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“For me. You’re perfect to me. Everything about you is a ten out of ten, Ayesha. I could turn you around right now, and in the mirror, you have green skin and seventy-five eyes, and I’d still be like…damn, my lady’s gorgeous.”
She laughed and continued to run her palms down the front of his tuxedo. “So, Mr. Lattimore, do you have any expectations of me going forward? As your wife?”
“Keep referring to yourself as my wife and continue to call me out on my bullshit. I promise to be good to you, and I’ll love you a little more every day. I never want to lose you, so tell me when I’m messing up. And stay with me, stay by my side, not because I want you to feel trapped, but because it gives me the chance to keep loving you. To keep being good to you.” Unable to help himself, he kissed the back of her hand and leaned down to brush one over her lips. “Now, same question, babe.”
“Continue to be a wonderful partner and,” she smiled, “an amazing father. I have no plans not to be by your side, and I’ve always been in your corner, even before we spoke our love out loud. You are everything I could have hoped for, Joel, so happiness, for me, is having you in my life. ”
He cleared his throat. “Damn. You’re gonna make me ruin my mascara.”
She burst out laughing.
He took her hand, pulled her into his hotel room, sat her on the bed, and kneeled in front of her.
“I have something for you,” he said.
He reached into his pocket. It didn’t matter how much he trusted that she loved him. In essence, he’d destroyed something important to her.
He retrieved the ring box, and she covered his hand with hers to steady them. Then she raised his hand to her lips, planted a soft kiss along the side, and released.
He opened the box.
She looked back and forth from him to the ring, her eyes glossing over with unshed tears.
“Xara designed it,” he said. “I mean, it’s not like you and Curtis got divorced. He’ll always be a part of you and this family. Giorgio’s jeweler created it. We went with a twisted wedding band. The first band and the jewels? They’re from Curtis’ ring. The second band and the main gem’s my ring to you.”
He studied her face, trying to get insight into her thoughts through her expression, but his nerves blocked all his logic and understanding. In his mind, she was seconds away from walking out, flying back to Sweden, and moving back into her place.
“Joel, this is…” She blinked, and a tear snuck down her cheek. “This is…”
“Are you pissed?”
“Pissed? Joel, this is the best thing anyone has ever given me,” she said. “This is the most beautiful…I can’t believe I didn’t figure it out when you told me you were getting it cleaned. It’s perfect. So perfect.”
He removed the handkerchief from his pocket and lightly dabbed at her eyes.
“Ready?” he asked, standing.
She took his hand. “So ready.”
He kissed her, keeping it light when he wanted to ravage her. Then they walked to the door, stopped, and faced each other. This was it. There would be no turning back. They’d go to the courthouse and walk out, officially, as husband and wife.
* * *
More people were getting married in DC than he’d expected, and for whatever reason, he and Ayesha had captivated them. It was why they currently had a small audience egging them on, and having a bunch of strangers witness their union gave him a pang of regret that the people they loved most weren’t there.
“Don’t be shy!” A woman wearing a black wedding dress waved a bouquet of black roses. “Kiss!”
Whistles rose.
Claps thundered around them.
“Let’s give the people what they want, baby,” Ayesha said. “And what your wife wants.”
He bent while she rose onto the tips of her toes, one hand at her lower back to anchor her to him.
They kissed once, twice, then pulled away.
Hunger stoked, he cupped the back of her head, lifted her slightly off her feet, and thrust his tongue into her mouth. She moaned, her tongue immediately finding his, and she slid her fingers into the hair at his nape.
