Page 24 of Forbidden Flames

Emily’s trilling laugh rose above the cheerful chatter. “Well, we should get out there and…!”

Raven and Macie slipped into the tent. “Ladies, you realize there is only a thin piece of fabric separating you from the rest of the wedding guests?” Raven teased, then she gasped as she took in Emily’s gown. “Oh, that’s just perfect!”

Macie clapped her hands together, then stroked her pregnant belly. “Hendrix is going to swoon when he sees you!”

Ciara and Tara came next, both of them about to shush the ladies. But when they saw everyone, they laughed and grabbed a glass of champagne. “To the bride!” Ciara called out.

Kaia, Macie, and Mandy entered the tent next and laughed. “You know,” Mandy called out above the laughter, “if you ladies could take your seats, this wedding could start.” She looked around, beaming at all of the happy faces. “Once Emily and Hendrix are married, then we could really party!”

There was a communal cheer at that comment and everyone laughed, several more champagne glasses were handed around and another toast was made to the beautiful bride.

Outside, Hendrix huffed impatiently as he stood at the front of the tent…he looked around. Emily had wanted a simple wedding. But Levi, Matteo, and Sean had gotten involved, announcing that they were covering all of the costs. As soon as Matteo told his half-brother, Antonio, about the wedding, his wife, Astra, had offered her party-planning expertise.

In other words, a simple wedding had morphed into a small, but elaborate wedding.

Tony and Dan stood as his best men. As another round of laughter came through from the tent, Hendrix shifted, looking over his shoulder at them. The two of them shrugged. Hendrix sighed again and gazed out at the audience.

“No clue, man,” Levi said, chuckling as Sean and Matteo stretched their legs out in front of them. There was also Edward, the duke of something, who was holding a little boy on his lap, both whispering to Sheik Ramit who shook his head, indicating that he was clueless as well. Sheik Falk punched the other man playfully on the shoulder. Sheik Zayed glared at the pair, silently ordering them to behave.

Sheik Riaz and Sheik Tazim rolled their eyes, but their hands were full as they were both holding small babies. Sheik Zahir hurried off suddenly, coming back a moment later with his son and daughter under his arms, shaking his head at their antics. And the Marquesso del Campo grabbed the hem of his daughter’s dress just as she took a step to run away, pulling her back to her chair.

All the men, children, and babies sat, or tried to sit, in the white painted, wooden chairs while listening to the ladies laugh and cheer in the tent.

Enough was enough! Hendrix wanted his ring on Emily’s finger!

“Emily! Get out here now!” he bellowed.

There was a long moment of silence, then a round of giggles. But finally…finally!...the ladies rushed out of the white tent. Hendrix noticed that they were holding flutes of champagne. He hated the stuff and Sean, bless his Irish heart,had promised Hendrix that beer would also be at the ready for the reception.

Which would be great, if he could just get his bride out here!

Astra poked her head out through the fabric, still laughing, and nodded to the violinist. The music started…again…and Hendrix watched with relief as Maggie stepped out of the tent, bouquet…and champagne…in hand. She winked at Hendrix, then took her place on the dais. Ann was next and Hendrix chuckled as Ann gulped down the last of her champagne, handing the empty flute to Macie, who grinned as she, in turn, handed the glass to her husband before sighing.

Then…Emily appeared. Before Hendrix could get a good look at her, every damn person present stood up, blocking his view. Hendrix was ready to walk down the aisle and drag Emily to the minister. He wanted this over. He’d waited over two years for Emily. Even the seconds it took for her to walk sedately down the aisle felt like an eternity.

Then she was there and…he couldn’t breathe. Emily, the other half of his heart, was draped in white silk. The dress cupped her breasts, then fell in a waterfall down to her toes. She didn’t wear a veil, just starflowers in her hair. And her hair, all of that glorious, amazing dark hair, tumbled down over her shoulders and back in waves of soft curls.

When she was finally beside him, Hendrix took the bouquet from her. He tossed the bouquet in the general direction of the audience, not hearing the chuckles, as he took her hands in his and pulled her closer.

“Em,” he whispered.

The minister started to speak. Hendrix didn’t hear any of it. Blah blah blah. Then she squeezed his hands. “I do,” heannounced. Her smile grew brighter. Something cold went onto his finger. Then he carefully placed the gold ring on her finger and he stared down at the shining gold band. Emily hadn’t wanted an engagement ring. Something about diamonds and slave labor. So it was just his wedding ring on her finger. He looked at his own hands, curling his fingers inward, as if to hold her ring on his own finger more tightly.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife!” The minister quickly stepped back, startled by the roar as the audience stood up and cheered.

Hendrix was unaware of the rose petals pouring down around them. All he knew was that he was kissing his wife! Emily was his wife!

Levi, Sean, and Matteo sat on the stone wall, beer in hand as they watched the rowdy group on the dance floor.

“What do you think?” Levi prompted, taking a sip of his beer.

“I think,” Sean replied, “that bastards aren’t the monsters that the world thinks we are.”

Matteo snorted. “It isn’t the world who thinks we’re bastards,” he argued, his Spanish accent more pronounced these days. He didn’t feel the need to suppress his past anymore. His father was dead. His wife was wonderful and he had two amazing children. “It was our fathers that looked at us as monsters.”

“The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart,” Levi quoted. “Hellen Keller.” He expected his friends to snort at the words. Instead, they tilted their beer glasses in a toast, nodding their agreement.

Clarissa was the first to find them, the overhead lights on the patio leaving the stone wall a bit outside of the glow. She didn’t say anything. She didn’t have to. The love shining in her eyes said it all. Bailey burst out of the crowd next. Bailey never did anything quietly and Matteo adored her for it. She was so full of energy and optimism. She’d brought light into his life when he hadn’t had any hope.

And then Kennedi led Sean’s children out of the crowd. He beamed at his family, his chest swelling with pride and love.

“What the hell are we doing, lads?” Sean demanded as he stood up. “Our lovely wives are lonely!”

Levi and Matteo laughed as they stood and mingled into the crowd of friends, pulling their families close as they danced the night away. This was life. Matteo thought of another quote. “We are all dreamers creating the next world, the next beautiful world for ourselves and our children.” As he looked around, he nodded. Yes, this was a better world.

---