Page 127 of Shâhzâdeh

I kissed her cheek softly before waving over Shoaib and Quentin. Each of their hands held boxes that were more like trunks and I could see that Vanya was nervous. One by one, she was presented with her bridal trousseau from our family and she stood in stunned silence. The most impressive piece was the gold and yellow diamond tiara that denoted her place in our family. Despite me not caring about titles, I still had them. And this marriage made Vanya a princess. So she would for damn sure get the princess treatment today and the rest of our days together.

“Is this?” She looked almost afraid to touch it and I had no issues letting her take her time. This was her day and despite the hundreds of guests we had here, they wouldn’t rush her.

“A tiara? Yes.” Sho stood close by so that Vanya could inspect the piece. In addition to the bracelet my mother had given her, there was a diamond tennis bracelet, several bangles and diamond studs that were a larger version of the ones she normally wore. My mother had gifted her the prettiest gold filigree earrings that matched the embroidery on her dress and I didn’t want her to remove those.

“For me?” She sounded breathless again as she stared at the box apprehensively.

“Yes.”

“And is it—”

I grinned and then leaned over to draw her closer. “Real? Yes. Yours to keep? Absolutely. Beautiful… zhat depends on your opinion of it. Of course, your new cousin might take offense to you not liking her vork.”

“It’s exquisite.”

“Nev will be happy that you like it.”

Her eyes darted over to her side of the bridal party, and Nev was smiling at her. “She made it for me?”

“Yes. I worked with her to incorporate all the elements zhat I wanted and she came up with zhis. May I?” I motioned toward her head and she softly nodded. Stepping down, Sho moved toward me and extended the box holding the tiara. I withdrew it from where it was nestled among the fabric, allowing it to sparkle briefly for the crowd, mainly the Mahdavis, to see before turning to my ziba. As though she knew her role, she balanced herself regally as she descended toward the ground so that I could place the crown on her head. The combs that were built in helped keep it in place, but Nev also designed small loops in the back of the crown and eighteen karat gold hair pins so it was always secure. The diamonds sparkled and I could tell that Vanya was holding her breath like this moment couldn’t be real.

I felt the same way but for entirely different reasons. Bending, I took her hand in mine, raising her from her lowered position so that she was fully erect. The crown fit her perfectly a thing of beauty amongst chaos. Much like the woman who wore it.

I wanted to place each item on her so that she was covered in jewels but I could tell by her face she was more than thrilled with the tiara so I saved my fantasy for another time. Quentin and Shoaib placed the jewelry back in the locked case Nev had commissioned for it and the guard we’d hired specifically to protect it rolled it back out of the ceremony. I could see the eyes of the Mahdavis were filled with envy as the jewelry was taken to the vault.

“I’m afraid to breathe too deeply.” Her whispered confession drew my eyes back to her face.

“Jewelry is meant to be enjoyed. Soon you’ll be dancing around zhe living room wiz your tiara on display, while classic R&B plays zhroughout zhe house.”

She bit her lip as though she could envision what I’d spoken. “That sounds beautiful.”

“Zhat is our future. Come, let us not keep our future waiting any longer. But I have one last gift for your adornment.”

I held my hand back and Midas put the box that he’d been carrying around for me.

The ring that was inside was a work of art. I wanted it to reflect my hopes of what this marriage would be. It was the creation of a flower in bloom. The center stone was a fifteen carat flawless yellow diamond my father kept in the family vault in Tennessee. It was his and my mother’s wedding gift to me. I had it set in the more durable 18kt gold since it was something I wanted Vanya to wear daily as a symbol of my love for her. She was a flower in bloom. A woman coming into her own in every sense of the word. The color yellow symbolized power and green of the leaves symbolized paradise and life. Both things that were synonymous with the union I wanted and the love I held for Vanya. My feelings were all-encompassing and made me feel as though I were experiencing paradise on earth.

“This is outrageous. Did you make this? This is priceless.”

“I had it commissioned wiz zhe rest of your parure. And zhis stone was part of my fazer’s mother’s possessions. Zhey went to him when she died and even his fazer would not dishonor zhe wishes of the dead.”

“So it’s an heirloom.”

“And now it is yours.” I kissed her hand before I slid the ring onto her finger. She had matched my ring to hers unknowingly, as it was inlaid with yellow and green diamonds.

Jahmir held out the cup and I dipped my pinky into it before placing it at Vanya’s lips. I expected this moment to feel sweet, but the monsoon of lust that overwhelmed me when her lips wrapped around my finger and she stared into my eyes was almost more than I could control. When her tongue started to flick against the tip I almost snatched my finger out and called her a demon.

But I wasn’t a fool.

If my wife wanted to play games I would enjoy teasing her until it was time for us to become one physically. It would only heighten the pleasure between the two of us when the time came. Vanya copied my movements and I gently sucked her finger before kissing the inside of her wrist softly.

“Je sais que tu auras meilleur goût que le iel le plus doux.” Vanya didn’t know French, but she still blushed as I told her I knew she would taste better than the sweetest honey.

Jahmir’s chuckle broke the moment and I knew he understood what I’d said. “Couldn’t help yourself could you?”

“Mir, zhis is me showing restraint. Will you finish zhis please?”

“By the power granted to me by the state of North Carolina, under the omniscient eye of God, Allah, and the fate that have intertwined and destined this couple to be bound by eternity, I pronounce them husband and wife. Shâzâdeh Xerxes Amádée Bijan Mahdavi Cannon, you may salute yourshâhzâdah.”

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