“From this day forward, you no longer live for yourselves but for each other,” she says. “Your joy is not yours alone but each other’s. Your pain is no longer yours but each other’s. Every choice you make must be for the two of you, because you are now one.”
Ethan stands and helps me to my feet. “May I kiss you?”
“Please,” I whisper.
His eyes hold mine until his face blurs, and his lips brush against mine with sweet tenderness. But when he tries to draw back, I growl and tug him back with a fist in his hair. His restraint shatters, and he plunges his tongue into my open mouth. I nip and suckle his lips, and kiss him until I have no air left in my lungs.
Ethan lifts his head. His pupils are blown wide and his chest heaves, but he smiles at me with such undiluted joy that I beam up at him. I have never been so happy in my long, hard life. With a laugh, I jump into his arms, and he spins me around and around.
My life is perfect. I regret nothing. I fear nothing.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Sunny
Hugs are had. Backs are clapped. Laughter is shared.
Ethan, Ethan, Ethan.
Iamhappy to share this moment with my friends, but I have no room in my mind, or in my heart, for anything other than Ethan. I think he feels the same way, because he hasn’t let go of my hand, lacing our fingers tightly together, since we spoke our vows.
Death looms outside, but we have this moment—our moment. I glance at him from beneath my lashes.
My husband.
Laughter bubbles in my chest, and tears blur my vision and sting my nose. I am a flaming mess, but I’m okay with that.
Today is my wedding day.
But Minju coughs quietly, her hands clasped in front of her. Immediate silence falls across the audience hall, as though we were all waiting for this moment—were dreading it.
“It’s so soon.” Bora’s eyes are full of sympathy as she looks between Ethan and me. “I wish you two could have had more time.”
“Yes.” The Queen of Sky sighs. “But we have delayed too long already.”
Everyone slowly shuffles toward the dais, but I can’t get my feet to move.
Just one more second.
Ethan catches me around my waist and pulls me into his arms. “The Amheuk is totally killing the vibe.”
“You are a mega dingus.” I muffle my laugh against his shoulder, and he kisses the crown of my head.
“‘You are a mega dingus,Yeobo,’” he corrects, his warm breath ruffling my hair.
“Dude,” I choke, heat climbing up my cheeks. The term of endearment is used only between married couples. It’s so intimate. “I am not calling you that.”
“Why not,Yeobo?” He tips my chin up with the crook of his finger. Sweet tenderness and steely possessiveness war for dominance in his eyes. “Am I not your husband?”
“You are my husband.” I trap his face between my hands and kiss him soundly on the lips. “And I will consider calling you ... that, but we should reserve it for when we’re alone.”
“Why is that?” He brushes the tip of his nose down the side of my cheek, and I shiver.
“Because I want to avoid climbing you like a tree in front of unsuspecting victims,” I whisper.
Ethan groans against the side of my neck. “You can have me anytime, anywhere, any way you want.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” I reluctantly draw away from him and tug him toward the dais. Because another second of these sweet, sultry whispers would make me take him right now.
