Page 64 of Dust to Dust

"What is this?" His words were cold.

I hoisted up my bouquet of white Lillies, "It's our wedding."

"We're. Married." His tone was cruel, like a beast that captured the beauty in his castle.

"We're starting over. I deserve the white dress and fairy tale wedding." I watched the struggle etch onto his face. "You have to give Titan. Our past is a bunch of faults we each are guilty of. We lied and betrayed each other. Today, right here, right now, that changes." I exhaled a shaky breath.

We stood at the base that overlooked the world, like a king and queen who either would conquer or kill each other.

Titan cracked his neck then his eyes drank me from the bottom up. From my Versace boots to my long legs and my short white dress. He tried to suppress a smile, but it slipped as his lip tugged up. "You look beautiful, babygirl."

I beamed. We won Ghost.

"I know," I replied because shit, I did look fine as fuck. I knew what I could pull off, and a shotgun wedding in a custom Italian dress was something I could rock any time of the day. There was nothing wrong with being confident, as long as I wasn't too arrogant.

"If you wanted a real wedding, you should have told me."

I shrugged and took his left hand, "You got the first wedding. I get the last." I winked at my husband. "Let's begin,"

Titan laughed, "That's how it's going to be? You hold the reigns." He tried to joke, but it was a test because my man didn't want control. He needed it.

"In public, we're a team," I stated.

His brow rose, "And in private?"

I swiped a lick of my strawberry gloss, "I'm yours."

Darkness swept over his blue eyes. Lust tempted his monster. "Now, as I was saying. Titan Jules King, you are the only man who was able to fuel me. It was solely because of you that I'm here today. Through the hell fires and heavenly light, I'm yours. I'm a little messed up, but you have been the only man who can calm all the voices in my head. You see past my stunning exterior to the real me. I can't live without you," I laughed, "I can't kill you, trust me, I've tried." His fingers gripped mine.

"I'm going to fuck up again, but I need you, hubby. I need you to catch me when I fall on my fine ass. I need you to keep my OCDs in check and my closet well-stocked with combat boots. But most of all," I dropped his hand and fumbled in the bouquet. Taking his left hand, I grabbed his wedding finger, which had the tattoo with Elsa’s name on it. I placed the ring at the tip of his finger. "I need you to commit to me, the good, bad, and fabulously outrageous. You married Elsa, but I'm not her anymore. I'm not Nova Baladan, either. I'm Nova King." Licking my lips, I held the ring and waited for his reply. Time ticked painfully slow with no response.

Fuck it, I push the ring down onto his finger, "Screw that," I smiled, "I'm taking what I want. You're stuck with me, hubby." I eyed him—my confidence a mask covering an insecure girl deep inside.

Slowly a wolfish grin appeared. He eyed the ring and then finally looked at me. He stepped forward and placed both hands on my lower back, "I promised you I'd make you addicted to me. I'd be the vice you begged for. I was never going to let you go, babygirl. You messed up, but I needed to make sure you realized that."

I cocked my head. Maybe Anton was right, and Titan was made for The Rites of Passage. These last few weeks of him not being by my side were a test.

One I passed.

His right hand slipped up to the back of my neck. "I knew what you had planned today," He reached into his pocket and pulled out a red box. Flipping open the lid, he grabbed a ring. It was a marquise-shaped ruby framed by two pear shaped diamonds on the sides in a gold band. It was unique and one of a kind, like me.

"I forgive you. We walk side by side into the fire, babygirl. No more secrets, no more lies." He took my hand and pushed on the ring. It was a perfect fit, like him.

He tipped my chin up and kissed me slowly. Like stroking a fire, he worked his tongue till I began to pant.

My knees bent, and I jumped and wrapped my legs around his waist. Titan caught me and hoisted me high up. He would always catch me no matter how far I fell.

"I love you," I murmured over his lips.

"I loved you from the very first moment I saw you. I claimed you then. Time wasn't favorable to us, but we proved that our love can never die. It will continue to grow. We will conquer anything put in front of us. You never made me weaker, only stronger, babygirl." His heated lips brushed over mine and lingered there as we inhaled each other.

This is what peace felt like.

Heaven on earth.

The ghosts from my past had finally been freed.

Well not all of them,Ghost winked.

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