I can’t breathe. “Alexei.”
He kisses me, taking us both under. Then he releases me. “I sketched your face. Over and over, so many times. Hated destroying those drawings, but I couldn’t let anybody know what you mean to me. You are meant to be mine. Darkness and light. Wildness and control. It’s both of us.”
I blink. Could it be love? Turn to love? I’m afraid I’m almost there. Maybe already there. “Stalker.” I try not to cry. He’s so sweet.
“Let’s get married, Peaflower. You have to jump some time.” He watches me, waiting. “I’ll give you everything. Especially me.”
It’s time to jump. Either I’ll land safe and sound, or I’ll break something. Either way, I’m going to leap. “Okay,” I whisper.
He carries me back to the altar, keeping me against his chest. “We’re ready.”
The preacher clears his throat. “Do you Alexei Sokolov take Rosalie Mooncrest to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love and cherish for the rest of your days?”
“I do,” Alexei says, his eyes dark, his voice somber.
I’m going to actually faint, even held safely in his arms. He tightens his grip on me as if to give me some sort of comfort ... or as a warning. I’m not sure.
“Do you Rosalie Mooncrest take Alexei Sokolov as your husband to love, honor, and obey for the rest of your years?”
I jolt at the last word. Alexei’s mouth curves in a smile. I flash him a look. “I do.”
“Very well. Do you have rings?” the preacher asks.
“No,” I say.
“I have one.” Carefully balancing me against his chest, Alexei reaches into his pocket and pulls out a stunning amethyst square with diamonds all around the stone. More diamonds decorate the twisting gold on the wide band.
I gasp. The piece is the most stunning ring I’ve ever seen. He slips it easily on my finger. I look at him, startled.
He winks. “With this ring I thee wed.”
I stare down at all of the sparkle. “I don’t have a ring for you.”
“We have some on sale,” Betty says happily.
Alexei grins, and it’s the first time I’ve really seen him smile. “We’ll have one made later. One with amethysts.” He’s really in this for the long haul. He’s not kidding about forever.
“Anything else?” the preacher asks.
I look at Alexei and I want to say something, but I have no idea what.
His dark eyes sparkle. “I promise you’ll want for nothing for the rest of your days. In addition, Rosalie Mooncrest, I’ll keep you safe. Nobody will hurt you. I promise.”
Somehow, I believe him. It’s not love and flowers and rocking chairs. “I’ll do my best,” I say, not knowing what else to give him.
“I give you all of me,” he says. “I don’t know if I’m capable of love, but if I am, you can have it.”
I blink. Something’s swirling through me. “I’m very capable of love,” I say quietly, going on instinct and not intellect. I hope I know what I’m doing. “I promise to love you with everything I am.”
The words sound natural, and I let them loose. I’ve known him for a short time, but in that time, he’s become everything. As necessary as life. I don’t know if something like this, something so hot and bright, will burn out, or if it’ll continue to flame through the rest of my life. But if I’m going to make these vows, I’m going to give them my best.
“I now pronounce you man and wife,” the preacher says.
Alexei lifts my chin with two knuckles and then kisses me, soft and tender in a way he hasn’t been before. I murmur something, I don’t know what, and the kiss deepens as if he’s promising every vow imaginable. Then he releases me and I blink, startled.
“Yay,” Betty yells, throwing fake flower petals up in the air above us.
I blink as one lands on my eye and Alexei gently brushes it away. He kisses me once again and then starts walking down the aisle with Garik following us. Looking over his shoulder, I turn and throw the fake bouquet at Garik as hard as I can. He catches it and looks down, his eyes widening.
