I suck in a sharp breath. She’s just articulated my plight all these years. Zoey struts toward me until we’re close enough for me to touch her. But I don’t. I’m too damn confused.
“Your plan was faulty. It hurt me. It hurt us. But your heart has always been pure. You’ve always coveted my heart, even when you separated it from me. You’ve delayed our love. Your plan sucked big time, but your intent was good.” She steps back and informs loudly, to the point of yelling. “Now, it’s time to deliver.”
Just then I see movement in my peripheral. Within seconds, I realize it’s Ezra.
What the fuck?
“I want to marry you. Now. And it’s not because of my maddening insecurities of someone else capturing your attention and delaying us even further. Neither is it because of your next baby that I will get.” She hikes a playful brow. “It’s because you’re the man for me. The only man I’ve ever loved. The only man, besides my father, who has committed to me and my child. I want you sexy, tatted and perfectly flawed, Stenton. I don’t want to wait until the end of the season, delaying us any further. I’m yours.” She pivots and calls over her shoulder, “We’re ready!”
Then I see other bodies shifting from the darkness off the tarmac to the lighting on the pavement. It’s Michael, Sarah and Jordan.
Zoey informs, “Those are my witnesses. And here is yours.” She extends her arm to gesture behind my right shoulder.
I crane my neck to find Alton’s dopey ass, wiping his wet face. It’s bad enough I’m fighting my damn emotions. Now, he’s here cutting the fuck up.
“Stenton, your bride here asked that we not waste time with the traditional vow exchange. In fact, she’s given you the bulk of hers already.”
As I realize the reason for her white dress, Zoey’s parents comes closer with Jordan, who is draped over Michael’s shoulder.
“Con-dragulations, Dad,” he drawls out.
I don’t respond. I can’t. Because if I do, Alton will clown me for the rest of my life for bawling out my guts at my lady’s feet. I love Zoey so much it makes me fucking dizzy. It always has.
“Stenton do you take Elizabeth to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, so long as you both shall live?”
I damn sure do.
“Yes,” I answer while gazing into those sexy brown eyes of hers.
“And Elizabeth, do you take Stenton to be your—”
“Absolutely.” Zoey gives a firm nod of vehemence. “Every day. Without hesitation. No reservation. He’s mine. Has been for seven years, and better be until one of us leaves this earth or I will be responsible for him leaving first!”
“Daaaaaaaaaaamn!” That’s Alton.
“Mommy?” came from Jordan.
“Elizabeth!” That’s Michael.
“Elizabeth Ardell,” Sarah gasps.
And they do it all concurrently.
Ezra chuckles loudly. And me? I grab this frustrating woman by the sides of her face and swallow her in my mouth whole. I can’t get close enough to her, can’t quench my desire to tell her that I plan to love the hell out of her until my last breath.
“Well,” Ezra continues. “By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” I can barely hear him. “But you, sir, are already ahead of schedule, kissing your wife.”
When I’m able to pull my mouth from hers, we’re both panting out of control. I can’t believe she’s finally mine. After all my mistakes and confusion, Zoey has made me a worthy man.
The tears finally fall from her eyes. “You feel that?” she asks, chest heaving and a smile fighting on her beautiful face.
“Yes.” I nod. “We’re breathing. Together.”
Zoey nods before taking to my mouth again.
Epilogue
December 11th, 2014
~Zoey~
“A B-? You can’t be serious, JR. We just went over this before you left for school this morning!” I hear Stenton fussing Jordan out all the way out in the foyer.
Jordan was determined to wait for him there tonight, claiming he was ready to take it like a man. Yeah… Whatever that means! He’s getting ripped into. I can’t help my quiet snickering just the inside doorframe of our bedroom, listening in.