Satan (28 page)

Circular wire baskets, intertwined with green ivy and peach and pink hibiscuses, were attached to each end of the dozens of pews lining the church’s interior. Thousands of soft petals were strewn down the center aisle, and the intoxicating aroma of old-world roses perfumed the cozy chamber.

Satan’s elation ratcheted with each anticipatory second.

Sinner was his best man, all the other squad members—Lucifer, Devil, Demon, Nikar, Jinn, and Volac—were groomsmen. He scanned the team standing to the right of him. His friends were dressed in matching navy morning suits, and red ties. Satan wore a black suit with a corresponding scarlet tie.

Organ music filled the church.

There was a flutter of activity at the entrance to the church.

Satan honed onto the vestibule, but could only discern the tops of heads, and a muddle of women.

He straightened, dusted a speck fluff off the sleeve of his jacket, and swallowed with difficulty because of his parched throat.

The strains of The Wedding March echoed around him.

Jacinta, dressed in a floor length gown the exact color of the groomsmen’s suits, was the first one up the aisle. The dress she’d chosen was fitted with a mermaid-like kick at the end. She looked beautiful.

His patience grew thinner than a bilini when Nalini swayed a graceful path after Jacinta halted.

Nalini took forever to reach the top of the aisle.

Satan’s discipline fractured when Destiny inched forward at an excruciatingly slow pace.

He fingered the suddenly too-tight starched shirt collar, noticed a pen smudge on his knuckle, and tried to wipe the blue stain off.

Jess took an eternity before she settled in place next to the other bridesmaids.

A collective gasp boomeranged around the chapel. He whisked his head up and laser-focused on the arched entrance from the lobby. Satan bit his lip, but it didn’t help. He couldn’t choke back his guffaw. Unable to stem the tidal wave, he burst into laughter.

Angel grinned right back at him.

His Angel had chosen a gown the same style as her bridesmaids. But the gown was the same color as the dressing robe she’d given him. Obsidian black inlaid with scarlet. His Angel wore Satan’s colors.

Award winning author, Jianne Carlo’s motto is simple: Alpha Me, Please.

While strong heroines, exotic locations, and cultural differences are her forte, she goes weak in the knees for bad boys, warriors, and alphas. Send her a man with an attitude, and she’ll find the right woman to tame him.

Jianne loves hot and spicy food, stomach-plunging park rides, and is kept on her toes by her Viking husband of thirty-five years, and three, handsome adult sons. Jianne’s a Zumba addict who loves to cook. Her favorite possession is her “Robo-stove.” She loves to hear from readers.

http://www.jiannecarlo.com