As promised, the next morning we woke up in Hawaii. The flight was easy to arrange on my private jet, and we barely had to pack anything at all because we aren’t planning to stay very long. Sun spills through the wide window of our beach villa.
Katerina snuggles against me in our massive bed on the top floor, overlooking a perfectly crystal blue ocean. “The waves are the same color as your eyes today,” I smile as I pull her onto my chest and kiss her.
“Are we really getting married on the beach at sunset?” she asks, smiling, her eyes glimmering with excitement.
“We are. It’s all arranged. The dress you chose is arriving this morning, the villa staff are busy setting up our archway. All we have to do is show up and make promises to each other.”
“Barefoot in the sunshine,” she kisses me, brushing her fingers through my hair.
“Barefoot, in the sunshine.” I agree.
We spend the morning having a lazy breakfast in a cozy beach restaurant nearby. We explore the little town, and Katerina gets her nails painted baby blue to match the color theme we chose for this afternoon.
We swim in the ocean and laugh freely, savoring each moment of our time together, away from everything and everyone.
After the swim, we end up back in bed, exploring each other all over again.
A knock at the villa door forces me to wiggle out of bed, reluctantly leaving her, naked and looking as beautiful as ever. I throw on a robe, hurry downstairs, and open the door to findthe team of girls I arranged to help Katerina get ready for our wedding.
“I guess that’s my cue to get out of the way,” I smile, welcoming them in.
“Kat, it’s time to get ready, my princess,” I call upstairs to her. She comes down in a white silk robe.
“Is all of this for me?” she asks.
“It is, enjoy it. I will meet you on the beach later.” I pull her into my arms and steal one more kiss before I disappear to the other side of the villa so that I can get ready, too.
My outfit is simple: white pants and a white shirt, a blue flower in my front pocket to match the beautiful blue-green of her eyes. In my pocket, the blue diamond ring I had made for her months ago, when I knew I wanted her, but also knew I had no right to ask.
When I’m dressed, I head out onto the beach to see how the setup is coming along. Just because it’s a last-minute wedding doesn’t mean I don’t want it to be perfect for her.
I’ve ordered so many flowers for the archway where we will stand to take our vows, and to create a pathway leading to it. She will be walking barefoot in sand and petals as she makes her way towards me. Fairy lights are already glimmering everywhere, and things are looking exactly as I imagined. I take my place beneath the archway to wait for her. My stomach is filled with butterflies and excitement.
Katerina doesn’t take long to arrive. As soon as she steps onto the beach, my eyes are on her.
My heart clenches, overwhelmed with happiness.
She looks incredible, beyond beautiful as she walks slowly towards me in a soft, lace, white dress. The fabric is lightand flows around her like water. It has thin straps and a low-cut neckline. It’s feminine and beautiful, and she looks like a goddess with her wavy blonde hair loose around her shoulders and the small bouquet of blue flowers in her hands.
Her smile is radiant. Her cheeks are rose pink and glowing.
She steps beneath the archway next to me, and I hold out my hand to take hers.
She sets the flowers aside and giggles with excitement. Wiggling her perfect little toes in the soft sand and scrunching her nose, she whispers, “You look so damn sexy.”
“And you look like my princess, come to steal my heart away,” I grin.
The officiator begins his tale of love and commitment, and Katerina and I can’t stop smiling at each other. We exchange promises. We share our vows, and we become husband and wife beneath the orange and purple sky of Hawaii as the sun sets into the ocean. The moment is perfect.
“You may kiss your bride,” the officiate says.
I wrap my arm around her waist and dip her backwards, pressing my lips against hers. I kiss her with all my love, all my heart.
“My wife,” I whisper against her lips.
“My husband,” she whispers back.
Chapter 20 - Katerina
