Taming His Demon Lover-Chapter 23: In this together

Annoyed, he couldn’t hide the threat in his commanding tone when Andras blurted out, "our dear vicar is waiting on your reply, sweet Robin."

It was Malachi who said encouragingly, "don’t keep the vicar waiting, it will all be over soon."

Robin nodded.

He didn’t want to look to his left to see the grim expression Robin could only imagine was on Andras’ face.

It should have occurred to Robin that the vicar would want to make sure that he was not being forced into this marriage.

Filled with conflicting feelings Robin wanted to flee the podium but pride prevented him from trying to run away from this torment.

Theirs was an uncertain future that made Robin feel apprehensive.

Unconsciously. He started to fidget again and couldn’t keep his eyes from straying to the left; Robin felt helpless as he stared at Andras’ massive chest.

On the small podium Andras’ size was even more intimidating.

The top of Robin’s head couldn’t even come near the giant’s chin.

Just a while ago Robin had some confidence.

Why did now feel as if it had deserted him?

When Andras deliberately leaned over to nudge him into action, Robin instinctively took a step backwards.

If he kept retreating; it was only a matter of time before he fell off the podium.

Andras on the other hand felt like this wedding ceremony must be one of his demon trials built to personally test his patience.

He was gearing up to bark at Robin to answer the damn vicar when Robin innocently looked him directly in the eyes.

Andras forgot what he wanted to say and the intensity of his own reaction took him by surprise.

Robin’s good looks made his palms sweat and Andras’ breath hitch in the back of his throat.

He had only been separated from Robin for about an hour but Andras felt like he hadn’t taken the time to frankly appreciate how truly breathtaking Robin looked in his white tuxedo.

Under the glint of the blazing sun the young man really was a work of art, a true masterpiece.

He couldn’t control his staring and he knew the crowd was tittering about how much Robin captivated him.

Now Andras realized when it comes to Robin he wasn’t setting an example; he wasn’t acting any better than his men around him.

Robin couldn’t tell how long they stood staring at each other, yet suddenly he felt Andras’ hand was on top of his own.

This slight movement helped calm Robin’s nerves down significantly and he no longer felt like it was Robin versus the world alone.

Andras was reminding him that they were in this together.

So Robin submitted and finally surrendered to the inevitable.

"Yes, good vicar, please go ahead with the wedding ceremony..."

"That’s all well and good my boy but you must say the words, young Lord. The church requires your consent so you must state clearly that you are marrying Lord Andras Mulciber of your own free will."

Robin yelled, "I hereby declare in front of everyone gathered that Lord Andras Mulciber is my choice. I want to marry him."

"I accept your conviction," the vicar answered. Then turning to Andras he asked, "Lord Mulciber, could you get your men on this podium to form a half-circle behind you. They will be the official witnesses to this joyous union."

"Lord Robin, are you ready?"

"Yes, I am."

"Good." The vicar smiled. "You look splendid my boy."

The devout man of the church was just trying to encourage Robin and offered a bit of praise but it was clear that the men gathered around them objected.

If there frowns were anything to go by as these pirates were known for being very brash and possessive.

The poor vicar didn’t realize until the words had slipped out of his mouth that this attitude would also be extended to a representative of the church.

Since religion and the state coexisted peacefully, the young vicar hastily hurried to repair the damage his words might have done.

"What I meant to say to Lord Mulciber is that thanks to you, Robin realized his good fortune to be married to someone of your caliber and that is why he looks so splendid. I only wanted to highlight this fact in a positive way."

Andras didn’t see the evil looks and the slit throat gestures that his inner circle sent to the vicar from behind his back so he just nodded placatingly.

So that the vicar would proceed with his duty of blessing the union of Andras and Robin since they were extremely behind schedule.

Agitated, the vicar finally proceeded with his sermon on the roles of the grooms and the responsibilities each would accept once they were officially married.

By now Robin should have accepted that Lord Andras was going to become his husband.

For the year they were to stay married they would be legally wed in the eyes of the church and the royal Summer Court.

So Andras needed to ensure that Robin understood what this marriage meant.

Andras could appreciate his beauty later in private but bright now he wanted to be a proper gentleman.

So he put his arm around Robin’s shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze before letting go and paying attention to words the vicar was reciting by rote memory.

In return Robin flashed him a smile that was radiant and he unconsciously removed a piece of lint from Andras’ lapel then patted him until a wrinkle was gone.

Andras leaned in closer to whisper in Robin’s ears since he couldn’t resist teasing him.

"All eyes are on us, it isn’t appropriate to show your affection in front of everyone like this until we have exchanged vows."

Shocked, Robin paused briefly before snatching his palm away from Andras’ buff chest.

Robin’s ears turned red before he whispered softly, "I wasn’t doing anything of the sort."

"Yes. You were."

Robin frowned.

It was clear to him that Andras liked having the last word.

He watched Andras smile as he turned away from Robin and concentrated on the vicar’s preaching.

Andras definitely shared that same twisted humor as his crew, were all the people that lived on Hell’s Island as perverse as their leader.

He hoped not since it was to be his home for a year.

Robin stifled yet another yawn as he had long since stopped paying attention to what the vicar was saying.

"I repeat," said the vicar clearing after clearing his throat. "Please turn to face Lord Andras while you recite your vows."

Panic rose up in Robin’s eyes, he hadn’t written anything and Robin couldn’t think of anything to say off the top of his head.

As if reading his mind Andras went ahead first, reciting the promise and commitment he made to Robin.

Andras made it look easy as he wrapped up his vow with a quick promise to protect and honor Robin. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Painstakingly the vicar coaxed, "It’s your turn now, my boy."