His Eternal Flame

by Layla Valentine

  This one, however, represented the first new day of the rest of my life as Mrs. Dustin Waller.

  Somehow, the days leading up to my wedding had been basically stress-free. It helped that Zoe and Maria had flown in to be with me. Plus, my wedding planner, George, was on top of literally every detail. The food, flowers, table arrangements, entertainment— everything was on point. Fortunately for him, I’d already had the venue picked out.

  The zoo.

  The instant the thought had crossed my mind, I’d called Dustin. I had been waiting to enter the penguin exhibit when I’d seen a photographer taking engagement photos. I’d sent Dustin a text to tell him I thought it would be a cute idea to do the same, and he’d agreed.

  But then, as I’d walked out of work that day, I’d looked around at the lush foliage and branching paths and had had an epiphany.

  I’d whipped out my phone and called Dustin. He’d answered on the second ring.

  “Hey, honey. You on your way home yet?”

  “The zoo!” I’d squealed, too excited to explain.

  “Uh, yeah. You still there?”

  “No. I mean, yeah, I’m here, but I’m about to leave and…Dustin, let’s have the wedding here.”

  He had been quiet for a moment, but then, he’d said, “I think, my dear fiancée, that’s a brilliant idea.”

  I’d screamed a little and danced in a circle, oblivious to onlookers.

  “Okay, I’m going to go talk to my boss right now. I’ll be a little late.”

  “It’ll be worth the wait,” he’d assured me.

  He said that every time I was running late, which happened a lot in LA traffic. The idea had been too important to wait on, so I’d ran back to the office and caught my boss just as she’d been getting ready to leave.

  “Laura!” I’d called out as she finished locking the door.

  “Oh, hey, Samantha. I thought you’d be gone by now.”

  “Yes, I was on my way out when I got the most spectacular idea, and I wanted to run it by you.”

  She’d stopped rustling around in her purse to regard me.

  “Oh, for one of the exhibits?”

  “Not exactly,” I’d replied. “Remember how I told you Dustin and I were looking for a venue for the wedding? Well…what about…here?”

  “In front of my office?” she’d asked, surprised.

  I’d laughed.

  “Well, here, as in the zoo. Maybe in one of the garden areas. You know I love working here, and I can’t think of a better place to have my wedding. What do you think? Is it even possible?”

  She’d pursed her lips, deep in thought, but I could tell she was warming up to the idea.

  “We’d have to ask the city for permission, of course, and make sure we have all the appropriate permits for food and visitors, but given that you’ve been here a year, and are one of our best employees…yes. I think it just might be possible.”

  “Yes!” I’d caroled before dancing another little jig.

  Laura had watched me, a wide smile on her face, nodding as she put together a plan.

  For my part, I had no doubts. And when, two weeks later, she’d given me the news that the wedding had been approved, I’d gone straight to my new planner to let him know.

  “Okay, George. I know you’ve been worried about the lack of venue choices, but I’ve come to let you know that I booked a place!”

  His eyes had widened in excitement, and he’d whipped out his tablet.

  “Now those are some magic words, soon-to-be Mrs. Waller. Let me just pull up your file… Right, there we go. Now, shoot. What do you have? Old-school chandeliers in a historic hotel? Perhaps a vintage-inspired art-deco banquet hall?”

  He’d finally taken a breath, allowing me to speak.

  “The zoo.”

  He’d blinked at me, his face blank.

  “The LA Zoo,” I’d tried again.

  Slowly, his face had stretched into a gigantic smile.

  “The zoo? The zoo. The zoo! This will make my career!” He’d whipped around to face me. “Oh, dear Samantha, do you know what you’ve done? A challenge. A true challenge! My goodness, there’s so much work to do.”

  He’d fallen into a flurry of typing, asking me all sorts of questions. The bridesmaids’ dresses needed to contrast with the greenery, so I’d had to choose between gold and fuchsia, so I’d picked the lively, deep-pink shade. Besides, I knew both Maria and Zoe would look amazing in those colors, plus it would be a fairly easy shade to find for the flowers.

  But that had just been the beginning. After that, George had made idea boards full of shapes and materials and even pictures of food. I’d started dragging Dustin along with me, but he hadn’t been very helpful.

  “Do you have to agree with everything?” I’d asked him.

  “Well, I like everything so far, so…yeah. Why not?”

  “I never realized just how easy-going you were,” I’d told him, brushing some stray hair off of his forehead.

  “It’s easy because it’s you and me. That’s all that matters, in the end.”

  He’d been right, of course.

  Which is why, when the day arrived, I wasn’t nervous at all. All of our friends and family had arrived on time from Philly, and the venue was ready. I just needed to relax. After my hair and makeup were done, it was finally time to put on my dress.

  I slid it up over my body and Maria zipped it up. I then turned to look in the mirror, which I’d yet to do that entire day.

  “You look beautiful,” Maria breathed.

  Zoe struggled to hold back tears as she nodded in agreement, and I swallowed the sudden lump in my throat.

  “Thank you two. For everything.”

  The dress was simple, an off-the-shoulder princess gown with layers of tulle underneath and a built-in corset that meant I didn’t have to wear a bra. I’d also opted not to wear a veil, so my hair had been arranged to drape down my back in a cascade of curls.

  Over the last year and a half, I’d grown it out and it hung nearly to my waist, making the style fairly easy to accomplish. I wore a nude lip and cream shimmer on my eyes, with simple pearl drops on my ears.

  Around my neck, I wore the necklace Dustin had given me for our one-year anniversary, a star-sapphire surrounded by entwined silver vines. I’d never taken it off.

  “You ready?” Zoe asked.

  “Yes,” I replied firmly.

  I’d been ready my entire life, I just hadn’t known.

  Zoe went out first, followed by Maria. Both of them glowed in their flowing gowns, the fuchsia set off nicely by the greenery surrounding them, just as George had predicted. The ceremony was set up at the entrance to the rainforest exhibit, with trees and vines stretching out above and around us.

  Lanterns were lit at intervals, creating shadows and adding depth to the scene. The ground in front of me was littered with fuchsia petals which let out hints of flowery fragrance with every step. I’d decided to walk the aisle alone, holding thoughts of my mother and father close, almost hearing the whispers of their congratulations.

  But those thoughts didn’t darken my day. How could they, when Dustin remained on the other side, a ready buoy for my spirits? Every step, the magnet inside my heart grew stronger, pulling me forward until Dustin could reach out and take my hand.

  “Hey, there,” I whispered.

  He didn’t smile, but his eyes glowed with tenderness.

  “Shall we?” he murmured back.

  I nodded and we turned to face the officiant.

  It was time.

  * * *

  DUSTIN

  Watching Samantha flourish as she’d planned our wedding was something I’d greatly enjoyed. She was already a strong woman in her own right, but it had been wonderful watching her emerge further from her cocoon—something that had only highlighted her need to leave the comfortably boring, safe life she’d led before.

  I loved her more every minute.

  And maybe I was built differently, but
the wedding craziness everyone talked about had never become an issue for me. Maybe it was because Samantha had done most of the work, but I honestly hadn’t had any problem with her choices. We were so in sync with each other, I often wondered how I’d ever gotten along on my own before.

  Work had its challenges, but just as Samantha had filled her schedule, I had, too, adding in a few stunt gigs a month to help us save up for a new place. She’d been surprised by my suggestion that we buy a house, but I didn’t want to wait.

  I knew she wanted a dog—I actually thought we’d end up with a few. But if we ever had children, I wanted them to know what it meant to grow up in the same home, which meant we needed room to expand as our family grew.

  I hadn’t said that, exactly, but I’d known she still understood.

  Still, there was a certain level of nervousness I felt when our wedding day arrived. My buddies from the station were pretty supportive, but there was also a fair amount of ribbing that went on. There were no doubts in my mind that I wanted to get married to Samantha, yet I found I still had some jitters come that morning.

  All of them melted away the moment Samantha stepped onto the flower-strewn path. She was breathtaking, wearing a long, cream-colored gown that left her shoulders bare. Her hair curled down her back in a sinuous wave that framed her face perfectly.

  She was breathtaking.

  For my part, I thought I looked pretty good in the charcoal gray suit with a green tie. My groomsmen wore ties that matched the dresses the bridesmaids wore.

  And Samantha herself was eyeing me as if I was some delectable morsel she couldn’t wait to enjoy. I felt exactly the same.

  I stepped forward to take her hand. When she greeted me, all I could think of was how much I wanted to say my vows.

  “Shall we?” I said.

  We turned to face the officiant. The ceremony was not to be long, culminating in vows we’d written for each other.

  The man nodded, and each of us and began.

  Though I listened carefully to every word he said, I was also hyper-aware of Samantha standing next to me. Her warmth, the evenness of her breathing, her changing expressions—all were vividly alive and present, as if I was the one doing them.

  Soon enough, it was Samantha’s turn, and we turned to face each other.

  “When I met you, I thought you were someone else,” she began.

  The guests laughed at that, particularly Samantha’s friend Zoe, who eyed the real James with a secret grin. That pairing had worked out particularly well.

  “Surprisingly, you went along with it, because you saw something in me just as I saw something in you that continues to draw me closer with every breath I take. You’ve challenged me, you’ve supported me, you’ve loved me, and you’ve saved my life in every way. And I swear to challenge you, and support you, and love you, and save you in every way I can, for the rest of my life.”

  I wanted to cheer and cry at the same time, but I managed to hold still as she slipped the ring on my finger. Then, it was my turn.

  “Samantha. You changed me. You made me want to be a better person, a person worthy of your radiance, worthy of your best days and your worst days, worthy of you in health and in sickness, worthy of your respect and love. I will strive every day to bring you joy, because it was only when we met that I understood what it meant to be complete. I swear to be faithful and true to you always, because you complete me.”

  Tears flowed down her cheeks as I slid her ring on her finger. The officiant smiled at us before continuing.

  “By the power invested in me by the state of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

  Husband and wife. I liked the sound of that.

  I pulled Samantha close and kissed her tenderly, trying to suppress my passion for the moment and turn it into a symbol of my enduring love for her. She kissed me back exactly the same way, and I knew my message had been understood. Beyond our physical connection, our souls were intertwined. In that moment, I understood exactly what was meant by the phrase, ‘one flesh.’

  We truly had become one.

  * * *

  SAMANTHA

  After the ceremony, we took endless pictures with each other, our bridal party, the zoo staff, and our guests. Appetizers were circling, but it was a full hour before dinner even started. George had coordinated with Laura, who’d arranged the open-air arboretum to be filled with tables and a buffet.

  With the chirping birds and fountain’s tinkling water, the effect was more than charming. And when night fell and the lanterns glowed, a truly enchanted feel came over the entire party.

  The food was delicious, but I barely had more than a few bites before I was off greeting more guests. Soon after, the dance floor opened up, and Dustin led me in for our first dance as a married couple.

  After that, everyone else crowded the area. We laughed along to a group line dance, after which Dustin and I managed to slip away from the well-wishers.

  “What do you think, Mrs. Weller?” Dustin asked as we stood on one side of the arboretum. “Should we make a run for it?”

  “Oh, definitely.”

  I’d visited everyone I wanted to see, as had Dustin, and we’d planned a final goodbye lunch for the next day, so I thought we might as well make use of the time before we both became exhausted and fell asleep.

  That was definitely not happening on my watch.

  So, much in the same way we’d done on our first date nearly seven years before, Dustin and I snuck out, following the fire escape route until we reached the zoo entrance. The guard there wished us a good night before letting us out.

  “We made it!” I squealed.

  Dustin grabbed me around the waist.

  “Oh, I think we’re just getting started.”

  I giggled as we hopped into the waiting limo. After giving the driver directions to the hotel we’d picked for the night, we settled back into each other’s arms. We didn’t kiss, not yet. Instead, we stared at each other, getting our fill. In no time at all, we arrived, and Dustin escorted me into the hotel.

  “I’m glad I got the elevator to stop that night,” Dustin sighed.

  “I’m just happy you saw me on the news in the first place. Makes the beginning of that awful day worth every moment.”

  He suddenly leaned in and kissed me then, hard and demanding. I gave in to it completely, intoxicated with his touch. The elevator dinged our arrival, and we peeled apart. After entering our suite, I turned to head to the bedroom.

  “Wait just a minute,” Dustin commanded, halting me in my tracks.

  “Why? Is something wrong?” I asked, confused.

  “No, silly. Just this.”

  Dustin swooped his arms around me and swept me off my feet. He carried me, fireman-style, through the door and into our marital bedroom.

  “Thank you, Mr. Waller.”

  He set me on my feet and spun me until my back was facing him.

  “How about we get this dress off now?”

  “That’s the best idea I’ve heard all day,” I whispered, my breathing suddenly heavy as he gently bit the nape of my neck.

  He gently massaged the part of my back exposed by the dress, his fingers firm and sure as they drifted lower. When he reached the zipper, he pushed my hair aside and slowly slid it down.

  He followed every inch of revealed skin with his lips, scorching a trail down my spine. When he reached the end, he kissed the top of my butt before sliding the dress completely off. I was glad I’d ditched the tulle underskirt before the reception, because it made undressing that much easier.

  Dustin hooked his fingers under the ends of my white bridal underwear and pulled them off. Cold air brushed against me.

  “Turn around,” he commanded huskily.

  I pivoted slowly, my entire body on display as he continued kneeling. Once I was done, he placed his hands on my hips.

  “Look at me.”

  Eyes locked, he leaned forward until he could stretch out his tongue and bury it
between the cleft in my legs. My knees buckled, but he held me up, bracing me as he continued his exploration, teasing me with darting licks that pushed me completely out of control.

  “Please…” I found myself begging.

  He suddenly stopped. Dazed, I opened my eyes, just in time for him to push me back onto the bed. I watched as he stripped in record time before climbing on the bed and spreading my legs.

  “I love you,” he whispered just as he slid inside me.

  He moved slowly then, thrusting in and out, building our pleasure together, one moan after another.

  “Yes…yes…” I gasped, unable to form any other words.

  I grabbed at him, pulling his lips to mine, gliding my tongue across his as I pressed myself against him. He held my legs up, opening me completely, and I took him in fully. We were one, at long last.

  “Samantha…” he moaned just as he came inside me.

  As the same moment, a rush of pleasure swept over me and I clenched myself around him, screaming his name in turn. The moment stretched out as he held himself against me, rolling his hips, and a second climax found its way out, turning me completely senseless.

  After a long, breathless moment, my body finally turned limp. Dustin eased back, letting my legs fold down as he slowly pulled himself out of me and rolled over to my side. I sighed with pleasure, almost unable to talk as Dustin tugged the blanket out and covered us with it.

  “We’re going to have a beautiful life together,” I finally murmured.

  Dustin pulled me into his arms and cupped his body around mine.

  “I look forward to every moment.”

  He kissed my neck, then settled against me, his body ready to sleep. For my part, I stayed awake a little longer, thinking over the entire day. I couldn’t believe how quickly it had passed, and I only hoped, going forward, I would be able to fully savor every moment.

  Yet, even if our life passed in a blur, it wouldn’t matter, because Dustin would be by my side every step of the way.

  A beautiful life, indeed.

  The End

  STEAL ME