me. No matter what.”

“Over the last few months, you and I have destroyed the strenuous relationship we had, and what for? I won’t leave him, Hannah. Even if I tried, he wouldn’t let me. He loves me just as much as I love him. You realize that, don’t you?”

“I’ll never forgive you for going after Ares the way you did, Raven. I won’t give up on him either. If that means that I’ll have to sacrifice my relationship with you, then so be it. Let’s be real. We both hate each other anyway. The only reason we tolerate each other is because we have to.” My heart clenches painfully, and I inhale sharply. I always suspected that she hated me, but I tried so hard to convince myself that it was all in my head, that my own sister couldn’t possibly feel that way about me. “I loved you,” I tell her, my voice breaking. “I’m pretty sure I loved you from the moment I took my first breath, and I’ll love you until I take my last. It kills me that you don’t feel the same way, but at least I know now.” I take a step away, taking one last look at my sister. “You’re toxic, Hannah. Not just to me, but to yourself. It isn’t just me you’re losing today, you know? With each passing day, you lose more of yourself too. But you know what? It isn’t my job to save you. Not anymore.” I force myself to walk away from my sister, knowing deep down that I should’ve done it long ago.

You said something that night that I can’t get out of my mind. That night when I gave you your new tablet too, you mentioned working as an escape. You were clearly trying to get someone out of your system, and I need to know…are you over him now?” Her eyes widen, and then she looks away. “No,” she says, her smile bittersweet. My heart wrenches painfully, and I take a steadying breath. Raven’s eyes find mine, and she leans in, the back of her hand brushing over my cheek. “I don’t think I’ll ever get over you, Ares.” “What?” She chuckles and tilts her head, a vulnerable expression on her face. “It’s always been you. Maybe it’s wrong and fucked up, but I wanted you long before you were mine. I loved you long before I said I do

It’s odd how hard I find it to leave her for even just a single night. I want to be around her every second of every day, and even then, it isn’t enough.

He looks up at the ceiling for a moment. “I don’t get it. I asked her to send some flowers to my fiancée, and she just quit, right then and there. For years, she’s been sending flowers to Raven and Sierra on their birthdays and special occasions, but now it’s suddenly beneath her?” I smile at him and shake my head. “You’re a fucking idiot, aren’t you?”

“I suppose it’s good for her, though,” Zane says. “She should go on some dates, find someone to settle down with. She’s right, you know? Val has been overworking herself. You’ve got her on call 24/7, and she barely has a social life. She attends family dinner with us more often than she sees her own family because you can’t fucking function without her. I hope she finds a wonderful man to marry.” Luca’s horrified expression makes it hard to keep a straight face, but somehow, we all manage it. He rises to his feet in a rush, his chair clattering to the floor loudly. “Get me a driver,” he tells me. “I need to go somewhere.”

He wraps his arm around my shoulder, no doubt in an effort to reassure me, but nothing can calm my pounding heart. How could she be pregnant? What does this mean for us? My thoughts are whirling, and I try my hardest to fight the lightheadedness I feel. I can’t afford to panic right now. I can see the life I wanted with Ares slip away as Hannah claws her way back into our lives, smothering me.

He nods and lays his head on my lap, his arms wrapped around my waist. I should’ve known better than to think I finally got my own happily ever after. Happiness has always been out of reach for me. Ares has always been out of reach.

think you know as well as I do that what I have with her was years in the making. I just didn’t realize it.” Genuine pain flashes through her eyes, and she flinches. “Is this really what it’s going to be like, Ares? Is our child going to grow up with parents who can’t even have one single conversation that isn’t drenched in resentment?” I look away, unable to even imagine a future for the four of us. I take a deep breath and push a stack of papers her way.

“If you and I are having a child together, we’ll need to come to an agreement about how we’re raising it.” She picks up the documents, her eyes widening. “You want to adopt the baby?” I nod. “Let’s be real, Hannah. You can’t raise a child, but I can. Raven and I can. I want full custody, and you’ll get full visitation rights. You’ll be able to continue filming and working. Your life won’t be impacted at all, and our child will be raised in a loving home. He or she won’t lack anything.”

She shakes her head. “Do you think I’m stupid, Ares? I sign away my rights, and next thing I know, I’m cut out of your lives. I won’t let that happen. Tell me, was that Raven’s idea? Isn’t it enough for her to be a home-wrecker?” “Watch your mouth,” I snap. “I’m fucking sick of you putting words in her mouth and blaming her for things she hasn’t done. You walked away, Hannah. End of story. Raven is my wife, and so help me God, you will respect her. Don’t try this fucking shit with me. She might let you get away with this bullshit, but I won’t. If you’re going to be part of our lives, you’d better learn your fucking place.”

Yet now, with Raven around, you’re suddenly acting different, and I’m supposed to believe it isn’t because of her? Is this how our child is going to grow up, with a father that disrespects their mother because their slut of a stepmom told him to?” I smile at her humorlessly. “You never fucking knew me at all, Hannah. You wonder why I fell for her so hard, so quickly? It’s because I never loved you in the first place. It never fully occurred to me before, but you were an obligation, someone I tolerated and placated because I thought I had no other choice. I never lost my patience with you because I never truly gave a fuck about you.”

I walk into the house I’ve come to love so much, the home Ares and I built, and it all feels so impermanent. Just as I convinced myself to choose happiness, to put myself first, life showed me that I don’t deserve it. I tense when I hear Grandma’s voice, my heart racing. I should’ve known that it wouldn’t take her long to find out about this. No doubt she’ll be excited to welcome her first great-grandchild, and it’s going to kill me to watch her fuss over Hannah. It’s like every single thing I want out of life can’t be mine if it isn’t Hannah’s first.

Grandma shakes her head. “No. I would never ask that of you. I would want nothing more than to keep you in our lives. What I’m asking you to do is to choose yourself. Choose happiness. Prioritize yourself. No one else is going to do it for you, child. It is my hope that you’ll think things through and choose Ares regardless, but I want you to know that you have my support if you decide otherwise.”

“Ares and I are getting an ultrasound soon to check if we can find out the gender. Do you want to come?” She hesitates for a moment. “You’ll be part of our child’s life too. I want you to feel included. The four of us are going to be a family, after all.” I look up at her, my heart bleeding. “Sounds great,” I force myself to say. “It’s odd, isn’t it? The way all the pieces fell back into place. It’s almost as if destiny is intervening, showing us all that Ares and I are meant to be together. The only puzzle piece that’s out of place is you.” Her eyes widen, and then she smiles. “Sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. That came out all wrong.”

“Enough,” he tells me as he walks out, his grip tight. “I’ve given you a few days to process what happened, but that’s as much as I’ll give you. You’re done running, beautiful. No more avoiding me. That’s not how we deal with our problems, remember?”

“When I woke up with her, I was sure I’d lost my chance with you, Raven. I thought I could never have you after sleeping with your sister. I was as hurt as you were. The one I wanted was you. Only you.”

He cups my cheek and forces me to face him, his eyes filled with the same anguish I feel. “I love you,” he tells me. “I loved you then, and I love you now. Hell, if I’m honest with myself, I never stopped.” He leans in, his lips brushing over mine as he kisses me, his touch filled with desperation. “I thought I lost my chance with you, Raven. I did what I could to ensure I could keep you in our lives.”

“I’ll never walk away. You’re it for me, baby. No matter what,” he vows.

“Windsor?” Silas puts the phone on speaker and holds it out for us. “Where is my wife? The bodyguards I had on her told me they lost her. They were supposed to be the best you’ve got, so where the fuck is she? The entire fucking world is after her, and your men fucking lost her. If anyone so much as harms a single hair on her head, I will fucking kill you.”

Silas groans when the doorbell rings, his eyes finding Alanna’s. “How much do you want to bet that we’re about to find more Windsors on our doorstep?” She grins at him and shrugs. “I’d be disappointed if they didn’t show up, Si. Raven deserves to be part of a family that’ll love her the way her own won’t. Let’s see if the Windsors deserve her or not.”

I lean back on the sofa as Alanna jokes around with Sierra and Valentina, my heart full. Luca, Zane, Lex, Sierra, and Valentina have been staying here with me, much to Alanna’s delight and Silas’s annoyance.

He breathes a sigh of relief and drops his head against mine. “Thank God,” he says. “I don’t think he’d survive losing you.” The helicopter flies back toward us, until it’s hovering above the balcony. A ladder is thrown out, and my eyes widen when Ares climbs down it. “Fucking shit,” Silas grunts. “He used the tent as a diversion so I wouldn’t notice he was no longer in it, then he used the banner to draw us out onto the balcony. Clever fucking asshole. I have no doubt he’d actually have camped in my lobby until I told him where you were if he hadn’t found you. Fucker must’ve realized my bodyguards never would’ve lost you.”