Runner (Riders of Apollo #3)

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Raphael Flores

The wedding is today and at the moment I'm trying to wrestle my wiggly little son into a suit. Lexie has demanded that little man carry the rings and walk down the aisle next to Gem. He is revolting against the whole thing. His suit is itchy, he's too hot or he's hungry or thirsty or something.

"Mika!" I shout from the pink room, hoping he can come and tame his hellion son since he believes every word that he says. He appears a few minutes later - after Ollie has managed to remove his jacket and undo his bowtie - wearing a suit of his own. It's a navy blue suit with a matching waistcoat and a white dress shirt, his brown brogues are shined and he has a white rose tucked in his lapel.

He looks absolutely delectable and I find it hard to keep my tongue in my mouth. "Raph! What is it?"

"Tame the hellion!" Ollie squeals with laughter as he knows I'm talking about him, sprinting behind the couch as Mika focuses his eyes on him.

"Little man, can you do me a favour today?" Ollie pokes his head out from behind the couch with interest. He likes taking on responsibility around the house, gets all excited about his chores and loves to do things for Mika. "I need you to put your suit on so that Marielle and Hunter can have a good day, hmm? Your suit matches mine." He coaxes him out from behind the couch and Ollie drops back into my lap with a pout.

"I don't like it, daddy." He turns the puppy dog eyes on Mika and I almost cheer, I can never resist them but he can.

"I know, sweetheart. Little secret, we don't like ours either but we're doing this for our friends okay? You want to make Gem happy, don't you?"

"Yeah... okay, daddy. I'll wear the suit." He frowns up at me as I retie the bow and do up his jacket. "Do I have to wear it for long?"

"No, buddy, maybe three hours at most. We'll all get changed after the ceremony."

"Oi! The wedding is about to start, dipshits. Things to do!" Saviour appears in the doorway with a smile on her face.

Mika will be escorting her down the aisle because she's the maid of honour and Mika is the best man. Lexie will be escorted by Bear, who is the other groomsman and she's the other bridesmaid.

The garden has been fully decorated, all the lights and the flowers look good. The bouquets are obviously the best because I'm awesome. It's dark out so the lights are clearer and the candles are all lit around the aisle and alter. We did well.

I drop little man off with the women and take my seat, winking at Mika as he readjusts his suit. The music starts and Gem is the first down the aisle with Ollie right next to her, twirling the velvet box in his fingers as Gem throws petals fucking everywhere. She even hits a few of us in the face and I think she's enjoying the power.

Saviour and Mika are next and I drool over the cocky walk and smirk. He shakes Hunter's hand and slips behind him, his eyes now focused on me.

Don't jump him at the wedding.

Don't jump him at the wedding.

Bear and Lexie are next, once they've taken their places the music changes tempo, causing us all to stand as Marielle comes in. She looks gorgeous and Hunter looks about ready to keel over, tears in his eyes as his daughter stands by his legs and grips his trousers.

Ollie gets bored of standing up by the time Marielle gets the altar and he dashes over and clambers into my lap. I cuddle him closer to my chest as the ceremony proceeds, nobody objects to the union - thank God, we don't want to kill anyone - especially not after all the guns on the altar were revealed in threat.

I don't really enjoy weddings, neither does Ollie if I go by the squirming and fidgeting and I'm thankful when it comes to an end. "Suit off now?" Is his first question, spinning around to look up at me with hopeful eyes.

"No, baby, pictures first." Lexie says as she passes with Bear still wrapped around her arm. Ollie acts like it's the worst thing to happen to him in his short life even though he's lived on the streets and begins to whine.

Mika swings him off my lap and tickles him, blowing raspberries on his neck to try and cheer him up while we're rounded up for pictures.

I keep both of them close to me as we're forced into awkward positions for all of these stupid pictures. I hate pictures, they drive me insane and now my face hurts from all the smiling. Ollie and Gem both decide to kick off at the same time, complaining that their outfits are itchy and a long list of other problems.

"Let's get you out of that suit, little man." I lift a crying and frustrated Ollie into my arms and carry him up to my room where I dropped off some extra clothes this morning, knowing this was gonna happen.

He breathes a heavy sigh of relief as soon as the suit is off of him and is out of the room less than a second later. Probably to join his friend and eat a load of cake. "You look hot in that suit." I laugh at Mika, who is staring at me from the door.

"You look better in yours." I purr in Spanish, knowing he doesn't understand me but enjoying his reaction to it anyway.

"I don't know what the fuck you just said but it sounded good." He closes the door and grabs me by the lapels to slam me against it.

"Wedding downstairs, child of ours too, Mr Sage." I manage to force out, my voice is breathless and my body is not reacting the same way as it should. It reaches out to press him against me, my hands tangling in his belt and my mouth searching for his.

He obliges. He kisses me slowly, his tongue coaxing my lips open before surging into my mouth. I give as good as I get, grasping at the back of his neck and tilting my head to accept more of him. His heady scent washes over me and he tugs on my hair hard enough for it to sting.

"Romeo! Get your ass done here now!" I groan as Lexie calls for him, already hating the distance he's creating between the two of us. I have to fight all my instincts to not reach out and bring him back to press against me.

"Duty calls." He winks at me before disappearing downstairs. I splash some cold water on my face to calm down my libido and jump back into the fray.