Page 132 of Time to Bounce

I smiled.

“Born again virgin,” Garrett whispered.

Upon the marriage proposal, Athena had thoroughly enjoyed torturing me with her body.

For two weeks, I’d gotten sponge baths from her.

When I got home, still the sex didn’t come.

It was only after I begged like a desperate man that she said, “I want to wait until we’re married.”

I reluctantly agreed to the asinine request, and today was the day.

The day I married the woman I loved.

And fucked the hell out of her.

The song started, and I couldn’t help the chuckle that burst from my lips.

When Maven had asked Athena what song she’d wanted to walk down the aisle to, ignoring the request to be done for the day, Athena had responded with the first song she could think of.

“Great Balls of Fire.”

And of course, that was what Maven put on as Athena stepped from my parents’ back door.

Athena was laughing as she walked toward me.

A vision in white.

The dress she was wearing was tight and strapless with a train that trailed four feet behind her.

I could tell without looking that she was barefoot—Athena detested heels, and only wore them on rare occasions.

Her makeup was subtle and her hair was in a low updo at the base of her neck.

Her engagement ring flashed in the harsh overhead light.

Today, I’d add a wedding band to that engagement ring—something else she’d never take off.

She didn’t have anyone to walk her down the aisle.

Garrett and my father had offered, but she’d given them a sad smile and said, “But I won’t be alone. They’re with me.”

On one wrist, she had a bracelet that Gavrel had worn. And on the other hand, she had her father’s dog tags dangling.

She was right.

She wasn’t alone.

When she finally got to me, I pulled her into my arms and kissed her.

“You’re supposed to wait for the preacher to say you can kiss me,” she teased.

I scoffed.

“Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?” Garrett teased under his breath.

Athena giggled. “I do.”

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