Page 76 of Mating of Convenience
I already knew that I was going to love and cherish my mate forever.
I just wanted to get to the part where I could kiss him.
Nathan’s eyes went to my lips too and I wondered if he was thinking the same thing. Probably not. He was way more romantic than me. And besides, we had to say our vows before we could move on to the good part--the kissing and the partying.
Nathan said his first. “Raphael,” he started all formally, “I don’t usually admit to this, but you know I’ve been dreaming of my perfect wedding from the time I was a small boy. It was a childish obsession, which I realize now that I’m standing here with you. You’ve made me see that the perfect wedding isn’t about the location or the weather or the arrangements on the table, it’s about who’s standing at the altar with me. Even if you’d never given me this ceremony at all, I would have happily stayed married to you for the rest of my life. You’re my angel and I don’t ever want to be apart from you again, no matter what happens. I know that we can face any storm as long as we’re together, whether it’s braving the Paris Metro or raising a family of our own. I’ll be by your side, always. That is what I promise you.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle when he brought up Paris again, and there might have been something in my eye that I needed to blink away too, but I blamed that on pregnancy hormones. I couldn’t worry too much about it anyway, because now it was on me to say something romantic and I knew Nathan was never going to let me live it down if I botched this.
“Turtle,” I started a little less formally, “I want you to know that you’re the only alpha I’ve ever truly loved. It took me a while to see that, probably too long, if I’m being honest, but you know I’ll always do my best to make up for the time we’ve lost. Not a lot of people would have given me a second chance after the way I left you, but you’re not like other people. Not like other alphas. That was always what I liked best about you. You’re special and you’re making me the luckiest omega in this town for sharing that with me. I promise to you that I’ll always love you, and that I’ll remember all our anniversaries or set my phone to remind me, at least.” I gave him a smile to let him know that part was a joke. He grinned back at me. Of course he got it. That was part of why I loved him. “Seriously, Nate,” I continued. “You’ll have me for as long as you want me. I’m yours.”
I never thought I’d promise that to anyone, but with Nathan, it was easy. Maybe that was because I wasn’t really making a promise. I was simply stating a fact. I wasn’t the touchy-feely scream-your-love-to-the-high-heavens kinda guy. But a life without Nathan?
Unimaginable.
When I was done, the officiator spoke again and then,finallyit was time for us to put our rings back on and I got to kiss my mate to the cheers of the crowd.
Totallythe best part.
* * *
Balancingone plate of the chocolaty goodness that was our wedding cake in each of my hands, I approached the head of the table where Nathan and I were seated. I hadn’t eaten anything forhours, too busy talking to everyone who came up to us to express their congratulations and well wishes for our future.
“Oooh, cake.” Nathan nearly salivated at the sight as I put one plate down in front of him.
“Yes, we’re taking a break and eating now,” I announced. “Aaron and Jake are over there stopping everyone who tries to talk to us for the next twenty minutes.”
“Thank God,” Nathan said, already digging into the cake with his fork.
“Indeed.” I plopped down in my seat and exhaled.
“It’s a good thing you two are finally getting some rest,” said Conner, who was sitting on my other side.
“Seriously,” I agreed. “I was about to cut someone.”
“That’s the pregnancy hormones talking,” Nathan commented. “Or at least, I hope it is.”
“Yeah, it would suck if you’d married a serial killer, huh?” I elbowed his side.
“I wouldn’t be super surprised if having a baby turned you into one,” Conner quipped. “Lots of parents of young babies sink into temporary insanity.”
“We’ll be okay if it’s only temporary,” Nathan said. “We have lots of friends and family to help us hide the bodies.”
“It’s sweet that you would hide the bodies of my victims.” I gave my silly alpha a peck on the cheek. “Don’t ever change, Nate.”
“Not planning to.”
“You two are cute,” Conner said. “I’m glad that you got back together and that things worked out so well.”
“Thanks, we’re glad too,” I replied. “Speaking of getting back together, have you said hello to Jake yet?” He was at the party too. We’d felt we had to invite him after he’d sort of saved my life and everything.
Also it was kind of fun to see Conner flustered.
Why have friends if you couldn’t tease them every now and then?
“I greeted him,” Conner said, and then he swiftly raised his wine glass to his lips, probably so he wouldn’t have to talk anymore. I shook my head at him.
“You never told me what really happened between the two of you that made you break up.”
