Page 41 of While You're There
Rhett nodded his acceptance, but that wasn’t good enough for Paul. In two strides, they were toe-to-toe.One second later, his arms were around Rhett. He didn’t say anything, but he didn’t have to. A collective sigh came from the crowd when the two men embraced.
After a few more seconds, Paul pulled away, retreating quickly to find his seat.
Tori stepped up to fill in the space her dad had just vacated. Rhett instantly reached for her hand.
This was it. There was only this moment. There was only her.
She finally lifted her chin and locked eyes with him, the widest smile taking over her whole face as moisture welled in the corners of both eyes.
Everything they had ever been to each other and everything they were promising to be blended in that moment. Every kiss. Every heartbreak. Every secret. Every fear. It had been a long, hard road to get here. And he’d do it all again, a dozen times over, just to stand next to her today.
Rhett reached out his hands and wrapped them gently around her lace-covered arms, pulling her close. He bowed his head in reverence, not bothering to hold in the groan that escaped him.
He lowered his head even further to brush his nose against hers. “Damn, you’re pretty.”
“Everhett.” She sighed, leaning into him and going soft in his arms.
“We made it, beautiful. We’re finally here.”
“We made it,” she repeated, a single tear tracking down her cheek. He leaned in on instinct and brought his lips to the side of her face, kissing away the moisture and silently promising to be the one to kiss away all her tears from now on. He placed another kiss along her jaw, then tilted her head slightly so he could place another on her lips.
“I’ve got you,” he vowed, tightening his grip and pulling her into a hug, careful not to catch the lace of the top of her dress or disrupt the perfectly pinned curls piled on top of her head.
A distinct throat-clearing caught his attention. It was then that Rhett remembered where they were and what they were supposed to be doing right now.
“Uh, you guys know you’re not actually married yet, right?” Jake asked. “You’ve got to like, say the words and do the ring thing before you just stand there and force us all to watch you make out.”
Rhett just shook his head, not bothering to turn around or tell him off. Nothing could get to himtoday. They were here. They were finally fucking here. And there was nowhere else he’d rather be.
Tori laughed softly, raising her hand to wipe away one more stray tear. “Really, Jake?”
“Thereshe is,” Jake stated proudly. “See? This is why I’m the best man. He’s got you all teary-eyed and weepy before the ceremony even starts. You were gonna be pissed if you were crying in all your wedding pictures, baby.I’vegot you.”
“I see those wheels spinning, Mr. Wheeler.”
He smiled down at the woman in his arms: his girl, the love of his life, and now, his wife.Fuck. They were married. Tori was his wife.
“It’s like you know me or something,” he teased, bowing his head to place a soft kiss on her lips. They’d only been dancing together for two songs. One thing Rhett hadn’t expected was how often he and Tori would be pulled away from each other during their own wedding reception. He wrapped her tighter into him, not willing to let her out of his arms anymore tonight.
“I’d like to think I can read my husband.”
He groaned in appreciation. “Say it again,” he urged.
“Say what?”
“You know what.”
“Oh, you like it when I say husband?”
“Hell yes, beautiful. I waited years just for you to call me your goddamn boyfriend again. Hearing you call me your husband? It’s an indescribable feeling. I know we just took our vows, but can you promise to never stop calling me that?”
She leaned in closer and whispered her reply. “Anything for you, husband.”
Rhett lowered his head again to kiss her before trailing his mouth along her neck to find the sweet spot right below her ear. She sighed into him, gently scraping her nails against the short hairs above the collar of his suit. Every part of her leaned into him, like her body was subconsciously seeking as much contact as possible. He would never tire of feeling her go soft. After years of being held at arm’s length, he would never tire of finally getting to hold her.
“I’ve got one more surprise for you tonight,” he murmured into her ear.
Tori grinned up at him, shaking her head at the same time. “You’re unbelievable, you know that? Don’t you think planning our entire wedding and honeymoon and giving me a house is enough for one day, husband?”
