Page 80 of Jake and Conner
"You were not!" Jake protested, but he gave me another kiss and I didn't argue, because I was tired and because I was happy. I had the perfect mate and the most beautiful daughter and if she had even a little bit of both me and Jake, she was going to do great.Wewere going to do great. We were going to be a happy family.
And what more could I ever have asked for?
Epilogue
Jake
9 months later
When I watched Conner walk down the aisle toward me, his father by his side, I had to catch my breath to believe this was real. We were actually getting married.
We'd been planning this event for months now, and yet, there was a part of me that thought it was too good to be true.
Conner smiled at me and my heart beat so hard it was a miracle it didn't explode out of my chest. He looked stunning in his charcoal wedding suit. He'd told me he didn't want to wear white, studying me as if preparing to hear protests, but I said he could wear whatever he wanted. I'd marry him in Mrs. Rosewood’s underwear if it came to that.
But I did appreciate the visual he presented, all dressed up.
Made me want toundress him, to be honest.
But not until after the party.
While Conner exchanged quick words with his father, I glanced at our guests. They were seated in neat rows in the festively decorated town hall we had rented for the event with some help from Nathan's dad. Our parents and sisters took up the front rows and I saw Connie waving at me from her spot in my dad's arms where she was happily babbling away and throwing her teether toy to the ground for Grandpa to pick up.
Dad had told me once that he hoped my children would all be just like me, so really, he'd brought this on himself.
I looked away from my family when--finally--Conner stepped up to me, taking my hands and demanding all my attention. Which I gave him only too gladly.
The officiator said something, but I barely heard him, my attention focused entirely on the omega who was going to be my husband in a few minutes.
I'd waited for this moment for far too long.
"Your vows, please," the officiator said after his pre-amble, and I started, holding my mate's hands tightly in my own as I spoke."Conner, you know I'm not the most eloquent or poetic alpha, but everything I say to you know comes from my heart. I know we've had our rough spots, as any couple does, but from the moment I met you, you've taken up all the space in my head and my heart. I was fifteen when I decided that I wanted to marry you someday, and now here we are and I couldn't be happier. You and our daughter make me the luckiest alpha alive. You're my true love and my best friend and I will always love you, not just for now or for a year or for a decade,always," I said the last word with emphasis, gazing into Conner's brilliant green eyes.
Was it just my imagination or were they shimmering?
In any case, it took Conner a moment before he could say his own vows. He squeezed my hands, and then he began. "I'm not often lost for words, but right now I am. You do that to me all the time because I can't speak when you take my breath away. It's really not fair, you know. I have all these clever things to say and then you go and turn me speechless." He smiled at me and I gave a little laugh. "I don't think I need to give you a speech, though," he continued, eyes softening. "I love you more than words could say, anyway, and I promise that I'll continue doing so, now and forever. You are my greatest treasure and I'm never letting you go again."
We didn't wait for anyone's say-so to kiss at that point.
Some of our guests laughed, some cheered, and then our best men--Aaron and Raphael, respectively--reminded us that we weren't done with the ceremony yet, so we parted again.
The officiator turned to me."Jake Phillip Stephens, do you take Conner Michael Hayes to be your lawfully wedded spouse?"
"I do," I said, somewhat impatiently. Honestly, was there any question what my response would be?
The officiator turned to Conner. "Conner Michael Hayes, do you take Jake Phillip Stephens to be your lawfully wedded spouse?"
"I do," Conner said without missing a beat.
"Exchange the rings."
At this order, we got our rings from Aaron and Raphael who had been safe-keeping them for us and gently put them on each other's fingers. They were plain rings, but we liked it that way. It wasn't the rings that mattered but what they symbolized to us. "Fits perfectly," I muttered under my breath, looking at the piece of jewelry on my hand. Conner grinned.
And then the officiator said what we'd been waiting for. "By the authority vested in me by the State of Maine I now pronounce you husband and husband. You may kiss... again."
We didn't have to be asked twice.
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