Page 57 of Four-ever Single

“Are you okay?” he leaned in and whispered in my ear.

Thankfully, this wasn’t a stuffy, formal reception where we had to be quiet and not speak to each other until we were officially married. My eyes snapped up at Jones, then looked over at the wonderful man trying to get us married.

“Take a minute if you need it,” the battalion chief said, his voice filled with kindness that made me feel guilty I hadn’t known his name.

I offered an awkward smile and then turned my attention back to Jones. Everyone was staring at us, the room so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

“What’s the matter, baby?” Jones asked softly, pulling me closer to him so no one else could hear our conversation.

I leaned up on my tiptoes, trying not to topple over in my heels, and whispered in his ears.

“Um, I just realized that I am about to marry you and don’t even know your name,” I admitted, feeling my cheeks heat with embarrassment. As if that wasn’t bad enough, I had worn my hair up, giving my face and neck a clear view for everyone to see the blush wash over me. I hadn’t worn heavy makeup, wanting a more natural look, so I couldn’t count on that helping either.

“Matt,” he replied, his lips tickling the shell of my ear. “But you can call me whatever you want when I’m in between those legs as soon as he pronounces us husband and wife.”

His finger trailed down my arm before reaching for my hand and holding it.

“Are we ready to proceed?” the battalion chief asked, looking between us.

I nodded and hoped he would ignore the scarlet flush on my cheeks as I reacted to Jones’ dirty words.

The ceremony was quick, just like we had asked. I was all for doing the standard stuff and not writing our own vows, but Kensy and Lia had convinced me otherwise. It still felt weird since this wasn’t a real wedding, but being able to convey my emotions to Jones made it feel worth it.

I stood there nervously, waiting as Jones cleared his throat before saying his vows to me.

“Bella, I’ve spent my life trying to figure out where I belong and longing to be loved. Then you walked in and changed everything I thought I ever wanted. You love me in a way no one else ever has. You’re the calm to my storm. The light to my darkness. The reason I look forward to a new day every morning. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in every way I can, and to protect you from anything that wishes to do you harm. I will stand beside you today and every day for as long as we both shall live. And I promise you will never go a single day without feeling my love.”

He pulled his lip between his teeth, and I knew what he really meant by that. Out of everything he said, that was the part of his vows that made me go weak in the knees. Our sex life was great already, but it had been a very long six days since I’d been with him, and I was ready to wrap this wedding up so he could make good on his promise to take me in my wedding dress.

He slipped the ring on my finger and squeezed my hand tightly.

“Jones,” I said, my voice wavering as I started mine. “I never knew I could fall so quickly in love with someone, but with you, I never stood a chance. You’ve shown up for me in ways I never knew I needed. You’ve stood up for me countless times and have shown your unwavering support with things that others look down upon. I never feel like I have to prove anything to you, and you calm me in a way that no one else ever has. You’re the person I turn to for comfort. The one I go to when I need to laugh. You give me things I never knew existed,” I added, lowering my voice. I could see his eyes darken, knowing he was picking up on my hidden meaning like I had with his. “I promise that I will always stand by your side and that you will never have to question where my loyalty lies. I cannot wait to call you my husband and to be the best wife you could ever ask for.”

I took the ring from Lia with shaky fingers and slipped it over his finger, making it official.

His grin spread across his face as he reached over and grabbed me by the waist, pulling me into his chest as he lowered his lips against mine.

“Umm, you may now kiss the bride,” the battalion chief said as everyone started applauding and cheering for us.

My cheeks felt tight from how big my smile was stretched across my face. I wasn’t sure I could do a fake marriage, but now that it had happened, I wasn’t sure how I would ever be able to walk away once this was done.

Thirty-Four

Bella

“Okay, we’ve cut the cake and eaten some. Now I want to eat yours,” Jones growled in my ear with his hand splayed possessively across my stomach.

I giggled and spun around, popping another bite of cake into his mouth.

“So needy and impatient,” I teased, licking the frosting off my finger painstakingly slow, teasing him even though I needed a release just as bad. I was getting ready to do the next one, but then he snatched my hand and brought my fingers to his lips, sucking the rest of the frosting off instead. My eyes widened, knowing we had an audience, although neither of us seeming to care.

“I’ve shared you long enough,” he complained. “Dinner, the first dance, toasts, now the cake. I can’t wait any longer, baby.”

“Okay, okay,” I said with another giggle. “But how do you suppose we sneak out of here without anyone noticing?

“That’s easy.” He reached down and grabbed me by the back of my thighs, tossing me over his shoulder and carrying me out of the room fireman style as everyone whistled and hollered.

“JONES!” I shrieked, smacking at his back. “This isn’t discreet at all!”

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