Her eyes go wide with panic. “I-I-I don't have anything written down.” She looks at House, then back at me. “I didn't know you were… I thought we were just doing the stan?—"
“It's okay,” I say softly, squeezing her hands. “Traditional vows are fine.”
“You make me feel safe,” she gushes. “You make me feel seen, that I matter and I’m enough for you exactly as I am.” She swallows hard. “I was scared, too, you know. Scared of feeling this much and scared of trusting someone this deeply. Terrified that if I let myself fall, I'd lose myself completely.”
“You never asked me to be anything other than who I am,” she continues. “You never made me feel small or less than. You just... loved me. Even when I was a mess and when everything was falling apart. You're my home, Deacon… My person… My choice. Forever. I choose you,” she says, her voice stronger now. “Every single day. No matter what. No matter how hard it gets or how scared we are or how much we both screw up.” She laughs through her tears. “And we will screw up. We already have, but that's okay because our love is worth fighting for.”
I stare into her eyes and see her promise is true, same as mine.
“I love you, Deacon Stone,” she whispers. “Always and forever.”
I squeeze her hands so hard I'm afraid I might hurt her, but she just squeezes back, smiling through her tears.
“Well, shit,” House says, his own voice a little rough. “That was beautiful.”
A few brothers chuckle, and I hear someone sniffle.
House clears his throat. “Rings?”
Chaos hands me Hope's ring, a simple band with small diamonds that catch the light and pairs with her engagement ring. My hands shake as I slide it onto her finger.
“With this ring, I thee wed,” House says, and I repeat him.
Amy passes my ring to Hope. She takes my hand, sliding the thick silver band onto my finger.
“With this ring, I thee wed,” House instructs, and Hope repeats.
Hope's eyes meet mine, and the rest of the world shrinks around us.
House’s voice booms through the clubhouse. “By the power vested in me by the State of Nevada and the Saints Outlaws MC, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” He pauses to look directly at me with a smirk. “Frost, don't fuck this up.”
“Kiss her already, dumbass!” Chaos yells from beside me.
I don't need to be told twice. I pull Hope into me, sliding one hand to the small of her back and cupping her face with the other. Her hands grip my cut to tug me closer.
I press my lips to hers. It's not gentle nor sweet. It's searing, desperate, and full of every emotion I've held back, the fear, the love, the relief, and the promise of forever.
Dipping her back in my arms, her body arches against mine, and she gasps into my mouth. Her fingers tangle in my hair, and I deepen the kiss, claiming her, showing her exactly how much she means to me.
The clubhouse erupts in cheers, whoops, and whistles.
“That's my boy!” Chaos shouts.
“Save it for the honeymoon!” someone else yells, laughing.
I don't stop kissing her, though, because she's mine now. My wife… My forever.
I'll never let her go.
CHAPTER 17
HOPE
“Ladies and gentlemen,” House announces, his voice booming through the room, “I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Deacon 'Frost' Stone!”
The place absolutely goes wild. Frost takes my hand, threading his fingers through mine, and we walk back down the aisle together as husband and wife. Brothers rise to their feet as they clap and cheer. Mom sobs into a tissue with Dad’s arm around her, grinning like he just won the lottery. Amy whistles loudly, and Paige wipes her eyes.
This morning, I thought everything was falling apart. Now? Now I'm married to the love of my life, surrounded by family, in a clubhouse that's been transformed into something magical.
