I brush my hair back into the water, soaking it. The warmth is helping heat the chilled interior I now feel as rejection takes form inside of me.
A few minutes later I jump out of my skin, sliding on the tiled floor and nearly falling over. Strong arms surround me, lifting me to my feet safely. “Georgia, baby, I didn’t say I didn’t love you. Fucking hell woman, I’ve loved you just as long, but it’s been years. I can’t hurt you, because I can guarantee I would Angel,” he whispers from behind, pulling my naked wet body to his. He isn’t hard, just muscle and soft skin welcoming me.
“Then please, just love me Ant. All I ever wanted was you. I can work my brother around,” I beg, closing my eyes to stop the tears from falling. It feels like we are bloody breaking up, my heart hurts that much, but we aren’t even together.
“Just give me time okay. I need to sort things out in my head. A lot has happened baby, and I can’t get you caught up in all my shit.” He kisses my hair, holding me to him, with his arms across my belly. I lean my head back onto his hard chest. He is so fricking tall at six and half feet and then me, a tiny five foot two.
“Okay, I can wait,” I tell him, trying to reassure myself that the possibility of us is still there.
“Thank you, sweetheart. Now, let me wash me off of you.” That is the last thing I want, I want to smell him on me for eternity.
“Okay,” I say as he lathers his hands in soap and starts to rub my entire body; every little bit of me, scrubbed and cleaned. Strawberries and cherries fumigate the air.
“Thank you,” I speak quietly through the water.
“What for princess?” he asks me, just holding me in the shower.
“For giving me hope. My life has been crap for years now. My brothers not talking, my parents dying and now all this crap at home, it’s nice to just have some hope in life. The only joy and hope I’ve seen in life is from that little boy, but he’ll be going now, to live with Leighton.” I place my arms atop his, holding him to me.
“I love you, Georgia, always have and I think I always will, just know that angel. I just have things to work through and I promise I’ll try and make myself yours.” I begin to cry, it is embarrassing and childish, but everything that has happened in the last three days takes its toll. They are happy tears and sad tears. My life is changing direction, taking a new path.
I don’t want to go home, my heart isn’t there. Here, with my oldest brother, my niece, my nephew and the man I love. That’s truly were my home is.
“I love you too. I’ll wait forever and a day if I have to.” I turn my head around and look into his face. He lifts a finger and wipes away a stray tear, then leans down and kisses my lips softly, no tongue, no hunger, just soft, beautiful and loving.
HOME, I am here to stay.
Leighton
It is June; the sun is shining and not a cloud in the sky. Best of all, today is the day. Today is the day I marry my beautiful woman. Abigail will soon be my wife, my Abigail Lock.
“Bro, you ready?” Scott asks me. He is smoothing down his own suit. All of my men are going to be involved. I don’t care that I have seven groomsmen plus my best man, Antonio, by my side. Abigail has her best friend Maria, now enormous in size as those twins push her tiny little body out, and then my sister, Georgia, who I thank God for bringing back to me. Brandon’s wife is also part of our wedding party, having made an excellent impression on Abbi. Debbie should have been here today, but after I had thrown the bitch to the curb, I haven’t seen or heard from her, and for all I know Antonio hasn’t either. All we do know is the baby is healthy and will be born around the end of October.
“I was born ready for this," I tell them all as they slip their corsage flowers into their pockets.
“I can’t believe in less than an hour, my man’s gonna be married. Jesus, when did we all grow the fuck up ay?” Ant says as he rounds me and gives me a man hug, pulling me into him hard and patting my back.
The last few months have been hard on my best friend. Abigail had told me what happened between the two of them when I left the room. I had deliberately left, leaving him to work through his anger, hurt and upset with my fiancée, he needed that. She has also told me how he admitted he loved her. I felt so bad for him, heartbroken because I know Abbi will never return the amount of love, or the same level of love he needs. I’m not stupid though, I have seen how close he is with Georgia, how his eyes follow everything she does, how his eyes light up when she laughs, how he will sit and stare endlessly at her. It is rather sickening and I just wish the bastard would talk to me, instead of being a fucking pussy about it.
I know I drove them apart before, but she was seventeen for god’s sake, just a kid. She wasn’t prepared or capable of handling a relationship with Ant, but she’s a grown woman now, older than my own fiancée, she can make her own mind up.
It is clear as shit that he loves my sister, he always has. It had hurt me to break them apart when we were younger; my sister really didn’t need to be involved in the kind of lifestyle the pair of us were living, and when my mum died, Ant followed me to hunt for my arsehole sperm donor.
“Ant, mate, I’m okay with it, you know,” I tell him. I can’t think of a more decent man than him for my baby sister. Sure, I’ll miss him and his roll in my relationship, I know Abbi will miss him too, but I have to let him move on and be loved the way he deserves.
“Thanks.” He smiles shyly at me. We are almost whispering so the others can’t hear.
“Do you love her? Like really love her like I do Abbi?” I ask him. I don’t really need clarification, but it would be nice to see it in his face.
A smile spreads from cheek to cheek and his brown eyes sparkle. He nods his answer, no words required.
“I’m happy for you mate, just know though, if you break her heart, I’ll break you. Take care of her,” I warn him, before pulling him into a hug and patting his back hard.
“Let’s get this show on the road,” the twins both say as they re-enter the room. “Abbi is ready, so get your arse downstairs Leigh,” they tell me and we all laugh aloud.
I breathe out a breath, feeling slightly nervous. “Let’s do this!”
I’m stood at the altar, in the paved area outside the ballroom. An arch over my head has stunning flowers weaved around every pole. A beautiful aisle, with white cloth down the middle of two blocks of intricate chairs, leads inside the ballroom where I know my soon to be wife will be walking down.
“Breathe,” Antonio tells me as he stands to my right, his hands placed neatly in front of him.
“I’m trying,” I tell him, laughing nervously, my tension kicking up a notch.
My heart stutters as I hear the music begin to play, the little classical band to the right of Antonio harmonising a beautiful blend of string instruments.
“It’s time,” Ant whispers in my ear and I think I might just shit a brick right about now. I breathe in deep, trying to relax; I turn my head over my shoulder and watch as my men walk down the aisle with the women. Brad and Luke, Georgia with Scott, Ant’s eyes glaring him down as Scott’s arm rests on my sisters, my brother and his wife, and finally Nate and Abbi’s best friend Thomas, holding my beautiful daughter, Joe in front of them walking down the aisle holding the rings on a beautiful little cushion. They all reach the end where I stand, parting their separate ways for their place during the ceremony. Nate and Tom bring me Melissa so I can give her a quick kiss on her rosy cheek. She is wearing a beautiful, pale blue dress that matches in colour to the slim fitted bridesmaid dresses.
Joe passes the rings to Ant to hold, taking his place next to me as well. I want him here with me, supporting me. We have become so close over the last few months, a real strong bond. He is excelling at school, so bloody intelligent that he puts me to shame. I am so happy I have him back, to finally be able to give him the dad he deserves.
I give Melissa back to her uncles and prepare myself for the sight of the next girl to wal
k down that aisle. My heart rate spikes and the muscle itself pounds beneath my ribcage, as I hear the beautiful violins and other instruments begin ‘the wedding march’.
I feel myself leave my body, my spirit rising from within and floating. I soar above myself, watching as an outsider as my bride walks down that aisle, her father, Carl, on her arm. Both of their faces are pictures of perfection. Her smile can’t be any wider and his couldn’t have been prouder.
My heart swells inside me, almost exploding out of my chest as she nears me, kissing her dads cheek before he hands her to me. I want to kiss her now, hard and deep, to consume her entire being as she has done with mine. I restrain myself, shaking my soon to be father-in-law’s hand as he places her hand into mine.
She looks breathtaking, her pale skin beautiful and creamy against the ivory of her gown. It fits tight to her bust, cinching her waist and showing those magnificent curves of hers. The skirt flares a little, not stupid that it looks like a meringue, but a slight flare that looks stunning. Her veil hangs over her face, covering her intense blue eyes that are already a little shiny with tears.
“You look breathtaking, Angel, ” I tell her, as I take hold of the edge of her veil and lift it over the tiara holding it to the trail down her back with her cascading hair. She smiles at me, a single tear falling down onto her cheek. She is wearing barely any makeup, her face pure and stunning as it always has been.
We both turn to face the registrar. He nods to us both and then begins to speak.
“Dearly beloved, we gather here today to bear witness to the eternal joining of Leighton Michael Lock and Abigail Rose Adams. In the eyes of the company and of our Holy Father, we shall join this man and this woman together in holy matrimony. If anybody can show just cause as to why these two people may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak or else hereafter forever hold his peace.” He looks around the room and I half expect Kalina to pop up and show her fucking face, but nothing.
Then he turns to me, and asks me; “Leighton Michael Lock, will you have this woman to be your wedded wife, to live together in the holy state of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honour and keep in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, keep you only for her, so long as you both shall live?” I look to my left and smile at my fiancée.
“I will,” I reply to the registrar, smiling widely.
He then turns to Abbi. “Abigail Rose Adams, will you have this man to be your wedded husband, to live together in holy matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honour and keep in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, keep you only for him, so long as you both shall live?” She looks to me, trying her hardest not to cry.
“I will,” she replies, and my heart beats faster in my chest, as together we are almost legally bound.
Abigail
Shit, fuck, I can’t breathe. My nerves have sky rocketed, my heart beating triple time in my chest, my blood is rushing my veins like race cars on a track and my body is beginning to sweat a little.
I stand facing the registrar, knowing the next part is to say our vows. We have opted to say the traditional ones and leave the soppy speech for the reception.
“Vows,” the registrar says. We turn to face each other like rehearsed. Leighton takes my right hand in his. “Repeat after me; I Leighton Michael Lock take thee Abigail Rose Adams to be my lawfully wedded wife.” Leighton repeats, his voice sending shivers through my body as tears flow into my eyes. “To have and to hold from this day forward,” again he repeats. “For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health,” Leighton mimics the guy and I know I won’t make it through my vows without breaking down. “To love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance, and thereto I plight thee my troth.” Leighton repeats the words and smiles beautifully at me as he finishes.
I breathe out a huge breath as he drops my hand, allowing me to pick his up. “I Abigail Rose Adams take thee Leighton Michael Lock to be my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance, and thereto I plight thee my troth.” I copy him word for word, breaking when he breaks. I force myself not to cry, and not to break down. I am so close to being his wife that it scares the living shit out of me. I think back to everything I have been through the last year and a half. Well, my entire life actually, the shit I have been dealt, even with Leighton. We have had really rough times, but here we were about to be married, together for eternity. I couldn’t be happier.
I drop his hand. “The rings,” the registrar says and Antonio steps forward with the box containing our wedding bands. Leighton picks up my left hand in his right. Holding the ring by my ring finger on my left hand, he repeats the words the registrar speaks.
“With this ring I thee wed, in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.” I feel another tear fall from my eye and splash against my gown. He slides the ring onto my finger and I feel all the cracks that ever disfigured my heart, suddenly fuse together and mend.
I follow his lead once again, taking the ring and holding it by Leighton’s left ring finger. “With this ring I thee wed, in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.” I push the band up his finger and over his knuckle.
I drop his hand after holding on too long, the registrar taking both our right hands and joining them together, holding them. “Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder.” He then turns to the guests. “For as much as Leighton and Abigail have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth, each and to the other. Having declared the same by the giving and receiving of a ring, and by the joining of hands, I now pronounce thee man and wife, in the name of the father, and of the son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. You may now kiss the bride.”
Leighton smiles a wicked smile at me, steps forward and rounds my waist with his arms. He picks me up off my feet and squeezes me to him. “I love you Mrs Lock.” He speaks softly before he places his lips to mine, kissing me deeply and passionately. I can just about hear the cheers and screams of my family and friends as I mould into the heaven I have now just immersed.
“I love you baby,” I reply as he releases me from his deathly kiss. I will gladly die this way, forever in his arms.
“Ergh, dad, seriously, that’s disgusting, get a room,” my stepson tells us, shaking his head.
I begin to cry, the way I knew I would. He wipes my tears away as they fall, before taking my hand and walking towards the ballroom. Our guests, already on their feet, begin to throw petals in the air, raining us in the beautiful scent of roses.
“Woooo!” I hear my maid of honour shout and it makes me chuckle through my happy tears.
We turn around hand in hand to face our guests as they clap us excitedly. Nate and Thomas walk towards me with my baby girl, who is hopping up and down in their arms, desperate to get to me. “Come here Angel,” I say as I reach my arms out to her awaiting ones.
“Congratulations baby girl,” Thomas says as he passes her over, kissing my cheek. “You deserve the world princess.”
“Thank you, Tom,” I say simply and hug my daughter to me.
We wave to everyone and then turn and walk through the curtain archway leading inside. I breathe in the flowery scent and smile to the heavens.
“Home,” I say aloud so my husband can hear me.
“Home, forever and always, Abbi,” he replies, kissing my temple and pulling me further into the blinding, sparkling, rainbow abyss.
Leighton
“Please welcome, Mr and Mrs Lock, as they take the floor for their first dance as a married couple,” I hear the singer of the band announce. I walk through the doors with my wife in my hand.
“Ready, Mrs Lock?” I ask he
r as her smile illuminates everything around me. If I had ever had one single doubt about her love for me I was crazy. The way her eyes drown me and consume my soul entirely, completes my life. I have my wife, my beautiful girl, my beautiful son and hopefully many more to come.
“For always, Mr Lock,” she replies, smiling bright at me. I take a deep breath and pull her through the doors to the ballroom. This is her forever after, my forever after, she is my belle and I her beast who has morphed into the respectable prince she has made me.
“Let’s do this baby.” We walk into the room, ambient with the decorative lights. A band stands on the stage, awaiting their key to start, the dance floor shiny and unused, lay waiting. We walk to the centre of the floor, our friends and family surrounding the outside, looking in like hungry predators. It makes my heart swell how happy I am. I have my brother and sister back, my son with me again, plus a new sister in law.
We look into each other’s eyes, deep, talking through them. The band starts playing the ballad we have chosen for our first dance, Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton. She puts her hands around my neck, pulling my face towards her. My hands circle her waist and pull her flat against me. Our heat mates together, bonding and fusing our future. This is it for me, everything I will or could ever need.
“You look absolutely stunning, baby,” I tell her, as we dance close to one another.
“You look sexy in your tux too, baby,” she replies and I know she is already being cheeky.
“You would look sexy out of this dress, Mrs Lock. Don’t tempt me to steal you away now before the party’s truly begun.” I wink at her and damn my cock as it instantly hardens at the thought of what she conceals under her dress. If it is anything like what was under her birthday dress then I’m screwed.
Dauntless (The LockDown Series Book 2) Page 26