Page 82 of Endless Love

We smile at each other as Quinn’s mouth opens and closes, his Adam’s apple bobs, too emotional even to start a conversation. When the car pulls in front of the church, I place my hand on my heart, both trying to still its errant beating and prepare it for another avalanche of feelings.

With my dads on either side of me, I enter the church. An angelic choir sings “Ave Maria” vibrating not only through the old walls but also through me.

Bunches of white roses decorate the interior, and chandeliers hang above me. Everything ceases the moment my eyes find Damien. When our eyes connect, my heart locks with his. I approach the man of my dreams, my soon-to-be husband, and the man I get to grow old with, as he waits for me. I reach the altar, and Damien takes my shaking hand in his trembling one. We glance at each other, lost to the spell of this moment.

Chapter Thirty-Two

DAMIEN

She steps into the church, and everything stills at the sight of perfection coming down the aisle. My heart pounds merciless beats, all these emotions tugging at my chest.

I have waited for years to make this woman mine. I have loved her my entire life. I’ll love her until I take my last breath, and if there’s something afterward, even then.

If someone were to ask me what my role is on this earth, I would answer to love her, and if someone were to ask me what my greatest wish was, I would say to grow old with her.

I’m a privileged man. I sought and found success in every aspect of my life, but as I watch Bria approaching me, I’d say my most significant accomplishment has been to make this woman fall in love with me and only me. My sight blurs in front of the woman who walks to me, caring my heart in her palm.

Her eyes find mine, and for the umpteenth time, I acknowledge there would be no one else. I have no chance to escape. I don’t want to either, but she’d never be free from me either. It is the acceptance of our submission to the other that creates the perfect balance to our love, both obsessively mad and unconditionally wholesome. I hold her hand in mine. I will never let her go. Not now, not ever.

I’ll never be without her, not as long as she’ll have me.

Chapter Thirty-Three

BRIA

The minister begins the ceremony, but Damien pulls my attention. He mouths “I love you,” and I mouth the same words back to him, squeezing his hand. I repeat my vows in my head, too afraid I’ll forget them with all these emotions battling inside my chest. When the minister pauses, Damien’s vows echo around us.

“I, Damien du Sky, choose you, Bria, as my wife, my life partner, and my soul’s match. I have loved you since I can remember, and I’ll love you until the end of me. The first day you entered my life and looked at me was when my life began. You stole my heart long before I knew I had one, and it has been yours ever since. I vow to you to be the man who will always support you and stand proudly at your side. I will carry you through both good and bad times, through health and illness, through day and night as you’re my strength. It’s an honor and a privilege to be the man you choose to spend your life with. You are my wonder and what I treasure the most. I have waited for this moment my entire life, and I was prepared for it long before I had any idea what it meant. My love, my life, me loving you forever isn’t a promise, but a fact I’ll gladly prove every day for the rest of our lives. Accept this ring as a token of my undying love for you, a symbol of me wanting to spend my life with you, and a promise of forever.”

Damien ends his vows, and emotions rock me. He slides the platinum, diamond encrusted ring on my finger, the mark of his love and promises, and a calm like I’ve never experienced before descends over me.

I wet my lips and begin.

“I, Bria du Mont, take you, Damien, as my beloved everything. I promise to be the light in the darkness and the anchor in stormy times. My arms will always hold you, and in my heart, you will always have a home. There’s no end to a love that knows no beginning nor finality. Thank you for loving me hard enough and brave enough to make me find my way back to you. My heart has always belonged and will always be yours. I’m lucky to be loved by you because the way you love me is what my dreams are made of. I promise to grow old with you because anything less would be too cruel. I love you, Damien, like a bird loves its wings, like the moon loves the night, like the desert loves the sand. Accept this ring as my symbol for defying time, statistics, and boundaries, and every time you look at it you’ll see a love that stole a piece from eternity.”

Damien’s eyes turn glassy with happiness and adoration, and my lips curve into a smile. His gaze bores into me, finding its path to my heart, while I slide the ring on his finger. I’ll never forget this unique moment filled with dreams come true, love and gratitude, and my heart pounds in my chest with renewed force.

The minister declares us husband and wife, and I close my eyes, for just one second, to soak in the significance of what just happened. Damien leans in and cradles my face in his trembling hands. Our lips touch, the cold, precious metal of his ring grazing my cheek, and I come alive.

Our family rises and claps, and we turn toward them, beaming.

The drive to our wedding venue happens in a rush. The sun shines over us, granting us spectacular weather, perfect for our civil marriage. Hand in hand, we walk down the aisle lined with bunches of radiant white roses on each side. We reach the white table where the officer, Sebastian Kuhn, an old family friend, waits to perform our civil marriage.

Towers of blooming roses, hydrangeas, and orchids decorate the open space, topping all my expectations. There are rows of chairs where our family, friends, and acquaintances sit to legally witness us become husband and wife. Damien voices his “yes” in a confident tone, and I mimic his voice as he eyes me, joy transforming his features. He signs our wedding certificate and passes the pen to me. I grasp it, realizing the moment I sign it, I will become Bria du Sky. Wearing a wide smile, I sign on the bottom of the page.

The officer declares us husband and wife for the second time today, and we kiss again. Everyone claps and cheers, rushing to congratulate us, wishing us all the best, making everything even more real.

The photographer appears, and for two hours we pose for the camera. At last the photo session ends and Damien leans me against our tree and kisses me. It feels like he kisses me for every time we were here, and every time we weren’t. He traces a pattern with his thumb on my cheek, a dreamy expression transforming his face.

“You’re finally my wife.”

“I am.”

“Are you happy?” he asks.

“Like never before.”

He nods as if for him it’s the same and we smile.

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