Dark lashes blink a few times, silent tears escaping. I brush my finger over her cheek, kissing her forehead.
Anabel smiles through her tears. She lifts my hands to her lips and kisses softly the knuckles like I did to her before.
“Do you want to know a secret?” She chuckles at her own words and continues without waiting for my response. “That day we met I knew it. Deep down in my bones I knew you’d be my undoing. I knew you could be the man to make me fall, so I ran. What I didn’t know was that there was no sense in running or hiding. I was already doomed. One brush of our fingers. One look. That was all it took for me to fall for you, William Price.
“And although you can be stubborn and bossy, I wouldn’t change anything. I want it all, the good and the bad, because that’s what makes us. Sometimes I feel like I’ll burst from all these feelings you wake inside of me, but then I catch myself falling even harder, falling deeper in love with you all over again. I love you, William Price. You’re my heart. My soul. My home. My forever.”
“My forever.”
The silence stretches over the room, interrupted only by soft sniffling. Anabel and I grip each other’s hands. She’s my anchor and I’m hers.
Minister clears his throat. “Can we have the rings?”
Reluctantly, we let go to get the rings. Exchanging simple, gold bands feels like lifetime.
“I now pronounce you …”
I don’t wait. I can’t. My hands cradle her cheeks as her hands go around my neck and we kiss. This kiss in not short or decent. I kiss her hard and deep. Almost desperate. My tongue goes past those red lips.
Teasing her.
Claiming her.
Loving her.
She moans into my mouth; her fingers grip my shoulders pulling me in.
Closer.
We finally break the kiss when our family and friends gather around us, ready to congratulate us.
“Our forever is officially beginning, Mrs. Price.” I plant another, much shorter kiss on her lips.
“And I can’t wait to see what other adventures forever will bring us, Mr. Price,” she whispers against my lips, placing our intertwined hands on her stomach.
We smile secretively.
“No matter what, as long as I have you, I’ll be one happy man.”