Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 94076 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94076 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
It’s her turn to laugh. “Right, shall we get you married?”
We descend the staircase to the crowded foyer. But in a room full of people, I only see Lars standing at the end of the red carpet. He looks so handsome I feel it all the way down to my bones. Dressed in a suit, he looks incredible. My inked Viking god.
Standing beside him is Beast.
Dressed in a suit.
Including the suit jacket and a tie.
I meet my father at the base of the stairs, and his pride is rampant on his face. “Bambina, you are so beautiful. Your mother would be so proud of you today.”
I bend down and kiss him on the cheek, and give another silent prayer of thanks that he is still alive. The doctors expect him to make a full recovery, and I don’t doubt he will come back stronger and more fierce than ever.
Together we make our way down the carpet, and as I walk toward Lars, my eyes lock with his and I can see how much he loves me. His face is tight with raw emotion. Tears fall down his cheeks, and he fights to control the quiver in his chin as he watches me approach.
It sets off my own tears. And who gives a damn about makeup when you’re walking toward the most handsome man in the world who is also crying because he knows you are the love of his life.
At the end of the aisle, my father and Lars shake hands, before I take my place next to the man I can’t wait to call my husband.
He takes my hands in his.
“You are so fucking beautiful,” he says, his tears glittering in his eyes.
“And you’re very handsome.” I’m so full of emotion I can barely get the words out. “I love you.”
He can’t help himself. He cups my face and kisses me. “I love you more.”
Rev, who is presiding over the ceremony, clears his throat. “That’s putting the cart before the horse, man. We haven’t even done the vows yet.”
Lars doesn’t take his eyes off me. “Because she’s too beautiful not to kiss.”
Rev starts the ceremony, but I don’t hear much of any of it. Because I can’t take my eyes off my husband-to-be, and he can’t take his eyes off me.
But when it comes time to recite our vows, we snap out of it and promise to love each other for eternity.
A murmur of approval moves through the guests, and some of the old ladies and club girls sigh.
Finally, Rev pronounces us married, and my husband takes my face in his hands again and kisses me fiercely.
“I love you so much,” he whispers against my lips. “My beautiful wife.”
I smile. “I’m your old lady.”
“Yes, you are, Little Cinder.”
And he kisses me again.
People clap. Several wolf whistle.
And I fall even deeper in love with my husband.
When we break off the kiss to face our guests, I look at the chapel brimming with a hundred smiling faces and feel the tears prick at my eyes again.
I’ve never had friends.
But now I have an entire new family of them.
I turn back to look at my husband and can’t keep the smile from my lips.
Because I know my fairytale has only just begun.