Page 64 of His to Claim

“Thanks, Dad.”

“C’mon,” he says, tucking my arm through his. “Let’s go get you hitched. I want to see my baby girl marry the man she loves. I also want some of that delicious-looking wedding cake.”

Laughing, I grin as the low strains of music fill the air. “Let’s do this.”

A soft breeze rustles the loose strands of hair around my face as we step onto the patio. My gaze goes straight to the arch where my own Archer waits looking beyond handsome in a black suit. Miceli stands beside him, serving as his best man, and Angelo waits for me. Instead of a bridesmaid, I asked Ang if he’d be my bridesman and he’d said he’d be honored.

My dad leads me down the aisle and the closer I get to Damon, the more fast and hard my heart pounds. This is it. The moment every little girl dreams of. I’m so happy to be able to celebrate this moment with the people I love most in the world. As we pass my family, I see Vincentius and Enzo, all my brothers wives, their kids, and this moment couldn’t be more perfect.

My gaze lands on Damon. That man isbeyondperfection. When we reach him beneath the beautiful arch, he gives me an appreciative, sweeping look and a gorgeous smile. My dad hands me over saying, “Take care of my daughter.”

“I will, sir,” he promises.

With my hand in Damon’s, he takes another moment to admire me again then whispers, “You look so beautiful, Carlotta.”

“And you look very handsome,” I tell him.

The priest at my parent’s church waits to marry us and I can feel my cheeks start to hurt because I’m smiling so hard. Together, we turn to face him and it seems like I barely take a breath before we’re exchanging wedding vows.

As we face each other, my hands tremble slightly and Damon gives them a little shake. “Want me to go first?” he asks, and I nod gratefully.

I can feel everyone watching us and to help let go of my nerves, I focus on Damon’s dark, sparkling eyes and tune out everything but his beautiful words.

“From the second I saw you at the masquerade party, I was intrigued. You captured my full attention from that very first moment…and now you’ve captured my heart. I know everything between us has happened so fast, but nothing has ever felt so right.”

My heart fills and I can feel a wet sheen cover my eyes.

Oh, well.I guess crying was unavoidable when the man I love is professing his feelings to me in front of everyone.

“You have no idea how much I love you, sweetheart, and how grateful I am. You saved me from a very lonely future…one I thought was unavoidable. You’ve given me a family again….and a reason…a purpose. I can never thank you enough, but I’m going to spend the rest of my life trying. I love you, Lottie, my Queen of Hearts, my forever.”

Sniffling, I lose the battle against my tears when they begin to leak from my eyes. Damon reaches over and wipes them away. Pulling in a shaky breath, I know it’s now my turn.

“Damon, I-refuse-to-call-you-Archer—” I begin and chuckles fill the air, “you are the most amazing man I have ever met. You never hesitated to protect me and when I needed rescuing…twice…you came running. Thank you, my love.”

“I will always rescue you,” he whispers, and I squeeze his hands.

“The night of the masquerade party, I had a feeling that I might meet someone special. Little did I know it would lead to the adventure of a lifetime, but it also gave me the love of a lifetime. And I wouldn’t change a thing. I love you, Damon, and I’m so excited to share more adventures with you.”

Angelo taps me on the arm and hands me Damon’s wedding band while Miceli hands Damon my ring. After exchanging our vows and placing the rings on each other’s fingers, we are declared man and wife.

“You may now kiss your bride,” the priest says.

Damon wraps his arms around me, bends me backwards, and kisses me. Endless love and joy flood through me and I hold on tight as our mouths meld, sealing our promise to love each other forever. Cheers erupt and then Damon pulls me back up, lifts me right off the ground and kisses me again. Everyone laughs and whistles pierce the air.

When he finally puts me down, I feel positively giddy. Holding hands, we start down the little cobblestone pathway as everyone continues to cheer and toss rose petals. At the end of the little aisle, he picks me up again and spins me in a circle. I throw my head back and laugh, knowing that I will remember this moment for the rest of my life.

“C’mon!” Angelo shouts and slaps Damon on the back. “Let’s get this party started!”

We all head back into the house where the food has been set up—a big traditional Italian dinner, of course. Everyone sits at the large table and I couldn’t have asked for a better evening. The laughter, the conversation and the wine flows.

After dinner, Damon and I cut the wedding cake and it’s absolutely delicious. Nothing can beat my mom’s homemade almond vanilla cake. Vin is in charge of taking pictures and he’s been snapping away like crazy. Damon feeds me a forkful of white fluffy cake and then I return the favor while Vin captures the moment.

A mixture of Christmas songs sung by jazz greats pours through the speakers which are scattered throughout the first floor and, at some point, Damon and I share our first dance as husband and wife.

“Are you happy?” he asks, tightening his arms around my waist.

“Are we talking on a scale of one to ten?” I tease.

---