22
AGKK
ALEX
It’s funny how life works out. How, with hindsight, you can trace all the decisions that led you to where you are.
Like, how, if I hadn’t gone to college, I wouldn’t have met Gabe. And if Courtney hadn’t died, I might not have ended up with my own security company. And then I wouldn’t have met Katherine. Or King.
Thousands of small decisions. Pros and cons, weighed and measured. And in the end, here we are.
Standing on a picture-perfect terrace overlooking the Adriatic Sea at sunset. Three men, all in love with the same woman. Friends. Lovers. Bonded stronger than any brotherhood I’ve ever belonged to.
So I don’t need Kingston’s sharp back-handedwhack across my chest to alert me to Katherine’s arrival. Not at all. Unlikesome people, I haven’t seen my bride inhours,and my eyes are dry from watching for her.
And there she is.
Filling the arched doorway with feminine perfection.
Hair swept up, so similar to the night of the auction. Except this time, there’s a translucent veil draped behind her shoulders. The dress caresses her skin in a way that makes me ache with jealousy.
I pull my shoulders back, fighting the riot of emotions welling in my chest, and glance over at King.
His jaw is practically hanging down around his collarbone, and his eyes are bright. And dammit, that makesmemisty-eyed.
To my left, Gabe is equally locked in on our woman. A little more composed than King but still vibrating with intensity. This morning, he admitted that in his wildest dreams, he never imagined marrying someone as amazing as Katherine. Never could have envisioned a day like today.
But I’m pretty sure we all feel that way right now, and there’s something calming about that. Knowing that you’re not alone in all these feelingsand longings and desires, it’s almost… I don’t know. Peaceful.
Katherine looks calm, almost serene, as the quartet begins a soft rendition ofSalut d’Armour. Her attention skips over our guests, past the incredible view, and lands squarely on the three of us. She locks eyes with King, then holds my gaze for a long second before moving on to Gabe.
One heartbeat turns to two, then three, a half dozen.
Am I the only one holding my breath?
Then, finally, with a bouquet of pale pink flowers in one hand, Katherine gathers the skirting and descends the steps, flashing us a glimpse at her emerald green stilettos. The same pair she wore to the auction.
King finally got to see her in that gown. And now she’s wearing those same shoes, a throwback to whenwestarted. There’s another squeeze of my heart. When did I get so damned sentimental?
She’s got the something old.
And that sparkler around her neck is definitely something new.
King was right on the money with both the dress and the necklace. And even though the sun is below the horizon, the jewelry dazzles against her sun-kissed skin. The diamonds from my charm bracelet wink from one wrist, Gabe’s on the other.
She drops the skirt back into place, hands around the base of the bouquet. I snatch my gaze back to her face because I can’t look at those hands wrapped around anything shaft-shaped and not think of her on her knees worshiping my cock.
Though she’s only a courtyard away, and her steps are a methodical march toward us, it feels like time slows. Maybe it even stops. It could be a mile as easily as a hundred feet.
Finally, when her hand touches mine, everything clicks into place. The worry that something would go wrong quiets. My breathing evens, and my heart steadies.
She’s here. In front of me. Eyes bright with happiness and maybe a few unshed tears. Lips curving up in a secretive smile.
She’s here.
Mine.
Ours.
