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“Amen,” a wise voice said from the other entry into the kitchen. Grandma Kate walked over to her side and hugged her. “I’m proud of you, sweet girl. Now, Grace was looking for you. She thought you might want to freshen up for a few minutes before the binding ceremony and I’d like to have a little chat with Jesse and Barry, if I may?”
Laughter bubbled up inside Veronica when she saw the twinkle in Grandma Kate’s eyes. She kissed Grandma Kate on the cheek and said, “I love you.”
Patting her cheek, Kate said, “And I love you, sweet girl.”
Veronica could feel the heartfelt emotion in them as they both hugged her and then she went to her men. Kate was already speaking with Jesse and Barry and she giggled when she heard Jesse say, “Do you mind if we called you Grandma Kate, too?”
“Nothing would please me more, dear boy.”
After a few minutes alone, to freshen up and collect her emotions, Veronica joined Grandma Kate in front of the crackling fireplace, clasping her hand in Kate’s soft, fragile hand. In a clear, strong voice, Grandma Kate said, “Who here wishes to bind his heart and life with this woman?”
“I do,” Hank said as he stepped forward. Veronica’s heart thumped with love as she looked into his gray eyes.
“I do,” Travis said as he also stepped forward and walked over to stand beside Hank, facing Kate and Veronica.
As if on cue, everyone else moved in around them, including her family members.
Kate nodded at Travis and Veronica’s heart swelled as he knelt down on both knees in front of her. Kate placed Veronica’s hand in his and nodded once more to Travis. With reverence, Travis held her hand, palm up, smoothing his thumbs over her sensitive skin until ecstatic shivers traveled up her forearm.
He gave her a wry smile as he smiled up at her. “Veronica, I never thought I’d be so lucky as to find you again, after eleven years. The young girl I knew has grown into the beautiful woman I need in my life. I promise to defend you, to protect you, and to be faithful to you. I promise to love you, and hold you, and help you.” His expression became serious. “I promise to encourage you, to edify you, and to push you to be all you can be.” His eyes flicked to the platinum choker she wore at her throat, the gift they’d given her as their submissive, and he gave her a little half wink that made her blush before he continued with his vows.
She realized there were tears on her cheeks as they cooled but she never let go of his hand. He took the platinum band Hank handed to him and slid it next to the wedding band she wore on her left ring finger. He kissed her palm and pressed it against his cheek, cradling it there for several seconds with his eyes closed before he looked up at her, sheer adoration in his eyes.
“Travis, from the time I met you eleven years ago, you were the standard I compared every man I met to and they all fell short. I’ve loved you all that time, and I’m ready to bind my heart with yours, to be your wife and your lover, and your helper. I promise to hold you, love you, and be faithful to you. I promise to be honest with you, to share my joys and my fears with you, and to believe in you with all my heart.”
Kate handed her Travis’s ring and she placed the heavy platinum band that matched Hank’s on Travis’s ring finger. She stroked her hand over the top of his and squeezed it, and then he leaned toward her and slid his hands around her waist, hugging her as if she was the only real treasure in the world. His hands were warm and comforting on her back as she cradled the back of his head and stroked his shoulder for several seconds. Tears wet his cheeks when he looked up at her once more and rose to his feet.
Hank knelt before her, smiling up at her with love burning in his eyes as he spoke, reaffirming vows he’d said earlier, and delivered his promises to her before kissing her palm and holding it to his cheek exactly as Travis had done. She’d seen it before at Maizy’s wedding but the moment was so intimate, so individual and unscripted that she felt like she was the first instead of one of many women to be claimed and loved in that manner.
She spoke her promises to him, catching his wink as he, too, looked at the platinum choker while she promised to obey him and to seek his guidance. For some odd reason, the thought of seeking a spanking came to mind and she had to stop and collect herself before she could continue. The sparkle in his eyes suggested he was guessing her thoughts.
