Damien turned off the car. “I think he’s waiting for you, sis.”
I smiled and pushed the door open, slowly sliding to my feet until my mother’s heels hit the driveway. The train of my white dress slid off the seat and to the ground. It had thin sleeves covering my shoulder, a deep neckline that showed the tops of my breasts like it was lingerie, and then it trailed to my feet, the slit high in the front so he could see my legs from the thighs down. It was a much sluttier version of my mother’s dress.
When he inhaled a deep breath, it was obvious he liked it.
I took my time crossing the gravel so I wouldn’t trip. When I reached the front walk, I steadied myself before I kept going.
Without blinking, he stared at me, his face so hard, he had no expression at all. But the emotion in his eyes caught a subtle glare because of the sun, because of the moisture that built up in his gaze.
I’d only seen him cry once—and that was when he’d lost me.
I couldn’t take the long walk to him, couldn’t stand the eternity that would take. So, I gathered my dress and ran to him, ran up the pathway right into his chest.
He pulled his hands out of his pockets as he came toward me, moving quickly like he couldn’t wait either.
By the time I got to him, I was crying, ruining my makeup, ruining my hair. I jumped into his arms.
He caught me, his powerful arms sliding me to the ground so his hand could move into my hair, cup the back of my neck. He inhaled a deep breath as he kissed me, his other arm squeezing my waist as if he might break me in half like a twig. He didn’t care about my family in the car. He kissed me like no one was there at all.
When he pulled away, he looked into my face with wet eyes, like he wanted to take a moment to study exactly how I looked, memorize the fire in my eyes, the emotion in the tremble of my lips.
I cupped his face, my thumbs brushing the two tears that streaked down his cheeks.
He brought his forehead to mine, bringing us closer together. He closed his eyes as he held me, closed his eyes as he breathed with me, held me like it was just the two of us. There didn’t need to be a priest to read our vows, to make us husband and wife. Because we were husband and wife now…the second we touched.
After dinner, everyone left, like they knew they should leave us alone.
Balto hugged me before he stepped out with Cassini. “Welcome to the family, sis.”
“Thanks, Balto.”
He squeezed my hand before he walked out.
Damien embraced Heath with a hug instead of a handshake. “See you later.”
“Thanks.” Heath smiled as he clapped him on the back.
My dad kissed me on the cheek. “Your mother is so happy right now.” He hugged me tightly, longer than he had in recent memory. “You’re so beautiful, more beautiful than she was on our wedding day.”
“I find that hard to believe…but thank you.”
He turned to Heath next and hugged him the way he hugged my brother. “Come over whenever you get a chance. I want a rematch.”
Heath chuckled. “You got it.”
He gripped Heath by the shoulder before he walked out.
We watched them from the door, watched them get into their cars and drive away.
Heath shut the door, turning and pressing his back into it, like he wasn’t going to let anyone else back through there. His hand moved to the lock, and he flipped it, the bolt clicking into place.
I smiled at him, watching the way he looked at me, like he couldn’t wait to get this dress off me.
His eyes roamed over my body. “That dress…Jesus Christ.” He pushed off the door and scooped me into his arms, cradling me to his chest as he walked to the stairs.
My arms moved around his neck, and I kissed him as he carried me, not wanting to wait until we were in the bedroom before we got started. I couldn’t wait for this dress to slide to the floor, for my husband to look at me for the first time.
He carried me to the bedroom then set me on the bed.
I felt something against my ass, and that was when I noticed the sunflowers he’d placed there, like rose petals on a bed