Chapter 14 #2
And I meant it.
The church was stunning. Gianna had transformed it into a fairytale. White flowers were everywhere, candles lining the aisle, soft music playing from a string quartet in the corner. And so many people.
I'd thought we were keeping it small, but the pews were packed.
Moretti family members, their allies, their business partners.
My team from Castellano & Co. Friends I'd lost touch with over the years who'd somehow been tracked down and invited.
And at the front, near the altar was my uncle Vincent.
He sat in the third row, his expression carefully neutral, but I could see the tension in his shoulders.
The anger simmering beneath the surface. He knew that his time was up.
This wedding was happening. The music changed to “Adore” by Prince and everyone stood.
This was it. Maya had already walked down the aisle first, her girlfriend in a tailored suit at her side.
Then Charmaine, moving with elegant grace, her locs swaying gently.
Lisa followed, her smile radiant. Imani next, walking with confident purpose.
And finally Karla, practically floating down the aisle with joy.
Each of the four of them with a guard escorting them, and taking them to their place to stand, before moving behind them.
Now it was my turn. I'd thought about this moment—about who would walk me down the aisle.
My father was long dead. I had no brothers, no uncles I trusted.
In the end, I decided to walk alone. I didn't need someone to give me away.
I was giving myself. Choosing him. The doors at the back of the church opened, and I stepped into view.
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. But I only had eyes for Dez. He stood at the altar in a perfectly tailored black tuxedo, his hair styled but still slightly unruly in that way I loved. His eyes found mine across the distance and I watched him break.
His hand went to his mouth, eyes filled with tears, and he actually took a step toward me before his best man and brother Marco, grabbed his arm and held him back. I walked down that aisle with my heart in my throat, my eyes locked on his, and by the time I reached him we were both crying.
"Hi," I whispered.
"Hi." His voice was just as quiet. "You're so beautiful. I can't breathe."
I said softly. "I need you conscious for this part."
He choked a laugh, and took my hands in his.
“Thank you for my gift.” I whispered to him.
“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, sweetheart.”
The priest began speaking, but I barely heard him. All I could focus on was Dez and the way he was looking at me like I was the only person in the world. His thumbs traced circles on the backs of my hands as he mouthed "I love you" when he thought no one was looking.
"The couple has prepared their own vows," the priest announced. "Desmond, if you would begin."
Dez took a breath, steadying himself.
"Angelina," he began, his voice stronger now.
"Three months ago, I went to a Valentine's Ball looking for someone practical.
Someone who wouldn't ask for things I couldn't give.
What I found was you. And you were none of those things.
" He smiled. "You were complicated and challenging and you made me work for every inch of ground I gained.
You asked me to be open to love when I'd spent my whole life avoiding it.
You demanded honesty when lying would have been easier.
You saw through every wall I'd built and refused to accept anything less than the real me. "
His voice cracked slightly.
"I couldn’t make a promise to you that I couldn’t deliver. But you were patient with me. You gave me time to figure out what I was feeling. And somewhere between feeding you lunch on our first date and being here today, I fell completely, irrevocably in love with you."
Tears were streaming down my face now.
"So I'm making you new promises today that I know I can keep," Dez continued.
"I promise to choose you even when it's hard.
I promise to protect you, cherish you, and never take for granted the gift of your trust. I promise to be your partner in all things business, in life, in raising our children.
And I promise to love you, openly, honestly, without fear, for as long as we both shall live.
" He pulled out a wedding band that matched my engagement ring perfectly, and slid it onto my finger.
"Your turn," he whispered.
I took a shaky breath and pulled out the vows I'd written that night in bed, edited a hundred times since, but still essentially the same.
"Dez," I began, my voice trembling. "I'm not good at vulnerability. I spent most of my life believing that showing weakness was dangerous. That needing someone meant giving them power to hurt me. That love was a luxury I couldn't afford."
I looked up at him, into eyes that saw everything.
"And then I met you. And you showed me that surrender isn't weakness, it's trust. That needing someone isn't dangerous when they're worthy of that need. That love isn't a luxury. It's the whole point."
My voice strengthened.
"You saw me at my worst—scared and willing to escape. And instead of judging me or taking advantage, you offered me partnership. Respect. A future I was too afraid to imagine."
I pulled out his ring, a simple platinum band that had taken me weeks to choose.
"I promise to be worthy of the trust you're placing in me," I said, sliding it onto his finger.
"I promise to stand beside you, not behind you.
I promise to challenge you when you need it and support you when you don't. I promise to build our life together with honesty and courage and all the love I have to give.
And I promise to choose you, every single day, for the rest of my life. "
Dez's eyes were streaming now, and he didn't bother wiping the tears away.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife," the priest said, smiling. "You may kiss your bride."
Dez pulled me to him and kissed me like we were the only two people in the room.
The church erupted in applause. But that didn’t stop us from indulging.
I gave in to him and trusted that he wouldn’t take things too far.
I also allowed my husband to take whatever he needed from me in the moment.
Claiming me in this way would ground us both and I knew only he could lead us there to make it happen.
He claimed me slowly, letting his tongue explore my mouth as if it was the first time we’d ever kissed.
He sparked a flame, stoke it until it roared, and contained it inside me.
When we finally broke apart, both of us were breathing heavy and I could tell that he was ready to leave. We still had the reception, but there was no reason why I could steal him away for some alone time.
"Mrs. Moretti," Dez murmured.
"Mr. Moretti," I replied.
"Let's get through this reception and then I'm taking you home."
"We have to dance and cut the cake…"
"I know." His smile was wicked. "But I'm spending the entire time thinking about all the ways I'm going to make you scream my name tonight."
Heat flooded through me. "Please…" I whispered.
"Come on." He took my hand. "Let's go celebrate."
We walked back down the aisle together, husband and wife, while our friends and family cheered and snickered. I blushed, knowing that they had just witnessed my husband making a promise that was obvious that he was going to cash in on.
We passed Vincent and you could see the defeat in his features. I wasn't just Angelina Castellano anymore. I was a Moretti. And that name came with protection he couldn't touch. He was safe until the honeymoon was over, after that, he was in deep shit.
I squeezed Dez's hand and let him lead me toward our reception. I giggled like a bashful girl, but my reality was much more serious than that. I was officially married and every moment from now on was about keeping our promises to one another.
When Dez led me through the hall to change clothes, I stopped him with a single tug and he pulled me into his embrace.
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“I have so much that I want to say. So much that I’m feeling.” I admitted.
“What do you need?” He asked me with an intensity in his eyes that wrecked me.
“All I need is you.” I whispered.
He kissed me then, none of that polite stuff he’d given me upstairs. He pulled me into his erection, bruised my lips with his, and held me by the back of my neck. I swayed on my feet and he caught me effortlessly.
I tried to climb him, because I needed him that badly. He lifted me, and backed me into the wall where we groped, kissed, fondled, moaned, and set free the desire that we’d been holding back. Dez was about to enter me when we heard a throat clearing.
We turned to see Gianna standing at the end of the hall.
“You better have a good goddamn reason for interrupting us.” Dez barked.
“All the guests are waiting for you. You look like ten minutes would never be enough, so my suggestion is that you get through the necessary parts and then we can get you out of the reception sooner. Then you won’t have to worry about any interruptions at all.
” She stood there with her arms crossed.
“She’s right.” I muttered. “I don’t want to rush our first time as husband and wife.”
Dez put his forehead to mine and closed his eyes. “You have no idea how bad I fucking want you right now.”
“I do. Feel me…” I took his hand and pushed it under my dress.
His eyebrows furrowed and hit bit his lip. “Fuck, sweetheart.”
“So I understand. We can do this. Let’s stay an hour and then I’m all yours. Promise.”
“Take it back.” He looked into my eyes. “Cause you’re all mine now.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Shit… You know I don’t give a fuck about seeing those people right now.” He said very seriously.
I laughed. “I do, my love. But do we really want to miss the opportunity to tell my uncle fuck you to his face?”
“Good point.” He kissed me briefly and then let my legs down. Then he fixed his clothes and straightened mine. “Let’s change and get this shit over with.”
“Yes, sir.”
We approached Gianna and when I walked inside the room to change, she stopped Dez.
“Not so fast. If you go in there, you’ll never make it out. She can get dressed in there and you can get dressed out here.” She followed me inside and grabbed his garment bag, then handed it to him. She turned my way and asked, “do you need help with anything?”
“Probably a makeup refresh.” I admitted.
“I’ll have Violet come down.” She closed the door and I heard her poking fun at Dez.
I smiled big to myself, completely smitten with my husband.
We are finally married… Now, it’s time to get on to the baby making part.