Page 92 of Waiting Game

“I do,” I smiled up Ren.

The thin golden band fit perfectly nestled up against the engagement ring he had got me. It was also a gold band, but with a dark emerald gem in the middle, the same colour as his eyes. It was a deep and velvety green - our favourite colour.

“And do you, Dean Gregory, take Laura Francis, to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

The side of Ren’s mouth twitched into a smile as the man said the names of our aliases. The names felt so foreign to us, and it was still strange to hear them out loud.

“Absolutely, I do,” Ren smirked as I slipped a golden band that matched mine onto his finger.

Of course I was happy to marry Dean Gregory, but I also couldn’t wait for the future, when I could eventually marry Lorenzo Bianchi.

“I’m very happy to say,” the celebrant closed his book and smiled down at us, “that I pronounce you man and wife. Please, sir. You may kiss your beautiful bride.”

Ren wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me against him, kissing me with a smile still on his lips. I threw my hands around his neck and he picked me up, spinning me around on the tiny platform as the two witnesses clapped.

The ceremony probably only took ten minutes from the time we entered the room until Ren carried me back down the steps of the City Hall.

“You can put me down now,” I laughed as he planted another kiss on my cheek while he carried me down the street.

“Oh no, Mrs. Gregory,” he shook his head and feigned a serious expression, “Dean would never do that.”

“Oh wouldn’t he?” I rolled my eyes, “and why not?”

“I’m supposed to carry you through the threshold of our house,” he said, “and Dean is nothing if not a traditional man.”

“Yes okay,Dean,” I rolled my eyes, “but I can walk myselftothe house.”

He only closed his eyes and shook his head, signalling that he wasn’t listening.

“You’re not carrying me the whole way home,” I beat against his chest.

“Stop struggling,” he laughed, “people will start to think that I’ve kidnapped you.”

I looked around and we were getting some strange looks from passersby already. One older lady in particular frowned at Ren as I continued to struggle against his hold.

“Broke her ankle, this one. Clumsy and stubborn isn’t a good combination for a young lady,” he told her, flashing a cheeky smile towards the woman.

“Stop it,” I laughed as he continued making up stupid stories about my fake injury to anyone who looked at us sideways.

“Fine,” he smiled down at me, standing at the front door of our home. He unlocked it and kicked the door open wide.

I waited for him to step inside but he only stared down at me.

“What?” I shook my head at him.

“Nothing,” he sighed happily, “I just can’t believe this day has finally come.”

I reached up and cupped his cheek, and he closed his eyes and nuzzled against my hand before he finally stepped inside. He went straight for our small bedroom and kissed me softly again as he went to our bedside.

“I love you, Mrs. Bianchi,” he said against my cheek.

“That’s Mrs.Gregoryto you,” I smirked.

He rolled his eyes, “that idiot Dean guy gets to have all the fun.”

“Hey, that’s my husband you’re talking about.”

“Yeah?” he laughed once,“well tell him that I’m about to fuck his wife.”

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