Page 159 of Forbidden Protector

“Hey,” Aimee offers her elbow to me. “Mind if I join you?”

“This is really dumb, isn’t it?” I whisper to her, taking it gratefully.

“It’s really fucking dumb, yeah.”

“But I’m going to do it anyway, aren’t I?”

Aimee gives my arm a reassuring squeeze. “You make your own rules, Roche. Don’t let anyone make you feel like you can’t.”

With that, the door before us swings open, revealing an almost humorously small gathering of people. My wedding party doubled the size of the crowd.

Jack and Ray have turned to watch me approach with huge grins on their faces, whereas the officiant nods at us in welcome.

But I barely look at any of them. The only thing that matters is the man at the end of the aisle.

I didn’t doubt for a second that his suit wouldn’t be impeccable. But it’s the way he is practically glowing in the warm light that makes my breath hitch.

I’ve never seen anyone look so content in their lives. And he’s looking right at me.Me!

About halfway down the aisle, my patience begins to wear off. All I want right now ishim.I want to touch him, hold him. Claim him as my own.

I want us never to be apart.

I take off at a run. Abandoning my bridesmaids, who whoop and holler as I make my way to the front.

Arnie is laughing by the time I reach him, opening his arms to me as soon as I’m in touching distance. He uses my momentum to spin me around, one hand on my waist and the other the back of my head.

There is nothing but unbridled joy in my heart as he sets me down again.

The officiant clears his throat. “Well, then. I take it you have both prepared personal vows?”

“Yes,” Arnie says without taking his eyes off me.

“Then, who would like to go first?”

I step in before Arnie can open his mouth. “I will!”

Arnie gives me a surprised look.

“If I don’t go first, I’ll probably just start crying, and I really don’t want to ruin this makeup,” I explain, receiving a few chuckles from our scanty audience.

“As you wish,” Arnie smirks as he offers me a short bow.

I close my eyes, grounding myself in this moment. Drawing on the words that I’d rehearsed as we made love the night before.

My lips twitch when I feel Arnie taking my hands in his.

“Arnold Knight,” I say as I open my eyes again. Utterly transfixed by the loving expression on Arnie’s face. “In you, I have found someone that I can not only trust wholeheartedly but love unconditionally. Every morning I wake up without you feels like a morning wasted. Every evening you’re not by my side, I feel lost.”

“Never in my life have I met someone who understands every side of me the way you do. There’s not a single part of me that you haven’t embraced and made me feel so completely safe. I will never find the words to express how much that means to me.”

“I promise that in sickness and health, richer, poorer, and all that crap, that I will love you. With every ounce of my being.”

The entire time I’m speaking, Arnie’s eyes are alight with joy and wonder. I feel so privileged to be able to see the softness of his purest emotions. It’s enough to make me swallow back a few tears.

“That was beautiful,” the officiant says gently to us both. “Arnold, would you like to say a few words.?”

His devilish grin appears in an instant. “I would be delighted.”

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