Page 53 of Mine To Break
“Sob away, honey. That’s what friends are for.”
The assistant brought the ridiculously long swath of lacy, airy material back. It didn’t look like much. Just a huge rectangle of material. But with a few pins and twists, they stepped back and Mal could tell by the look on their faces that she looked good. Damned good.
Holding her breath, she slowly turned around and faced the full-length mirror Vicki had set up in her workroom.
She hadn’t been too sure about the color at first. It wasn’t white, which was a travesty in the South, and the off-color ecru seemed… Old. Not a good old, but musty and stained by age. But against her skin, the antique color took on a hint of soft yellow that made her skin glow.
The old fashioned cut hugged her body and then flared out in a gentle fall to the floor. Lace and ruffles and teeny tiny buttons and a bodice so tight and small it looked like she wore a corset. The dress stepped off a late Victorian fashion plate. The veil floated around her head, softening the strength in her broad shoulders and muscular arms that she’d honed over the years as a Mistress. She almost looked…
Delicate. It would have pissed her off, if she didn’t love it. In a million years, she’d never guessed that she’d feel this kind of magic and hope and wonder from a single dress, even though it was a one-of-a-kind dress that had been for her.
“Oh my God.”
“You got that right,” Vicki said, her voice soft with awe. “Colby’s going to have to pick himself up off the floor when he sees you.”
Now that’d be a sight she’d like to see. Her soldier boy. On the floor. Preferably naked, tied up, waiting for her. Probably not for the actual wedding ceremony though.
Vicki held out a bouquet of yellow roses. “Ready?”
Fuck yeah. The Mistress of Dallas is getting hitched.
When she saw him standing in the front of the room waiting for her, Mal was the one that had to pick herself off the floor. Dressed in his navy dress uniform for the Policeman’s Ball tonight, her soldier boy looked good enough to eat. He took one look at her in her dress, and his eyes went fierce. He snatched her hand and pulled her to his side, braced for battle. Like he’d take on every drug cartel in town with his bare hands just to keep her right there beside him.
Their friends and family stood around them. Victor and Shiloh; Vicki, Elias, and Jesse; Mama; and Colby’s parents, both of his married sisters and their husbands, Amelia, and his other sister.
They’d asked for a few modifications to the exchange of vows. Mal swore to love and honor Colby, but as he repeated the oath back to her, he slipped in obey, just for her. Even with his family there. Elias smirked and the justice’s eyes went wide as he choked back a laugh. The man had probably married hundreds of couples over the years, but she guessed he’d never had a man swear to obey the woman. The ring went on her finger, his grip on her fingers too hard, but she didn’t mind. Not when his eyes blazed with so much emotion.
“I pronounce you husband and wife. You,” the justice looked at Mal, his eyes twinkling, “May kiss your husband.”
So he’d caught the way the wind blew with their oath changes. Smart man. Mal reached up and gripped Colby’s neck, digging her fingers in as hard as he was gripping her hand. Yeah, his eyes went smoky and his shoulders relaxed under her grip. She might get him into a collar yet. But it didn’t matter to her either way, because he was hers, now. They had a lifetime to play Mistress games.
It was over so quickly. Their lives changed forever in the span of fifteen minutes. Colby kissed his mother’s cheek and promised to come by the ranch as soon as they got back from their honeymoon. She handed him a covered dish. “I thought you might not have a wedding cake, so I made your favorite.”
Blackberry cobbler. Colby choked back a laugh and gave her another kiss. Oh yeah. They were going to have fun with that later.
Victor gave Mal a hug and told her to take all the time she wanted. They both knew time was precious with the new season preparations in full swing, but he trusted her to figure out the best way to handle it. Mal gave Vicki a lingering hug and shot a hard look at Elias. “Take care of her.”
He struggled a moment between surprise and aggression, his shoulders tensing up for a fight, but he wrapped an arm around Vicki’s shoulders and drew her close. “Always.”
We’ll see about that, Mal thought as the three headed home.
“Ready?” Colby asked her, still clutching her hand like she’d disappear if he let go.
At her nod, they walked outside to her car. The sun was setting, the sky a glorious canvas of pink and purple, but it was the man opening the car door for her that took her breath away. The driver’s door. Even now as her new husband, he wasn’t presumptuous. She stepped closer, slipping an arm around his waist as she leaned into the hard shelter of his body. “I love you, Mr. Wade.”
“I love you, Mrs. Wade.” His pressed his cheek to hers, his breath soft and warm on her skin. “You didn’t have to take my name.”
“I know. I wanted to.”
“I’m tempted to ask you to skip the ball so we can head to the shore this very moment.”
They’d found an out of the way cabin in Galveston for the honeymoon. She couldn’t wait to roll him around in some sand, but he was supposed to get an award tonight after being wounded. “You’re not missing it, so get that gorgeous butt in the car.”
“Five minutes, and then we’re leaving.”
“You have to stay longer than that,” she replied after he got in and shut the passenger door. He grimaced, probably envisioning hours of standing around watching people dance, when they could be alone together. “At least ten minutes.”
He flashed a cocky smile at her. “Deal.”
