“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today,” the priest begins. “To join in with the most important moment of this wonderful couple’s lives. Noah and Mia are spending
today committing to one another, trusting one another to love each other for the rest of their long lives together…”
I tune his words out because I can feel them about to send me into an emotional break down. It’s hard for me to hold it together when I have the most gorgeous woman in the world in front of me, loving me with everything that she has. I have my vows to get through at some point and I don’t want to lose my mind.
Instead, I lose myself in Mia’s eyes, knowing that I will do whatever I can to make her life awesome. It’s already amazing, but now we’re official, now I’ve claimed her forever and she’s claimed me. We’re so strong I know that nothing will ever be able to come between us. She really is the one. Mom was right.
I vowed that I would always listen to her, and now I’m so glad that I did.
“Now, the couple have prepared their own vows. So, who would like to go first?”
The words choke in my throat, I know I need to speak before she does or it won’t happen. I’m pretty sure it’s traditional for the guy to go first anyway which works out really well for me.
“Mia,” I blurt out before she can say anything. “From the very first moment you crashed into my life I knew that you were different. You were this beautiful red head sweating in my gym, preparing yourself for the biggest run of your life. I was smitten right away. I tried not to be, but I was, and that only got worse the more you were around me.” I chuckle, my heart swelling at the memory. “And then we had some… crazy times, I should call it.” Everyone laughs this time, they all know about the insanity between me and Hayley and how supportive Mia was. They all agree that just shows how wonderful she is for me. “After which, we found out that our beautiful little Alia was coming, which was the best thing ever. And now… we’re here.
You have made me so happy up until this point, and I know you’ll keep making me happy. I want to make you happy too. I want to make you breakfast in bed, to rub your feet after a long day, to be your art assistant whenever you need me to be… to be the best husband, the man you deserve.
I love you, Mia, and I’m so happy to be with you. I can’t wait for our lives together.”
Mia wipes some tears away from her eyes, almost choking on her happy tears. I can she her flapping with panic. “You’ve taken the words right out of me, that was so sweet. I can’t remember what I wanted to say.”
I lean forward and kiss some of the tears from her cheeks, hopefully reassuring her. “It’s okay,” I whisper. “It doesn’t matter what you say, we’re going to be together forever, you have all the time in the world to tell me.”
Anxiety is coursing through her, I can see it. She’s shaking all over. I shouldn’t have thought about myself, I should have seen that she needed to go first.
“Noah, I… I love you…” Her voice cracks, emotion claims her. “You have no idea how happy you make me. You’ve…” She breathes and flaps her hands in front of her face. “You’ve made me stronger, more powerful, better in every way. And you already make me happy. You have no idea how happy. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you. We have so many more things to do together and I’m excited for it.”
I wrap her up in my arms and hold her to my chest for a moment, calming her down. Then it’s time for us to exchange rings, which totally takes the attention of us because Alex is so adorable. The people watching us coo and aww at him, which makes me and Mia giggle. Then we slide the rings down on to each other’s fingers, repeating the traditional words that are expected of us to say. For better for worse, for richer for poorer, until death do us part, all the things that we already know we will do without even thinking about it.
“I now pronounce you man and wife.” Those words fill me with more happiness than I ever thought possible. “You may now kiss the bride.”
I grab Mia and dip her down low, pressing me lips to hers to feel those delicious fireworks exploding all the way through us. The room cheers, but I can barely hear it, my heart pounds with happiness in my ears. I finally have everything that I ever wanted and more. I didn’t know it was possible to be this happy.
“I love you,” I murmur as we pull apart. “So much.”
“I love you too… and now I get to call you my husband. I must be the luckiest woman alive.”
“I’m the lucky one! I get to keep you.”
We stand and I pull her into my chest, knowing that I’m the lucky one really, I have my dream woman. A woman who loves my son as if she’s his own and who has given me an incredible daughter as well. I’m sure we’ll have more children, more adventures, more fun…
The world is our oyster and I can’t wait to see where the future takes us.
25
Sneak Peak: Burning with Lust
Blurb
The last time I threw myself into commitment, I got my heart burned.
I had sworn off women ever since then,
But Jodi was different.
Ever since she walked into my casino, I knew she’d be trouble…
She’s petite and curvy,