I ran my hand over Charli’s cheek. “And you’re my favourite princess too, Charli-Bear.” I winked at her just as the doors opened.
Mum, Dad, and Charli stepped out before me, and when I stepped out into the lobby after them, I was stunned to a halt. There were potted rose bushes lining a white velvet carpet rug which stretched as far as I could see, wrapping around the corner and out into the entertainment precinct. Guests and staff were lined up, waiting for me to walk down it on my journey to marry the man of my dreams.
“Oh my God! Who organised all these roses and where did all these people come from? They look like they are forming a guard of honour, how embarrassing,” I said quietly under my breath.
Lucy spun around to face me after positioning my bridal party in a single file, ready to walk to the Terrace. “Get used to it, Alexis. You are about to marry the biggest control freak on earth.”
“Don’t I know it,” I murmured.
Lucy spun back around and gave her orders. “Okay, okay, ladies and little lady, let’s walk.”
Charli smiled brightly and gave me the thumbs up.
I smiled back and blew her a kiss. “Take it away, princess,” I called back to her.
She started walking slowly along the carpet dropping rose petals from her basket, each bridesmaid followed shortly after.
Mum gave me one last kiss and hug before wiping her tears and heading quickly to the Garden Terrace.
I sucked in a huge breath and blew it out before cracking my neck from side to side. Not the classiest thing to do, Alexis, especially while in a wedding dress in front of many people. But damn, that does help ease tension. I now understood why Bryce did it.
“Let’s walk, Darling.” Dad said, before linking his arm in mine and leading the way.
As I walked down the carpet, I smiled brightly at the hotel’s staff. Many of them I had become quite friendly with, and many had abandoned their duties throughout the hotel to pop into the lobby and see me on my way. I also smiled at the hotel’s guests and waved at their children who waved back excitedly as I walked past. I was so caught up in parading through the hotel, that I had not realised I was now standing at the entrance to the Garden Terrace and in a position to see Bryce standing at the altar. Derek, Will, Matt, Nic, Steve, Jake and Dale were lined up to his right, and my handsome little man, Nate, stood proudly at his very side.
Mum appeared next to me again, this time handing me my equally handsome little, little man, Brayden.
“Hello, Mummy’s spunky boy. Have you been good for Daddy?”
He nodded. “Dadda ova dere,” Brayden giggled, as he pointed to his dad who was as still as a statute while watching me hug our son.
“Yes, he is, isn’t he? And he looks very handsome, just like you. Have you got a kiss for Mummy?”
My chubby little 18-month-old leaned forward and placed a sloppy kiss on my lips.
“Thank you,” I said, as I conspicuously wiped the additional slobber—that toddlers seem to be able to produce—away from my lips and chin. “Now, hold on to Nanny’s hand and your special pillow, and walk down to where Daddy is.”
I placed him on his wobbly feet and watched Mum lead him down the aisle, my heart thumping at the sight of his gorgeous wobbly steps toward his dad. We had both waited nearly two years to get married, just so we could see our gorgeous little Brayden walk down the aisle, and although the wait was agonising—especially for my Mr. I-can’t-fucking-wait-any-longer Clark—seeing our son’s adorable eager steps toward his father, was definitely worth the wait. Everyone in the room smiled at my blonde haired, blue eyed little boy who seemed to charm everyone in his vicinity, just like his dad. He was sweet and playful, and again, just like his dad, stole my heart the moment I first laid eyes on him.
A tear left my eye as I looked down the aisle at all three of my children, and the man who captured my soul the very moment I met him. The sight before me was perfect.
A Live Trepidation musical piece sounded through the speakers, indicating I should begin to walk down the aisle. I wiped my tear and smiled, then I squeezed Dad’s arm, prompting him to turn his head in my direction and pat my hand. I took comfort in his action then beamed at the people around me.
I spotted Santa and Mrs. Gordon first, both of them smiling and nodding their heads as I walked past. Next was Abigail, Sam, and Charlie, Charlie fluttering his hands in front of his face in an attempt to prevent himself from crying. Moving along, I spotted Clarissa and Johanna, and I was glad Jake had been truthful when telling me that he liked her, because obviously he had—she was still very much a part of his life and his house.
Taking my final steps to the altar, I came upon Jessica wiping her eye with a tissue, and something told me her tears were a result of happiness and sadness. Sadness that her best friend—Bryce’s mother—could not be here to witness her son get married. I smiled sympathetically at her, and she thanked me with a brighter smile back.
The last set of guests I laid eyes on before turning to my father were Rick, Claire, and RJ. Rick looked happier than I had ever seen him. He was fit and healthy and very much in love with his heavily pregnant fiancé, Claire.
“Okay, Darling. This is where I leave you and hand you over to a man I know this time will love and care for you until his dying day.”
I scoffed lovingly at my father. “How do you know that?”
Dad nodded in Bryce’s direction. “Just look at him.”
Dad then leaned in and kissed me on the cheek before I turned and faced Bryce.
Okay, I have to agree with you Dad.
Bryce’s eyes were glued to me if in a trance, his mouth slightly open and his hands by his sides showing signs of fidgety agitation.
I stepped up to the altar beside him and mouthed the word ‘Hi’.
He looked at the celebrant. “Can I kiss her now?”
The room erupted into a chuckle.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Clark, not quite yet.”
The windows to his soul were wide open as he stood before me, exposing his undeniable love and indisputable devotion. ‘I love you’ he mouthed, as he eyed me adoringly.
‘I love you, too’ I mouthed back, drinking in his passion.
He was handsome, smouldering and sexy at the best of times, but standing in a long-lined black tuxedo with an ivory-coloured vest to match my dress—the man just simply made my knees weak.
I handed my bouquet of roses to Jen before turning to face Bryce. He subtly wiped his palms on his pants before taking my hands, and I couldn’t help but giggle at his sign of nervousness. As our fingers stroked one another’s, the excitement that his touch always generated, filled me entirely. Then, against all rules, he lifted my wrist to his mouth and placed a kiss on it while fixing his deep blazing gaze on me—the man never did what he was told, never followed the rules.
The celebrant cleared his throat with an amused smile on his face. Bryce just happily smirked.
“We are gathered here today...” the celebrant began, and as if I were in a daze, I concentrated on the man before me—the man I knew from the moment I met him that we belonged together. Against morals and all odds, here we were, about to eternally pledge our commitment to each other.
“Bryce Edward Clark, do you take Alexis Elizabeth Blaxlo to be your wife? Do you promise to love her, cherish her, honour and keep her, in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live?”
“I do,” he pronounced with certainly.
The celebrant then repeated ‘The Asking’ to me.
“I do,” I answered honestly.
He nodded to Brayden. “Now I believe this young man right here has the honour in handing over the rings.”
Mum whispered to Brayden and set him on his feet, and like all toddlers do, he surged toward his older brother who had bent down to make sure he did not go tumbling to the ground. Nate caught him in his arms and took the pillow from him which contained our rings.
“My pillow,” Brayden complained as Nate handed it to
the celebrant.
“Hang on, Buddy, you can have it back in a second,” Nate said as he placed his hands on Brayden’s shoulders, positioning him at his front.
The celebrant untied the rings and handed the pillow back to Brayden. He happily accepted and made his way back to Mum and Dad.
“Bryce,” the celebrant said as he handed over my ring. “I believe you have something to say.”
“Yes, I do.” Bryce took the ring then lifted my hand in his. “Alexis, you’re a thief,” he said boldly.
I laughed. What?
“You stole my heart, and you stole it good. You kept it, joined it with yours and never gave it back. But Hunny, I want you to keep it. It’s yours, it belongs to you and it always will. I’ve waited all my life for a thief like you...”
I laughed again and so did our family and friends, Brayden laughing along with them.
“I live for you, breathe for you. I form part of this world simply for you. With this ring, I vow to be everything you need and want. I vow to be your life, your breath and the reason for your existence.” He lifted my hand again and pressed it to his mouth before sliding the ring on my finger.
Tears were streaming down my cheeks as I looked at it through blurred vision, perfectly placed beside my engagement ring—Brylexis right next to it.
Bryce gently wiped my tears away.
I leaned in to his touch before taking his ring from the celebrant.
“Bryce, if I’m a thief then you’re my ultimate loot...”
This time he laughed along with the occupants in the room.
“...my greatest treasure. You are my knight in shining armour. The person who opened my eyes, heart, and soul to a love I did not know existed, a love so deep that it’s effortless, raw and pure. I vow to be all that you’ll ever want or need. I vow to be your life entirely. I vow to love you so profoundly that you’ll realise I am no thief and that your heart was never yours, it was always mine.”
Just like he did, I lifted his hand and placed a kiss to it before sliding his ring onto his finger.
“Can I kiss her now?” he asked almost desperately through gritted teeth.
“With the power invested in me...” the celebrant began to say. “...by the Commonwealth—”
Bryce did not wait for him to finish before taking me in his strong arms and pressing his lips to mine. His hands were on my back, and I was deliciously pressed against him as we merged our mouths together for the first time as husband and wife. I melted into him then suddenly felt myself being lowered and turned to the side in a dip.
The room cheered, and I heard Brayden squeal in happiness, forcing both Bryce and I to stop and instinctively find our son. We both turned our heads to see him sitting on my Dad’s lap, clapping his hands and bouncing up and down. We both let out a laugh before we turned back to each other.
“Mr. Clark, you can lift me back up again.”
“Not just yet, Mrs. Clark,” he said with a smirk then leaned in and kissed me again.
The End.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Where do I start? I know, I’ll start by thanking the most amazing person that I am privileged to share my life with; my amazing husband - I could not have spent the last ten months of my life writing three novels without you. The way you have adapted to our changing lifestyle has floored me. You floor me. I love you so very much, and I thank you for everything that you are and everything that you do.
My ratbags; my two little adorable loves of my life - You make me smile daily. You make me laugh daily. You make me inwardly curse daily. You make me clean up after you daily. You make my daily worthwhile. Mummy loves you both ♥
I can honestly say I am blessed with two of the most wonderful parents known to man—and woman. Yes, I am that lucky - Mum and Dad, thank you for all that you do. Thank you for loving me. And thank you for being you.
As always, my close friends who provide a platform of escapism. You know who you are. Your support, enthusiasm and optimism, helps to give me the courage to put my heart to paper. Thank you so much.
My Beta Readers - Sarah and Heather - Flib, you seriously crack me up. I very much look forward to reading your feedback and comments, not to mention the ever informative—and hilarious—YouTube links you provide me with. Heather, you are a gem. A grammar and spelling Goddess. Thank you so much ♥
And lastly, but certainly not in the least—my fans and followers on Facebook and Goodreads. Without your encouragement and love for all things Bryce and Alexis, this series would not have gone anywhere. I can’t possibly thank you all enough for enthusiastically spreading the word like you have. I love you all ♥♥
AUTHOR BIO
K.M. Golland was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia. She studied Legal Practice for two years and worked as a Land Conveyancer for four years, before putting her career on hold to raise two beautiful children. She always had a love of reading and decided, rather than returning to the Legal Industry, she would become a Writer—self-publishing her debut novel Temptation (Book 1 in The Temptation Series.)
“I am a writer. I am married. And, I am a mother of two adorable little people. I'm a Bookworm, Craftworm, Movieworm and Sportsworm. I'm also a Shop-aholic, Tea-aholic, Strawberry-aholic and Choc-aholic.”
You can find K.M. Golland on:
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6860161.K_M_Golland
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/temptationseries
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005897226649
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KellyGolly
Make sure you visit my facebook pages. Bonus chapters such as Bryce’s POV when Brayden was born will pop up every now and again ☺
Fulfillment Page 39