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“I woulda married you in that denim skirt you were wearin’ the night we got to know each other,” I said, reaching up to wrap my hand around the side of her neck so she couldn’t look away from me. She blushed at the reminder of the night we’d hooked up but kept her eyes on mine. “But I seriously fuckin’ love this dress and you know I got a thing for your hair.Thank you.”
I was winging it, but I’d clearly said the right thing because by the time I’d let go, Esther had straightened, her shoulders squared and her chin high. Her eyes still looked a bit like a deer in the headlights, but she’d dropped the bouquet back down by her side.
She jerked in surprise when we stepped inside and the crowd started cheering, but she kept her head high as people came to greet us, telling her how beautiful she looked and congratulating us.
I was proud as fuck when we finally got to the actual wedding part of the day. Uncle Casper officiated like it was his full-time job and he hadn’t gotten ordained on some website, and Esther practically fucking glowed. She was so goddamn beautiful that I had a hard time focusing on anything else. The words of the ceremony were a blur. I curled my hands into fists at my sides so I wouldn’t reach out and grab her and it was a goddamn relief when we were done and I could finally kiss her.
I hadn’t realized before how hesitant our kisses had started out before, like with the first brush I’d always been asking for permission and Esther had been slow to give it. Shehadalways leaned into the kiss after a moment’s pause, but it had been almost tentative. The kiss after our wedding was different. From the moment I got my lips on hers, Esther was fully and enthusiastically participating. It made my head swim until I completely forgot where we were.
The sound of roaring laughter was the only thing that snapped me out of the fog and kept my hands from straying to some very interesting places.
“There are children present!” Myla yelled jokingly.
Esther pulled away and buried her face against my chest in embarrassment.
“Jesus,” someone said from behind me. “I thinkI’mpregnant after seeing that.”
“Esther would be too, if she wasn’t already,” someone else joked.
“Hey wife,” I murmured against her hair, ignoring everyone. “You ready to get some food and presents?”
“Actually, I’d like to stay right where I am,” she muttered ruefully, pressing her forehead harder against my sternum.
I laughed. Now that it was done, we were married, shit was settled, I felt lighter than I had since we’d found her in that cabin. There were no decisions left to make. We still had to deal with the Sons of Calgary and shit was probably going to get worse before it got better, but for the moment, I felt pretty fucking good with Esther in my arms and the security of the clubhouse around us.
“Congratulations,” Nova sang, hugging both of us at once.
“Can’t believe you’re married before I am,” Rumi joked, slapping me on the back.
“Not my fault Nova won’t marry you.” I shrugged, my lips twitching.
“Oh, she’sgonnamarry me,” he shot back.
“Eventually,” Nova said easily, laughing when he made a grab for her. “I’m wearing your ring. Quit bitching!”
Esther’s head shot up as they walked away, arguing. “Do you like your ring?” she asked out of nowhere. “I wanted to get you a gold one but your mom said that one would be better.”
I looked down at the black silicone ring on my finger, rubbing my pinky against it to make it turn. It felt weird there, but not bad. “I like it.”
“Are you sure?”
“Gotta take it off to work, sugar,” I said, smoothing the hair away from her face. Jesus Christ, I loved her hair. “If I forget, though, this one’ll be easy enough to cut off if I get it caught on somethin’.”
“Oh,” she said, looking down at my hand. “That makes sense.”
“Plus if I lose it, it’ll be easy to replace.”
“It’s your wedding ring,” she replied, staring at me.
“Yeah.”
“You better not lose it.”
I grinned. “I’ll do my best,” I promised. “You like yours?”
Esther lifted her hand and spread her fingers, looking at her ring. It wasn’t big or fancy, but I’d thought it was pretty when my gram had pulled me aside at dinner, brought me into her room, opened her jewelry box and told me to choose one. I’d argued at first, but she’d made a good argument about not buying something new when we’d need money with a baby on the way.
“I love it,” Esther said finally.
