Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25414 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 102(@250wpm)___ 85(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25414 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 102(@250wpm)___ 85(@300wpm)
My father scowled. “He wouldn’t–”
“I’m joking,” I was quick to say. “I know he wouldn’t. Not this time. I’m not worried about that. Actually, I don’t know why I’m nervous. We’re already legally married and we’re just saying our vows again. But I think… yeah, I’m just a little nervous and a lot excited.”
“That’s expected from a bride,” he acknowledged before shaking his head, his lips curling with a rueful smile. “Killian drove everyone crazy today. He hasn’t been good company at all.”
“He hasn’t left my side since we came back from the hospital,” I said defensively.
It was true, Killian had been hovering since I woke up in the hospital. The surgery might have been a success and while the bullet left a physical scar, it was nothing compared to Killian’s trauma. He barely left my side since then and some nights, I’d wake up to him covered in cold sweats and lost in a nightmare where I couldn’t reach him.
“The man needs to let you breathe. His overprotectiveness will eventually suffocate you.”
I curled my fingers around the crook of his elbow. “I don’t mind it.”
“You say that now.” My father scoffed.
“He lost me once and almost lost me again,” I explained. “I think I understand why he won’t let me out of his sight for too lo–”
I hesitated when I noticed his half-smile. “Why are you smiling like that?”
“I like seeing you defending him, Jules,” he said slowly, with that same affectionate look in his eyes. “He loves you and I know you love him too. Hang on to that when your marriage gets hard.”
My throat constricted with heavy emotions and I gave my father a slow nod.
“Are you ready?” he asked in that fatherly tone he always used with me.
“Ready,” I whispered as he opened the door and we took our first step outside.
The sun was bright, in the afternoon sky and there was no music except for my own shaky breath. I curled my bare toes into the grass, feeling the slight dampness after the rain yesterday.
Oh God.
There were flowers everywhere.
That was the first thing I noticed and then my eyes caught him.
Killian.
He was standing at the end of the flowered aisle, under the domed gazebo that Elias had built for Arabella. He turned around and our eyes met.
Time slowed.
My heart drummed in my chest, so loudly I thought everyone could hear it.
A second passed.
I limped towards my husband. He was wearing a black suit, similar to what he always wore, and it appeared like he had been running his fingers through his hair too many times from the messy look of it.
Killian seemed completed bewildered at the sight of me walking down the aisle to him; completely and utterly dumbstruck. I watched as his expression changed from grumpy to awe and then adoration. The last time I had walked down the aisle, Killian hadn’t even bothered to turn around and this time…
He was right; if we wanted to re-write our story – this was where we needed to begin. Our vows.
The closer I got to him, the harder my heart raced. My stomach fluttered and dipped when we were finally within an arm distance.
As if he was too impatient to wait, Killian walked down the step and came to me. “I got her,” he said to my father, before curling his arm around my waist.
“You do?” my father questioned; his voice more serious than I had ever heard.
Killian’s arm tightened around me. “I got her then. I got her now and until my last breath.”
“You sound very arrogant, son.”
“I’m confident enough in the love I have for your daughter.” His voice deepened in a way that had a shiver zipped down my spine. “I made a mistake in the past but I’m not letting her go this time.”
“That’s what I wanted to hear.” My father finally released me and I leaned into Killian, the scent of him making me all warm and giddy.
He pressed his lips against my temple and my heart swooned. “Ranunculi, huh,” Killian remarked.
I looked down at my bouquet and nodded. “Our flowers. I specifically asked for white and pink Ranunculi.”
We walked up the steps and stood under the decorated gazebo, before the old and half-bald priest. He smiled kindly at us, taking in our embrace. “We are gathered here today–”
Killian and I turned to face each other when the priest started speaking. I could hear him but couldn’t make sense of his words over the pounding of my heart. My hands were clammy and a slight tingle ran down my spine.
My husband, without wasting another second, lifted my veil and then before I could breathe, before I could blink, his lips were on mine. Kissing me hard. Kissing me like he had been starving for me. Kissing me like he was a drowning man and needed this kiss to live, as if my lips could save him from an impending calamity. Killian swallowed my shocked gasp and kissed me harder, stealing my breath from my lungs and pouring his own down my throat.