“We’re outside,” he mumbled against my mouth.
“I don’t care.”
And I didn’t. I just wanted him.
“Well, I do,” he said. “It’s fucking cold out here.”
He grabbed me and pulled me to the backseat of the car. I felt like a teenager again. I giggled as he slid inside the back seat after me.
We grabbed at each other’s clothes. Our kisses were feverish because it had been months since we’d been together and I couldn’t wait to feel him inside me.
His mouth traced the curve of my shoulder, reverent and rough. “You’re mine,” he murmured against my collarbone. “You’ve always been mine and our forever starts now.”
Epilogue
Sergio
I shifted from foot to foot, waiting for Seraphina. We’d waited a whole damn year for this, and today, she becomes Mrs. Puglisi.
About fucking time.
She wanted something intimate with just our family. That was fine by me, even if Lorenzo threw a fit about it. He wasn’t a traditionalist about much, but weddings? He thought we all needed the big, flashy kind were all the other families were in attendance. He said it was just a part of the life. But he just didn’t want to deal with the other families bitching about not being inviting. I didn’t give a fuck about any it. I didn’t want or need a hundred people here because of tradition.
Fuck that.
I would’ve eloped. Hell, I would’ve married her at the courthouse if it meant calling her my wife. But she wanted this. And I could never say no to her.
With Finley standing next to me as my best man, I was just ready to get this over with.
“You nervous?” Finley asked with a huge ass smirk on his face. “You think she knows how much of an ass you are and changed her mind?”
He’d been talking shit to me since she said yes. I knew he was happy for me, but he also knew this was an enormous step in my life. I was settling down. He wouldn’t let me do it in peace even if it killed him.
I rolled my eyes. “No, I’m not nervous. It’s Seraphina. And she already knows I’m an ass.”
He snorted.
We both turned our attentions back to the patio doors. We decided to get married in the backyard of the Puglisi estate. Since no one but family would be here, there was no point in doing something at church or outrageous. However, she wanted tons of white flowers so whatever my girl wanted she got it.
The backyard was transformed into something out of a dream. Every surface was covered in nothing but white flowers. White roses spilled from the fence line. Hydrangeas were clustered in lush mounds around the chairs, their petals full and fluffy like clouds. Baby’s breath floated in tall glass vases, delicate and ethereal, swaying in the breeze.
The aisle was nothing but white petals, thick as snowfall, that led to an arch wrapped in peonies and gardenias. Above, strings of white lights hung like stars. And beneath them our family gathered, waiting for us to say our vows.
The violinist played, and the notes curled through the air. I straightened my suit and blew out a breath, trying to steady the beat of my heart. This was it. The day I’d waited for since I was fifteen years old. Seraphina Blaine was going to be my wife.
The patio door opened, and Phoenix stepped out first, her pale blue dress catching the light. She still hadn’t forgiven me, and I didn’t believe she ever would, but I was cool with it. We were cordial. And as long as she knew her sister was safe, that was enough for me.
When she reached the front, she gave me a small smile and took her place on the other side of the priest. Then Seraphina appeared. And when she stepped into view, it was like the world stopped.
Her dress was simple, white, and perfect. The soft fabric moved like water, hugging her waist and trailed behind her. Her hair was swept up into an elegant bun, and a few strands were loosearound her face. Her eyes locked onto mine and it was like nothing else existed.
She was escorted by Gianni, and he gave me a crooked grin, the kind that saidyou’re lucky as hell,and I couldn’t argue with that. She could have said fuck you when I asked her to give me another chance, and to be my wife, but she didn’t. She gave me the chance to prove to her that I could be the man she deserved and needed. I woke up every day grateful that she had.
Her walk down the aisle was so slow, but I took her in. Each step, I knew, was a step toward our future. This was what we both always wanted. We found our way back to each other.
She reached me, her hand sliding into mine, and the world went quiet.
“She’s a gift from God, little brother,” Gianni said. “Treat her and this marriage with the respect it deserves.”
