My hands fist in his hair, as his one hand crushes me against him, his other hand curling into the back of my hair. Tristan moans hungrily, which sends lightning bolts of electricity right to my sex, which makes me moan aloud with want and need. I’ll never get enough of him, ever.
Someone knocks the door, pulling us out of the concentrated, intense little bubble. Damn it!
I want to shout ‘go away’ but that’s rude, especially if that was Joyce.
Tristan smoothes my hair back, trying to make me look presentable, I think? He’s grinning widely as he does this, I seem to have lost all control and just want to take him to bed where we can stay, forever. Then I notice how messy I’ve made his hair too.
“Come here baby,” I say, smiling up at him. Tristan bends his head down so I can do the same to him. “You better go,” I say. “Before Joyce tells us both off, besides I need to keep an eye on Rob. I think he’s more nervous than me, and he’s already drunk!” I add.
“Yes, he definitely is,” Tristan chuckles. He leans down to kiss me once more, but I pull back and shake my head, biting my lip as I do.
“Not a good idea, I may not let you go,” I say a little breathlessly.
Not taking any notice, he takes my face in his hands, kisses me passionately for a few seconds, then gently pecks me on the lips. He pulls back and smiles his most enigmatic smile, his eyes crinkling sweetly, his dimples on full wattage. It’s the smile I fell for, the very first smile he gave me when he followed me down to my desk, on the first day I met him – And I swoon!
“See you at the altar,” he says.
“Don't be late,” I tease.
“I doubt Joyce would allow that,” he retorts, grinning widely. Argh! This is so hard!
“Go Tristan, get out before I get upset. I do not want puffy eyes tomorrow ok?” I say, trying to fight the overwhelming feeling of heartache.
“Your wish, my command,” he says.
I watch him lean down and pick up his overnight bag, and throw it over his shoulder. This is hurting so badly, like an actual physical ache, I swallow hard and try to focus on not crying.
“You’ll call me?” he says. “If you need me for anything. If you get scared, have a bad dream...whatever it is, and I’ll come straight over. Promise me you will?” He adds, gazing down at me.
I have lost the power of speech, so I just nod.
He smiles a little crookedly at me, and opens the door, then he clasps my hand in his and we walk through the garage and out onto the driveway.
Joyce is waiting in her car, she smiles when she see us both, I give her a little wave. Tristan lets go of my hand, leaving me feeling bereft and walks over to the car. He winks at me as he throws his bag in the boot, then with one last lingering look – which makes my soul feel like it’s losing half of itself – he steps into Joyce’s car.
They both wave as she pulls away, I hold up my hand, trying my best not to fall apart...
AS I STAND IN OUR BEDROOM STARING OUT AT THE VIEW, I suddenly realise how content I feel. I thought I would be nervous, scared shitless actually. Yet, as I stand in my wedding gown with my bouquet of sunflowers in my hand, I feel so calm, and so ready to do this.In fact I feel like I’m in a dream, floating in the clouds.
I chuckle at myself, I can't believe this is about to happen, that I'm going to marry the man of my dreams. But then again, the calmness may have something to do with the fact that I have Beyonce’s Smash Into You on repeat, the words reflecting my feelings completely.
“It’s time Aunty Coral!” Lily squeals excitedly.
I turn and see her bounding over to me. She looks so sweet in her ivory sundress, her big blue eyes wide, her blonde curls bouncing around her face, and her tiny sunflower neatly pinned into her hair. Gladys, Joyce, Debs and Carlos have been up here with me all morning, and are now downstairs, waiting with our other guests.
Time to get this show on the road!
“Ok kiddo!” I grin widely at her and switch off my player.
“You look so pretty,” she says.
“Not as pretty as you,” I say, she smiles shyly at me.
“Coral, everyone’s ready. Bob’s waiting on the first landing,” Debs says. She looks gorgeous in her pale lemon sundress.
“Debs, you look gorgeous!”
“And you look calm – too calm!” she adds.
“This is what I want Debs,” I shrug. “I have no need to be nervous.”
“Right!” Debs rolls her eyes at me, then leans forward and carefully hugs me. “Don't want to ruin the hair and make-up,” she adds sarcastically, making me chuckle – Carlos nearly had a fit when Gladys tried to hug me. “Good luck, I’ll see you down there,” she says to me, then turns to Lily. “Now be a good girl Lily’ – “Debs, she’ll be fine. Go!” I tell her, she leans down, gives Lily a kiss on the cheek then disappears.
James Lasts Cavalleria Rusticana starts drifting up the stairs. When I told Tristan last week that it was the first piece of music I imagined dancing to with him, he insisted we have it as the music I walk down the aisle to. And now it’s playing it seems so fitting, so right.
“Guess it’s just us Lily,” I say grinning widely at her. “Shall we hold hands so neither one of us falls down the stairs?” I add, making a funny face.
Lily giggles. “Your funny Aunty Coral.” I laugh along with her and take her tiny hand in mine.
We walk out of the bedroom and I see Bob waiting for me – he looks very handsome in his black tuxedo and bow-tie. Lily and I manage to make it down the first flight of stairs without any catastrophes. Reaching Bob he holds him arm out for me, I wrap my hand around his arm, lean forward and kiss his cheek.
“Thank you for doing this Bob,” I smile widely at him.
“You look...beautiful,” Bob says, choking back the tears.
“Thanks Bob,” I say smiling widely. “Ok Lily, you’re up. Hold onto the banister as you go down the stairs ok?” Lily nods, then she places her hand on the banister and carefully makes her way down the stairs, Bob and I slowly follow.
As we get further down, I start to see what Rob’s done with the place. It looks magical, like something out of a fairytale! And the smell – its overpowering! As we reach the bottom of the stairs I’m completely blown away.
Rob has completely transformed this part of the house into a magical garden. I have never seen so many wild flowers in my entire life! And they are everywhere. Hanging from the ceilings, on the walls, scattered across the floors – Just everywhere – Oh wow!
All of the furniture has been removed to make way for our guests, who are sitting in neat rows of chairs, that are wrapped in some kind of floaty lemon material, and Rob has erected some sort of ivory canopy out on the balcony, protecting us from the blazing sun, and over on the far side of the room, where our guests are seated, I can see the doors out to the balcony are open wide and there’s an archway of flowers.
Everyone oohs and ahhs as Lily walks towards them, throwing petals into the air. Almost everyone has their cameras or mobile phones out, taking pictures of Lily and then Bob and I. As we continue to walk forward, I can't help searching for Tristan, feels like I haven’t seen him in forever, but no sign of him, not yet anyway.
However I do see Rob & Malcolm, they are also in black tuxedos with bow-ties, they both look very handsome. I see all the faces of the people that I love and care about smiling back at me. Gladys bursts into tears as I glance at her, it makes me smile. I catch Robs eye and wink at him, he’s done an amazing job!
As we walk further into the room, I finally see Tristan waiting for me under an altar of wild flowers, and green ivory. My breath instantly catches in my throat – how handsome, how debonair he looks in his matching Tuxedo, and the look on his face says it all.
At first he looks shocked and kind of awestruck. Then he places his hand on his heart, and swallows hard, then his features change into his most dazzling smile, his dimples deep – And he’s shaved his beard off!
I smil
e back at him feeling shy for the first time today and continue to walk towards him.
Finally reaching Tristan, I pass my flowers to Lily then Bob places my hand in his. I turn and face Tristan, he takes my other hand too, and gives them both a gentle squeeze.
“Hi,” he whispers.
“Hi,” I whisper back.
“You look breathtaking,” he says, making me feel shy.
“So do you,” I whisper back, he smiles shyly.
The registrar begins. “Ladies and Gentleman”...and I drift off....
As I stand before Tristan, gazing up at his eyes that are glowing with love, sincerity and awe, I feel my heart slowly and steadily thump against my chest. I thought I would be nervous once I got here, right at this moment, standing right before him, about to make my vows. But all I feel is a calm, contented blissful feeling, the same feeling I had when I first dreamt of Tristan and being on that boat with him.
I never thought I would hear myself say the words, but I can't wait to marry him, to become his wife and for him to be my husband. It’s hard to describe how proud I feel to be with him, he really is a wonderful man – “Tristan Freeman, do you take this woman, Coral Stevens to be your wife?” The registrar says – Oh shit where have I been? Concentrate Coral!
“I do.” Tristan’s voice rings loud and clear.
“Do you promise to love, honour, cherish and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only unto her?”
“I do.” He looks so earnest as he says this, so proud, his tone soft and full of love – I swoon up at him.
“Coral Stevens, do you take this man, Tristan Freeman to be your husband?” I swallow hard – my turn!
“I do.” I almost laugh at myself that was a little loud.
“Do you promise to love, honour, cherish and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only unto him?”
“I do.” I say.
“Tristan, please take this ring, place it on your bride’s finger and state your pledge to her.”
I don't know about Tristan but I have recited my vows so many times so I don't screw it up, that I could say them backwards. Taking my ring and placing it at the tip of my finger Tristan gazes down at me and begins.
“I, Tristan Freeman, take you Coral Stevens to be my lawfully wedded wife. I give you this ring as a sign of my eternal love for you. Before these witnesses, I solemnly vow to love, honour, and protect you. To bring you comfort in times of need, to share your joy, and uphold your dreams. I will cherish and respect you, always, in good times and bad, for the rest of our lives, and I promise to love you faithfully, forsaking all others. To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part. This is my solemn vow to you.” Whoa!
Tristan is so intense as he recites his vows to me, then he smiles crookedly and slowly slides the ring down my finger.I gaze up into his warm eyes, I can only see love. It literally feels like my heart is melting like chocolate, all my old barriers crumbling to the ground.
The registrar has to nudge me to snap me out of it – Oops, my turn.
I almost giggle aloud, but manage to hold it in.
“Coral, please take this ring, place it on your grooms finger and state your pledge to him.”
I take the ring, and place it at the tip of Tristan’s finger and look up at him.
“I, Coral Stevens, take you Tristan Freeman to be my lawfully wedded husband. I promise to love and adore you for as long as we both shall live. I vow to bring you comfort in times of need, to share your joy and to support you in all of your dreams and goals. I promise to love you faithfully, forsaking all others, and to trust and respect you. I give you my, hand, my heart and my undying love, forever. To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.”
It takes a monumental effort on my part to pull my eyes away from his so I can slide the ring down his finger. When I’m done I look up Tristan, his breathtaking smile is making me swoon again, I titter to myself and smile shyly at him.
“Coral and Tristan, in so much as the two of you have agreed to live together in Matrimony, have promised your love for each other by these vows. I now pronounce you Husband and Wife. Congratulations, you may kiss your bride.” Whoa! I’m married!
How strange, I feel like my world that has felt so disjointed for so long, has settled solidly where it should be – I am home.
Tristan reaches up, places his hands either side of my face, then leans down so he’s inches from my lips. “I love you wife,” he whispers.
“I love you too husband,” I softly say. I pull on his lapels so his lips meet mine. He kisses me tenderly, with absolute adoration. The explosion of love that erupts within me, takes me by complete surprise, and I think Tristan’s feeling it too. It’s like we’re alone, in an empty room.
I pull him closer to me so I can feel the length of his warm body pressed tightly against mine and I really go to town, kissing him with every fibre of my being. I wrap my arms around his neck, he reciprocates by wrapping his arms around my waist and crushing me to him.
I hear someone clear their throat, and someone else giggle, but I keep on going, I don't ever want to stop kissing him. Then I hear Rob whoop loudly, and then the room erupts in thunderous applause. I pull back from Tristan’s lips, he keeps me pressed tight against his body as I gaze up at him, we both laugh, then Tristan turns us around to face our guests.
I’m immediately blinded by several flashes going off at the same time. Whoa!
The next thing I know I am pulled out of his embrace and passed from person to person for hugs and congratulations. Gladys is crying and so is Debs, Joyce and Carlos!
Rob pulls me into a bear hug, swinging me round as he does.
“Oh Rob, this place looks amazing!” I screech as he continues to spin me around. “It’s magical, thank you so much.” I hug him fiercely, he finally lets me go, and I can tell he is fighting back the tears.
He clears his throat and blows out a deep breath. “I’m glad you like it. Oh Coral, I’m so happy for you,” he says, hugging me tightly once more, then makes a funny squeaky noise and dashes off. A few moments later I am back in Tristan’s arms. The caterers Rob hired have handed Tristan and I some kind of bubbly drink, I would say it’s champagne but it’s pink.
Rob comes bounding over to us and shakes Tristan’s hand. “Congrats you guys, you both look great!” He says, he seems to have regained his composure.
“Rob, what is this?” I ask, holding my glass up.
“Champagne cocktail!” I frown at him, he rolls his eyes at me. “I know you don't like champagne, but just try it. I guarantee you’ll like it,” he adds.
I take a tentative sip. “Wow, that’s delicious! What’s in it?”
“Raspberry liquor,” he says, smiling smugly at me.
“Awesome!” I grin from ear to ear and click glasses with him. Tristan chuckles at me, then nods to Stuart. I turn and watch him walk out the front door. “Where’s Stuart going?” I ask.
“You’ll see. Come on drink up,” he says, and glugs back the rest of his glass.
“Why do I need to that?” I question playfully.
He grins from ear to ear. “Surprise!”
“Oh.” I take the last swig and Rob takes my glass from me, and I can tell, he knows! “You know what this is about?” I gasp. He nods, grinning from ear to ear. Then I notice everyone else is doing the same. “Everyone knows!” I gasp, looking up at Tristan. Ok, he’s smiling so broadly now that if he continues like this his face may actually split in two.
“Come on gorgeous.” He tugs on my hand and leads me down the hallway. I turn to see all our guests are watching us, cocktails raised in their hands, all smiling.
“Tristan, we can't just leave our guests!” I balk.
He stops right at the front door and reaches up to tenderly stroke my cheek. “Of course we can, they all know t
his was planned Coral. We won’t be long baby,” he softly says.
“We’re coming back?” I question, trying not to frown.
“Of course we are.” His wide grin is back again, it’s infectious, he looks like a bashful school boy. I grin back at him, then Tristan turns and gives a small wave to everyone. I do the same, even though I have no clue what’s going on. They all cheer and wave back at us....
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
TRISTAN CLASPS MY HAND IN HIS AND WE WALK OVER TO THE BIG JAG. Stuart is waiting for us with the back door held open. “Congratulations to you both,” he says.
“Thank you Stuart.” We both reply at the same time, I climb into the car and pull on Tristan’s hand. As I slide across the seat, he climbs in beside me, still grinning broadly and shuts the door, seconds later we are on the move.
“Were are we going?” I ask, unable to contain myself. My leg is nervously jigging up and down.
“Patience,” he says, clasping his hand on my knee. “But while I have you here, I would like to take this opportunity to tell you how devastatingly beautiful you look, and how very proud I am to be able to call you my wife.” A single tear pricks my right eye, which kind of annoys me, I haven’t cried today. “Ah baby, no need for tears,” Tristan coos.
I swallow hard against the lump that’s formed and smile back at him.
“I promised myself I would not blubber today! Now look what you’ve done!” I tease, laughing slightly. Tristan chuckles along with me. “And just so you know, I’m proud of you too Tristan, and may I just say how handsome and debonair you look today – my very own James Bond!” I wink then giggle at him.
“James Bond eh?” He says in a very impressive Sean Connery accent. It makes me laugh aloud, a carefree laugh. I can't believe how light I feel, I’m still floating, but higher now, I’m so happy!
Stuart pulls into the gym car-park and parks in a bay.
Darkest Fears Trilogy: Fallen For Him / Freed By Him / Forever With Him Page 138