Page 80 of Rake

Sasha wouldn’t hurt me like that, but sometimes I still can’t believe this is real. That she and I are together, and that our lives have expanded so beautifully. I’d resigned myself to living in bitterness. What a revelation to move beyond that.

I take my place at the front of the hall. It’s a small wedding—only forty or so people. I shift nervously in my tuxedo.

What if she’s not here?a nasty part of my brain whispers.What if she finally decided you and your complications aren’t worth it?

Thanks a lot, Patrick. Great best man work, there.

He’s standing behind me, and it’s not helping.

When the bridal march starts, I hold my breath.

Benjamin walks his sister down the aisle. Their father died a few months after our engagement. It was unsurprising, but still difficult.

Sasha’s gown’s lace bodice hugs her curves and waist, and the skirt is flowy, but not bulky. It’s perfect, she’s perfect.

Jamilah helps her tuck her train behind her, and I lift the lace veil from her beautiful face.

Dr. Smith had agreed to officiate for us. After Sasha had told me how firmly he’d advocated for her, he rose even more in my estimation. He’d been a different kind of father figure for me, and I think about the conversation Sasha and I’d had after we’d had sex that first night in the casino hotel.

What would we have been like if we’d been born into different families? Someone like Dr. Smith would’ve shaped me into a better man early on, but then I wouldn’t have met Sasha.

Life is full of unexpected pain, but also unimaginable gifts.

And one of those unimaginable gifts stands in front of me, beaming angelically.

I barely remember our vows. But I promise to live every minute of my life trying to be worthy of her, of her love.

When Dr. Smith says the magic words, I kiss my beautiful bride. My beautiful wife. Everyone claps, and we’re supposed to start the recessional, but I can’t move, afraid of disrupting the magic of this moment.

Sasha squeezes my hand. I look at the band on my hand that matches the smaller band on hers.

I still feel like I’m getting away with something.

She stands on her toes, and I bend down so she can whisper in my ear. “I’m wearing garters again.”

Well, fuck.

We manage to get through the reception without my ripping off that incredible dress of hers, but once we get to our honeymoon suite at the Four Seasons it’s all I can do to get through all those tiny buttons to see what she’s wearing underneath.

It’s a white lacy corset that pushes up her gorgeous breasts, with garters on the end that hold up white silky stockings. Her panties hug her round ass, and I can’t wait to get her out of them.

She’s just as eager, stripping off my clothes, and soon I have her underneath me. I plunge deep inside as she wraps her legs around my waist, meeting each of my thrusts with ardent fervor. She cries out my name as she comes, and I’m right behind her. We collapse together in a heap on the oversized king bed.

I rest my head on her breasts, and she strokes my hair. “That was so good,” she purrs.

“I was afraid you wouldn’t show up,” I blurt out. “Just for a second.”

She massages my scalp, moving her fingers in slow circles, before gently rubbing my temples. My eyes drift shut.

“I love you so much, Finn,” she says. “I don’t want a life without you in it. I promise you that.”

“I know it wasn’t based in any kind of reality,” I murmur. “But every day with you has been so amazing that I keep worrying I’ll wake up one day and find out I’ve dreamed it and I’m back living on spite.”

She draws her hands through my hair. “That won’t happen. You’re my family, Finn. You and Benjamin.”

There’s a wistfulness to her voice that makes me open my eyes.

“Are you okay?” I ask, rolling over to face her.

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