I watched as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring box, holding it out to me. Shaking my head, I pushed it back. “It’s bad luck...Look at yours first.” I reached into my robe and placed the box on his thigh.
He stared at it awhile, then he popped it open and—stopped. He pulled me close and held the ring into the light, sucking in a breath as he read the inscription aloud. “My last. My soul. My everything.”
He smiled and rolled the ring around in his hands; it was a platinum band with two thin strips of crushed diamonds, with “C” and “J” etched and entwined against a centered sea hook.
“This is beautiful, Claire...” His voice was hoarse. “I’m so sorry that I ever thought you didn’t design it...” He shook his head and gently placed the ring back into the box. “Open yours.”
I flipped the box open and gasped at the stones that glittered against the night. Slowly prying it from its box, I ran my fingers along the white and blue diamonds that were shaped in a design of waves. The words “Mr. & Mrs. Statham” floated in between them, and on the inside of the band he’d etched “Forever Yours, Always Mine.”
I felt tears falling down my face and he reached under my sunglasses to wipe them away.
“I want to read my vows to you.” He pressed a kiss against my wet cheek.
“I thought we agreed that we weren’t writing vows...”
“These are only for you to hear. They’re not appropriate to say in public.” He smiled and wiped a tear away from my cheek. “Why are you crying?”
“I’m not...”
“You’ll always be a terrible liar.” He wiped another stream of my tears away and leaned forward like he was going to kiss me, but he held back. “Claire Gracen...The first time I fucked you—”
“Seriously?”
“Of course not. I’m just making sure that you’re listening.” He smiled. “The first time I met you and you turned me down, I honestly thought you were out of your mind, that there was no way you didn’t want to go out with me. I thought you were just playing hard to get, but then you turned me down again at work....When I finally got a chance to take you out—on a short run, no less, and we barely talked...I knew that there was something special about you.”
“And the more time I spent with you—outside of the amazing sex we had, I couldn’t help but fall for you...I know you didn’t believe in having a second chance at love and that our age gap bothered you, but I want you to know that I never thought about our age gap for a single second, and I never will...If something tragic happens between now and our wedding tomorrow, please believe me when I say that I didn’t know what love was before you, and you are—without a doubt, the love of my life.”
My bottom lip was quivering and I’d given up on trying to hold back the tears.
“You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met and I can’t wait until you’re officially mine—forever...” He trailed his finger against my lips. “I’ll never hurt you, betray you, or allow anyone else to.”
“Jonathan...” I was crying now. He was too much.
“I’m going to continue to send you flowers every day because you deserve them, because there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you...And I promise to love, cherish, and fuck the shit out of you for the rest of our lives.”
I sniffled and let out a laugh. “Those vows were beautiful... Especially that last line.”
“That was the hardest one to write.” He kissed my forehead. “I love you, Claire.”
“I love you too.” I leaned in to kiss him, but he held my shoulders still and whispered. “Tomorrow.”
I sighed. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going for our honeymoon?”
He shook his head and stood up, reaching for my hand. Then he slipped his other arm around my waist and walked me around the rose gardens he’d had imported from the South.
We didn’t say a word to one another. We simply slipped into that familiar quiet that easily enveloped us so often.
After we stared up at the sky together, wishing on separate stars, he planted a kiss on my forehead and drove me back to the hotel. When we boarded the elevator, he smiled at me and peered beneath my sunglasses.
The second the doors opened, he ushered me off and walked me back to my suite.
“I’ll see you tomorrow...” I stood on my toes and brought his head down to mine. I was dying for him to kiss my lips. Just once.
“Tomorrow, future wife,” he said softly and kissed my hand. “You should probably get inside your room before I drag you into mine and forget all about the wedding.”
I laughed kissed him on the cheek. “Goodnight, future husband.”
I woke up to loud knocking at my door.
“I’m coming! I’m coming!” I threw a robe on over my pajamas and opened the door.
It was Helen and Sandra.
“You’re late for your makeup.” Sandra shook her head. “Bobbie Jo and Kim have been calling your phone for the past two hours. Did you stay up late?”
I shook my head.
“Are you having second thoughts?” Helen raised her eyebrow.
“What? Of course not.”
“Good.” She dragged me over to a chair and pushed me into it. “Since you’re late, I’ll just have the girls meet us here to do everything. Sandra, could you call room service and have them bring Claire some breakfast? We don’t want her getting sick on her big day.”
Sandra nodded and disappeared into the bedroom.
The next few hours were a dizzying blur: Bobbie Jo and Kim did my hair and make-up to perfection; my eyes were layered in a soft glittering eye shadow and my hair was pulled into a beautiful chignon with loose ringlets that grazed my shoulder.
Hayley came and presented me with the garter she’d personally designed, my mother and daughters fiddled with my dress until they thought it was perfect, and a huge white bouquet of flowers was brought into the room.
I was reaching for the silver card that was attached to their stems, but Sandra snatched it away from me.
“Let’s see what Mr. Billionaire has to say to his fiancée on her wedding day.” She flipped the card open and cleared her throat as if she was going to read it aloud, but then she burst into tears.
“Ugh.” Helen rolled her eyes. “Give me that...To my future wife: Today is the first day of the rest of our lives. With the exception of the first day that I met you—the day you came into my life, no other day will ever mean as much to me as today. You are the reason behind my happiness and you hold the keys to my soul. I love you, Claire...Hurry up and get here :-)”
Everyone in the room let out a collective “Awww” and wiped tears away from their eyes—even Helen. As they were passing around Kleenex, I slipped away to answer the knocking at the door.
Jonathan’s mother.
“Hi...” I eyed the dark red wine she held in her hand, hoping that she wouldn’t do what I thought she was here to do.
She noticed me staring at the glass and quickly tossed it back. “I’m sorry...It’s juice, not wine—and I would never...” She paused. “Do you have something borrowed, Claire?”
My eyes widened and I panicked. “No...No, I don’t. Oh my god—that’s really bad luck...I can’t believe I don’t have it.” I clutched my chest.
“Here.” She pulled a gorgeous pearl and ivory pin from her hair. “My mother wore it at her wedding and I wore it at mine. I thought I would...I thought I would give it to you, so you could...You know...” Her eyes were sincere but she looked as if she were bracing for me to shun her away.
“Thank you, Mrs. Statham.” I reached out to take the pin from her, but she slowly drew it back.
“Allow me,” she said and motioned for me to stoop down. “You make my son really happy, Claire...After all he’s been through, he deserves to be happy and I’m glad you brought that out of him.”
I felt the pin sliding into my hair, and when I was sure she was done, I stood up again. I looked at her a long time, fully aware that all my frie
nds were staring at us—ready and waiting to pounce on her should she attempt to do something crazy.
Instead of dismissing her, I smiled and wrapped my arms around her—hugging her tightly. “Thank you for the something borrowed. I look forward to us starting over in the future.”
She sniffled as she hugged me back. “Me too, Claire. I mean, Mrs. Statham.”
“Are we ready?” Sandra cleared her throat. “The limo is downstairs and the groomsmen are already at the venue according to the director. Let’s go!”
My heart was in my throat.
Everything about our venue was perfect. Absolutely perfect.
There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, and the ten foot archways that were made entirely of white and yellow roses stood tall and elegant on the lawn. The bridesmaids’ dresses—long and airy champagne gowns, perfectly matched the sparkling chandeliers I’d seen hanging in the hallway.
As our mothers walked down the aisle, I felt my bouquet slipping through my hands. It nearly fell to the ground as I watched Sandra and Helen walk out. Then it was Ashley and Caroline’s turn.
Miss Corwin reached into her pocket and dabbed my eyes with a Kleenex. “Don’t cry yet, Miss Gracen....Take several deep breaths.” She waited for me to follow her instructions. “It’s almost time...”
A deep voice said, “Please stand for the bride...” and I heard the rustling of chairs.
The first few notes of Robin Thicke’s “Angels” began to play and my heart nearly tumbled out of my chest.
I took one step forward and froze.
Breathe, Claire....Breathe...
I was shaking. I was way too nervous.
The song reached the middle of the first verse and I still hadn’t taken another step.
“Miss Gracen?” Miss Corwin’s eyes widened. “Miss Gracen?”
“I can’t breathe...”
She said a few words into the mic that was tucked into her sleeve, and the music suddenly faded. She put her hands on my shoulders and looked into my eyes. “Miss Gracen, this is going to be the happiest day of your life.”
“I know that...”
“You’re marrying the man of your dreams...Actually, you’re marrying the man of every woman’s dreams.”
I let out a nervous laugh.
“You can do this...” She lowered her voice. “And you better do this because he told me he’s coming after you if you take longer than three minutes to come down the aisle.”
I burst into uncontrollable laughter and she spoke into her sleeve again. “We’re ready now.”
She pulled a tube of lip gloss out of her pocket and applied one last coat to my lips.
Robin Thicke’s “Angels” began to play once more and she gave me a light shove.
I swallowed and took several slow steps forward, trying to focus on the piano keys of the melody. As the song neared the chorus, I approached the final floral arch and saw the audience standing to their feet.
Taking one last deep breath, I made my way to the edge of the aisle runner—where hundreds of white, yellow, and pink petals were perfectly swirled in series of the letter “S.”
I caught fragments of whispers from the crowd: “Pretty...Stunning...Beautiful...” and looked straight ahead. I started counting my steps—one, two, three, four—but as soon as Jonathan’s eyes met mine, nothing else mattered; no one else was relevant.
He briefly took his eyes off mine and looked me up and down as I neared the middle of the aisle
I could’ve sworn I saw him mouth, “You’re so fucking beautiful...”
He stepped down from the gazebo, and it looked like he was going to come down the aisle for me, but Corey grabbed his shoulder and held him back.
Smiling, I locked my eyes on his again, and took my last few steps to the altar. As soon as I was within his grasp, he reached for my hands and helped me onto the platform.
For the next few seconds, everything around us disappeared and it felt like we were the only people in the world.
I wanted to whisper “I love you” and I could tell he wanted to say it too, but we simply stood still staring into each other’s eyes—letting the silence say it all.
“You may now be seated.” The pastor’s voice broke us out of the spell. He hesitated a couple minutes before speaking again. “Dearly beloved—”
Jonathan slipped an arm around my waist and pulled me close, kissing me senseless.
The pastor cleared his throat and tapped him on the shoulder. “Mr. Statham?” The audience was laughing. “We haven’t arrived at that part yet...”
He whispered, “I don’t care” against my mouth, and slowly pulled away, taking my hands in his again.
“Let’s try this again...” The pastor joked. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness...”
I wasn’t listening to a single word he was saying. I was too busy getting lost in Jonathan’s incredible blue eyes, trying my hardest to stand still and wait for the part when we would finally be “allowed” to kiss.
I suddenly felt Ashley giving me a slight nudge in my back and looked over my shoulder.
“The ring...” She handed it to me and I turned back around.
The pastor instructed for us to exchange rings and then he asked Jonathan to repeat his every word.
“I, Jonathan Statham.” Jonathan held me captive with his gaze. “Take you Claire Gracen to have and to hold from this day forward...”
“For better or for worse,” the pastor said. “For richer or for poorer...”
“For better or for worse, for richer or for richer.”
The pastor rolled his eyes. “...To love and to cherish...” He wiped his brow. “Jonathan Carter Statham, do you take Claire Alicia Gracen to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
“I do.”
When it was Jonathan’s turn to listen to me repeat the words, I felt tears slipping down my cheeks.
He leaned forward and wiped them away as they fell, watching me intently as I followed the pastor’s lead.
“Claire Alicia Gracen, do you take Jonathan Carter Statham to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
I looked directly at Jonathan, noticing that he was looking as if he was nervous that I would say anything other than the right words.
“I do.”
The pastor smiled and shut his book. “By the power vested in me—”
Jonathan cupped my face in his hands and kissed me like he’d never kissed me before—tenderly tracing my tongue with his as if we were alone.
“Mr. and Mrs. Statham.” The pastor didn’t even try to interrupt us this time.
There was roaring applause and deafening cheering, but he didn’t let my lips go. He pulled me even closer and whispered, “I love you, Claire Statham. I always will.” He took my breath away with another swoon-worthy kiss and then he finally let me go.
Before I could tell him that I loved him too, he scooped me into his arms and carried me down the aisle. The photographers captured his every step, telling us to look their way, but we couldn’t take our eyes off one another.
We approached the building and Miss Corwin stepped in front of us.
“Time for pictures! Mr. Statham, put Mrs. Statham down please.”
He blinked.
“Mr. Statham...” She crossed her arms. “You both agreed to take pictures directly after the ceremony. You’ll want these to look back on. Trust me.”
He sighed and gently placed me on the ground.
For the next half hour, we took several staged photos with the wedding party—me amidst the champagne colored dresses, and him amidst the black tuxedos.
We were also forced to take a series of shots together, and Miss Corwin had to practically tear Jonathan away from me when it was time to take my solo frames.
“Okay, lovebirds...” Miss Corwin walked us into the custom Sweetheart Suite. “Take a quick breather before dinner. Cocktail hour is already underway...How long do you think you’ll need to get ready for the reception?”
Jonathan looked me up and down. “Two hours.”
“What? You can’t let people wait that long!”
“Two. Hours.”
“Yes sir...I’ll um...I’ll figure something out...” She left the room and he immediately locked the door.
He walked over to me and backed me against the wall.
“Jonathan—”
“Shhhhh...” He looked deep into my eyes and tilted my chin up to reach his lips. “The things I’ve been wanting to do to you, Mrs. Statham...” He kissed me so thoroughly that my knees went weak, that every nerve in my body instantly came to life.
“I want to go to the reception, Jonathan...” I said breathlessly.
“After.” He reached behind me and unzipped the back of my dress. “I’ve waited way too long for this...”
I stood still as he slowly peeled me out of my dress, leaving it in a fluffy white puddle on the floor.
He ran his hands along my satin corset, slowly untying every string—unclasping every hook. When it fell to the floor, he bent down at my waist and took the bow of my panties between his teeth, tugging at it until it unraveled and joined my dress on the floor.
He stood up and looked into my eyes, silently telling me to undress him.
Compliant, I slid his jacket off his shoulders and unbuttoned his pants, seeing that he was beyond ready to make love to me. I slowly unbuttoned his shirt, and pushed it off his shoulders.
As soon as it hit the floor, he picked me up and carried me over to the leather chaise, gently laying me on my back. He covered my body with his, and even though he’d been waiting for this moment forever, he hesitated. Then he gently brushed his lips against mine and gazed into my eyes.
“Mine, Claire...” he whispered. “Tell me you’re mine...”
“I’m yours...”
He threaded his hands in mine and held them over my head as he slowly slid his dick into me, pushing every thick inch further and further until he was completely buried inside.
We lay like that for several seconds, simply staring at one another as our bodies molded together for the first time in weeks. I couldn’t believe how good he felt inside of me, how I’d ever gone so long without having him.
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