Page 132 of A Kingpin's Weakness
My hands shook as I reached for the ring Rich passed me.
“You’ve never missed a day showing up for me. Never made me question my worth. You gave me the kind of love I prayed for.” I slid the ring onto his finger, slow and steady. “And I vow to love you, respect you, honor you and stand beside you, no matter what life throws our way. You gave me love. You gave me a home. You gave me family.” Tears were flowing now, and I didn’t care. I couldn’t even wait for the officiant to say anything before Seth leaned forward and kissed me hard, soft, everything in between. Like he couldn’t hold it in one more second.And I swear, our hearts locked in place right there. Sealed in something deeper than a promise. “I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Green,” the officiant finally said with a smile.
Then this man my husband scooped me up bridal style like he’d been waiting his whole life for this moment and jumped the broom. We didn’t walk we floated down that aisle while our people cheered, throwing rose petals like confetti. Jennifer Hudson’s“Giving Myself”played behind us, and I clutched Seth tighter as the lyrics sank into my bones.
“I’ve given myself… over to you.”
And I meant that, all of me. Forever.
The limo pulled off smooth, the “Just Married” sign swinging behind us like something straight out of a fairytale. Except this wasn’t a dream this was mine. My man. My baby. My last name just changed for good.
“Vegas wedding, huh?” I asked, leaning into him as the glittering lights of the strip passed by outside the tinted windows.
“You know I had to make it special for you,” he said, brushing his fingers along my jaw, the way he always does when he’s being soft.
“I love you, Seth.”
“I love you more, Mrs. Green,” he said, grinning wide like he just scored the biggest win of his life.
That name Mrs. Green hit me different. It wrapped around me like a warm blanket. It sounded like peace. Like forever.
“It sounds really nice, doesn’t it?” I whispered, still half in disbelief.
“It does,” he said, moving closer. His lips brushed against mine, slow and tender, like he was memorizing the moment.
Then he leaned down and placed his hand on my belly. “You can come now, baby boy,” he said.
“Says who?” I looked at him wide-eyed. “Don’t rush that part. We already married today I ain’t ready for no contractions too.”
We both laughed, but deep down I was scared. Excited, but scared. I wanted to meet him, but I didn’t want to feel like my whole body was breaking in half to do it.
“What you thinking about, Stormi?”
Seth’s voice was low, almost lazy, but I could hear the curiosity laced with warmth.
I turned my head just slightly, letting my lips curve into a small smile. “My husband being inside of me,” I said, my voice unapologetically honest.
The way his eyes darkened, just a little, told me I had his full attention.
I stood up slowly, never breaking eye contact, and reached for his hand. “Come with me.”
He didn’t ask questions. He never needed to. His fingers slid into mine like he’d been waiting on this moment all day.
When we got to the room, I paused, giving him that look… the one he swears makes him forget how to breathe. He stepped closer, his hands moving to the buttons of my dress with a tenderness that made my chest ache.
Click. Click. Click. The dress slipped off my shoulders and slid down my body like it knew it was time to surrender. I stood there, bare, raw, and fully seen. Seth took a slow breath, his gaze tracing every curve, every mark, every new story my body was telling.
“Just when I thought you couldn’t get any more beautiful” he whispered.
Then his lips were on me. First my neck, then my collarbone, and lower, all the way down. He lingered on the stretch marks that had started to bloom across my hips like lightning bolts. His kisses there weren’t quick they were reverent. Like he knew exactly what they meant to me. I remembered the firstday I noticed them. Two small lines, like my skin had cracked under the pressure of becoming something more. I screamed. Full-volume, hormonal, pregnant-woman scream. And Seth, he wrapped me up in his arms and said, “They’re love lines, baby. The universe leaving its mark for how powerful you are.”
He always knew what to say. But it wasn’t just the words. It was the way he made me feel worshipped, even in my mess. Especially in my mess.
CHAPTER 26
Stormi
“How areyou horny at a Lamaze class?” I whispered through clenched teeth, swatting at Seth’s hand as it slid into the waistband of my leggings like we weren’t sitting on floor with pillows surrounded by other expecting couples.
