“I’m not looking for a man. I’m happiest when I’m alone, up at my cabin.”
Oh, Cassie, I miss all the fun we had in those early years back in college. But that Cassie was dead. She loved her friend, no matter what, and was so happy she’d be here as her maid of honor today.
Cassie adjusted the Karla’s red rhinestone necklace. “Wait till he sees you, Kitty. He won’t be able to keep his eyes off you. You’re sure he’ll be okay with this?”
Karla grinned. “He might as well get used to it, Cass. He isn’t getting a traditional wife.”
Angie laughed as she came up beside them. “Keep them on their toes, ladies. It’s what they want secretly.” She also wore a white peasant skirt and blouse. Karla hadn’t wanted either of them to go to the expense of buying outfits they may not wear again and when she realized both had the peasant blouses and skirts, she thought that would look just fine. Angie’s long tresses were bound in a hair corset Marc had fashioned for her this morning. He’d used red ribbon that matched that in Cassie’s hair. Of course, Cassie wouldn’t let him near her, so she’d left hers down. But they both were beautiful just as they were.
Angie laughed. “He’ll never be the same—thank God—but he doesn’t seem to mind a bit that you’ve turned his world upside down in such a short time. Marc said you’re what’s been missing from his life for a very long time.” She gave Karla a quick peck on the cheek. “So, do you want me to call your escorts upstairs now?”
“I’m ready.” Karla had never been more ready for anything in her life.
“But first, thanks again Angie, for the incredible food you prepared. If I lived to be a hundred, I’ll never be able to cook like you do.”
Angie smiled and hugged her again. “Tell you what. I’ll leave the singing to you and you can leave the cooking to me. Now, I’d better get them before Adam wears a hole in Marc’s hard-wood floors.”
Minutes later, Angie led Karla’s four uniformed escorts up the stairs. Each was dressed in formal military attire—Marc, Damián, Grant, and a fourth she didn’t know but had needed for balance. He wore his sword, so he must be an active-duty officer. She’s learned a lot about military weddings lately and had tried to incorporate as many of those traditions into their day as possible.
Damián looked so handsome in his uniform with his swarthy good looks. She was so happy he’d been able to fly his entire family out here, with some flight booking help from her father. Of course, he’d ridden his Harley. But Karla knew she wouldn’t have gone through with the wedding without Adam’s adopted son by his side. She’d have just postponed it, not that Adam would have been very happy about that. He’d refused to give in on their biggest disagreement since they’d returned from Chicago. No sex until after they were married. He’d become an old-fashioned spoilsport all of a sudden. But she knew he was as ready as she was.
Adam had contacted some of his buddies from his twenty-five years of service, including some who had served under him in Afghanistan and Iraq. She'd been pleased that the Richardsons, the couple they'd stayed with at Camp Pendleton last month, were able to attend. She had no idea how the word had spread so quickly among them but, judging by all the men and women in uniform she’d glimpsed downstairs, she knew Adam must be surprised and pleased that so many active-duty members had made the trip. Some had only arrived home from duty in recent days, she’d learned from Marc. Such a fitting tribute to the love and respect they had for the man who gave so much of his life to the Corps and to serving his country. Her chest swelled with pride at the thought that she was about to become his wife.
Next up, Marc, dressed in his Navy blues. He also was a Marine, of course, having served on the ground in Iraq with one of Adam’s units. He marched over to her and bent to kiss her on both cheeks in his old-world Italian style. When he stood up and looked down at her, he grinned. “That man isn’t going to know what hit him. But I, for one, sure am happy you finally knocked some sense into him, Karla.”
She smiled up at him. “You’ve been my champion ever since he was in the hospital, Marc. Thank you—for everything.”
“You deserve all the thanks. I love that man like a brother,” his voice choked and Karla felt tears form in her eyes as she remember the tattoo on Adam’s back memorializing Marc’s brother, Gino. Marc stepped back and Damián stepped up to give her a peck on the cheek. His swarthy face looked so handsome and he, too, filled out his uniform quite nicely.
“Dad’s pacing like a caged panther down there, you know. I’m just glad it was you who captured his heart.”
Karla gave him a hug and kissed him on the cheek. “I’m so glad he has you, too, Damián. You’ll always be his special son. And I know you’ll be an awesome big brother to our baby.”
Karla and Adam hadn’t kept the baby a secret from their closest family members. Of course, everyone would know soon enough, and if anyone thought that was the only reason they were marrying, well, who cared. Karla knew Adam loved her for herself. That’s all that mattered.
Grant stood awkwardly to the side and Karla walked over to her on silent feet. “Mistress Grant, thank you for taking such good care of Adam until I could take over.” They both chuckled, then Karla reached for her hand and squeezed it. “And thanks for bringing his mother back into his life.” Reuniting Adam with his mother had helped him put to rest so many of the torments of the past, and went a long way toward making him able to move on, unsaddling so much of the grief from the past.
The female Marine smiled and executed a salaam and a bow before Karla. “Thank you for making my master sergeant so happy.” She sobered. “There was never anything serious between us, you know. We clash in too many ways. I was just safe. No emotional strings. That’s the way we both wanted it. As soon as you came back into his life, I can state unequivocally he’s only had eyes for you. As it should be. You’re so perfect for him.”
Karla smiled, hugged the woman, and then turned to briefly thank the fourth Marine, who she didn't recognize.
Before Cassie helped adjust Karla’s veil over her face and Angie pulled back the curtains for Karla to crawl onto the litter just as the Middle Eastern strains of “Bird of Paradise” began to play from below.
She nodded. “I’m ready.” Dear Lord, was she ever ready. Watch out, Master, here I come.
She adjusted her silver satin harem skirt over her bare legs, tucked her feet under her bottom, feeling the beads on her silver slippers biting into her ass. At least she hadn't incurred any more punishments since they'd returned from Chicago. His belt had been brutally painful. She knew he’d enjoyed every minute of her restraining him, though, despite his protests. That's probably why he hadn’t used the buckle on her. She shuddered, in a bad way, to think what that would be like.
But playtime had been nonexistent since Chicago, too, what with all the wedding plans. Tonight. She couldn't wait.
The bodice she and her mother had decorated had cap sleeves and covered her midriff. She didn’t want any of their guests to have a heart attack if she’d shown up in nothing but a beaded bra and harem pants. She and her mother had beaded the thing until their fingers were raw, but it was beautiful, gold beading and trim against the silver satin.
Karla made sure she had the veil adjusted to cover only her nose and the lower half of her face. She wanted nothing obscuring her view of Adam once she alighted from this contraption. The four uniformed escorts each took a post, one at each handle of the gilt-edged harem litter she’d rented from a specialty shop in Denver, and, at the command of the unknown ranking officer, lifted in unison.
Karla hoped Damián’s prosthesis would support him on the stairs, but he’d insisted on being among those who carried her to Adam and she wouldn’t deny him anything after all he meant to Adam. He’d taken up a position in the rear, so that that bulk of her weight would be on Marc and the unknown Marine.
Angie walked down the stairs first, then Cassie. Karla’s heart pounded as the Marines carrying her began to march slowly toward
the stairs. The view of the city’s skyline spread out before her as they approached the first landing. Adam had told her they’d be house hunting just as soon as they returned from their honeymoon. He still hadn’t told her where they were headed on their honeymoon, only that it would take them about a day to drive there, if the weather held up. She really didn’t care, as long as she was with him.
The litter bearers made the turn on the landing, then proceeded down the next set of stairs. She looked up and saw Adam as a bit of a blur through the litter’s curtains and perhaps a few tears. He stood straight and tall, magnificent and dashing in his Marine uniform, his headgear and gloves tucked under his arm, sword in its scabbard, and his jaw definitely hanging open. She smiled, loving his reaction. Quickly, he regained his composure and grinned back at her, then his body relaxed and he shook his head as he handed his headgear and gloves to Damián. She knew he wanted her to shake up his life as much as she wanted to do it.
She heard titters of laughter and murmurs, then her mother whispered, “That’s my girl,” but Karla couldn’t take her eyes off Adam. A sudden and unfamiliar shyness enveloped her and smiled demurely. She’d never seen him in his uniform, except in his portrait. So handsome, proud, and honorable. Her Adam. At last. Tears blurred her vision.
Damn. No tears. Not today. This was the happiest day of her life.
As the litter was lowered to the floor, Cassie and Angie lifted the curtains and each held out a hand to help her exit its confines and stand. Her parents came to stand in front of her and she looked up at her father, who also had tears in his eyes. Oh, dear. Now she stood no chance of maintaining her composure. Daddy never cried. She stood on her slippered toes to kiss him.
“I love you, Daddy,” she whispered through her constricted throat.
“I love you, too, sweetheart. I can’t believe my little girl is all grown up. Just assure me this is what you want and that you’re happy.”
“Oh, Daddy. Adam completes me. I’ve never been happier in my life.”
He hugged her and kissed her cheek through the veil. Then she kissed her mother, who also had tears in her eyes. If they didn’t stop with all the crying, Karla would be a blubbering mess by the time she met Adam. But she didn’t care. She couldn’t wait a minute longer to be united forever with the man she loved. She turned toward Adam, who now stood with Damián on his left and the minister on his right, also dressed in a Marine uniform.
She smiled as she recognized the minister, or chaplain, she supposed, as the fourth Marine who had carried her litter downstairs. He smiled and cleared his throat. “Who gives this woman to be united in holy matrimony?”
Her father’s voice quavered as he answered, “Her mother and I do.”
Then Adam stepped forward to meet her, his elbow crooked for her, and the waterworks began in earnest. She would have stumbled if he hadn’t reached out to steady her, then he tucked her hand in his elbow and placed his warm hand over her cold one.
Safe.
Her chin quivered as they stepped closer to the chaplain. The next part of the ceremony was a complete blur. All that registered was that she promised to love, honor, and obey Adam and he promised to love, honor, and cherish her. Nothing else mattered.
“The rings, please,” the chaplain asked. Damián and Cassie handed them to Adam and Karla and they held them in their cupped and open hands to be blessed. Her ring for Adam was a bright shiny platinum. She hadn’t wanted yellow gold like the one he wore for Joni. But her attention was riveted by his large hand holding the burnished ring of pink-tinted gold. How unusual. She’d never seen anything like it.
The chaplain took the ring from Karla and held it while Adam took her hand, then gave it to Adam. His hand trembled as he placed the beautiful ring over her first knuckle, and said, “Karla, this ring is a token of my love and faithfulness to you, today and forever.” His fingers shook even more as he pressed it over her wider knuckle. A perfect fit. How had he known? “This ring brought my great-great-grandmother many years of happiness and I hope it does the same for us, love.”
Karla knew how much Adam loved his mother’s family heritage, especially this couple she’d come to learn more about on the long drive from Chicago. They mirrored her and Adam in so many ways, including their age difference. She blinked rapidly, not wanting to miss a moment of this for anything, but so overwhelmed by the emotions she was feeling, the greatest of which was Adam’s love.
Taking a deep breath, she took the ring from the chaplain and reached for Adam’s hand, warm and comforting. She took his warm hand in hers and placed the ring over the first knuckle of his finger, much as he had done hers.
“Adam, this ring is a symbol of my love and faithfulness to you and I promise to be your wife, your partner, your lover—today and forever.” She held onto Adam’s hand like a lifeline, never wanting to let go, and smiled up into his moss-green eyes.
The chaplain addressed their friends and family next. “Will you who are present here today surround this couple in love, offering them the joys of your friendship?”
“We will.”
“Will you support this couple in their relationship? At times of conflict, will you offer them the strength of your wisest counsel and the comfort of your thoughtful concern? At times of joy, will you celebrate with them, nourishing their love for one another?”
“We will.”
Hearing the love and support filling the room, and Adam standing at her side, Karla couldn’t help but know she was the luckiest woman alive.
“By the power vested in me by the State of Colorado, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
* * *
Adam had told Captain Reed earlier he didn’t need anyone telling him when it was time to kiss his bride. He’d know. So he reached out and unhooked the left side of the silver veil to reveal the sexy lips of his beautiful, sexy harem girl and bent down to brush his mouth against hers, then took her hair corset and pulled gently, but firmly, to open her mouth to him.
He heard the titters of their friends and family, but most of them knew which way he swung. Damn it, he hadn’t kissed her or even touched her since they’d returned to Denver. She’d been staying here at Marc’s, tied up in preparations for the wedding. Obviously, she’d been busy. When he’d seen them carrying the harem litter down the stairs, he’d nearly lost it.
Only Karla.
Mine.
He deepened the kiss and heard the chaplain clear his throat, but didn’t care. He wasn’t finished. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. That’s my girl.
He broke off the kiss with great reluctance and whispered in her ear, “Tonight, you will surrender to your sheikh totally and completely, baby tiger.” When Karla’s knees buckled, he steadied her and pulled away to gauge her reaction, seeing the smoldering desire and dilated pupils. No doubt, they mirrored his own eyes.
The sound of the guests tore his focus away from his gorgeous bride. A flurry of activity ensued, from going through the buffet line to get the guests eating to spending the next hour or so greeting those who had joined them for their special day. To say he was surprised at the number of active and retired Corps members on hand was an understatement. When he’d put the word out to his Facebook group, hoping to at least elicit attendance from six to eight active-duty officers and NCOs to form a saber arch later, he’d never expected so many of them to drop everything to be here.
Angelina approached them and, in a stage whisper, asked Karla, “Are you ready to cut the cake?”
Karla nodded and hooked her hand into the crook of Adam’s elbow. They followed the chef who had pulled off an amazing feast for their friends on extremely short notice. The woman would be a catch for any restaurant or catering business in town. Maybe she’d land a job as a result of today’s event. He knew it was bothering her that she didn’t have a job yet, although she still had some events in her hometown of Aspen Corners that she was obligated to do as part of her catering business there.
; Adam had been too nervous to look around, so this was the first chance he’d gotten to see the cake. It stood three tiers tall, columns lifting the top tier above the others, and what looked like fresh red roses decorating the base. The cake topper caught his eye and he chuckled. It showed a groom in Marine dress blues carrying a harem girl dressed in red. How she’d managed to get that done on such short notice, he had no idea, but knew to never doubt the resourcefulness of his wife. He laid his cover and gloves on the table nearby.
When Angelina picked up a knife, Adam drew his sword and smiled when Karla waved away the knife at the same time. Ah, so his bride had done her homework on military wedding ceremonies, which pleased him greatly.
He presented the sword to her and she nibbled her lower lip as she looked at the cake, seeming to determine how best to tackle the task at hand. Then she grinned and leaned toward him to whisper, “Fear not, Your Excellency. I watched a YouTube video on how to do this.”
“Well, I know how much you’ve learned from online videos in the past, so I have no doubt you’ll be a pro at this, as well, in no time.”
Karla blushed the prettiest shade of pink and he grinned, knowing she remembered exactly which video he was talking about. She smiled up at him.
“Excellency, if you would be so kind as to guide my hand.”
He placed his hand over hers and they cut a piece from the top tier. Taking the cake into his hand, he broke off a piece and fed it to his wife. He looked forward to feeding her many, many times in their years to come.
Karla took a piece and threatened playfully to smear it across his face, but at his growl, she held it patiently to his lips, waiting for him to open. He nipped her fingers in the process of taking a bite of the cake. He couldn’t wait to get her to the honeymoon suite he’d reserved downtown. They wouldn’t hit the road until the morning, probably late morning, if he left her as exhausted tonight as he intended.
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