He didn’t. Taking her hand, he led her to the priest, staring into her eyes. The veil didn’t hide his woman. He knew every single inch of her perfectly.
The church faded away and the words the priest was reading did as well.
Nothing existed for him but this woman.
The love of his life.
The woman he’d been working so closely with for so long.
He’d nearly let her get away.
He listened to her vows and he spoke his, knowing them without needing notes or a card. When it came time to kiss the bride, he lifted her veil and there was his beautiful woman.
As he kissed her, finally making her his wife, the crowd cheered.
He didn’t let her go though.
Sinking his fingers into her hair, he heard her moan and his cock hardened.
He knew he wouldn’t be able to make love to her right here in the church, and he released her. Taking hold of her hand, he locked their fingers together.
What started out as a Christmas secret had become so much more.
Even though that blizzard had scared the shit out of him, he’d gladly go back and relive it again. It had brought him to Delaney, and for him, that was the best thing of all.
Outside, in the warm sunshine, with their one photographer waiting, they took their pictures.
“How are you feeling?” Delaney asked.
“On top of the world.”
“You weren’t tempted to run? Not even a little?”
He laughed. “No. I thought you’d run.”
“Not a chance, big guy. I don’t want to go anywhere where you’re not.” She placed her hand on his chest. “I believe you asked me to spend the next fifty plus years with you.”
“I did.”
“You know what I’m like about work. There’s nothing I want more than to know I can complete every single task set out for me.” She went onto her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his lips, the camera catching the moment. “And that means spending every possible moment with you that I can.”
“My family hasn’t scared you off?”
“They terrify me but not enough to scare me off. I love you, Ivan. Always.”
He gripped her neck, tilting her head back, and pressed his lips to hers. Hearing her moan that sweet sound meant the fucking world to him.
As the camera caught the moment, he knew deep in his heart that there would never be anyone else but Delaney for him.
The doubters at work had given them a month before they broke up.
Not only had they not broken up, or had a personal fight—they’d had plenty of work ones—their relationship was stronger for it.
“I want the world with you,” he said. “Everything. The kids. The life. All of it.”
“Good.” She nibbled her lip. “I’d like to start a family with you right away.”
“I’ll never turn that down.”
He pulled her in close, grabbing her ass, and knowing that making babies was about to become a favorite hobby of his.