“I’m just excited.” I swallowed hard when the corner of his mouth turned up in a smile.
He glanced at the pastor and cleared his throat. Apparently he had been paying better attention than I had. Rob handed him something and he grabbed my hand.
“Penny,” he said as he slid my wedding band onto my finger. He paused for a second and I watched his Adam’s apple rise and fall. “You once asked me if I was a believer in fate. I wasn’t. But I am now because of you. When you fell into my arms, I had no idea that my life was about to change forever. But you knew. You fought for me when I didn’t deserve anyone on my side. Your persistence and stubbornness and beauty brought me to my knee after only knowing you for two months. And now we’re here. I know that we can get through anything together, I know that we’re strong enough together.
“I’m crazy about you and I can’t wait for our future. I can’t wait for our lives together with you as my wife. You showed me that our pasts don’t matter. You see a goodness in me that I was never able to see in myself. You make me want to be a better man for you. You saved me, Penny. You are the air I breathe. You are the dreams I dream. You are the light of my life. I’m consumed by your beauty, inside and out. I’m the lucky one. And I don’t know why you picked me. But I’m grateful every day. When I wake up every morning and see your face, I’m reminded that I am the luckiest man alive.
” I will never push you away again. Penny, I swear to you I won’t. And I’m so sorry. I want you to be able to rely on me. I need you to know that you can always fall into my arms. I’ll always be there to catch you.”
He wiped away my tears with his thumbs. “Don’t cry, baby,” he whispered. “It hurts me to see you cry.”
I pressed my lips together and shook my head. “I’m crying because I’m so happy.”
He grabbed my chin in his hand. “It’s your turn.”
I nodded. I turned around and took James’ wedding ring from Melissa. My throat suddenly felt dry. Public speaking had never been my forte. And everyone was waiting on me. I grabbed James’ hand and slid the ring onto his finger. I knew he could feel my hands trembling.
He stepped forward and put his hands on my waist. “Don’t be nervous. Just talk to me. Pretend it’s just us.”
That was easier than he probably realized. When we were together all I noticed was him. But it didn’t make me less nervous. Because I needed him to listen to me. I needed him to understand. I took a deep breath and stared up into his eyes.
“James, I love you with everything that I am. I could go on for hours about all the things I love about you. Days probably. When I look at you, I still get stars in my eyes. I don’t even know how it’s possible, but I love you more and more each day.”
He smiled.
“But what I need to tell you right now is that I forgive you. I forgive you for not always believing in what we have.”
He lowered his eyebrows.
“Because I’ve always known why you push me away. Deep down that fear was always there. I understand. But you’re wrong, James. You’re always right about everything else, but you’re so wrong about this. Because this is love.” I put my hand on his chest. “This is all consuming, terrifying, heart stopping love. It’s the greatest kind of love. And I’m going to spend my whole life proving to you that that’s what this is. And how good and honest and full of light you are.”
A single tear slid down his left cheek.
“Forever and always, James.” I reached up and ran my fingers across his cheek, wiping away his tears. “There is no me without you. I want you to protect me and cherish me and whatever else normal vows say.”
He smiled.
“I want it all with you. And only you. I love the way we met. I would never change a thing. And I love the way we’ve grown together. As long as you’re by my side, I’m not scared of the future. Because I’ve always known what I wanted.” I touched the side of his face. “You. You’re all that I’ve ever wanted, James.”
“You’re all that I’ve ever wanted.” He pulled me against him and kissed me. I knew it wasn’t time. We hadn’t said our ‘I do’s.’ But we had said everything that we needed to. We were now one. Nothing would ever come between us again.
The pastor cleared his throat.
James removed his lips from mine, but he kept me in his arms. “Penny, this is the best day of my life.”
I smiled up at him. “Mine too.”
“James, do you take Penny to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold until death do you part?” the pastor said quickly.
James smiled down at me. The playful smile. The one I wished he always had. One not tortured by his past or his fears for the future. “I do.”
“Penny, do you take James to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold until death do you part?
“I do.”
“Then by the power vested in me by the state of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride,” he said with a smile.
James laughed and leaned down to kiss me again. Etiquette be damned. This was my first kiss with my husband. I was going to make it count. I grabbed the lapel of his jacket to deepen our kiss as his hands slid dangerously close to my ass.
Someone whistled. But nothing else mattered. Just us. I was drunk on him. I had been since the day we met. I pulled back and looked up into his eyes.
“James, we’re married.”
He shook his head like he couldn’t believe it. “We’re married.” He bent down and scooped me up in his arms.
I laughed as he carried me down the aisle in his arms. Everyone around us stood up and cheered. I heard laughter and knew that the groomsmen were most likely giving the bridesmaids piggyback rides, much to Justin’s horror. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
James carried me through the doors of the restaurant and into the room he must have been in with his groomsmen. “This dress? Really?” He set me down on my feet and pushed my back against the wall. “Are you trying to kill me?
“Does that mean you like it?”
“Especially this part,” he said and trailed his fingers down the V in the front. “You are the most beautiful bride. And officially all mine.” His index finger stopped it’s descent when he hit the lacy fabric again.
“I’ve always been yours.”
“Not like this.” He leaned down and kissed me softly. “Not as my wife.” He kissed the side of my neck. “Not with my last name.” He kissed between my breasts. “You look so beautiful, but all I want to do is rip this off of you.” He kissed between my breasts again.
I heard Rob’s unmistakable laugh.