Maneuver_Men of Inked_Southside
Page 16
The cheers of the crowd die away, and my mind and body buzz with excitement as she places her hand over my heart and kisses me back. The moment’s one I burn into my brain, never wanting to forget how I feel in this moment when we’ve become each other’s.
When I pull back, I gasp for air and my head spins, knowing the ceremony’s over and the good hasn’t even begun.
As I walk down the aisle with my family looking on, I know the best is yet to come.
“Why are Carmen and Colleen here?” I ask, leaning over and whispering in Daphne’s ear as we stand in the receiving line, greeting the last few guests.
“Delilah invited them.” Daphne shrugs. “Honestly, if we couldn’t invite any woman you’ve been with, there wouldn’t be many people here you aren’t related to.”
Only my wife would give the okay to invite everyone from the neighborhood. I heard her say something about making it clear to every female in a five-mile radius that I was officially off the market. I didn’t expect her to invite them all to the wedding. I just had to shake my head and know I probably would’ve done the same.
“What’s wrong?” Delilah asks as the last wedding guest steps down the stairs to the dining area.
“Nothing, sweetheart.” I touch her face and resist the urge to haul her into the storage room to officially consummate the marriage.
“I’ll announce you to the guests after the wedding party, as you make your way down the stairs, and then we’ll go right into your first dance as husband and wife,” the DJ tells us so fast I can barely understand his words. Thankfully, I’ve been to enough weddings to know the spiel without being told.
“Sure,” I say, still holding on to Delilah.
He heads toward the dance floor, and Delilah and I finally look out over the crowd, which has more than doubled since church.
“Holy hell, who are all these people?” she asks with wide eyes.
“Your family,” I answer simply.
“I never thought I’d have a family quite this big.” She squeezes my hand, and I can see the tears coming again.
“Don’t cry, Mrs. Gallo.” I like how her title sounds coming out of my mouth. I’m not sure I won’t say it on the daily because it’s still too damn unbelievable.
The wedding party, which consists of Angelo, Daphne, Vinnie, and Michelle, marches down the stairway, forming a line for us to walk through as the DJ plays the theme music to Rocky, even though I told him not to.
But I can’t be mad. It’s my wedding day, and I married the girl of my dreams. “Ready?” I ask her, bringing her hand to my mouth and pressing my lips to her soft skin.
“Yes.” She smiles, and it’s like my whole world is complete. “I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life.”
I raise my hand, along with hers, in celebration as we make our way down the stairs, going slowly so she doesn’t fall over the ridiculously long dress and her crazy high heels. Everyone in the room is standing, clapping loudly, probably still not believing I actually tied the knot. Hell, I have a hard time believing it myself sometimes.
How the hell did I get this damn lucky? Of all the places her father could’ve left her, it was in front of my bar. Anywhere else and we probably never would’ve crossed paths. I’d still be alone, and she’d be… I put the thought out of my mind, trying not to think of what could’ve happened when that bastard abandoned them.
Angelo slaps my shoulder as we walk by, and for the first time in a long time, he looks happy. Ma’s waiting at the end of the line, just before the dance floor, with Lulu in her arms.
Lulu’s smiling as she looks at us and holds out her arms. I take her and hold her tightly, bringing my mouth close to her ear. “My baby girl. I love you so much. I’ll always love you. Always protect you. You’re mine now too. Forever and always.”
She makes a little noise, blowing out a raspberry before grabbing on to my ear and giggling. Over the last few months, she’s grown so much, and every day’s like a new beginning. Watching her grow up, seeing her personality come alive, has been something I never could have explained to another human being without experiencing it.
“I think she needs a little brother,” I tell Delilah as she touches my arm to lean in to kiss Lulu.
“Getting ahead of yourself, aren’t you?” she says.
“Oh no. I want a house full of little ones running around.” She pales a little, and I laugh, giving Lulu a kiss on the cheek before handing her back to my mother.
“Nothing would make me happier,” Ma says, looking more than excited about the possibility of more grandchildren.
“Think of all the fun it’ll be,” I say as I usher Delilah toward the dance floor.
“What? A house full of kids?”
“Making all the babies,” I correct her as I pull her into my arms, and the music starts.
She laughs, swinging her arm around my shoulder and taking my hand. When Luther starts to sing, her smile almost touches her eyes. She let me pick the song, and there’s no one more romantic than Luther Vandross singing about love.
I hold her closely and sing the words to “Here and Now” to her. Every damn word of this song is exactly how I feel about Delilah.
She doesn’t take her eyes away from mine as we dance around the floor. Everyone else in the room doesn’t seem to exist. Just the two of us, moving as one to the words of Luther.
My heart’s pounding as the realization comes crashing down on me. Delilah’s mine forever. As I sing about loving her faithfully and promises for the future, I know when I look into her eyes, I’m the luckiest son of a bitch in the world.
With Delilah and Lulu by my side, anything’s possible. I thought I had it all before they walked into my life, but I realize I had nothing. I was a shell of a man with no real purpose or future.
But now, with them, I have everything I ever could’ve wanted and more.
Delilah places her chin on my shoulder and brings her mouth close to my ear. “I love you,” she whispers.
“I love you too, sweetheart,” I tell her before singing the words to the song in her ear. I want her to hear the promises, the love, the way I plan to love her forever.
Her thumb strokes the back of my neck, brushing the skin just under my hair. As the song comes to an end, I start to back away, but she pulls me back. “We’re not done,” she says in my ear.
Luther melts into Celine, and Delilah takes another page out of my book, singing “Because You Loved Me” in my ear. I listen to every word, holding my wife tight, and close my eyes, reveling in the moment.
She thinks I gave her strength, but I didn’t. It was always there, waiting to break free. She gave me a daughter, love, and more than I could ever give her. But damn it, I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to show her what she means to me and how grateful I am for her to become mine.
As she sings the last word and our bodies stop swaying to the beat, I grab her face and cover her mouth with mine. The moment’s sweet, slow, and everything it should be.
We turn to take a bow, and I see him. Standing in the back of the room, clapping slowly and leaning against the wall with a smile, is my father.
“Fuck,” I mutter, and I know shit’s about to get crazy.
The Men of Inked: Southside series continues in Flow, book two! The book releases soon and is now available for preorder everywhere!
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Men of Inked: Southside Series
Flow - Book 2
Hook - Book 3
Hustle - Book 4
NAILED DOWN SERIES
Nailed Down - Book 1
Tied Down - Book 2
MEN OF INKED SERIES
Throttle Me (FREE) - Book 1
Hook Me - Book 2
Resist Me - Book 3
Uncover Me - Book 4
Without Me - Book 5
Honor Me - Book 6
Worship Me - Book 7
Men of Inked Bonus Novellas
The Gallos (Bonus Book .5)
Resisting (Bonus Book 2.5)
Men of Inked Xmas (Bonus Book 6.5)
Rebound (Flash aka Sam)
ALFA INVESTIGATIONS SERIES
Sinful Intent - Book 1
Unlawful Desire - Book 2
Wicked Impulse - Book 3
ALFA Investigations Novellas
Rebound (Flash aka Sam)
Top Bottom Switch (Ret)
TAKEOVER DUET
Acquisition - Book 1
Merger - Book 2
FILTHY SERIES
Dirty Work
Dirty Secret
Dirty Defiance
SINGLE READS
Mend
Enshrine
Misadventures of a City Girl
Misadventures with a Speed Demon
LOVE AT LAST SERIES
Untangle Me - Book 1
Kayden the Past - Book 2
To learn more about Chelle’s books visit chellebliss.com
Acknowledgments
I don’t even know where to start with the acknowledgements for this book. Life has been crazy ridiculous and there has been an army of people behind me, making sure I got this sucker written.
You (yeah, you) — Thanks for wanting to read my words. You help motivate my ass. Without you, this would just be a hobby. I can’t thank you enough for your Gallo love. Remember, your words mean the world to me.
Brian M. — thanks for giving up time with me so I could slave away at the keyboard to bring this book to life. I know I’m not an easy human, but you love me anyway. Thanks again for going another month without smothering me when I snore.
Lisa Hollett— Girl, I don’t even know what to say. You worked your ass of editing this book. Thanks for not crawling through the computer screen and strangling me when I said I needed it back within forty-eight hours and gave you no warning. I know you consumed A LOT of wine because of me. Please tell your liver I’m sorry.
Julie Deaton — You killed it on the proofread. Thanks for always taking me and not making me beg. I’d totally beg though because you’re the bees knees (is that right?). Anyway, I’m thankful I found you and happy you’re in my life.
Rosa Sharon — You never cease to amaze me with your ability to find the small details. Thanks for not telling me to kick rocks when I asked you to proof the book at the last minute. You’re the bestest kind of human.
Seeing a pattern yet? I was stupid late.
Corinne Michaels — Your words inspire me. You probably have no idea, but when I get stuck, I grab one of your books and read for an hour and voila, I can write again. Your words are magical and your men are fucking hot. Then there’s the fact you’re a HH too, which is pretty fucking fantastic. Don’t ever go soft on me… or I’ll hunt your ass down.
To my beta girls — I love you. Thanks for putting up with my crazy ass. I know I’m a little off kilter.
Mom — Thanks for giving up some time with me this summer so I could write. You’re my best friend and someday you’ll master that damn fancy new phone you have.
Lori Jackson — Thanks for the amazing graphics. You save me soooooooo much time. You’re fabulous and someday we’ll have coffee together. I can’t wait for everyone to see the rest of the sexy covers in this series.
Anthony Colletti — Thanks for talking me off the ledge. I went from a full fledged panic attack to relatively calm after our phone call. Thanks for always being a good listener and only sighing sometimes.
Xanax — Thanks for the peaceful nights and a quiet mind.
Bliss Hangout Members — I fucking love each and every one of you. Thank you for driving me forward and keeping me motivated during times when I could barely concentrate.
I’m sure I’m forgetting a million people. Hell, I almost forget my name sometimes.
Just THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!