I lost the battle not to cry as I continued staring wordlessly at the ring looping his finger. To have that symbol on him made me possessive, powerful, and filled to the brim with omnipotent conviction.
This was kismet in every brilliant shape and story.
“Sullivan Sinclair,” I sniffed back my tears and looked into his stunning sea gaze. “I am no longer afraid. No longer afraid of making a mistake or saying the wrong thing. No longer afraid of missing out or not taking a gamble when I should. I’m not afraid because I know I can tell you anything, and you will listen. I can confide in you, and you will care. I know I can make mistakes, and you will be there to help me and laugh with me. Every new experience, we will share together. Every new gamble isn’t a gamble because we are together, and that’s unbelievably precious. I have no doubt you will get bossy and controlling at times, but I also have no doubt you will be generous and protective. I promise you I will look after you in every mood and malady. I will stand by you with your charities and your crusades for all feathered and furred. Like you, I know that the depth I feel for you now is nothing compared to how I will love you a year from now, a decade from now, a lifetime from now. You own me body and soul, Sully, not because of contracts or choices but because you always have. Just as I own you.”
Sully’s nostrils flared as he grabbed my hand and slid the third and final ring onto my finger. A smaller feminine version of the feathered diamond creation already on his.
With a soft shake of his head and a gentle chuckle, he murmured, “I just had an epiphany, my wonderful Eleanor.”
“Oh?”
He stroked the double diamonds on my finger, thoughts clouding his gaze. “Ever since I met you, there has been one question that never had an answer. I thought I had it when I first told you I loved you, but…I have a much better response now.”
“What was the question?”
Sully ignored me and turned to the celebrant. “Can you please bind us now?”
I shivered as the celebrant nodded and clasped his hands. “Do you, Sullivan Aiden Sinclair, take Eleanor Grace to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
“I do.” His rumble sounded like the volcano I’d always likened his temper too. The quiet cracking of tectonic plates, the absolute threat of power ready to be unleashed at any moment.
“And do you, Eleanor Grace, take Sullivan Aiden Sinclair to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“I have a middle name too. I’d like to add it, please.” I glanced at the suited celebrant. “Jinx.”
Sully sucked in a breath, swaying enough that he grabbed his cane and spread his legs in the sand for support.
I smiled, desperate to kiss him, wild to get him into a bed so we could finish our final vows with his body inside mine.
The celebrant sighed but repeated his question. “Do you, Eleanor Jinx Grace, take Sullivan Aiden Sinclair to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“I do.”
“In that case, I pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Sully jerked me into him, but instead of planting his mouth to mine, he nuzzled into my hair and whispered against my ear. “Who are you, Jinx? Who the fuck are you to destroy me, restore me, and ultimately make me the happiest monster alive?”
I shivered as his tongue licked the shell of my ear.
We had an audience. Waves licked around our bare feet, soaking our hem and cuffs. Two parrots flew around our heads, not appreciating that they’d been excluded, and eyes watched us as Sully once again broke tradition.
“Who are you, Eleanor?” he murmured.
And I knew exactly the answer he wanted.
The question he’d asked since the beginning.
The question that had dragged a whole suitcase of answers with it but never gave quite the right one.
I’m yours.
I’m your other half.
I’m your ever after.
I’m…
“Who are you, Jinx?” Sully asked again, biting the simple pearl dangling in my ear.
I had the answer.
The only answer.
“Who am I, Sully?” I kissed the whiskers on his face. “I’m your wife.”
His entire body shuddered. His exhale made him bow into me. And his voice wobbled with awe. “Damn fucking right you are.” Pulling my head back with his fist in my hair, he crushed his mouth to mine. He once again smashed apart any wedding expectation of a simple public kiss and made the beach ignite with roaring fire as his tongue plunged past my lips and plastered me hard against him.
His cane dug into my dress. His arms banded around me. And his kiss made me breathless and aroused all in one.
I met his hunting tongue with my own.
He groaned as I dropped all propriety and kissed him as savagely as he kissed me.