330 Naughty vows
She had to bat her eyelashes to stop herself from crying again. Ximena had been right to use waterproof makeup on her or she would already be a runny mascara mess from how emotional they had gotten in the dressing room earlier.
“I love you too, Des,” She said.
“I want to kiss you so badly right now.” He whispered, having forgotten all about the tiny mics tucked at the neckline of her dress and at his breast piece for them to be heard even if the sea got wavy.
The officiant cleared his throat. “Mr. Fort, it’s not time for that yet.”
He looked bummed. “Are you sure I can’t steal a very quick kiss? My bride looks so beautiful after all.”
The guests burst into laughter while the officiant shook his head at Desmond sternly. When he pouted like a kid denied candy, Zaria couldn’t help laughing at him either.
“Once we are married, you will get to kiss me as much as you want.” She whispered, covering her mic so no one else would hear.
Taking that as a promise, he held her hand as they walked to the altar.
The officiant finally fired off the opening speech, which Desmond found too long. He should have just declared them husband and wife and let them go off on their honeymoon.
.....
Of course, that was not going to happen. He had to hear him ask for whoever found reason to stop the wedding to step forward.
He already knew no one on his side would have any reason to stop him from getting his happiness. Neither would Zaria’s side. But for good measure, he turned to the side of the guest seats where Zaria’s family and friends were seated and blew them a kiss, just to charm them in case they had any doubts.
The guests roared in laughter.
Zeus lowered his voice and muttered, “if it wasn’t because the wedding would have to stop, I would object to the wedding to see his reaction.”
Lucy glared at him, but her glare came out as a gentle gaze since she was so happy. “Don’t you dare. Your sister would kill you.”
“The bride and groom have written their vows.” He finally moved to the next part, letting the couple sigh in relief. They had secretly been afraid Alyssa might change her mind about maintaining peace with them but didn’t want to think aloud in case they jinxed it.
Desmond took out a sheet of paper from his pocket and read his vows first.
“Whoever said one mistake can lead to a chain of repercussions forgot to add that it can also many good things to happen. I made one selfish mistake and it led me to you.” He looked up at her. “And when I thought meeting you was the best moment of my life, I was in for a pleasant surprise. Zaria, you have made my life better with each day you spent in it.
You have made me the happiest man on earth and most importantly, the best version of myself. I don’t believe I have done anything to deserve you, which is why I promise to spend the rest of my life rectifying that.
I want to ensure you wake up every morning with a smile on your face.” He lowered his voice and covered their mics so only she would hear the next part. “Except the many times I’ll wake you with my tongue and you will be too busy moaning my name to remember to smile.”
She blushed. “Des!”
He grinned. This was their wedding and he had to make sure he was accurate with the vows he made to his wife, right?
“I promise to be there for you every time you need me—even when you don’t know it. If the world fails you, you can lean on me. Every time I make you cry, it will be tears of joy. And I will cherish every moment with you and our family.”
She was rendered speechless by his words, especially since she knew he was not promising any of those things to please her or their guests. She knew better than anyone that he would make sure to fulfill every single one of his promises.
When the officiant reminded her to read her vows, Natalie gave her the sheet of paper but she had to reject it.
“None of the things I wrote sound good enough. I guess I’ll wing it.” She remarked, sending the guests laughing even though she didn’t think it was funny.
“Desmond, before I met you, I didn’t think spending the rest of my life with anyone with anything to look forward to.
You changed my mind and I’m glad you did. I love you so much, Des, and I can’t wait to find out what adventures await us.
I promise to be the best…” she paused when her voice broke. “You certainly were serious with that tears of joy part.”
She continued when the laughter died down. “I promise to be the best wife I can be, and the best mother to our children.” Like he did, she covered her mic and he knew to cover his own before she added, “and when you don’t get the chance to wake me up with your tongue between my legs because I woke up before you, you will wake up in my mouth.”
It was his turn to be rendered speechless. “You have such a dirty mouth, Mrs. Fort.”
The officiant paid no heed to the secret vows going on between them. He knew not to ask. The couple finally exchanged rings and he knew Desmond would kill him if he stalled for a second.
“By the power granted to me by the Republic of Olphire, I declare you husband and Wife. You may now kiss the bride.”
By the time his words were completely out, Desmond had unveiled his wife and kissed her. He wanted to deepen the kiss but he knew this was not the time or place with everyone watching.
“I love you.” He whispered again, pressing his forehead against hers. He couldn’t say it enough.
_______
The reception was being held on Lucy’s cruise ship that she had given to the couple as an early wedding gift.
Initially, they had decided to hold it in a hotel a few miles away from the beach but apparently, Lucy, Desmond, and the wedding planner had planned this as a surprise for her. She couldn’t thank them enough and when she thought about it, this had Ximena’s name written all over it.
When they were little girls playing wedding dress-up with their dolls, Zaria’s receptions had always ended up on a boat or a ship. Ximena had remembered it after all these years and linked it with Zaria wanting a cruise reception herself.
The trio had taken care of everything—including giving all the guests motion sickness tablets just in case. She knew weddings didn’t always go as perfectly as the couple dreamed them to be but this was perfect.
She fiddled with the rings on her finger. While her engagement ring had a diamond, the wedding ring was a rose-gold band with tiny diamonds dotting its surface all around it, which made the two a perfect match. She had just finished changing into the reception gown—a much shorter sparkly a-line gown in the same color as the previous—when Ximena came to pick her up for the reception.
“Everyone’s waiting. And Rosaly has a gift for you.”
She was curious about that. She had assumed Rosaky would place her gift with the others but she couldn’t wait to see it.
When she finally met the girl at the reception, her cheeks flushed in nervousness as she handed over a small box. “For you.”
Zaria took it with a smile. “Should I open it right now?” When Rosaly nodded, she pulled the ribbon from the box and opened it, her heart melting when she saw the three blueberry muffins inside.
“You got this for me?”
Rosaly nodded. “I baked them. Grandma Lucy taught me how.”
Zaria crouched and kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you.”
But that was not all. It turned out. The girls had not been practicing ballet lately simply for their love of it. They had prepared a performance for her and Desmond, choreographed by their instructor.
Her heart melted watching them twirling on the stage like two little professionals in their tutus, with the grace she imagined swans would have if they danced ballet. At the end of their song, they danced off the stage and returned with a small bouquet of roses and chocolate.
Just when she thought the night couldn’t get any better, it was time for her and her brand-new husband’s first dance, after which it was time for the father-daughter dance. Only, there wasn’t only one pair of father-daughter dancing. She and Theodore waltzed alongside Desmond and Rosaly, and when the song ended, Desmond asked for another dance with her. This time, he didn’t let go of Rosaly’s hand. He hugged them both, then he went on one knee and kissed her belly. This was his family and it was perfect.
______
Mini theatre.
Desmond: Babe, can I use your phone? Mine’s off.
Zaria: Sure. The password is the day, place, and what I wore when I became yours.
Three hours later.
Des to Liam, Evan, and Natalie: Guys, does any of you remember my wedding date?
Natalie: If you’re trying to find Zaria’s password, I won’t help you. Though I have to remind you that she was yours long before the wedding.
Desmond: Crap.
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