***
“Blame your groomsmen and their better halves.” Ty wiped at Tanesha’s cheeks with a handkerchief that Jackson, his grinning best man handed over to him. “They thought it would be cool to surprise you. I’m just a puppet here.” He grinned.
“Yeah right.” Tanesha smiled. “Blame it on someone else. “I’m pregnant, Ty.” She whispered.
“You really think that’s news?” Ty whispered right back, giving her such a loving but cocky smile Tanesha decided to shock him.
“Know it’s twins?” Tanesha asked innocently, and then promptly grinned when all the blood drained out of Ty’s face. “I guess you don’t know everything after all.” She smirked.
“How do you find my surprise?”
“Fuck!” He breathed.
“We’re in church, Ty.” Tanesha hissed.
“Shit…” Ty looked totally unfocused. When he saw Tanesha’s eyes widen at his inappropriate choice of words, he pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation. “Sorry. Baby, this is the best surprise ever.” Ty didn’t recognize his own voice. “I love you. You have no idea just how much.” He choked.
“I think I do,” Tanesha whispered, drawing Ty’s head down. He still looked dazed. “I still can’t believe you’re here.” She murmured against his lips. “I want to kiss you so bad.” She whispered shakily.
Ty turned his head to look at Father Campbell who looked so funny pretending not to listen to them. The priest raised an eyebrow and then turned around as if to pick up something from the lectern behind him. Ty just knew the good old priest was giving him permission. He didn’t waste any time at all. With an arm around Tanesha’s waist and a hand at the nape of her neck, he dipped his head and captured those succulent lips he’d been dreaming about for months in a possessive kiss. The congregation gasped. Ty ignored them. All that mattered was the woman in his arms and the taste, feel, and pleasure of her mouth.
The intensity of emotions and need within them shattered their control and swept them both along as they came together with no care for their staring audience. Tanesha’s mouth opened to Ty’s possession with a moan, letting him in and allowing her tongue to twine with his. Like Ty, she didn’t care at all that everyone…including her father, was watching her kiss Ty. She totally melted against him, kissing him back as sensuously as she was being kissed. It was deep, it was hot, and it was quick. When Ty released Tanesha’s lips, she looked dazed.
Ty leaned his forehead against Tanesha’s, his hand framing her cheek. “Fuck, I love these lips,” Ty whispered shakily against Tanesha’s swollen lips. “You’ve got the sweetest and sexiest mouth ever. I could kiss you over and over and over and not get enough.”
“I love you so much.” Tanesha breathed unsteadily.
Ty didn’t need to be a genius to know that. He rubbed his thumb over the wet kiss-swollen curve of her lips. They were fuller now from his caress, her eyelids looking heavy, her breath coming out harshly… she was so fucking sexy. And he was getting harder by the minute. Shit!
“Can we please get this over and done with already?” Ty said hoarsely. “Much as this dress takes my breath away, I really want you out of it.”
Tanesha laughed softly. “God, I missed you.” She gasped. “Alright let’s do this.”
Ty gave a smirking Father Campbell a slight nod to proceed. “I love you too,” Ty whispered.
“I know.” She beamed as they turned to face Father Campbell, who looked from Ty’s face to Tanesha’s with a comical expression on his face.
“First Peter chapter five verse fourteen says we should greet one another with a kiss of love. But that kiss…” The congregation burst into laughter. “Have anything to confess before I begin?” He asked, still maintaining his comical expression. Everyone in that chapel was roaring with laughter, including Ty and Tanesha. “We’re gathered here to witness the coming together of two people whose hearts and spirits are absolutely entwined as one.” Father Campbell began when the people quieted down.
It was a short but lovely ceremony. After the rings had been exchanged and they’d finished saying the traditional vows, Ty asked to say a few words to Tanesha. He called it his own personal promise.
“I love you for everything that you are and everything that you make me feel when I’m with you. You are my partner in life and my one true love, Tanesha.” He caught a tear that escaped Tanesha’s eye with his thumb. “I will cherish this marriage always and I will love you more and more every day. I promise to be your constant friend, a faithful partner, and your love from this day forward. With you, forever doesn’t seem long enough. You’re the place my life begins. And you’ll be where it ends. You have my word, baby.”
By the time he was done, Tanesha was crying too hard to make any response. All she could manage was a shaky “I love you, Ty.”
“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife.” Father Campbell declared. “Kiss her. You’re married.” He grinned, making everyone burst into laughter.
And as their hungry mouths met, applause, whistles, and shouts filled the huge church. Everyone was up on their feet, cheering till the kiss ended. They were given a signal to get ready to file out of the church. But before they moved, however, Tanesha went up on her toes and kissed Jackson on both cheeks. A roar went up from the Arrowheads when he made a fist pump. Ty couldn’t stop laughing long enough to act angry. Tanesha hugged Briana who stood beside Jackson… with no veil fascinator on her head.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better maid of honour.” She whispered to Briana. “Thank you.”
“The pleasure was mine,” Briana whispered back. “Be happy.”
Tanesha hugged her parents next, thanking her mother for her jewelry. Then she hugged Ty’s parents who were both on the front pew, and then finally, signaled Cole, Shane, Aaron, and Tristan to join the bridal party just as the clergy got ready to precede them out church.
Ty fell even harder…if that was even possible…at Tanesha’s thoughtful gesture. His wife was simply the best. He was still shaken over the twin revelation though. When the Wedding March began to play, he felt Tanesha shiver beside him and slipped an arm possessively around her waist.