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“Fuck,” I whisper, my chin shaking uncontrollably as I try not to totally lose my shit.
“Man up, buddy. Come on. That’s your girl.” Trey pats my back, trying to help rein me back in, but it’s too late for that. I have waited a thousand forevers, touched the skin of an angel, and felt the love of a savior, and each day, I believed having it forever would never come. Now it has. The queen in white makes her way to me, and I can’t stop thinking this is all a vivid dream. And when I do realize it’s real—for a split second—it hits me again, and I lose it.
As they stand in front of me now, I don’t wait for Jeffrey to give her away. Practically stealing her rather than accepting the gift of having her, I pull her against me. Flush against my skin, my one hand firmly planted around the thin column of the back of her neck, and my other on her lower back, I drop my forehead to hers and she wipes away my tears.
“This isn’t fucking real,” I whisper.
“It is. This is real, Kingston.”
“Call me baby, then.”
“Baby, open your eyes and marry me.” My beacon in the dark pulls me from any doubt I had. This is real.
The preacher hasn’t said a word, giving us a moment, and Jeffery walks away with nothing but a grunt.
“This isn’t a marriage. This is me pledging my forever to you.” I lean in and kiss the dimple of her cheek.
“Then give me that forever and take mine,” she responds, mimicking my motion, kissing my cheek.
Nodding, our heads roll with the motion and we share a contagious smile, staying in our little bubble for a few seconds longer before giving our attention to the preacher. Only, I don’t let go of Lana; my possessive hand stays firmly clutching the back of her neck, and my other now moves to her hip. We make our promise, pledge our love, and when it comes time for our vows, I drop my forehead back to hers, shutting out the wedding party, whispering our love to one another only.
I speak first. “Queen. Baby. Lana. These dimples.” I kiss each one. “These tiny arms.” I tilt my head and kiss the soft tan skin of her bicep. “This heart.” I lean and kiss the top of her breast, above her fast-beating heart. “The soul inside you.” I pull her in closer, my bent frame still not able to get close enough.
“They are the cornerstones to my life. I never knew that when this day would come that I would be able to stand here and profess a deeper love than the love I had for you the past fifteen years, but that changed the moment you walked to me like a vision. I stand here a man more in love than poets love their words. More than the moon loves its stars. You’re everything to me and our children. You made us men of blessings.” I touch her belly, feeling the slight bump. “You made a boy a man. I will never regret what we went through in our weakest moments, in order to stand here at our strongest. Love me forever, baby.”
Her tears are small. Her smile is subtle but impacting, and I know she felt those fucking words.
“Forever.”
“Give me those words. Carry me away, baby.” We keep our foreheads joined, and I move my hands up to cup her face and catch her tears with my thumbs.
“King. My only everything. You loved me in the darkest moments, followed me into those shadows that promised us both more pain than happiness. But you did it willingly, because you love me. I begged you to give me forever and you did, even when it seemed I stole it from you at times, when you wanted to take it back. And you did, but you gave it back to me over and over again without hesitation, and I promise to repay you everyday, with more love and respect. With patience and time. With a house full of our children.” She bites her lip and I growl, knowing baby number two will not be the last.
“I will promise to love you forever, if you promise to keep me forever,” she whispers, her brown irises stealing my breath with their depth.
“Forever. You’re mine forever.” Granting us our kiss, I give her a soul-stealing one. The ending of our past and the beginning to our new future starts when our lips part. What a life to leave behind for a lifetime of promise and worth, beauty and light.
Lana will be my forever, and I will never regret the king she made me, the man she inspired in me. I was named Kingston at birth, but my name never earned its meaning until I found Lana—my queen.
I wore a stunning dress, and even in my scars, I felt washed clean of a life where I was drowned in misery. Kingston made a broken woman whole today, and just like he always does, he fought like hell to keep me. We pledged our love today, but we also gave our forevers to one another in the most intimate way.
His vows are tattooed onto my heart, his touch is imprinted on my skin, and his soul is now mine, as mine is his. I watch him dance with my mother as I dance with my father, listening to him talk about how much he loves me. I hear it even from feet away. I can feel it in the passing breeze.
Daddy doesn’t say much, already having said enough words of love and encouragement during his toast. Moments ago, when he stole me for a dance, he placed me on his feet and told me I will always be his, but now I will be a wife and mother, two of the hardest jobs he couldn’t find a more perfect fit for.
We fell silent again, and I lost myself in watching Kingston, now in only his vest and formfitting white button-up shirt. He looks edible, and tonight I plan to ravish him. All I want to do now that we are married is kiss him, touch him, hold his hand, and whisper I love you every second I get.
“Go t
o him.”
I look up at my father and his eyes glisten. He’s trying not to cry, because he knows I have found a new number one. My father will always be my first love, but Kingston is my real love, my most epic love.
“I love you. Please know that you will always be my daddy.”
He nods, kissing my cheek. “I know.”
I wipe his tear, lean, and give a gentle kiss to his cheek then let him go, watching one protector let me go as my savior takes a hold of me.
