swooning? I had to focus on my breathing. Keep it together. I scanned the crowd quickly, looking for Cindy, who was a sobbing mess. No help there. So I refocused on my soon-to-be husband’s eyes. The lyrics he sang skirted along my arms, erupting fire across my body. Butterfly wings railed against my stomach. It was the push I needed to continue the last few steps to him.
Now I’ll be your forever and a day
Come what may
I’ll be there to hold you tight
Take away the tears and hold you through the night
I’ll be your lover and your friend
till the end
When I pull you close
and your lips meet mine
the look in your eyes
the desire in your thighs
I feel the heat of love
the flames of desire
My eyes wandered to the way his thick fingers plucked the strings cleverly, drawing out the perfect tune, much like he does to me.
Now I’ll be your forever and a day
come what may
I’ll be there to hold you tight
take away the tears and hold you through the night
I’ll be your lover and friend till the end
I continued the last few steps to him, feeling a warm, calm sensation cover me. I was all right. We were finally here, and nothing could take this moment away from me. He removed the strap from his neck and handed his guitar off to his dad, who passed it to Chance. I smiled at the memory of meeting him for the first time and mouthed the words I love you.
Yes, we finally got it right, I thought as I took his hand.
We chose an old friend of Abel’s father to officiate the ceremony. He wasn’t a minister, but held an official title as such in their kinky world. I guessed he was their version of a minister. “Abel and Gia, have you come here freely to give yourself here in marriage? Will you give yourselves as husband and wife for the rest of your lives?”
“Yes,” we both answered simultaneously.
“Abel, you may recite your vows.”
“I, Abel, take you Gia, to be my lawfully wedded wife. To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, from this day forward. You are mine. You have taken residence in my heart, the key has been lost. You will stay there forever.” A smile spread across his face, filling me with warmth and comfort.
“Gia…” the officiant prompted.
I cleared my throat, not wanting to chance my words getting stuck. “I, Gia, promise to be your partner for life. I promise above all else to live in truth with you and to communicate fully and fearlessly. I give to you my submission, my will, and my heart. May it be a sanctuary of warmth and peace. I pledge my love, devotion, faith, and honor as I join my life to yours.”
In that moment, it was only the two of us. No one else was there as I stared into Abel’s eyes, promising to give myself to him completely for the rest of my life. In what I’d imagined would be a nervous and scary moment, I was pleasantly surprised to feel none of those things. Instead, I felt content, happy, calm, and above all else, loved.
“You will now exchange the rings as a symbol of true faith and loyalty for each other. May they remind you of your love when you are apart.”
Abel’s father held out his hand so we could grab the rings.
I held my finger out while Abel recited his pledge. “With this ring, I thee wed, and accept responsibility for you as long as we both shall live.” He slipped the diamond eternity band on my finger and sealed it with a kiss.
I took his hand in mine. “With this ring, I pledge myself to thee. With all my affections of my heart, forsaking all others, yours and only yours, for as long as we both shall live. I’ll carry your heart with me, carefully cradled in my own heart. I’m never without it, and anywhere I go, you go.” I pushed the ring onto his finger and over his knuckle where it would stay forever.
“Abel and Gia have come together as two separate souls into one new life, joining two halves to make one whole. Celebrating two hearts together in one love.” He glanced between us and nodded. “You may kiss your bride.” He smiled at us.
The moment the words were spoken, he captured my mouth with his. Our lips