Bella laughed. “I’m sorry, Mom and dad. It’s just that I haven’t seen Dean in forever.”
“Yeah, neither have we,” her mother responded.
Bella moved to hug her parents. Then she made her rounds throughout the room, giving Victoria a head nod when it was her turn.
Victor walked over. “Hey, sis. We don’t have that much time. What do you say, we get you dressed and to the Oval so we can get you married?”
Truth be told, Bella was okay with the idea as soon as she saw the dress. A big Creed wedding was Dr. Creed’s idea. Bella would have been content with city hall. “Okay. I’m in.”
A light cheer filled the room. When it died down, Senator Creed raised a glass. “To Victor. Congratulations, Mr. President.”
Everyone raised a glass. “Congratulations, Mr. President,” all repeated.
“Thank you.” Victor sipped from his glass and raised it in the air. “To Lucas and Bella. Congratulations. May you find bliss even in the hard times.”
“Here! Here!”
Bella stood on her toes and grinned up at Lucas. “Let’s get married in the Oval Office.”
Lucas pinched her chin and kissed her lips. “Let’s do it.”
NIYAH
“I, Belladonna Devereaux, take you, Lucas Creed, to be my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do us part.”
Bella completed her vows and smiled at Lucas. Her face was beat like drum belonging Travis barker, and her long black hair crafted into a braided updo. She had never looked so beautiful, so happy. She was beaming like a ray of light. Standing by her handsome groom in front of a large window, facing the south lawn.
Niyah looked up at the presidential seal and wondered if Victor would change it to suit his taste. She couldn’t believe she was in the Oval Office. Had Xander not squeezed her hand, she would’ve pinched herself to make sure it wasn’t a dream.
“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride,” the chief justice okayed.
Bella and Lucas kissed, eliciting applause from their friends and family. Staffers entered the room carrying trays of champagne.
“All right, everyone!” Taylor called. “Somebody make a toast because we have a ball to get to.”
“I got this,” Lincoln announced. “First, I want to congratulate my big brother on landing the worst job in the United States of America.”
Victor chuckled and nodded in agreement.
“Second, I’d like to congratulate my other big brother and my new sister on making the grownup decision to live together in holy matrimony. Salute!”
“Salute!” their friends and family repeated in unison.
Xander leaned and kissed Niyah’s forehead. “Pretty nice, huh?”
Niyah sighed. “It’s wonderful, Xander.”
“Stick with me, kid. I’ll take you places you ain’t ever been,” he joked.
Little did he know, he had already taken her places she had never been. Because, shockingly, as old as she was, she’d experienced her very first orgasm from penetration with him. Niyah laughed out loud at the fact that she was thinking about orgasms in the White House.
“What are you laughing at, lady?”
Niyah shook the thought out of her head. “Nothing.”
Xander turned her to face him. His expression was troubled. “Is there something wrong?”
Niyah reached up and ran her thumb across his cheek. “Everything is right.”
