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In one of the few times since Stefan and I had been together, I’d stunned him speechless.
***
The smell of freesia and roses filled my nose. Breathing deeply, I closed my eyes and smiled softly.
Hesitating in the doorway of the living room, I wasn't sure I'd ever seen anything so beautiful. I'd seen Stefan so many ways: dressed up, completely nude, and seen him come to my rescue like an avenging angel, but never was his face this stunning. Every bit of his nearly 1000 years faded away from the hard edge of his eyes and the tension in his shoulders. It left him relaxed, appearing so young and beautifully angelic. His hair fell heavily over his forehead like a golden waterfall. He was dressed from head to toe in black: an expensive black suit, a crisp black dress shirt and leather shoes. It made his pale skin luminous, his blue eyes striking as he watched me walk towards him, stepping over blood red rose petals.
My ivory dress was the softest cashmere, the simple lines of the dress clinging to my curves. My hair hung on loose waves over my shoulders. My heels clicked over the wood floor softly. Knowing he was waiting for me made it difficult to keep up the charade of being human.
It was the knowledge that my other half stood waiting at the fireplace that made me want to rush to him. Even a moment away from him seemed too long.
Surrounded in an arch of flowers, I joined him and took his outstretched hands. Our fingers wound together, the joy flooding the bond threatening to bring me to my knees.
"Stefan Lifsten and Josephine Anderson, you wish to be joined in marriage?"
Neither of our eyes faltered as we gazed at each other lovingly. Our voices rang out in unison, my clear alto blending with his deep lilting baritone. "Yes."
Somehow, Stefan had managed to find a justice of the peace willing to marry us at a moments notice. He'd arranged everything, making a spur of the moment dream a reality. I’d woken up this morning to his absence and a note, followed by a steady stream of deliveries and strict instructions to avoid the living room until I received his signal.
Who said chivalry was dead?
"Before the witnesses in attendance, I ask Stefan. Will you take Josephine to be your wife and love her in distress and pleasure?
"Yes," Stefan said. He squeezed my fingers. His blue eyes were soft in the late afternoon sunlight.
"Before the witnesses in attendance, I ask Josephine. Will you take Stefan to be your husband and love him in distress and pleasure?
I didn't hesitate for a moment. I'd never been more sure of anything in my life. "Yes."
"Mr. Lifsten said you'd recite your own vows. Go ahead, Mr. Lifsten."
"I, Stefan Lifsten, take you, Josephine Anderson to be my wife. I ask that you stand at my side during both joyful and sorrowful times. I promise to devote myself to you until we are parted in death.” With those heartfelt words, his blue eyes shimmered with unshed tears. He slid a plain, platinum band over my finger and his crooked smile of happiness nearly broke my heart.
“And Josephine, it is your turn now.” The justice of the peace nodded at me kindly. He held out Stefan’s matching band and I took it with unsteady fingers.
Staring up into his handsome face, I took Stefan’s hand. I took a deep breath and repeated the vows back to him. "I, Josephine Anderson take you, Stefan Lifsten to be my husband. I promise to stand by you in good times and in bad, to love you and cherish you until death parts us.”
As my fingers pushed the ring over his long finger, my eyes met his again. I'd never seen him so happy. Pure joy radiated from his face. If I had to pick a moment I wanted frozen in time, it would be this brief second that I’d want to capture to remember for an eternity.
"I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your wife."
The pride he felt at those two words was apparent when his hands reached for my face. His soft lips met mine as my arms circled his neck. He rose up and lifted me off my feet in his arms. His tongue swept across my lower lip, tangling with mine.
I could have lost myself forever in that kiss. The knowledge that we were tied together in every way possible way filled me with a happiness I thought was unimaginable.
It took the gentle cough of the justice of the peace and our witnesses for us to part. We signed all of the necessary paperwork in record time. Stefan was hurrying them along. It seemed he was anxious to get me alone.
We followed them outside, waving our goodbyes. We watched them disappear down the driveway in their sedan, waiting until their taillights disappeared into the distance.
In a blur, he had me in his arms. I started to protest until I realized what he was doing.
He was carrying me across the threshold, honoring the human tradition of marriage.
Once inside, Stefan set me on my feet and cradled my face in his hands. His lips were as light as feathers against mine. I felt his fingers and lips travel down to my neck, caressing my skin softly. My body trembled at each little kiss, relishing every touch…simply because each one touched my very soul and his love was evident in every kiss and in every move he made.
When I raised my hands to touch him, he immediately took ahold of them. Struggling against him, his hold on me was gentle but firm.
"I have indulged your sexual appetite for far too long, Josephine. It is something I mean to rectify from this moment on." A playfully wicked smile was on his lips, his painfully beautiful face sinister in the glow from the fireplace.
