Page 42 of Sin and Seduction

She and Michele both are wearing black dresses, both long and modest. As excited as I am to see everything and celebrate, I’m excited to see my husband even more. They’ve not allowed me any alone time with him today. The last time we spoke was after we made love in bed last night. When I awoke, Dante left me a single red rose and a note.

See you at the altar, Mrs. Moreno,it reads, making me blush and sigh like I was on cloud nine. Gabriela is right; ignorance really is bliss sometimes. Although we still have a war on our hands, and Gabriela is pregnant with James Rowen’s unborn child, today is the day for celebration. Today is the day I get to marry the love of my life. Properly.

“I’m ready,” I say as I look at myself once more in the mirror, ready to see my heaven of a man.

“Let’s do this, baby!” Ricky says and grabs my hand, pulling me out of the room and bringing me to the top of the stairs.

We all walk down to the foyer, and the ladies say their goodbyes as they head outside. Before I know it, I hear the orchestra playing the bridal march. George meets us and gives me a large smile and a hug.

“Thank you for walking with Ricky and me. It means the world to me,” I say as I link arms with both men and walk to the back door.

“You’ve been part of our family since Ricky met you at the playground that day, Emmie. It’s my honor,” he says.

“Ready, baby girl?” Ricky asks, and I look over at him with a smile.

I think of the day I met him, with his messy hair and loud voice as he befriended me on the monkey bars. I think of the first birthday cake I ever had, the pink one his mom made me in their kitchen. I think of our first apartment, all of the nights we spent studying for a better future. I think of when I first told him about Dante. I think of when I first met Dante. When I first locked eyes with his. When I first heard the low, smooth tone of his voice. When I first felt his lips on mine when he made love to me for the first time.

I think of all the tragic moments and the beautiful ones, and then I think of the love I have for him. How it radiates from my head to my toes and everywhere in between. I think of how he looks at me like I’m his entire world in one form. I think of his messy hair and gravelly voice in the mornings, of growing old and grey with him.

I think of everything that led me to this beautiful moment with all of these beautiful people, and I sigh and look forward.

“I’m ready,” I say, and we push open the door to my future.

The deck is lined with cafe lights and candles, the sun setting and leaving the most perfect, golden-orange hue across the Columbian skyline. The orchestra is playing, and I see many heads turn in their chairs to stare in our direction. Ricky and George hold me tight, and we walk to the start of the aisle. Gabriela is nearing the end of it with Oscar, and they stand to take their places next to my beautiful husband.

He looks nervous as he stands in his place at the altar, laughing at something Oscar says and messing with his cuff links before he kisses Gabriela’s cheek before she stands on her side of the aisle. As soon as he looks up and at me, everything stops.

I take one look at Dante, and I feel as if time itself has stopped. He looks up from where he stands and directly at me. Everything else ceases to fade as his Amber eyes land on mine. His lips lift in a small smile and I swear I see a gloss sheen over his eyes. I swallow the lump in my throat as George and Ricky march me forward, the orchestra echoing in my ears as I walk down the aisle and to my husband.

I take a few side glances at the guests around us, which must total at least a hundred or so, which is still a lot for a quick wedding. Everyone looks expensive and stares at me with wide smiles. Some I recognize from the engagement party, some I don’t recognize at all. I look forward to Dante and smile wide, the pounding of my heart echoing louder than the orchestra that plays behind me.

We near the end of the aisle, and both men begin to step back from me so that Dante can grab my hand. I smile at them both, and they each give me a wink before taking their seats in the front row next to Michele. Dante’s warm hand finds mine, and our eyes meet once more. He pulls me to the altar, and we stand before the priest who is dressed in a robe one might see at a cathedral. For something so quick, this is all incredibly formal. Dante bends to kiss my forehead and whisper in my ear.

“You are my dream come true, Emmie,” he says in a thick voice, his smell intoxicating me as always.

He steps back, and the priest begins speaking as Dante and I hold hands.

“Good evening, everyone,” the priest says, addressing the crowd before us.

“We are gathered here today to witness the holy matrimony between Esmeralda May and Dante Moreno.”

I look to Dante, who is smiling the most beautiful smile at me. I think of all those times in the beginning when he was so cold and hard to crack through, and all I wished was for him to smile at me like he is today. I could die right now a happy woman from the way that he is looking at me. The priest begins speaking, but everything he says is a buzzing in my ear because all I can do is focus on my beautiful husband, who stands before me. His hands are warm, and his eyes are blazing with love, and I can’t help but get lost in this dream of a man. Our life ahead may be rough and uncertain, but one thing’s for sure, no matter how I die, I will die with this man at my side. And for now, that is enough.

“Dante, do you take Esmeralda to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, for richer, for poorer, for better or for worse?” the priest says.

Dante looks at me with loving, amber eyes, his brilliant hue sparkling in the setting sun. My heart skips a beat, and his hands tighten around me.

“I do,” he says, his voice thick with unshed tears that choke me to my core.

“So beautiful,” he whispers at me, and I move one of my hands to dab at the sudden tears in my eyes.

“And do you, Esmeralda, take Dante to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, for richer, for poorer, for better or for worse as long as you both shall live?” the priest addresses me.

“I do,” I whisper, my heart pounding only for Dante now, pounding so hard like it wants to escape from my chest so that he can hold it with his bare hands.

“You may now exchange your rings,” the priest says, and I pull Dante’s ring from Gabriela.

It is platinum with silver plating. A single emerald and a single diamond rest at the top to signify our union. I place it on Dante’s finger; he smiles wildly at me, looking more youthful than he ever has before. He bends down to kiss my hand before I pull it away and then reaches into his suit jacket pocket to pull out my wedding band.

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