“You know that’s not what I’m bitching about.” X rolls his eyes but makes his way to the door. “I am happy you’re getting married.”
“I don’t understand why you’re letting Berkley leave,” Vaughn mumbles as he holds the door open for us.
“Enough!” I shout and then their eyes are on me. “X, Lula is staying, get used to it. Vaughn, the second Berkley is finished with her final exam her ass is coming back on the island with my wife.” I glare at my brothers in warning. “Although this might be the second time I marry my bride, this is a big damn deal for her. So please, get it together and do as I ask. Do I make myself clear?”
“Crystal,” X says as he passes me and walks toward the beach.
“I want to go with her,” Vaughn says, and I let out a long sigh.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. We can’t risk them getting you by going through her.” He looks away and I grab him by the shoulder. “I can’t lose you, baby brother.”
Finally I see the glint in his eyes that lets me know for a second playful Vaughn is in there somewhere. “Go enjoy your day. I know you don’t want to keep your bride waiting.”
“Just don’t let X ruin the mood.” We walk out together and he lets out a humorless laugh.
“You shouldn’t have invited him.”
“Then he’d have to glare and brood on his own, and he wouldn’t deprive us of that,” I joke. We make our way down to the sandy area set up for the wedding.
Xavier is standing at the front and Vaughn takes his place beside him as I step under the arch made of flowers and wait for my wife. It feels like forever since I’ve seen her and not just a few hours since we parted ways. But when I hear the music play and I see her at the end of the aisle my heart begins to beat like the first time I laid eyes on her.
Berkley is holding one hand and in the other is a bouquet of flowers. They smile at one another before she turns to me and suddenly everyone else fades away. We invited everyone on the island to be with us today and help us celebrate and they all came.
When she’s halfway down the aisle I can’t stand the distance anymore and I rush to meet her and pull her into my arms. There are cheers and laughter from the crowd as I place my lips on hers and carry her to the altar. When I look into her eyes they sparkle with unshed tears and she smiles from ear to ear.
“Sorry about that,” I say softly, kissing her once again.
“No you’re not,” she laughs. I hold her against me and nod for the pastor to begin the ceremony.
He says words of love, but I don’t hear it. Instead I feel it in my soul. Much like the first ceremony we had, everything but my bride is drowned out and I’m reminded once again why I fell in love with her. My soulmate flew into my life when I found her on the elevator that day, and I will do everything in my power for the rest of my life to hang on to her.
Time passes in a blur as I carry my wife to our reception and we’re greeted with congratulations and hugs. I don’t let her go as we eat dinner and cut the cake just before I pull her onto the dance floor. We didn't get to do any of this last time and as much as I want to lock us both away in our bedroom, I want her to have every moment her heart dreams of.
I notice as I hold her close and we sway softly back and forth that my brothers are on the edge of the dance floor with their heads together and looking miserable. I’m not so blind that I don’t see what’s going on with the two of them and the women we’ve brought to the island, but I know them well enough to know that this will all work out. X keeps his eyes on Lula while Vaughn watches Berkley like a hawk.
“What are you thinking about?” Collins asks me as she smooths out the place between my eyebrows. “What’s got you so concerned?”
“I just want to make sure nothing touches us.” I kiss the top of her head and she smiles at me.
“Nothing is going to hurt us. Not with you by my side and your brothers in the corner over there.” She shakes her head. “I know that you’ll always take care of me and our family.”
“I will.” I mean the words just as much as I meant my wedding vows to her. I would lay down my life before I let anything harm the people I love. “You’re mine again.” I lean down and kiss her softly. Her hands slide down my back.
“Can we sneak out of here for a little bit?” she whispers against me, and before the words have left her lips I have her scooped up in my arms.
“We don’t have to sneak anywhere, love.” She giggles and I kiss her again as the DJ changes the music to something fun and upbeat. People swarm the dance floor and suddenly we’re not the focus as I carry her out of the room.
There’s a door at the end of the long dark hall and I check the lock to see it’s open. It’s an old storage closet. I close the door and then press her against it as my mouth moves down her neck.
“Will they know we’re gone?” Her breath is speeding up as she pulls at my shirt and I’m shoving the white silk of her dress up her thighs.
“Do you really care if they do?” I yank open my belt and free my cock.
“Oh God!”
