The Sacrifice (L.O.R.D.S., #3)

by Shantel Tessier

When he pulls away first, ending the kiss, I hate that I don’t step back. That I willingly stay close to him. He gives my lips a gentle peck before he breathes into my ear so only I can hear.

Ryat pulls a sucker out of his mouth, leaning his forearms on the railing. “You let her wear that?” “It’s her uniform,” I answer. “Yeah.” He sucks on the sucker once more before pulling it free from his mouth. “I get why you’re doing it, but how are you doing it?” I push off the railing and turn to face him. He shrugs at my silence. “Even before I loved my wife, she was mine. And I don’t like anyone seeing what belongs to me.” He pulls his cell out of his pocket to reply to a text he just received,

#ryatblakely

His cell rings, breaking the silence, and he answers. “Hello?” He nods to himself. “I just stopped by Blackout for a second. I’m about to leave and will be home soon. Need me to stop and get anything for you?” He listens as the person—I’m guessing his wife—on the other end speaks. “Love you.” He hangs up and stands. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

#ryatblakely

She throws her arms around my neck. “Thank you.” She presses her lips to mine to give me a kiss. It’s innocent and thoughtless on her part. Just an action of gratitude. She goes to pull away, but I use my hand that holds onto her head to keep her in place.

I look over to see Ryat and Blakely talking. Her elbow is on the table, face in her hand. I can’t hear what he’s saying to her over the voices in the room, but she’s smiling at him. He reaches out and pushes her dark hair behind her ear before he leans in and kisses her. I watch shamelessly as she leans into him. Her hand drops from her face to run along his black button-up. Placing his forehead on hers, he breaks the kiss only to give her a soft one. It’s like he can’t get enough of her, and the way she pulls him into her says she feels the same way.

#ryatblakely

Ryat steps into me, his green eyes narrowing on mine. “Stay the fuck away from my wife.” His voice is as cold as Tyson’s can be. They’re trained to be that way.

#ryatblakely

“What if I have to fart?” I ask softly, my cheeks heating up with embarrassment.

Laikyn Grace Crawford is mine. And I’ll prove it to the fucking world. If I have to carve my name all over her flawless skin, I will.

I need something to replace it. It doesn’t have to shock me, but something to show the world that I belong to Tyson Crawford. I’m his Lady. The ring—that I’m still missing—isn’t enough. Wives wear a ring to show they’re married. I need something more. Our marriage isn’t traditional, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Not like I put up much of a fight anyway.

I wish I knew then what I know now. I would have let him put that collar, leash, and gag on me. I would have crawled down this long aisle, leaving a trail of my drool behind me to be his whore in front of my family just to piss them off. Embarrass them.

He leans over my back, and I hear his heavy breathing in my ear. “Say your vows, little darling,” he orders roughly. “Remind me that you belong to me.” “I vow.” I manage to get out as my hips hit the Lords’ table. My hands reach out in front of me, needing to hang on to something, but there’s nothing there, so I slap them on the surface. “You vow,” he growls before his teeth sink into my neck, making my breath hitch and my body break out in goose bumps. “We vow,” we both say, and my eyes fall closed as his free hand wraps around my waist and holds me tightly as the ground comes out from underneath me.