Page 60 of Venom's Sting

He asks, “Do you think we’re rushing things just a bit?”

My eyebrows shoot up, “Hell no!” I tell him as I run my hands over his chest again. Because, God, that never gets old. “I think that when you know, you know. You’re the one thing in this world that I’m a hundred percent sure about. Nothing in this world could make me call off the wedding at this point.”

“Glad to hear it, sweetheart. I never doubted you, but some of my club brothers thought you might be doing too much.”

My hand went down to my stomach, I’m not showing yet as it’s too early, but Ven and I are having a baby. “You mean because I’m pregnant, we’re in the process of building a house on your mother’s land, and I’m struggling to get my photography studio back up and running?”

He nods.

“I’m guessing it’s the single club brothers who think I should be spending the next eight months sitting around on my ass? Seriously, having a baby is the biggest incentive to get my life sorted that there is,” my eyes are wide with indignation.

Ven shrugs, “I see their point, I’m worried that you’re taking on too much and how that’s going to affect our baby.”

Now both of my hands are anxiously touching my belly, as I ponder his words. “Even though the doc says everything is fine, maybe I should slow down a bit.”

Ven excitedly shouts back to someone in the house. “You owe me a hundred bucks, Rage.”

Rage stomps out, slaps a hundred bucks into Ven’s hand and heads straight to the restaurant without a word.

Ven is positively gleeful and shouts after him, “That’s what you get for betting against my fiancée.” He holds his hundred dollar bill up to the sunshine and then hands it to me. Grinning at me he adds, “Easiest fucking money we ever made.”

“What was that all about?”

“Rage said you were headstrong and would never listen to a word I had to say. Don’t worry, I made him eat his words.”

I narrow my eyes, “Don’t be too sure, sunshine. If you think I’m gonna be barefoot and pregnant you’ve got another thing coming. When I said slow down, I just meant delegate the work, not call off—”

“Shush,” Ven says with a wicked glint in his eyes, “I know what you’re like. I know you’d never do anything just because I asked. But we’re one hundred dollars richer now, how many bottles of photographic developer is that gonna buy?”

I give him a playful shove, “You two are turning out to be more competitive than I imagined you would be when you became blood brothers. Careful you don’t push him too far, babe.”

“Are you fucking kidding me. That man has the skin of a rhino. Trust me, he’ll be okay.”

Suddenly, Meli is at the door, wearing a lovely red silk dress. She looks amazing with her hair piled up on the top of her head. “It is time to get dressed for zee ceremony and you are both sitting here shooting zee breeze. This will not do.Allons y!”

***

Today felt like I was caught in a whirlwind of activity. We got dressed together. Despite the traditions against it, Ven zipped me into my long white gown. It was plain satin with no beading or fuss. I loved the streamlined simplicity and the way it hugged my curves.

Once we’re ready, Ven falls to his knees before me, cups my belly with his large hands and begins to talk to our baby. He whispers all things a baby would care about, like that they were being born into a family with a lot of love to give, a family whowould never take him or her for granted. His voice drops and all I hear is whispering after that. I stand there in my wedding gown while he has this very important talk with our child.

After that he kisses me, presses his forehead to mine and whispers, “I love you more than I ever thought I could love another person. You’ve brought joy and happiness into my life. Thank you for agreeing to be my wife. I’m going to work hard every single day to ensure you never regret marrying me.”

I cup his face in my hands and tug him down for a kiss. “You’ve become my whole world, Ven. As long as you continue to be the man I fell in love with, I’ll be the happiest woman on planet earth.”

Just when I think this man can’t surprise me anymore, he pulls me into his arms, cups my ass cheeks in both hands, and lifts me up. Something about his kisses this time were hotter and more needy than before. He only sets me down when Siege comes to take him away to his spot for the wedding ceremony.

I check my makeup one last time and head out to the backyard. There are chairs set up, huge bouquets of roses with baby’s breath, and lots of smiling faces. My mother and Meli are sitting in the front row, each in their respective sections.

Since I don’t have a father to walk me down the aisle, Dan does the honors. I can tell that he’s practiced his pacing because during the rehearsal, he let his anxiety get the better of him and was rushing me down the aisle. Now, we’re in a dignified lock step, with Ven beaming from the groom’s position up front, beside Rigs who’s performing the ceremony.

My hands are shaking but the huge bouquet of roses hides that fact pretty well. When I walk past all the club brothers whoworked so hard to help me rescue my mom, they are beaming. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I will always have a soft spot in my heart for these men. They are good people, down to the very last brother.

We decided to forego attendants, which streamlined the procession. Something buzzes above my head, and I realize that Evan is capturing video footage from overhead with one of Ven’s drones. Having a video of everything will become a cherished family heirloom, enabling me to relive this special day over and over again as the years march on.

Standing in front of all our friends and what little family we have, drives home how found and created family are just as important as biological ones. When Ven and I turn to each other, I realize that every single thing I ever dreamed about was coming true because Ven is the perfect, protective partner whose big heart and handsome face are all I need to find my personal happily ever after.

We say our vows and mean them from the bottom of our hearts. When he kisses me for the first time as my husband, it’s too perfect for words. When he pulls back, the look of love on his face blows my mind.

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