He smiled his sexy smile. “You would’ve freaked out. Besides, we’re getting married, so why waste time asking.”
I shook my head. “Arrogant and bossy.”
He tipped my face up. “You love it.”
“I do,” I whispered. “And I love you.” How much I loved him still terrified me.
“So marry me in front of our friends. Then, you’ll officially be mine, and I’ll officially be yours.”
Oh, I like the sound of that. I glanced at the others. They were all smiling.
“Okay, Bastian Thorne. I’ll marry you.”
That got me another smile. He squeezed my hands, then walked back down the aisle with his ground-eating stride.
I took the bouquet from Cole, then threaded my arm through his. The big man patted my hand.
Music started. I jolted and realized that I hadn’t even noticed the string quartet.
Nash and Georgie walked down the aisle ahead of me, smiling in the Las Vegas sunshine.
Then Cole walked me toward the man who’d claimed me as his.
A man I realized my heart had claimed years ago.
For a while, I’d considered him my enemy. Now, he was my everything. He was my home, my heart, my safe place, my love.
Bastian took my hand as Cole handed me over. The look on his face had me mesmerized.
“Everyone, friends and family of Bastian and Lark, we are here to watch these two join their lives together in love,” the celebrant said.
We traded vows. Bastian’s voice was strong and clear. Mine was a little shaky.
He slid a wedding band onto my finger. It was dotted with diamonds and seed pearls that matched my bracelet. Hefollowed it with a huge pearl ring. The pearl was flanked by glittering diamonds.
Then he held out a wide, silver band. I slid it onto his finger.
My claim and promise to him.
“I now pronounce you man and wife.”
He pulled me close and dramatically tipped me backward over his arm. I laughed, my pulse racing. I was smiling when he took my mouth with his.
When he let me up, everyone was clapping and cheering.
“We have reception party planned in Styx,” Georgie said.
“Good,” Rafe said. “I need a drink.”
Bastian wrapped his arm around me. “Forgive me my bossiness now?”
“Maybe.”
He ran his fingers over my cheekbone. “You’re so beautiful, Lark Thorne.”
My heart did a giddy little spin.Lark Thorne.
“Now, you’re mine,” he continued. “Now, you’ll never leave me. And you don’t need to worry about if I’m going to ask you to marry me.”
