Forever yours. Faithfully.
“It’s time,” Ash announced, stepping up to the doorway, with Calvin standing behind him, then Seb, and Rosa. The door to the sitting room opened, and in walked Cael, Hobbs, Hudson, and Letty. They took turns hugging Sloane, telling him how good he looked, and how happy they were for him. Ash kissed Cael’s cheek, his smile wide.
“You look beautiful, sweetheart.”
Cael’s smile was dazzling as he took the arm Ash held out to him. “Thank you. You look amazing.”
Ash winked at him, and they faced forward. Everyone paired up, and got in line. Sloane rounded his shoulders, and stood behind Rosa. He tugged on his shirt cuffs and blew out a breath to steady himself. It was finally happening. Fuck. He’d never been more terrified. Not because he was getting married, but because soon he would be a husband. He was committing himself to being everything Dex deserved.
The door to the sitting room opened, and he turned, his breath catching at the sight of Dex in his double-breasted tuxedo, looking more beautiful than ever. There was a sparkle in his stunning blue eyes, an adoration reserved only for him. Sloane swallowed past the lump in his throat as Dex stepped up to him.
“Hi,” Dex said quietly.
“Hi,” Sloane replied, his voice rough with emotion. “How is it you always manage to steal my breath away?”
“It’s only fair since you stole my heart.” A tear rolled down Dex’s cheek, and Sloane wiped it away with his thumb. He held his hand out to Dex, and Dex placed his hand in Sloane’s. They laced their fingers together, and the double doors were opened for them. The music changed, and they walked out into the garden, down the white carpet that stretched to the altar, where their family and friends stood to each side of Tony.
As they walked hand in hand past their friends, everyone snapping pictures, in tears, or smiling brightly, Sloane tightened his grip on Dex’s hand. Their friends and family were here for them, to see them off on this new adventure. They reached the altar, where Tony stood dressed sharply in a black suit and black tie, a microphone pinned to his lapel. He smiled wide at them, his eyes watery. Clearing his throat, he rounded his shoulders.
As Tony began the ceremony, Sloane and Dex faced each other, Dex’s hands in his, his flushed cheeks and beautiful smile had Sloane grinning like an idiot. God, he was so in love with this man. Tony thanked their guests for being here with them to witness their union on this beautiful day. He talked of celebration and love, and how everyone here played an integral part in their lives.
“Love is, truly, a gift. As the inspirational Maya Angelou once said, ‘Love
recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.’ In the time that Dexter and Sloane have spent together, they’ve built the sturdy foundation for a lifelong relationship.” Tony continued, speaking of love forever binding them together, how they’ll spend each day nurturing their love.
“The love you share must be guarded and cherished. It is your most valuable treasure. Dexter and Sloane, I invite you to declare your vows. Dexter, you may begin.”
Dex took a deep breath and nodded. Sloane had never seen Dex this nervous before. It spoke volumes of what this meant to him. Very little rattled his sweet, fearless man. Dex met Sloane’s gaze, and Sloane winked at him. With a soft laugh, Dex nodded again, as if finding his courage. He lifted his chin and spoke confidently.
“I, Dexter, take you, Sloane, for my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life, until death do us part. This is my solemn vow.”
Tony looked to Sloane. “Sloane, you may now make your promise.”
Sloane smiled at Dex, and brought Dex’s hands to his lips for a kiss before he started. “I, Sloane, take you, Dexter, for my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life, until death do us part. This is my solemn vow.”
“Dexter, do you take Sloane to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise him love, faith, and tenderness? Do you promise to cherish him, put your trust in him, and comfort him in difficulty, so long as you both shall live?”
“I do.”
“Sloane, do you take Dexter to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise him love, faith, and tenderness? Do you promise to cherish him, put your trust in him, and comfort him in difficulty, so long as you both shall live?”
“I do.”
“You may now exchange rings. Let these rings remind you always of that love, and of the promises you have made here on this day.”
Dex turned and gently took Sloane’s ring from Cael, and then Sloane turned to take Dex’s ring from Ash, winking at his red-eyed friend. Ash shook his head at him as he stepped back behind Sloane.
“Will each of you please repeat after me as you place the ring on your loved one’s hand? I, Dexter, give you, Sloane, this ring as a symbol of my love and commitment. With this ring, I thee wed.”
Dex lifted Sloane’s left hand, and slid the black band down Sloane’s ring finger. “I, Dexter, give you, Sloane, this ring as a symbol of my love and commitment. With this ring, I thee wed.” A tear rolled down Dex’s cheek, but his smile was breathtaking. All Sloane wanted to do was grab him and kiss him senseless.
“Repeat after me,” Tony instructed, making sure Sloane didn’t get ahead of himself. “I, Sloane, give you, Dexter, this ring as a symbol of my love and commitment. With this ring, I thee wed.”
Sloane lifted Dex’s left hand and slipped the black band on his finger. “I, Sloane, give you, Dexter, this ring as a symbol of my love and commitment. With this ring, I thee wed.”
“By the power vested in me by the state of New York, I pronounce you married. You may now kiss.”
Everyone erupted into cheers as Sloane moved in to kiss Dex, laughing when Dex grabbed him, turned, and dipped him. Dex waggled his eyebrows before kissing Sloane. He brought Sloane back up with him, and Sloane couldn’t help it. Before Dex could turn away, Sloane cupped his face and brought their lips together. Dex melted against him, the crowd cheering and catcalling as Dex grasped the lapels of Sloane’s tuxedo. They wrapped their arms around each other, lost in the kiss, the world disappearing, leaving only the two of them. When they were breathless, they came up for air, and they rested their heads together as Tony declared loudly.