Page 255 of Savior
Cherry and Axel each hand Vanna and I, our wedding rings.
“The Ring has a special significance in Pagan culture.” Viking continues. “It symbolizes unbrokenness and completion, as Dean and Vanna complete each other, as well as this ceremony, with spoken vows of their own.” Viking smiles at me. “Go ahead, brother. Get it done.”
I swallow hard, bringing the diamond wedding band to Vanna’s left hand, bound to mine, hovering shakily at the tip of her ring finger. My eyes lock once again with hers, and I struggle against the wave of emotion that washes over me once again. She’s smiling up at me, her beautiful dark eyes fixed on mine. Her perfect lips, part to whisper an encouraging, “I love you”, as I try to find my own words.
“I am the lucky one.” I manage to choke out. “I can finally, and honestly, make that statement. I am in awe of you, Vanna… Love of my life. You have been both my greatest challenge and my saving grace. You’ve made me consider things that have never crossed my mind before I met you. Beyond that, you’ve made me believe in things I didn’t think existed, outside the realm of fairy tales. You are magic, my love. And I am beyond elated, eternally grateful, and so fucking humbled, that you choose me to spend your life with. I may not be able to promise you the world. But I can, and do promise, that you will always be my world. I give you this ring as a token of my undying love and unyielding loyalty, to wear as a symbol of our everlasting and unbreakable bond.” Pushing the ring slowly down her finger, I take a breath and promise her, “With this ring, I vow to love, honor and protect you with everything that I am, and bind my soul to yours, eternally.”
Her eyes are glassy, full to the brim with tears about to overflow at any minute. She takes a quivering breath as she brings the solid band to my left ring finger, still handfasted to hers.
“Dean Keegan,” she begins, her shaky voice, at first, only a few octaves above a whisper. “I love you. I love you. I love you.” And as her tears fall, so too, do my own.
I remember when these exact words, spoken through her tears then as well, would have been the last thing I ever heard. And as I listen to them being spoken now, I hope these same words, are the last I will hear, when my time on earth beside her, is up.
“I have never meant anything more.” She continues. “I truly love you with all of my heart and soul. Thank you, for loving me in all the ways I didn’t even realize, I needed to be loved. You make me a better person. A stronger person. Your love is the greatest gift I’ve ever received. You’ve given me a life, a home and a family. You’ve given me freedom, while also providing me every type of security. You’ve restored my ability to trust. You know me better than anyone ever has, and somehow, you still love me. My best friend, my one true love. My steadfast Knight and Savior. I take you as my other half, for all eternity, and promise to live in truth with you, all the days of our lives. I give you my hand and my heart as a sanctuary of warmth and peace. With this ring, I vow my never-ending love, devotion, faith and honor, as I bind my soul to yours, forever.”
As the wedding band slides down my finger, I’m overcome with a sense of completeness I’ve never felt before.
“Dean and Vanna, as your hands are now bound together, so are your spirits joined in a union of love and trust for all eternity. May your rings be a constant reminder of the promises you’ve made today. The binding is complete. By the powers invested in me, by that website, and the State of North Carolina, I pronounce you, Husband and Wife.”
Axel and Cherry untie our hands as I eagerly await the final part of the ceremony.
“You may now seal your vows to one another, with a kiss.” Viking finally says.
He doesn’t have to tell me twice.
Wrapping my arms around my gorgeous wife, I press my lips to hers. As she kisses me back, I barely hear our family and friends around us, cheering and whistling, as everything fades away, but her.
She’s mine. All mine. Officially and forever.
While Dean and I pose for our wedding photos around the beautiful gardens of the Wilmington Arboretum, the ceremony area is transformed into a reception, complete with cloth covered round tables, pink peony center pieces and long white tapered candles. A modest little dance floor sits in the center, and the catered food and open bar are set up off to the far side of the area. The sun has already gone down, and now the whole place is lit up with golden hued lights, dangling from the branches above and the bushes all around us. The entire area is now bathed in a romantic, cozy glow, creating an intimate ambiance. It might not be an opulent plantation, or a ritzy catering hall. But it’s perfect, for us.
Ace wakes up just long enough for me to feed him and hold him in his adorable little suit, which matches his fathers, for a bunch of photos of our little family. Kissing his tiny cheek as he dozes off once again, cradled in Dean’s protective arms now, I can’t help but stare at the two most important men in my life.
“Starting to wonder if Viper slipped our kid a little whiskey or some shit.” Dean jokes, arching his neck back to get a better look at our son’s sleeping face. “Little bugger is out like a light again.”
“I can’t believe this is going to be our first night apart from him.” I say. “I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep.”
“If it’s any consolation, I wasn’t planning on us getting much sleep tonight anyway.” Dean winks at me.
I roll my eyes at him, shaking my head but unable to stave off a smile. “Such a rogue.” I teasingly sigh, bringing my attention back to our gorgeous little boy. He already looks so much like Dean. “Thank you for living up to all of the promises you’ve made me.”
“My life’s mission, doll. Happily ever after, even if I have to kill for it.”
“Well, let’s hope it doesn’t come down to that again.” I pat his arm, knowing full well, he means every word.
After Viper and Rosita grab a quick bite to eat, Dean and I reluctantly say our goodnights to Ace, who will be spending the night at Viper and Rosita’s home with their own baby girl.
Dean and I spend the next few hours dancing and celebrating with our chosen family and friends, listening to their speeches and well wishes, and laughing at their jokes. The wedding cake is a gorgeous four teered, white Italian cream cake, which Dean thankfully does not ram down my throat, but instead offers me my bite like the gentleman he truly is at heart. I respectfully return the favor.
The groom’s cake on the other hand, curtesy of Viking of course, is in the shape of a big, black, ball and chain.
When it comes time to toss the Boquete, Cherry is the one to catch it, and the guys all descend on poor Axel to break his balls. Not that he looks bothered at all. They may be the youngest couple, but they’ve been together the longest. Axel looks at her with an unshakable confidence and a love that’s as undeniable as our own.
Dean puts on a real show of removing my garter in the center of the dance floor, spending way too much time up my dress and making my face flush so heatedly, I’m sure I’m pinker than the pinkest peony in this entire garden. Nobody but I, thank the Gods, am able to hear the dirty words and naughty plans he promises about our wedding night, mumbled against my underwear, before he finally comes out with my garter between his teeth.
Viking is the one to win that toss. However, upon realizing what that actually represents, he shoves it into the nearest prospects chest and rushes off, rubbing his hands against his tailored suit as if he can wipe the marriage cooties away.
After that entire experience, I excuse myself to the restroom to freshen up.
