A minute later a huge smile lit him up as he twisted around and accepted the ring box Nate was holding.
He opened it, took out a ring and passed the box off to Jules, who reached over from behind me.
Jake’s voice was thick with emotion. “On this day, I make you my wife for all eternity and, as a symbol of that everlasting devotion, I place this ring upon your finger.”
He slipped the vintage, lace, round cut platinum and diamond wedding band onto my ring finger. It sparkled in the sun, and I thought of Jake’s song to me.
I turned it a bit and then took Jake’s ring from the velvet padded case. Then I turned and held his hand in mine.
“On this day, I make you my husband for all eternity and, as a symbol of that everlasting devotion, I place this ring upon your finger.” His was platinum and was engraved with a masculine vintage milgrain design.
“Now,” the officiant began, “I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Every moment in my life had led up to this one. He carefully placed his hands on my neck—where he was sure not to mess up my hair or makeup—and I let myself be enveloped in the sensation of the present as he pulled his lips to mine. I felt the softness of his flesh and tasted the warm salt air.
Jake North—my forever—had come true.
After letting the kiss linger, we pulled apart but only slightly. His hands still rested where he’d laid them.
The guests leapt to their feet and burst with a thunderclap of applause. Nate stepped out in front of us and announced: “May I be the first to present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Jake and Olivia North!”
Our reception was held right there on the beach. The night was illuminated now by the glow of the stars over our heads and beautiful glass lanterns that hung from wires. The food was all catered by The Spring and was impeccable, and we had an upscale disc jockey. Everything was perfect.
We danced our first dance to Daughtry’s “Life After You.”
“Hello, Mrs. North.” Jake scooped me into his arms and literally swept me off my feet into the middle of the dancing area.
Everyone clapped and cheered.
He continued, “You have been positively radiant all day long.”
“I’ve felt radiant by your side.”
“Has everything gone the way you wanted?”
“It’s all been perfect.”
“Yeah, for me too. Now the only thing that could make it even more perfect would be if we could lose all these people who won’t seem to go away and for me to figure out how to get you out of that spectacular dress so I can put my hands all over your much more spectacular body.”
I was sure everybody who was watching us—which was everybody—could figure out what we were talking about simply by the reaction on my face.
“Stop it, Livie, your blushing is going to make me hard, then I really will have to get you out of here.”
I laughed. “Just you wait till we’re alone, Mr. North.”
He dipped me. “I love when you threaten me. Tell me what you’ll do.”
I giggled again, and he pulled me up and in all seriousness said, “Livie?”
“Yes?” I prepared myself for the next sexy innuendo.
“You’re my wife.”
The happiness spread across my face. “Yes, I am.”
“And I’m your husband.”
“Yes, you are.”
“You’ve made me deliriously happy.”
“Then kiss me.”
“Always.” He pressed his mouth against mine and the crowd around us clapped again. And I agreed with his sentiment—I couldn’t wait to be alone together.
For the next dance the DJ announced that we would be having the official Brother of the Bride dance. “And the bride’s brother chose this song himself … ‘Wherever You Will Go’ from The Calling.”
“This is the perfect song, Nate,” I told him as we swayed to the music.
“Cool. I thought so too. Oh, and, Livie, I have no doubt that the two of you are going to make it, but remember I’m always here for you day or night, anytime, I could be by your side in a hot minute.”
“I know you are. I love you, Nate. Oh, and back at ya, brother,” I said.
“The idea to request a brother of the bride dance in lieu of the father dance thing was all Jules. Pretty ingenious I think,” he confessed.
“Definitely ingenious,” I agreed. Just jump, Liv. “Speaking of … do you find Jules pretty at all?”
“What the hell kind of question is that? Of course I do. Julia’s gorgeous,” he insisted.
“I think so too. So when are you going to do something about it?”
“Holy shit, Livie!”
“Holy shit, Nate!” I mocked. “Do you really think she’s going to wait forever?”
He thought a minute before saying, “Wait? What do you mean, wait?”
“For someone as amazingly brilliant as you are, Nate, you can be colossally stupid about some things.” I spoke this in the most loving tone possible.
“What are you saying?” Nate demanded.
“I’m saying if you look over at her again while I’m telling you all of this she’ll kill me before I can go on my honeymoon.”
He snapped his eyes back to mine. “What do you know?”
“I only know she’s been crazy about you for forever.” There, damn it, I said it. Let the chips fall.
He tried to hold his expression but I saw the fear or pain behind his eyes. “What do I have to offer her? She’s beautiful, has a loving family and is wealthy beyond belief. And what do I know about relationships anyway? I don’t have to explain Mom and Dad to you. I think I might make a lousy partner and father.” He glanced her way for just a second. “She’s the most incredible woman I’ve ever known. She deserves so much better than me or what I can offer,” Nate said.
“Oh my God, Nate. I’m so sorry you’ve felt that way. None if it’s true, none of it. I’m with Jake, and you and I are cut from the same cloth,” I reminded him.
“But you’re a girl, it’s different for you. I have nothing to offer.”
“You’re a shareholder of North Ranch and Oil. You’ve worked hard and built your credentials since you were a teenager. You’re cutting yourself way too short, Nate. You are an incredible man with excellent character, who is totally deserving of the likes of Julia North, and only because I know her so well can I say I know she is worthy of you.” The song ended and I kissed my brother on the cheek. “You better make a move, Nate, before you lose your chance with her forever and regret it for the rest of your life.”
His head was bowed as if he was looking at me, but I saw his eyes dart in her direction. “I love you, Nathaniel. And I’ve always got your back.”
Through the rest of the evening Jake danced with his mom and his sister, I danced with Colt and all of Jake’s brothers and at one point Jules and I burned up the dance floor to “Magic Carpet Ride.”
When the evening was finished and Jake and I said goodnight, everyone threw rice at us as we retired to our private villa.
Jake unlocked the door and scooped me up into his arms, carrying me over the threshold. We weren’t even through the door before Jake said, “Let me help you get out of your gown.” He set me on my feet and began kissing and biting my neck while his hands deftly sought out the zipper. Out of the corner of my eye I saw him kick the door closed without ever faltering in his advances toward me. I think Special Forces training had many fringe benefits.
“Ah …” Jake sighed. He finally located and pulled the release cord, so to speak. He pushed my wedding gown down over my hips and it folded around my ankles. “Holy fuck!” he exclaimed.
Yup, I knew he’d like it. “Happy Wedding Day. A gift from me to you.”
“Oh my God, if I had known you were in this underneath, I probably would have torn the dress without a second thought,” he said gruffly.
“Thus the surprise.” The silk wired bodice was embroidered with swirls of white flower
s, studded with beadwork and finished off with soft lacy fringe.
His hands were all over it in a heartbeat. He lifted me again, carried me to the bed while his eyes burned through the fabric. He tossed me onto the bed so that I bounced and we both laughed.
Leaping over top of me, he caught my mouth in a searing kiss then reached to the nightstand where his mp3 dock was. Shinedown’s “I’ll Follow You” filled the room as Jake’s hand reached between my legs.
Stupid timing I knew, but I had forgotten to take it that morning in all of the excitement and knew if I didn’t take it right this moment, I’d forget again as Jake made me delirious with sex.
“Wait!” I reached over to the nightstand drawer and yanked out my little plastic case of daily birth control pills.
“Fuck those!” Jake smacked them out of my hand and they launched across the room. “Let’s make a baby that looks just like you.”
“Oh, okay, and there goes any future career plans for a long time,” I quipped. But still the idea sounded so romantic, so perfect—Jake and me making a human being, created from our love.
“Why would you have to sacrifice anything?”
“Because babies don’t take care of themselves. And I wouldn’t want them to,” I replied.
“Them?” The smile on his face told me he’d already won this discussion. “Twins do run in my family, you know.”
I laughed. How could I not. “Yes, I am well aware.”
“Let me let you in on what I’ve been thinking …”
“Uh oh.” I feigned alarm.
“We can share the entire baby raising responsibility … now just hear me out. No sitters, no daycare, you can start school back up anytime you want to and go at your own pace since there’s no rush and … I’ve been contemplating this next thought for a while too. I have a buddy that flies private planes and I was thinking about going for my instructor’s license to teach people skydiving. There’s great money in adventure sports and I’d only have to work during certain times and seasons, thus our sweet little baby”—he caressed my belly as if looking forward to the idea—“will have both Mommy and Daddy around all the time.”
I could see that. I could finish school, work part time with local schools and families until I found my niche and rhythm. And Jake was certainly cut out for facilitating adventure experiences.
I let my gaze follow the trail the plastic pill case had taken then looked back up into Jake’s determined eyes. “That would be quite the divine honeymoon gift, wouldn’t it?”
He let out a laugh that sparkled like diamond cut crystal catching and reflecting the sun’s rays. “Better start picking out names!”
RRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIPPPPPPPPP!!!
“JAKE! My bodice!”
“Don’t worry, it looks better this way,” he growled as he peeled it off of me.
The End
Of
“True North Book 1 Finding Home Livie and Jake”
Watch for
True North Book 2 Finding Us Jules and Nate
Allie Juliette Mousseau writes sexy, emotionally charged New Adult Romance in a variety of genres and temperatures. She writes from passionate and angsty; fun and light to intense and epic. She incorporates a lot of romance, tension, and hot and sexy spice. Always a HEA and stand alone - even in a series.
Her alter ego:
Alana Jewel Mousseau creates captivating YA worlds through the magic of ink. She writes brave but "human" main characters, imaginative plots and complex worlds; from High Octane action to exploring the deepest emotions - you won't want to put down your book!
She can always be found writing, playing in puddles with her children, hiking with her husband, or adventuring somewhere in the world. Her favorite place to write is outdoors, but when the weather gets too chilly she'll be inside at her desk looking at the mountain view from her home office in Montana where she lives with her loving husband, children, and 85 pound golden retriever, who likes to sleep on her feet while she writes. With a free spirit, Allie loves to travel and has spent three years sparking her imagination while travelling the U.S. and Canada in an RV with her family. She looks forward in continuing her journey to see the world, while finishing her degree in Literature
Other Books by Allie:
“True North Series”
“True North Book 2 Finding Us Jules and Nate”
“Enemy Lines” A Sci-fi Adult Novel “Without Borders” A Contemporary Adult Erotic Short Story
Books by Alana:
“The Scars Saga” A Young Adult Sci-fi Paranormal; Romance Series “Scars of the Bifrost” Book 1
“Unlocking Brisingamen” - Book 2
“Ragnarok” - Book 3
Visit Allie on Face Book or at:
http://www.alliejuliettmousseau.com
http://www.alanajewelmousseau.com
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