AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I can’t help but feel a pang of sadness in my chest that she doesn’t remember me, especially since the first encounter I had with her and Layla was so life-altering for me. I try to shake that melancholic feeling away, telling myself it’s only natural Zoey has no clue who I am. She has probably done all that she could to put the memory of that horrific day in the past and move on.
And today, I’ll ensure that Zoey’s future will be a million times better than what her past doled out on her.
Both of theirs will be.
“We make our own luck, kid,” I retort with a small grin. “I’m sorry you couldn’t make it today, but I know your sister would want you to be here. Since you’re still gathering your strength, I thought a video call would be a good alternative.”
Zoey’s eyes sparkle in delight, while Layla’s soften. I ask one of the paid witnesses to hold up the phone so Zoey can watch the whole ceremony from the comfort of her home.
I grab Layla’s hands in mine and tell the officiant to start.
“Thank you,” she says softly before he begins.
I pull her hands to my lips and give her knuckles one soft kiss.
“There is nothing I won’t do to make you happy. I promise.”
Her nose crinkles at my words, and then her attention snaps to the officiant who’s growing restless with the delay. She gives him a nod to proceed, and he continues.
“I call upon every person present to witness the union between Alaric Mathew Holmes and Layla Marie Johnson.”
As he presses on, I stare into my beautiful girl’s eyes and make a silent vow that one day, I will be deserving of her love. I’m not foolish to believe I have it yet, but hope blooms in my chest that she’ll grow to love me someday.
The officiant clears his throat, breaking me out of my reverie.
“Do you have the rings?”
I nod, showing him the two simple gold bands and placing mine into Layla’s hand.
“Then repeat after me,” he adds, and I happily follow his lead word for word as I slip the wedding ring on my love’s finger.
“I, Alaric Mathew Holmes, do take thee, Layla Marie Johnson, to be my lawful wedded wife. I give you this ring as a sign of our love, trust, and marriage.”
Layla stares at the ring in a daze, and when the officiant calls for her to do the same, I wait with bated breath to see if she will follow through on her promise.
“I, Layla Marie Johnson, do take thee, Alaric Mathew Holmes, to be my lawful wedded husband. I give you this ring as a sign of our love, trust, and marriage.”
It takes profound restraint not to grab her by the nape of her neck and kiss her.
“And now by the power vested in me by the city of New York, it is my honor and delight to declare you husband and wife. Go forth and live each day to the fullest. You may seal this declaration with a kiss.”
I cup her face in my palms before pressing my lips to hers. I groan the instant I get my first taste of her lips—sweet like cotton candy and decadent like the most exquisite dessert. The little whimper she lets out when my tongue meets hers has my cock standing at attention. It takes everything in me to break away from her and not deepen the kiss.
But all good things come to those who wait, and Layla will be mine mind, body, and soul.
“I am so pleased to present the newlyweds, Mr. and Mrs. Alaric Holmes.”
I stare into her half-mast, jade eyes, the shy smile on her lips melting me from the inside out. I have pictured this day a million different ways, but nothing could have topped the reality of finally calling her mine.
“Let’s go home.”
CHAPTER14
Layla
It wasn’t a traditional wedding, but it was perfect. I guess I never really saw myself getting married, never looked further than the next paycheck, but I couldn’t imagine it any other way. I have the only person I care about sitting next to me as Alaric drives us through the city. He helped us pack our meager things from the apartment and let us into his Aston, all while Zoey smiled widely at him. She already loves him. Me? I’m not that easy. Fancy things are impressive, but I prefer the person behind the objects. I look at him now as he drives. There’s a sure, cocky smile on his lips that sends a shiver through me as he meets my eyes in the rearview mirror. Possessiveness radiates from his every look.
I’m his now and he knows it.
