Page 94 of Some Saviors Can Break You

That was how she was smiling at him now.

Fletcher walked over, hugged her hard, then took her hand and placed it on his arm. The music started, and Bessie and Joey walked down the aisle, Bessie happily tossing rose petals and Joey concentrating on carrying the rings.

Then it was Florence’s turn.

She walked down the aisle toward him. Cold feet wasn't even something that crossed his mind, this was what he wanted, what he’dalwayswanted. A partner, someone to share his life with, the struggles and the good times, the struggles would be made easier by having Florence by his side and the good times made better because of her.

Florence and her brother stopped in front of him, Fletcher kissed her cheek, then took the hand that was on his arm and passed it to Eli. Florence couldn’t take her eyes off him, and he found himself in the same position. He took her hand, squeezed it, and somewhat reluctantly they both tore their gazes away to look at the celebrant, who was really an old friend of his from England.

“We’re gathered here today—in the freezing cold—to join Eli Lennox and Florence Harris together in marriage. Since these two like to do things the opposite of by the books, Eli asked that I keep things short and sweet because he wants to marry his bride then whisk her away to…well, since there are children present, let’s just say enjoy their wedding night. So to that end, Eli, do you take this woman as your wife, to love with everything you have and are, in good times and bad, as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.” Eli took the ring from Joey and slid it on Florence’s finger.

“Florence, do you take this man as your husband, to love with everything you have and are, in good times and bad, as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.” Florence took the other ring from the small pillow Joey was carrying and slid it onto his finger.

“Then by the power vested in me by the state, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Eli, you can now kiss your bride.”

Not wasting any time, Eli curled an arm around Florence’s waist and drew her in so she was pressed against him, then tangled his fingers in her hair as he brought his mouth down to meet hers. This kiss felt different. He knew that it shouldn’t, nothing had changed except now they were married, but it was different. Better. It had been a bumpy road to get to this place, and a couple of times along the way he thought it might not work out the way he wanted, but here they were, husband and wife.

Everyone cheered, confetti filled the air and rained down around them like colorful snowflakes.

Because he never did things the way other people did, the wedding reception would be for everyone else, but he and Florence were out of here. He was taking her downstairs to their penthouse where he intended to spend the night making love to her over and over again. The honeymoon would have to wait a couple of weeks until she could get time off, but that just gave him more time to plan the perfect trip.

“Dinner on me at Elliot’s house,” he announced as he somehow managed to tear his lips from Florence’s.

“Thanks, man.” Elliot rolled his eyes. “You get to go home and make out with your wife, I get to entertain your friends and family.”

“And I love you for it.” He grinned and gave Elliot a slap on the back. “To make it up to you, Florence and I will babysit the kiddos for you next weekend so you and Susannah can spend some time alone together.”

“Better beallweekend to make up for this,” Elliot grumbled, but Eli could see he was holding back a smile.

“Thank you everyone for coming, for everything you did for us today, we promise we’ll throw you a party that we’re actually going to attend,” he promised. “But tonight, I'm taking my stunning bride downstairs.”

Florence laughed as he scooped her up into his arms and started to carry her toward the stairs. “Thank you so much, everything you did today means so much to me. To us,” Florence said over his shoulder.

As soon as he had her alone his lips were drawn to hers, it was near impossible to be alone anywhere with her and not kiss her.

“I can't believe we’re married,” she said, taking his face between her hands when the lift doors dinged open.

“You better believe it,” he told her as he carried her out of that lift and into the private one that would take them to the penthouse. “Because I'm your husband now, you're stuck with me forever.”

“Forever? I wonder if there’s a husband exchange program for when our current model starts to wear on our nerves,” she teased.

“You’re going to regret that later when I have you hovering on the edge and won't let you come,” he warned with a grin as his mouth found hers again.

As soon as the elevator opened, he whisked her through the penthouse to the master bedroom where he carefully laid her out on their bed. Her cheeks were rosy, her lips plump from kissing, her eyes sparkled with joy, tendrils of hair curled around herface, she was gorgeous, stunning, beautiful, the prettiest thing he had ever laid eyes on, there weren't enough words in the world to describe what she meant to him.

“I better get out of this dress,” she said, sitting up.

“Leave it on.” His hands on her shoulders kept her lying against the pillows.

“We can't make love with me wearing this, the skirt is all big and puffy with the tulle underneath.”

“I want to see it bunched around your hips when I taste you, I want to see you wearing your wedding dress and know you're my wife now.” Eli moved to the foot of the bed, lifted one of her feet, slid the strappy stiletto off, then picked up her other foot and did the same. She was wearing pantyhose and a garter, and he sucked in a breath as he pushed her dress up and saw it. “Why is this so sexy?”

She giggled. “I think tradition dictates you remove it with your teeth.”

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