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The door popped and creaked as it slid open. I straightened, straining for even a glimpse of her.
Muriella stepped onto the back deck first. Her gaze immediately went to Stone before shifting toward the house. She offered a hand, and Vivian’s arm appeared as her fingers slid into M’s. My pulse quickened.
A slippered foot gave way to a sleek leg. I swallowed thickly. White satin taunted me until I finally saw her face.
My legs shook when we locked eyes. Hers shimmered like my necklace around the column of her throat. Fierce possessiveness gripped me. We’d waited long enough. I wanted her now.
She led M down the steps of the deck. As soon as her feet hit the grass, she took off at a sprint. I met her halfway. She leapt into my arms, her legs locking around my waist.
Her lips crashed onto mine. We hadn’t spoken any vows, but this was us. This was her way of telling me she was mine and always had been.
“I love you.” Her fingers wove into my hair as she nuzzled my nose.
“Uh, lovebirds, we haven’t gotten to that part yet,” Stone called from behind us.
I ignored him and whispered in her ear. “You really are my everything.” I tightened my grip on her back. Her eyes softened and shimmered.
“Can we get married now?”
I carried her over to where the minister, Muriella, and Stone stood waiting for us. I set her on her feet and took both of her hands in mine.
“The quick version please,” Vivian instructed.
“We’ve already established that.” I squeezed her fingers.
“Shall we begin?” the minister asked.
“Yes,” we answered in unison.
Stone snickered. Even Muriella cracked a smile.
The ceremony began, but I didn’t hear any of it until Vivian vowed to be mine. Two simple words bonded us together for eternity. When I spoke them, I felt a subtle shift inside of me, like all the pieces finally locked into place, and I was whole.
Vivian didn’t wait for permission to kiss me. Her mouth met mine as the minister pronounced us husband and wife.
“No escaping now,” I murmured. No more desperate ground. My whole life had seemed like one battle after the other, but I’d won, and I’d savor this victory for eternity.
“That goes for you too.”
“I never really went anywhere.”
“Now you really can’t.” She nipped my bottom lip. I picked her up and carried her toward the lake. “D? What are you doing?” Wary eyes darted toward the chilly water.
“We’ll be inside later,” I called over my shoulder.
“Wait. We didn’t get pictures,” she protested.
“You want them?” I stopped walking.
She touched my cheek. “You will too one day.”
I motioned everyone to the shoreline. We posed until Vivian was satisfied, and I realized once again she was right. These were photos I could hide for her to find.
I smiled to myself as she twined her fingers with mine and led me along the edge of the water away from everyone.
“What are you thinking about?” she asked me as we walked.
“I never thought I’d have this. That I could need someone the way I do you and feel it as a source of strength instead of weakness. What you’ve given me, I—”
