Reckless Mind

by Wiginton, Heather

  “Oh my gosh, Kahlen, open your eyes.” I heard everyone's deep intake of breath as we stopped in front of what must have been the ceremony area. Opening my eyes slowly with my head to the ground, I raised my head taking in what I saw.

  Directly in front of me was the ceremony area where the white gazebo sat, only it didn't look like just a white gazebo any longer. Since the wedding was going to be at twilight, I had sparkling lights hung on the gazebo, and hanging from different areas of the lights were white roses.

  The willows were adorned with white circle paper lanterns that would be glowing in two hours when the ceremony started. Ribbons also hung from the branches with small cards tied to them giving our guests the opportunity to write wishes of wellbeing for Cole and I, and our marriage.

  I still didn't know how Travis did it, but he was able to find rustic, white, pew seating to place in front of the gazebo for all the guests. The aisle I would walk down had more paper lanterns waiting to light my way to Cole. The end of each pew dripped with white rose bouquets, some of the same lights that could be seen hanging around the gazebo, and ribbons.

  My throat felt thick, and I was trying my hardest to keep the tears at bay. This was so much more than I imagined it would be, more than I ever thought I deserved. Emma wrapped her arm around my shoulders, and Becca took my hand in hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. These two girls were so special to me, and I was so lucky to have them standing up with me on my wedding day.

  “Come on, Kay,” Becca said, motioning farther to the left and back where the reception area was having the final touches added to it. I knew the photographer was there, and I hoped she caught every single emotion that passed over my face throughout the entire day. This was something I would never forget, but I wanted Cole to know how I felt going into the ceremony, and I wanted our kids to see the well of happiness practically exploding from me.

  The reception area took my breath away. Long tables, covered in white, sat horizontal one after the other. Above the tables, which sat between two huge oak trees, organza fabric panels were weaved, and from them hung more white paper lanterns, and lights I knew would twinkle once the stars came out.

  Since the tables were long, there were two large center pieces sitting toward the ends of each table, while a smaller piece sat directly in the center. The large pieces were clear vases that had to be at least two feet high. White roses were floating in the water in the vase, and beautiful rose bouquets adorned the tops of the vases. As I came closer, I saw more lights were threaded through the flowers, and down through the vase, so when night came they would glow and simply be brilliant.

  The small center pieces were all different. As I walked from table to table, I saw each one was a candid picture of Cole and I sitting on top of a small white rose bouquet, and that was on top of a small clear pedestal wrapped in the white organza. I tear up, I couldn't help it. The only images that came to mind any more were of Cole, and right now all these photos brought back happy, amazing times with him.

  I turned and wrapped my arms around Emma and Becca, pulling them in for a hug. “I don't say it enough, and I'm sorry I don't, but I love you guys. Seriously, with all of my heart. I never knew what it felt like to have friends who believed in me, who cared enough about me to ask the hard questions, and who would stand by my side no matter what I was going through. Now I have both of you. Thank you for being here with me, for teaching me what friendship is really about, and for loving me.”

  “Damn you, Kahlen,” Emma yelled as she went to grab a tissue from her pocket. “I told you I don't want to ruin my makeup, so knock all that sappy shit off.” I knew she was joking, that she secretly loved it when I told her how much she meant to me.

  Emma had been through quite a bit her senior year in high school, which I found out shortly after coming back from the trial in Vegas. I was upset she didn't tell me at first, but when I stopped and thought about everything I was dealing with when I first met Emma, it made sense. I knew she valued friendship, honest, real friendship as much as I did. I think that's why we were so protective over each other, we just wanted to see the other person happy.

  Jules yelled over to us that we needed to get in the house because it was almost an hour until the wedding and Cole would be showing up soon, as well as the guests for cocktails before the ceremony started. So we made our way to a spare bedroom on the second floor of the house, and began putting our dresses on.

  It felt like five minutes passed when Jules knocked on the door and told me it was time. As we all walked downstairs, we waited by the back door that lead directly to the aisle covered in white rose petals leading to the gazebo. And to Cole.

  As the music started, I took a few steps back. Becca would go out first, then Emma. The guys were already waiting down by Cole. I felt a hand touch my elbow, and I turned to see Dan, Emma's dad, standing there next to me.

  “Life is full of wonder, Kahlen. It can bring a girl half way across the United States into my life to save my son.” As he took my hand in his, I saw the emotion pool in his eyes. “You gave my daughter unconditional friendship, and you gave my wife and I our children back. In the process we also gained something else, Jules and I.”

  As the music changed to Canon in D by Pachelbel, Dan leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. “We got another daughter. Kahlen, would you do me the honor of letting me walk you down the aisle?” A single tear escaped me as I hugged him tightly telling him I would be proud to have him walk me down.

  He opened the door, and we began walking over the white petals laying in front of us. I took in all the people and immediately got nervous, but under his breath Dan told me to find Cole. To think about the life we were starting together, and to never let my eyes waiver from Cole's the entire way down the aisle.

  And so I found Cole standing at the alter, his eyes locked on mine, and we both inhaled. I felt it, and I know he did too. He looked gorgeous in his simple black suit and tie, and I watched the way his eyes looked me over the closer I got to him. Cole put his hand up to his mouth to clear his throat, when Dan and I stopped at the gazebo stairs, and I saw tears in his eyes.

  When Dan gave Cole my hand, he held on to me with everything he had, looking deep in my eyes, I know he saw all the love and acceptance there that I found in his. He mouthed, 'I love you', to me as we turned to face the pastor.

  The ceremony seemed to move quickly, and before I knew it the pastor had us face each other, rings in hand, and we pledged ourselves to one another before God, our family, and our friends. I'll never forget how much love I saw in Cole's eyes in that moment. That moment, him and I together in that moment, was perfection.

  When the time came, he kissed me like no one was watching. He was gentle as his hand cupped the back of my neck slowly bringing my lips to his. I parted my lips for him, and his tongue slid into my mouth sensuously, and I wrapped my arms around his neck as he deepened the kiss. Cole pulled away slowly, placing three gentle kisses on my lips, then he turned us to face all the people who came to support us.

  As we were announced to the crowed as Mr. and Mrs. Westwood, all of the guests released butterflies, and it was beautiful. Cole threaded our fingers together as we walked down the aisle to thank our guests before moving to the reception.

  ***

  Cole wanted to check into a nice hotel for the wedding night, but I begged him for the last week to just let us go back to our place. We leave for our honeymoon tomorrow afternoon to spend a week in Italy, and I wanted to just be at home before the trip. Yesterday he finally agreed. We stood outside the door as he unlocked it, and when he opened the door he picked me up to carry me inside.

  What he walked into was a smaller version of our wedding. White organza was woven and hanging from the exposed beams in the ceiling, along with white paper lanterns and the twinkling lights. There were bouquets of roses placed in different areas, along with more lanterns sitting around the apartment. Rose petals covered the floor, making a path that lead to the bedroom.

>   “Cole, oh my gosh. When did you have time to do this?” I had a huge smile on my face, and immediately took his face in my hands and kissed him. He told me that one of the wives of a guy who worked in the shop came over and got everything ready for him earlier today. “I love it, thank you so much, baby.”

  Cole didn't put me down, but carried me to our bedroom. As he placed me on my feet, he walked around to stand behind me, slowly unbuttoning the millions of buttons at the back of my dress. Each time he let another button free, his fingers grazed the bare skin of my back and my body responded to his touch.

  His lips trailed feather light kisses down my spine, leaving blazing heat behind as his lips moved on to the next spot. My dress was a white silk faille, trumpet gown, with a sweetheart neckline. The silhouette was fitted, but floated into a dramatically flared hem. It was simple and gorgeous. I thought the most stunning part of the dress was the back though. The entire back of the dress, that covered my actual back, was lace with forty to fifty buttons. Since my hair was up off my back and neck, the showstopping back had been on full display all night.

  Cole turned me to face him, and he gradually pushed my dress down to the floor. He kneeled in front of me helping me take my heels off, and then he unhooked the stays from the garter belt that kept my stockings in place all night. His fingers brushed my skin as he rolled the stockings down, his lips following the trail.

  “Best wedding ever, pretty girl.” Cole said right before his mouth captured mine. His hands worked the clasp of my strapless bra, freeing it from my body in mere seconds. “You are my wife. My wife, Kahlen. I'm so happy right now, I love you so much.”

  He picked me up and placed me down on the bed, stripping me of my underwear and the garter belt. As I lay naked, Cole stood, eyes taking in every inch of my bare skin. “Please, Cole. I don't want to wait.” I wanted him so bad.

  As his body came down over mine, I leaned up to whisper in his ear, “You need to claim me as your wife. I want you buried so deep inside me, over and over again tonight, Cole, as my husband.” As Cole slipped inside me while brushing his tongue over mine, I knew my body was going to be ravished, and thoroughly worked over, by him tonight. I wouldn't have it any other way.

  I knew there were so many things yet to come for us...buying our first house, me finishing school, having our first baby...but for now this was my happily ever after.

  Acknowledgements

  I want to thank my family for believing I could do this, for being okay with the house being messier than normal when I got in a writing zone, and most of all for supporting and encouraging me throughout the entire process.

  Having an amazing reader who comes in and gives you honest feedback about yor story can enhance the final story in a way you never thought possible. A huge thank you to Kristin Beard!!! I appreciate your support, and your helping me through the rougher parts of this story.

  My cover art is none other than the returning amazeballs covered in awesome sauce, Julie Kromray of JAK Photography. It is beyond me how I can tell her this crazy idea I have in my head, and she produces it in a book cover exactly. She is still, and will always be amazing. Thank you for my beautiful cover!

  Big thank you Katrina Wiginton, my editor. It takes a careful eye, and a lot of patience, to edit a story, to give your time and your energy making sure that careless mistakes do not take away from the story as the reader goes through the book. You are outstanding at what you do!!!

  Even though this story isn't about me personally, it is very personal to me. This book took me on an emotional journey that I won't soon forget. I want to thank all of the readers who decide to go this journey with me, I hope you love these characters and this story as much as I do.

  Without God I wouldn't be doing this, I thank him for giving me the faith I need in myself every day to continue to put the thoughts in my head into stories to share with the world.

  About the Author

  I am a mother, a wife, a Pinterest addict, a fashion lover, and I'm obsessed with watching TV. My first book, Darkness Calls, is a young adult paranormal romance and is book one in the Blood Secret series. Book two, Against the Light, releases Spring 2014.

  Reckless Mind is book one of the Reckless series. This can be read as a standalone, as will the other books, but it is best to read them as the series progresses to have full knowledge of the characters you are reading. Book two of the Reckless series will be titled, Reckless Heart, and will release late 2014.

  If you want to connect with me, you can find me here:

  https://www.facebook.com/HeatherWigintonAuthor

  https://twitter.com/heatherwiginton

  http://heatherwiginton.blogspot.com/

  This book is a work of fiction. Any reference to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2014 by Heather Wiginton

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. The scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the author is unlawful piracy and theft of the author's intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the author. Thank you for your support of the author's rights.