I briefly glance in the direction of the minister before resuming my gaze on Ava. “Ashton Bailey and Ava Jacobson. In so much as the two of you have agreed to live together in matrimony and have promised your love for each other by saying these vows, I now pronounce you as husband and wife.”
On hearing the words husband and wife, the missing pieces I hadn’t realized were missing in my heart have been pieced together with Ava’s, and it’s beating more steadily with a rhythm that finally feels real and whole. It has only occurred to me that before I met Ava, my heart was only half-heartedly beating, but upon meeting her it picked up speed until today I finally found my rhythm; a beautiful, transcendent beat that gives love and life a brand new meaning. Ava is now a part of me forever; she’s my other half, and as long as her heart beats along with mine, my life will be complete.
The minister addresses both Tyler and me with a smile before saying the words that couldn’t have come quick enough. “Congratulations, you may both kiss your brides.”
I don’t waste a single breath as my fingers slip through the soft strands of Ava’s hair, cradling her neck with my passionate grip before my lips slam against hers, claiming her, marking her … solidifying my love for her with my first kiss as her husband.
After losing myself in her kiss, I reluctantly pull away, resting my forehead against hers. “I love you, baby.”
Her eyes flutter closed with a heavenly smile as she brings her hands up to mine that have drifted to the sides of her face. “I love you too, husband.”
My heart comes crashing to a stop at her words, and I become mesmerized by them. “Say it again,” I demand.
She giggles. “I love you too, husband.”
Her words sound like music to my ears and I suddenly want to take her here and now, but I’m swiftly reminded of the hundreds of people witnessing our declaration of love at the sound of the minister saying his final words. “I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Bailey … and Dr. and Mrs. Bailey.”
Mrs. Bailey …
Wow, right there is what perfection sounds like … my perfection.
THOUSANDS OF TWINKLY LIGHTS glitter around us as I sway gently in the arms of Ashton, dancing our first dance as husband and wife. With my head resting on his chest, I watch as the sunset fades into the night sky with striking hues of violets, pinks, and ambers stretched out along the horizon. It’s breathtakingly beautiful. It’s ridiculously romantic and I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect setting for my first dance. I sigh contentedly as we continue to move to the sounds of ‘Kiss Me’ by Ed Sheeran.
“You okay, baby?” Ashton asks before brushing his lips against my hair.
I step back slightly so I can look at his handsome face. “I’m perfect, husband.”
He lets out a groan. “I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hearing you call me your husband. It’s making me hard,” he says in a low voice, pushing his erection against me.
I giggle. “You’re always hard.”
“True,” he admits with a grin. “But …” His eyes darken as they drink me in before they come to a lingering stop on my cleavage. “You’re fucking beautiful. It’s impossible to not get aroused. And that dress …” he says, his eyes still taking in my breasts that sit against the plunging neckline. “I’m an intelligent guy and yet when you walked down the aisle, I was lost for words.”
“Um, my eyes are up here.” I smile, watching how he finally looks up and meets my gaze with a sexy smirk.
“Oh, so they are …”
“You’re insatiable,” I say with laughter.
“It’s hard to be anything else when my wife is so damn beautiful.” A shiver trembles along my spine; loving the way wife rolls off his tongue like second nature. I never thought in a million years that I’d become Ashton’s wife today …
Today has been a whirlwind of a day that’s for sure. I woke up this morning with swollen eyes and my heart torn from the previous night. Throughout the night while speaking to Alana—after my tears had subsided—I finally came to the conclusion that Ashton would never jeopardize what we have or intentionally hurt me. He loves me, and the fact that I was the first woman he ever brought home with him speaks volumes. It gave me faith that maybe we’d be okay.
However, I was still irrationally pissed off with him and hurt when I was forced to spend the morning in the presence of the woman who purposely forced herself on my fiancé and tried to sabotage our relationship. I wanted to claw Riley’s eyes out for the hurt she caused, but through some inner strength I had no idea I even possessed, I held my head up high and ignored her, not wanting to cause any drama on what would be the happiest day of Mia’s life.
But to go from that to dancing in the arms of my new husband almost doesn’t seem real. It feels as if I’ve been transported into a fairy tale land of make believe stories and happy endings that only happen to the likes of Cinderella. Ashton definitely stepped up and became the prince that every girl deserves. That I deserve. My mind is still in disarray at how he stood up in front of everyone and declared his undying love for me before asking me to marry him there and then. I seemed to fall in love with him all over again, and in that moment I knew that our love was unbreakable, that no one could ever stand in our way.
“I can’t believe we’re married,” I say with an almost dream-like sigh, gazing into Ashton’s green eyes that shine beautifully from the reflection of twinkly lights that glimmer against the nightfall sky.
“You better believe it, baby …”
I gently lean my head against Ashton’s shoulder as he holds me tighter against him. My eyes wander over to the dance floor and my eyes fall on Mia and Tyler who are swaying gently to the acoustic brilliance of Ed Sheeran, looking as much in love as Ashton and me. They look incredibly happy in their own little wedding bubble. Tyler peppers her with loving kisses and whispers sweet little nothings in her ear, with not a single worry in the world. I’m so honored that we get to share this incredible day with them, that their happily ever after became our happily ever after too.
Today I married the man who not only became my husband, but my best friend, my soul mate. And I know that Ashton and I are not legally married, that to any judge our marriage is non-existent and means nothing, but to me, in my heart and soul it means everything. We made a commitment that will last forever; we vowed to love each other until our last dying breath, and no legalities will ever change that.
I am, however, excited to get our marriage legalized so I can finally rid myself of the family name that tarnished my childhood and took away my innocence at such a young age. I’m still proud of being able to hold on to that name for as long as I have done, since the man who that name originates from is a man that is never far from my thoughts, a man who loved me unconditionally … but that name died the moment my brother did. He made something that was once beautiful into something tainted with poison, and I finally want to break free of the connotations that the Jacobson name holds, for good.
Ava … Bailey. It’s perfect, and an incredible way to start afresh … with my husband and my daughter. It’s everything I always wanted.
I pull my head back slightly and look up at Ashton. “How soon do you think we can get our marriage on paper?”
“As soon as you want, baby. I told you, you can have as many weddings as you want.”
I smile dreamily as we continue to sway to the music. “How did I get so lucky to find you? You’re too good to be true,” I say with a gentle laugh.
“Well every princess deserves a prince,” he says with a sincerity that makes my insides melt. Rising on my tiptoes I brush my lips against his, tasting the intoxicating flavor of sweet strawberries and champagne that linger against his plump lips. Our kiss deepens, and with my hands hanging loosely around his neck, I bring my fingers up to his hair and massage my way through the soft strands. After a few long seconds, Ashton’s moan vibrates inside my mouth, and before things get a little too hot and heavy on the dance floor, I draw back feeling a little breathless.