Page 102 of Protected By Her Mate

“Of course not!” I say, horrified.

“Good, then you’ll be fine.” He pushes me out of his way and steps in front of the mirror. “Charlie’s mother and I have fought and loved for many years, and I can tell you, it’s all the living we’ve done together that keeps us young and in love. Sure, you’ll screw up sometimes, and so will my daughter, but you’ll continue to live and love until your final journey.”

The man should’ve been a poet.

Clearing my throat, I say, “I promise to devote my life to making your daughter happy.”

He beams at me. “It’s all I ask.” He opens the door to the bedroom and waves me out. “And when you annoy each other and she throws you out for an evening, you can come over here and we’ll have a beer in Jorje’s hot tub.”

“Thank you.” I hope he understands the depth of my feelings. My gratitude that the Lopez clan has not only accepted me but keep insisting I’m one of them.

We take the stairs to the rooftop patio, which is ablaze in fairy lights, the scent of hundreds of roses permeating the air. My family, Charlie’s family and friends, and Captain Charlamagne and his family are gathered here.

We’re stopped several times as Alfredo leads me towards the flower covered arch setup on the corner of the terrace. I accept the well wishes, shaking hands and thanking them for attending.

Finally, I reach the arch where three of my four brothers stand.

“You clean up just fine,” Lock says, gripping my shoulder.

“Never thought I’d see you out of uniform,” Rush grunts.

“What uniform?” Keenan asks. “He always wears a suit and tie. As far as I can tell, the only thing he’s done is exchange a tie for a bowtie.”

“Exactly,” says Rush.

“I think he looks handsome.” Magdalene steps up to me, smoothing the lapel on my jacket. She goes up on her toes and I bend to her as she whispers, “I haven’t told anyone that you gave your immortality to Vanessa.” I glance sideways to where Vanessa and Sarena are laughing and dancing with Winter and Ebony. “I thought it best if we kept that part of what happened to ourselves.”

“Of course,” I agree.

There’s no reason for Vanessa or Keenan to go through the emotional ringer. I made my choice and I couldn’t be happier with it. I don’t want Vanessa to come to regret how she acquired her immortality.

“Here she comes!” Someone says excitedly and we all take our places.

Annalisa joins Alfredo who stands with my brothers and each of their mates. The crowd parts and I see my bride for the first time today, her arm linked with her son’s as they walk toward us. At first, I don’t see anything except for her radiant smile. The happiness spilling off her in waves takes my breath away, makes my heart soar with pride.

Then my gaze travels down her, taking in the gorgeous ice blue gown she’s wearing. It’s simple with little embellishment, but it clings and flows with her curves, a perfect complement to her natural beauty. Her hair cascades in dark curls around her shoulders, a section of it gathered at the back of her head and clipped with a small bundle of blue flowers.

Charlie gives Luke a hug before he joins his grandparents, standing in between them to watch the ceremony. Charlie hands her bouquet to Maria, then takes my hand in a firm grip, linking our fingers.

We chose Chief Dale Rochester, Charlie’s boss, to officiate the wedding. He seemed like a fitting choice as he knew Charlie’s late husband and has been part of her life for many years.

He begins the ceremony. As his words wash over us, I gaze at my bride and think about my long life. The lonely centuries spent hunting down killers for various police organizations, moving continents, never settling. I thought I knew myself, thought I knew what I wanted. But now, with Charlie and Luke, I know what paradise really is and the lonely existence I thought would be mine for eternity is fading into the past.

Neither Charlie nor myself consider ourselves great orators and chose to go with the simplest wedding vows we could find online, but they’re perfect, summing up our feelings for each other.

Charlie speaks first, her words soft, her lips curved in a confident smile. “I promise to love you, to protect and care for you, and to be patient and understanding, to support you, and to always be faithful to you.”

I repeat the words and we exchange simple gold wedding bands. Without waiting to be told, I bend, taking Charlie’s lips in a kiss. It was meant to be short and dignified, but soon the crowd is forgotten and of their own volition, my hands encircle her waist to pull her closer.

I kiss her until we’re both breathless and when I finally lift my head, she loops her arms around my neck and drags me back down. Ignoring the laughter and catcalls, we show our love for each until Luke forces himself between us.

Laughing, we release each other, and I reach down to pick up my stepson. Charlie hugs us and we turn to the crowd, accepting their well wishes.

A few minutes later, blaring sirens interrupt us and we peek over the edge of the roof to find a lineup of several fire trucks on the street below, lights and sirens going off as they do a slow drive by to celebrate the marriage of one of their own.

“Oh gosh, I’m going to cry.” Charlie sniffles and I pull her against me while she waves at her colleagues. “I love those guys.”

Most of the past few months had been spent on wedding planning and moving me into Charlie and Luke’s apartment, but we also spent many hours talking about our future as a family, what we want to do, where we want to go.

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