Page 70 of Wings
"Thank you," she murmured. "For everything. For seeing me. For creating this perfect day. For letting me give back."
"You give me everything just by existing."
We lay there as the last light faded, skin cooling but neither wanting to move. Stars began appearing overhead, first one then dozens, like nature's reminder that beauty existed even in darkness.
"Tomorrow's a big day," I said eventually, pressing a kiss to her temple. "Got something important to discuss."
She shifted to look at me, curiosity replacing drowsy satisfaction. "What kind of important?"
"The kind where we make this official. Contracts and negotiations and all the boring parts that make the fun parts even better."
"A contract?" Her eyes widened. "Like a real . . .?"
"As real as you want it to be," I confirmed. "Terms, limits, expectations. Everything spelled out so we both know where we stand. What we're building."
She was quiet for a long moment, processing. Then: "Yes."
"Yes?"
"Yes to contracts. Yes to official. Yes to building something." She sealed each yes with a kiss. "Yes to you, Daddy. Always yes to you."
Chapter 13
Kiara
Theburgundydressclungto my curves. I hadn’t worn this in a long time, not since my graduation party. Luckily, it still fit. Tonight would be a different kind of graduation, but the dress would once again mark a time of change in me.
I smoothed my hands down the sides again, watching my reflection ripple in the full-length mirror Gabe had installed in the nursery just last week. My hands wouldn't stop shaking.
I liked the dress—it was sophisticated but playful, exactly the tone that Gabe suggested that the evening would have. The fabric hugged my body before flaring at the waist, the hem hitting just above my knees in a way that made me feel both elegant and exposed. The sweetheart neckline framed my butterfly collar perfectly, the silver catching the soft light from the bedside lamp.
I reached for the lip gloss with trembling fingers, nearly dropping it twice before managing to swipe it across my lips.The pearl earrings Mandy had pressed into my hands at the clubhouse earlier sat in their velvet box on the dresser. "For luck," she'd said with a knowing smile. "Every girl needs something borrowed for important ceremonies."
Ceremony.
That's what this was, wasn't it?
Not a marriage, but there was something heavy about it. Something permanent. It wasn’t just signing papers, not just formalizing rules we'd already been following. This was our version of standing before witnesses and declaring our commitment. The weight of it pressed against my chest, making each breath feel significant.
I fastened the earrings with careful movements, feeling that my life was about to change forever. The pearls added a touch of classic elegance that seemed to bridge the gap between the vanilla world and the one Gabe and I were creating together.
"Ready, baby girl?"
I spun toward the doorway, my breath catching in my throat. Gabe stood there in a charcoal suit that fit him like it had been painted on. The jacket emphasized his broad shoulders, the crisp white shirt made his skin glow, and the thin black tie was perfectly knotted. I'd seen him in tactical gear, in worn jeans and leather. But this—this was devastating.
"You look . . ." I couldn't finish the sentence. He looked like everything I'd never known I wanted.
"So do you." He stepped into the nursery, his presence immediately filling the space. "That dress is perfect on you. Exactly how I pictured it."
His hands found my waist, steadying me when I swayed toward him. The familiar scent of his cologne settled me. I breathed in deep.
"I've never seen you in a suit before," I managed, my hands coming up to rest against his chest. The fabric was soft under mypalms, expensive in a way that spoke of how seriously he took tonight.
"Figured our contract ceremony deserved the full treatment." His thumbs rubbed small circles against my sides, the motion soothing and grounding. "How are you feeling?"
"Nervous," I admitted immediately. "Excited. A little scared. It feels so official."
"It is official." He tilted my chin up, forcing me to meet his eyes. "This contract isn't just paper, Kiara. It's my promise to you, witnessed and binding. It's us saying this is real, this is permanent, this is worth documenting and protecting."
