I compose myself even as the tears fall down my cheeks.
"Nicholas, in the time we were apart I would dream of what it would be like to become a family, I spent a lot of time growing and searching for things but one thing I know to be true is that I'm not complete without you. Charlotte and I need you and the day dreams I used to have are nothing compared to the reality and love you have given us. I have loved you every single day from the very first time our eyes ever met and the most powerful thing besides love in this world is forgiveness. I will stand by your side, I will love and support you and cherish you and our union. A love like ours comes along once in a lifetime, we were given a second chance and I'm not letting it or you go this time around. I take you, Nicholas to be my husband, to share with you our lives together, I will be your strength when you feel weak, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, in joy and sorrow until death do we part. I give you all that I am and my love, with this ring I seal my vow to you."
As soon as I have placed his ring on him he pulls me closer.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife.” The minister announces.
I hear cheers as Nick grabs me by my hips into his body then his arms wrap around my waist, my hands against his chest as we kiss. Our first kiss as a married couple is both gentle and passionate at the same time, trying to convey the joy and love we both feel in this moment. It’s over much too soon as Charlotte worms her way between our legs separating our bodies wanting to be picked up and included in the celebration.
After both our mothers are satisfied with the amount of photos they have taken we follow our friends and family, leisurely strolling hand in hand further down the beach to the area that will host our dinner. It looks magnificent, the staff here really outdoing themselves.
There are several tiki torches lit along the edge of the water just beyond where we will be seated along with two very large bonfires brightly burning on either side of the beach surrounding us in its warmth and glow just as the sun is setting.
All of us take our seats at one long rectangle table with Nicholas and I in the middle. It's covered in small tea candles and flowers of every colour imaginable. Halfway through our dinner of delicious chicken and roasted vegetables the stars begin to come out. I look up at them twinkling down at us. Today could not have been more perfect if it had been written in some great romance novel.
Charlotte has been flitting from lap to lap and dancing around the table as the DJ provided by the resort has been playing music in the background.
We're surrounded by so much love tonight, it’s a tangible thing. Everybody is smiling or laughing like one big happy family, which is all I ever could have asked for. Charlie is currently sitting on her father's lap having some cake, I lift my hand and push some of her sweaty curls back off her forehead. She'll be spending the next week with my mother who will be staying at our new house in Sydney until we return. I've never been away from her for so long and will miss her terribly. I look up at my husband and smile. I have this need to be closer to him so I lean across to kiss him just because I can. He’s officially mine.
The music changes to a slower beat and Nick takes my hand.
"May I have this dance?"
He shifts Charlie off his lap, handing her to Melissa, helps me stand and walks across the cool sand to the wooden dance floor that has been placed on the beach underneath white and blue fairy lights hanging from the trees above. He pulls me into his arms, my own around his neck.
“I love this song.” I say as Ed Sheeran's voice comes over the speakers.
"I can't wait to get you all to myself and peel this dress off you, Mrs Moore." He tells me with a dark gleam in his eyes causing butterflies of excitement in my stomach and my thighs to tighten in response.
"Is that so?" I tease. His face becomes serious all of a sudden.
"Do you have any idea how long I've waited to say those two words to you. Mrs Moore."
Probably about as long as I've wished to hear them. However tonight of all nights I don't want him thinking about what has happened between us previously. I want only joy and new happy memories being made. There's no room for regrets tonight.
We look at each other communicating without words the love and forgiveness.
"It's in the past." I tell him before capturing his lips with mine once more continuing to sway.
My arousal is building with each minute we spend holding each other and kissing, his erection is prodding against my stomach as he holds on to me tightly. I need to feel him, I need him to claim me as his, I believe he can sense it in the urgency of my kisses because he pulls away panting.
"I think it’s time to say goodnight." He states.
Our family will be staying on the other side of the island for a couple of days before they and Charlotte fly home. Nick and I will remain here for another week, just the two us doing nothing but probably being naked which suits me just fine.
We give Charlie hugs and kisses goodnight before Nick picks me up in his arms bridal style and rushes away with big strides to our villa while I hear catcalls behind us.
As our wedding day comes to an end, here in my husband’s arms my soul feels as if it’s flying, I feel carefree, I feel adored and cherished. We have created beautiful lasting memories and more memories are just about to be made if the look in his eyes is anything to go by.
Chapter 37
Nicholas
10 Years Later
I’m seated at my desk in my office at work looking over the row of photographs that are lined up before me of my family. My collection has grown quite a bit over time making me smile each and every day.
I can’t believe it’s been ten years since Alannah and I got married, it feels as if the time has flown by. Our anniversary is coming up and I’m planning on taking her away back to that island for a week. Nothing but my wife, sun, sand and sex, my idea of heaven on earth, not forgetting the peace and quiet, I don’t think a day goes by that these kids are not bickering with each other. The kids will be staying with my parents while we’re gone. I can only hope they don’t pull any of their pranks or that their grandparents allow them to binge on too much sugar.
They’ve been happy years, sure there were times when everything wasn’t all rainbows and sunshine but there is no one I would rather have by my side through it all. I’m so proud of Alannah, between taking care of the kids and her charity work she has done wonderful things with Love Designs making it more successful than I even imagined possible.
I pick up in my hands the photo taken on our wedding day with the ocean in the background. The love and happiness is reflected back at me from the couple smiling at the camera. I spent more time inside my wife than out during our honeymoon, there was one day in particular where she had to tell me she needed a break, hell even I was beginning to feel sore but it was so worth it, just recalling those days gets me grinning and hard.
Every detail of my wedding day is burned into my memory like it was yesterday. From the moment I saw her in her dress walking towards me, I actually felt my heart swell, she was a vision and the most incredibly beautiful woman in the world, the words she spoke to me, her smell, our kiss, I was a lucky son of a bitch and I was going to make every moment and day from that second count.