Page 43 of Dangerous Encore
8
Violet
The ceremony blurs into pictures.Into family hugs and jokes. Ethan even hugs his dad. He even whispers something about how he forgives the guy for never beingaround.
Our reception is a fairy tale. Twinkling purple lights. Lush rose centerpieces. Dancing with my dad, to his favorite song. Then in Ethan's armstomine.
And the cake and champagne and, okay, more cake. The night blurs together into one big mix of sugar andlaugher.
Then it's over. And Ethan and I are climbing intothelimo.
The driver shutsthedoor.
It'sjustus.
Alone.
As husbandandwife.
He plants on the bench seat and pulls me onto his lap. My dress swooshes under me, the skirt spilling overhislegs.
"Fuck, Vi." He presses his forehead to mine. He cups the back of my neck with his hand. "We're reallymarried."
"You're really my husband." I breathe in the joy in hisblueeyes.
"You're reallymywife."
"Fuck." I slide my hands over his shoulders. His tie. My palm presses flat against his button up shirt. "Say itagain."
"You're my wife." He reaches up to undo my updo, one bobby pin at a time. "I'm yourhusband."
My hair spills over my cheeks. Over the back of my head. Fuck, it feels good undoing the tightstyle.
It feels better staring intoEthan'seyes.
He pulls out the last pin and runs his fingers through my hair. He looks up at me, his blue eyes filled with love and trust. "You look like anangel."
"Fromhell?"
"Of course." His smile spreads wider. He cups my cheek with his palm. "You really are my angel. Youknowthat?"
I shake my head. "You're mine." I press my forehead to his and suck a deep breath through my nose. "You put me backtogether."
"You put you back together. I justhelped."
"I couldn't have done itwithoutyou."
"Fuck, Vi…" He looks up at me. "I love you sofuckingmuch."
"I love you too." My eyelids flutter closed as I lean in to kiss him. He tastes like cake and champagne. He tastes likeEthan.
Likehome.
I can't wait to rip that suitoffhim.
But I'm not sure I have a choice. There are far too many layers of tulle between me and him. I can't feel anything under mydress.
I kiss himharder.
