Page 23 of Forever Oblivion

She tipped her head up a little, so our lips were nearly touching.

“Ahem. Kisses come after the exchanging of the rings,” the minister said, censure bleeding into his tone.

I ignored him and pressed a soft kiss to Aya’s lips. Then I turned and knelt in front of Ike, who bounced on his heels.

“Here you go,” he said, his little face serious. “I didn’t drop them even once.”

I gave him a fist bump. “I knew you were up for it.”

He went back to leaning against his dad’s leg as I rose.

I slipped Aya’s ring on her finger, the words drowned out by my thudding heart. She was mine. Just one more thing to do. I turned to Cam, and he was already holding the slim box.

“Thanks,” I murmured.

I turned back to Aya, nerves clogging my throat. I cleared it. “Aya, there’s one more thing I need to share with you.” I took her hand in mine. “You lost your mom, and then you also lost the malas she gave you.”

Aya’s eyes widened. “The string broke,” she whispered. “They scattered…”

“You have another set on your wrist.” I flicked the tassel with my free hand. “And I love that you wear them every day. But I know they don’t have the same connection for you as the ones your mother gave you.”

I opened the lid of the jeweler’s box. She gasped, her fingers to her lips, the large diamond I’d put on her finger weeks ago gleaming in the sunlight.

“How did you…” Her voice trailed off as tears filled her eyes.

“I stayed,” I said, my voice soft, just for her. “And I collected all but one.”

I hadn’t known what to do with them. Having them restrung would have been the simplest option, but I’d hesitated since one was missing. When I’d found the jade beads on my way home that afternoon, I’d known those were what Aya needed to help her heal. But that left these twenty-six beads, which I’d had set along a gold chain, interspersed with an equal number of pearls. I slipped my hand under the gems and pulled it out.

“Pearls represent perfection. Also, long life and fertility.” I winked. I made a twirl motion and she complied.

I slid the necklace around her neck and shifted her hair to the side as I clasped it there. “The garnets were your mother’s promise to you; the pearls are mine. We both love you, and we both want you to be happy.” I kissed her neck just above the necklace, desire rocketing through me as she shivered. She turned and pressed her lips to mine, her bouquet against my cheek.

I wasted no time deepening the kiss.

“Well, you’re married now at least,” the minister muttered even as he chuckled. He raised his voice. “I present Nash and Aya Porter.”

I dipped Aya back and kissed her soundly once more before righting her and grabbing her free hand. I pressed an open-mouthed kiss to the back—a vow of more—and turned us to face the clapping crowd.

As we strode back down the aisle, I heard the faint thwap of helicopter wings. The paps had found us. I gritted my teeth.

“They missed the wedding,” Aya noted.

I frowned up at the chopper, but then I grinned. “Sure did. Guess we managed to confuse the fuckers enough. I promised you the perfect wedding, and I mostly delivered. They won’t get any good shots, Ay.”

Aya shook her head even as she giggled.

We entered the house where we’d planned to take some photos. While we were busy with that, Oblivion’s roadies, who’d been ecstatic to receive an invite to the occasion, unfurled more white pavilions, sealing the entrance to the house from possible paparazzi.

Aya smiled. “This was wonderful. But I’d rather have the perfect life.”

I dipped her back once more, pressing my lips to her necklace before licking the skin beneath it. She moaned even as she tightened her arms around my neck.

“I’ll do my best, pretty girl.”

“Speaking of…”

“What’s that?”

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