neck, a slender waist that gave life to hips, and although I couldn’t see her ass, I knew it was nice because I checked it out the first day we had met.
Concentrate on her face, I reminded myself before the crowd ended up seeing the results of the way the sight of her full view was affecting the lower half of my body.
The necklace she wore was the only thing that seemed out of place. The jewelry was simple, not like anything I would expect her to wear, especially not with her gown. Therefore, it must have held sentimental value.
Our gazes locked, and all the lust inside floated away. This was a first, as it was usually lust followed by sex and the woman’s swift departure. I couldn’t decipher what was passing between us, but it took the preacher clearing his throat to get me moving again.
Something within me had burst free and spurred me to speed things along. However, I found myself continuing to take my time, easing the veil past her shoulders to take her in leisurely. Our gaze held strong, leading me to believe we were seeing and assessing each other fully for the first time.
“Mecca,” I mouthed her name on a low whisper, reassuring myself that this was real, that she was real. She didn’t reply, but the smile that appeared on her lovely lips hinted that she heard me.
Once I had her unveiled, I didn’t wait for the pastor’s instructions, remembering the order of the last ceremony. Mecca followed my lead when I took her warm, soft hands. I stood facing her as the pastor stood at our shoulders, poised to speak sacred words of promise and uniting.
“Friends and family of the bride and groom, welcome, and thank you for being here on this important day. We are gathered today to celebrate the special connection between Arjen and Mecca by joining them in marriage.”
This time, I listened, allowing my brain to break down the meaning of the ceremonial words. A weird urge suggested that I make a valid attempt to do what the pastor spoke of, being there for her, protecting her, and honoring our union for better or worse.
“A marriage, as we understand it, is a voluntary and full commitment. It is made in the deepest sense to the exclusion of all others, and it is entered into with the desire and hope that it will last for life.”
We continued to hold each other’s gazes, and every once in a while, she or I would allow a smile to slide across our lips. It was like this secret little thing passing between us that I don’t believe either of us understood, but still embraced.
“Your wedding rings are the outward and visible sign of the inward and invisible bond, which unites your hearts in love. Groom, place the ring on your bride’s finger and repeat after me.”
An unexpected shot of relief swept threw me as I glided the ring on her finger. The sight of the binding action captured my attention until my gaze reconnected with hers once it was set in place. We hadn’t prepared any vows, so the pastor moved on.
We listened as he recited that the ring was a representation of our love. I didn’t know Mecca enough to love her, but even at this early stage in our union, I believed I could grow to care for her. I believed liking a person was a hell of a lot better than loving them anyway.
Love brought on a level of stress that caused people to lose control of their minds. It forced you to make decisions about life and death that you would never have considered before. Loving one person in this world was enough. Khane had that spot as our brotherly bond gave me the ability to make all the connections I needed to.
Truth of the matter was, I didn’t believe that I was capable of producing the specific type of emotion, the kind a husband gave to his wife or a man gave to his woman.
The fact that I’d had her background checked thoroughly was proof of my inability to build the bond a couple needed. Mecca was as careful as me, so I wasn’t able to find evidence that hinted that she was involved in any illegal activities: no jail time, no juvenile offenses, credit impeccable.
She was smarter than her uncle and had invested her money in three legit businesses that she managed. At only twenty-six, she impressed me