“Hush. I want you to show me what we are, luna mia.” I picked her up and planted her on the desk. “Show me what awaits me when you’re Mrs. Icinda.”
Her dress fell open, exposing the matching bra and panties I’d watched her pull on that morning. “You already know what awaits,” she argued as I cupped her breast.
“I need reminding.”
She let out a moan as I pressed into her so she would know how desperately I wanted her. Within seconds, we both forgot the unlocked door, and as she fell apart for me, I didn’t care who walked in because there was no way I was stopping. In fact, I didn’t stop until she’d come undone a second time with me following not far behind.
Three days before our wedding, I awoke to find Tori’s side of the bed empty. Unusual since I was typically up before her. Yawning, I rose, pulling a pair of boxers and sweats on. Searching the house, I scratched my head, wondering where she and Reid were. I grabbed some orange juice from the fridge and after pouring myself a glass, I walked over to the windows, seeing neither of them on the deck or the beach. We’d moved Tori out of her hotel suite, setting up home in the house instead but keeping my penthouse suite for nights we didn’t want to commute.
The front door opened, and Reid came running in. He came to a halt, looking mischievous as Tori closed the door behind them.
“You’re up,” she said, coming to me and kissing my cheek.
“What are you two up to?” I asked, squeezing her waist and giving Reid a wink.
“We have a surprise,” she said, and Reid looked like he was ready to explode. “Come sit down.”
I looked between them and let her lead me to the couch. She seemed nervous, and Reid seemed way too excited.
“You two would not make good poker players.”
She ran over to her purse and took out a manila envelope. Handing it to Reid, she put her hand on his back. “You give it to him.”
“Give me what?” My curiosity was on overdrive.
Reid handed me the envelope, and I questioned them both with my eyes.
“I had a meeting with our attorney this morning,” said Tori. “He pulled some strings when I gave him a copy of our marriage certificate.” My brow rose as my curiosity hit its peak. We’d gone to the courthouse to get our marriage license a few days before, making us officially married. A day we’d celebrated in bed, after taking the day off and dropping Reid off at the childcare center. “Just open it.”
I unhooked the metal tabs and reached in, pulling out the papers. The envelope fell from my hands as I stared at the birth certificate listing Victoria Abigail Icinda and William Gabriel Icinda as Reid’s parents. Pressure built in my eyes.
“There’s more,” Reid said excitedly.
My fingers slipped as I pulled the second document from behind it. A court order recognizing a name change. Changing Reid’s last name to mine.
“It’s official,” Tori said, and I heard the tears in her voice.
I couldn’t talk. All I could do was pull Reid into my arms and hold on to him. He was officially mine now, and nothing had felt better than that moment except the moment Tori and I had signed the marriage certificate.
I held him tight, tears stinging my eyes. When I looked up at Tori, I saw tears streaming down her cheeks. We had made it. After everything we’d suffered, every mistake, every agonizing step. We had gotten to our happy ending, and I would never let us lose it again.
Chapter 42
Tori
My hands were trembling, my bouquet moving uncontrollably in my hand.
“Calm breaths,” my father told me, putting his hand over my wrist.
“I don’t know why I’m so nervous,” I said, blinking back the building tears, fearful of looking like a mess of mascara streaks by the time I got to Gabe.
“Because the two of you have been through a lot, and this moment once seemed impossible.”
I thought about his words and all Gabe and I had weathered to get to this step. The breeze picked my veil up, scattering cherry blossoms over it. Two of them danced in front of me before the wind pulled them apart. I watched them float away, meeting up again when they landed. Like me and Gabe, our lives intersecting then separating only to come crashing back together.
My father reached up and adjusted my veil. “You look like a princess,” he said, giving my cheek a kiss before he pulled the veil down.
“Thanks, Dad.”
