Page 49 of Stay With Me
Soft music plays as Ember and Elijah walk across the yard and down the aisle to stand on our respective sides. I feel the tension rising in my gut as we all wait for Kelsea to make her appearance. Rocking back and forth on my heels, I try to quiet the jumbled mess of thoughts flooding my mind.
And then I see her. The soft pink color of her dress stands out against the orange glow from the setting sun. I should have known Kelsea would choose a pink dress.She looks indescribable, a dream come to life as she walks towards me. An instrumental version of Everlong plays, bringing a huge smile to my face. I think of the opening lines of the song,
Hello
I've waited here for you
Everlong
The rest of the world disappears until all I see is Kelsea gliding towards me. She steals the oxygen from every atom of my body. I never knew she was the one I had been waiting for until the first time I held her in my arms. The universe screamed to me that this is where she belongs until the end of eternity.
I barely register everything that Breaker says as we go through the typical wedding bullshit and both repeat our vows to each other. I just want to feel her lips on mine. At the moment, I don't care about anything else.
“Kelsea and Everett have chosen to dedicate a few words to each other before we close out this thing. Kelsea, ladies first,” Breaker prompts.
Kelsea's smile is watery and wide as she looks into my eyes. “Everett, I've seen you in a way many never will. I’ve seen your kindness and strength. I've seen you impatient and ragged. I will strive not to take you for granted, to bring you peace when your world is in chaos. You are my favorite person. No offense, Ember. Ichoose you to be my partner in this life, Ev. My heart is yours.”
I feel the tears burning a path across my cheeks, but I'm not scared to let them fall. All I've ever wanted was to hear Kelsea tell me she chooses me forever. I take a deep breath before beginning my own vows.
“I always believed it would be so difficult to find someone who loved me, even though I've always felt scattered in a thousand pieces. It's like trying to complete a puzzle when you’re not even sure if you have all the right pieces. But then you took my hand and showed me that every piece doesn't have to be in place to create something worthy of love. That this kind of love can exist in the most imperfect and broken people. I vow to you, Kelsea, that our life together will be just as beautiful, whether we’re in a thousand pieces or one.”
Kelsea, Ember, Rory, and Amelia are all crying in earnest by the time I finish speaking. I see Eli suppress a sniffle, but I know he’ll never admit it. Before Breaker can say anything else, I take a step towards my bride, my hands framing her jaw as I pull her lips to mine.
“Aw hell, you didn’t even let me finish! I now pronounce you man and wife, impatient ass,” Breaker grumbles, and everyone laughs.
“That just happened,” Kelsea whispers where only I can hear her, and I huff out a laugh.
“All mine now, goddess. All mine,” I tell her, pulling her back for another searing kiss.
Two hours of fun and festivities later and I'm dead on my feet. It was amazing of our friends and family to throw such a beautiful wedding and reception for us, but all I can think about is getting my wife home.
“You almost ready to go?” I whisper in her ear as we sway back and forth to a slow song about being tangled up in each other.
She lifts her head up from where she's been resting it against my heart and nods. Lust blazes in her eyes as brightly as it is in mine, and I'm glad to know we’re on the same page. We make our rounds, hugging everyone and thanking them for coming before we climb on my bike to head home. Kelsea zips her black leather “bride” jacket up, holds the short train of her dress in one hand, and wraps the other around my waist as we make our way through town towards home. When I pull up outside Grovewood Ink, I'm sure she's wondering what I'm up to, but I've got plans for her.
“What are we doing here?” she asks, climbing off the seat behind me and shaking her wild raven hair out. God, she is gorgeous.
“You’ll see,” I tell her, throwing her a sexy smirk. I unlock the front door and hold it open for her, locking it behind us as I follow her in.
“I thought the shop was closed tonight,” she says,slipping her jacket off her shoulders to reveal the smooth skin of her bare back where her dress is cut out.
“It is,” I tell her, slipping my suit jacket off and loosen my tie. Her eyes flare as she watches my fingers move over the soft silk, her tongue darting out to wet her lips.
“Whatcha doin?” she asks, faking innocence.
“I want to show you something,” I reply casually.
“Honey, there’s nothing you could show me I haven’t already seen,” she snorts, and I quirk an eyebrow at her.
“Is that a challenge, goddess? Because I can show you things you’ve never seen before,” I say, grabbing the tulle skirt on her dress and pulling her hips flush against mine. She lets out a moan as the stiff ridge of my cock grinds into her.
“If a challenge means you’re gonna fuck me, then yes. It’s a survivor level challenge,” she smirks, and I capture her lips. The sweet taste of champagne explodes on my tongue as I kiss her deeper, the fabric of her dress bunching in my fists.
“Mmmm,” I groan, never wanting to pull away from her lips. “My wife,” I whisper, and she smiles against my lips.
She backs away, stepping towards to counter, just out of my reach. “Now, why are we here? What do you have to show me?” She asks.
I step forward, crowding her against the counter until her back is slightly bent and her breaths arecoming out in pants. “I’ve been thinking about what you said to those girls all those months ago. Beendreamingabout it, Kelsea,” I say, running my nose up the column of her neck. She shivers under my touch, and I grow hard as fucking steel behind my zipper.
