Page 22 of Dare To Marry You
The ceremony is a blur. But having no one aside from our family here to witness it means it’s a happy blur, not an anxiety-ridden one. And it means there are moments of time embedded in my brain that are laced with joy. We decided to stick with traditional vows and wrote each other letters to share in private tonight.
The one moment I know I’ll never forget as long as I live is hearing Kat say those two most important words. The limitless love radiating from her when she says “I do” is the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard. And when it’s my turn to say them back, I know she hears the undying promise in my voice.
When she slides my wedding band onto my finger, something in me settles into a permanent state of rightness. And when Betsy says I can kiss my bride, I give Kat a wink, then wrap her in my arms and dip her backward, my lips finding hers, sealing our vows forever.
Chapter eleven
Kat
It’s not that I don’t want to spend time with our friends and family that joined us after the intimate ceremony was over. Not at all.
It’s just that Hunter is looking so freaking sexy in his suit, I want — no, I need — to get him alone and naked as soon as possible.
And judging by the heated glances he keeps tossing my way, my new husband feels the same way.
I turn my attention back to Sebastian, one of the baristas from The Nutty Muffin, and his partner Mateo. “Thank you so much, guys, I’m thrilled you could be here. If you’ll excuse me, I need to ask Hunter something.”
Mateo gives me a wink. “Mm-hmm, I bet you do, honey. You look gorg, and that man is one step away from drooling.” They give me one final hug and then I’m picking up my dress and trying to be inconspicuous as I make my way over to the short hall that leads to the bathrooms where I saw Hunter heading a moment ago.
“Kitty Kat.”
His growl is the only warning I get before I’m spun around and my back is pressed against the cool wall of the barn, and Hunter’s lips are against my throat.
“Fuck, I need you, babe. I need to taste you, fuck you, claim you as my wife.”
“Pretty sure claiming me as your wife is what our wedding vows were about,” I tease, the words ending on a breathless moan as his lips travel up to my jawline. His hands cup the back of my neck as Hunter stares at me, his eyes dark with lust.
“That was the public claiming. What I want to do to you definitely needs to be private.”
I shudder at the promise dripping from his words. “We can’t leave yet.”
“Says who?”
My brain stutters on that question. We’ve eaten dinner, taken a thousand photos, cut the cake, danced, and spent time with everyone I can think of. So really, what is stopping us from leaving?
“Can we at least say goodbye to my parents instead of sneaking out like teenage delinquents?”
Hunter laughs, a low, deep chuckle that barely masks his desire. “Yeah. Just stay in front of me?”
I’m about to ask why when he presses his hips forward and I feel the reason right where I want him — with a few less clothes on, preferably.
We find my parents with some of my siblings as well. As he said he would, Hunter stays behind me, his arms wrapped around my waist. It makes saying goodbye a little awkward, and given the knowing smirks on my brothers’ faces, they know exactly what’s up.
But we manage to make our escape to the car and driver waiting for us outside. When we slide in, I give Hunter a pointed stare. “You stay on that side, mister.”
His pout is adorable, but he does as I ask, only his hand sliding across the space between us to lift mine to his lips. He kisses it twice before setting it down in the middle of the seat, our fingers threaded together. His thumb idly twists the bands on my ring finger. When I look over, he’s staring down at the glinting gold, a soft smile on his face.
“You’re mine forever, Hunter Callaghan,” I whisper.
The second the hotel room door snicks shut behind Hunter, the world around us ceases to exist. It’s just me and my husband in a hotel room, lit by what seems to be dozens of candles, the air fragrant with a light floral aroma.
“Lily,” I murmur, spinning around slowly with a smile. My sneaky best friend must have called the hotel to let them know we were on our way.
My eyes find Hunter again, standing by the door, his hands in his pockets. But he’s not looking at the room. He’s staring intently at me, and I swear I can see his body vibrating.
“Wife,” he growls, and that one word snaps the thin thread of restraint between us. He closes the distance in two short strides, gathering me into his arms, and kissing me senseless.
“I love this dress on you, but I’ll love it even more in a minute or two when it’s on the floor.”
