21. The Grooms Day
The Grooms Day
Blake
I woke up this morning ready to find Amity, steal her, and rush off to Vegas. My brothers and Josh did not let me out of their sight in fear of what I might do. We made it to the ranch at noon to start getting ready, and I was forbidden by Lana to walk the property, to even take a peek at the setup. She wanted me to be surprised and just relax. Probably like Amity, I have had a photographer following me around since we arrived here. Lots of candids of the guys and I taking shots and filling up our bourbon glasses. Anything to shake the nerves. Nash told me it was normal. Maybe the feeling is, but I am just ready to have her in my arms as my wife. The photo shoots earlier were fun and hilarious.
The golden girls told me I will have a heart attack once I see Amity. I believe them too. She is gorgeous naked, dressed down, glammed up, or in a damn trash bag. I’ve already tried to talk my pied piper down from getting hard during the ceremony in front of all the guests. Then when I was able to feel her near and hold her hand, I damn nearly lost my mind. To have her so close but not be able to caress her skin, kiss her soft luscious lips or capture her smile. Clint was threatening me through the whole shoot not to move a muscle or he would take me down. I decided not to anger him or destroy my suit, let alone ruin Amity’s and I first look at the altar.
Walking out to the area where the ceremony is taking place, I am enamored with the site. A mixture of white flowers and wildflowers align the aisle with silver carpet. There are dim lights hanging in the air above the seats, floating from one tree to the next. The altar is four steps high, made from beautiful dark wood that blends in with the scenery. White flowers flow over the archway with touches of blues to match the wedding party. Lana really made my visions come to fruition, and they are more extraordinary than I had dreamed.
Cocktail hour started thirty minutes ago to keep the guests entertained prior to the ceremony. I make my rounds to greet guests with my brothers and Hamlet, with his matching bowtie, and tell my mother to stop crying for the hundredth time today or she will have a migraine before the ceremony even begins. She just swats at me and tells me to leave her alone. That she is allowed to cry all she wants because her baby boy is getting married. Father and I just roll our eyes and laugh. Before I know it, it’s game time. Nash comes up and slaps me on the shoulder, “You ready for this?”
“Yes,” is all I can muster out as we walk down the aisle to take our places. Hamlet is sitting between Nash and I, as we gave him the title of best man earlier this morning. Once all the guests are seated and Pastor Bryan steps up on to the altar after shaking our hands, the music begins to play.
“Whew,” I let out a breath, stretching my arms out, cracking my neck in anticipation. The three golden girls walk down the aisle with their bouquets in hand, looking lovely. I already warned Nash to save the sexy eyes and smolder for Willa post ceremony. It was hard enough keeping their hands off each other during pictures. I hear Nevada’s snort followed by a low whine. My girl is almost here. I look down at my hands, popping my fingers and taking in another deep breath. Shit, this is happening. The music changes, and I look up to find the breathtakingly dark angel I’ve known Amity to be dressed in white, looking as pure as Heaven itself. Stan helps her slide off Nevada and helps her straighten her dress, then hands her bridal bouquet of whites and blues to match the archway, where a few vines hang down almost to the ground.
Look at me. Come on, look at me, baby .
Amity finally locks eyes on me, causing my heart to halt. She keeps them locked on me as she strolls down the aisle, inching closer. I’m rocking on my heels by the time the two of them reach the altar, taking deep breaths. Pastor Bryan steps up. “Who gives Amity Jean Mercer away today in front of God, family and friends?”
“Me and her mama do,” Stan states, leaning in, kissing Amity on her cheek, then shaking my hand before sitting down. Trembling, I take her hand in mine, helping her up the steps. Placing my hand on her bare lower back, I lean in to whisper in her ear, “You look ravishing, princess.”
“Not too bad yourself, cowboy,” she squeaks out with a wink. Pastor has us turn to each other and hold hands through his speech, and then the time comes for our vows. Amity is up first, and she looks like she could faint.
With a clearing of her throat, she begins, turning to the crowd. “Y’all, it’s about to get deep up here, so bear with me.” Making the guests laugh, and in Amity fashion, she has them in her palm. Turning back to me, her voice quivers as she continues. “Blake. My handsome Blake. There are a thousand things I need to say and a million I shouldn't say in front of people. Let’s just see where we end up.” She lets out a salacious laugh that has my body shaking with laughter. “I won’t stand here in front of our loved ones and proclaim I choose you. I can’t. Only because by some divine intervention, you were molded, sculpted, and pieced together for me. You once told me you believed the treacherous path I stumbled along led me to you. I believe that any path I walked down would have eventually led me to you. No other than you, has a heart like mine. That embodies my soul like you. That appreciates my sense of humor like you do. See. There is no choosing you, because there is no other option for me. Never has been. I’m looking forward to a lifetime of adventures with you, big or small. From timeouts underneath waterfalls, nights under the stars to lazy movie days, and Taco Tuesdays. I know every day will be an adventure with you by my side. So, I will stand here today, declare my love for you, my respect for you, my trust in you. I am yours. You have it all as I vow patience, honesty, and over-zealous adoring love for always and infinity.”
My hand has been flexing at my side the whole time she spoke, now it’s reached for her, pulling her to me. “I. fucking. Love. you,” I say breathlessly, then smash my mouth on hers. My hands are planted on the sides of her face, and her arms are wrapped around my neck. The guests cheer.
Before I can go in for another kiss, we are being tugged away from each other, thanks to Lana and Clint. Pastor Bryan grins. “Blake, are you able to recite your vows now?”
Clearing my throat and opening my handwritten vows, I nod. “I am, sir.” I take a second to stare into Amity’s glacier blue eyes, to know I have her full attention. “Babe, Tinker Bell, peanut, honey badger, short stuff, and princess are just a few of the endearing nicknames I have tried on you during our time together. Granted you turned down all of those, though Princess stuck. Not because you elegantly hold yourself up to another standard or fragile, but because you are the total opposite. I could say you fight like a warrior, love like a hurricane, look like an angel, sing like a siren, ride like a cowboy. The truth is you are my warrior. Your love is wild. Full of calmness and raging winds, filled with torrential rain and sunshine. You are my dark angel that grounds me when needed, sheaths me with your wings in love and passion. Your voice draws me to you in a crowded room. You are the Queen of cowboys with your talent, crass mouth, and no rules for life. In all of this, you're mine.
“Now I can give you the greatest title I know, my wife . I vow to be the man you not only need but crave. I vow to be patient, honest and respect you. I vow to love you for always and infinity. Ending my vows with a quote from my favorite childhood author, A.A. Milne, ‘If you live to be a hundred, I hope to live a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you.’”
Crocodile tears fall from her glaciers, but before I can move in, Clint's hand is on my shoulder, and Lana is stepping on Amity's dress train to hold her in place. Everyone applauds. I can hear sniffles and laughs amongst the show we must be putting on for them. “Now time for the rings,” Pastor states. Hamlet pads over to me, and I pull the rings out of the ribbon that was tied to a small pillow on his back. I hand her mine, then take her hand. We manage to get through the I Do’s quickly, rings placed on our fingers, then I am on her like Flash. Dipping her in my arms, sliding my tongue past her wet lips to dance with hers. Her hands are gripping my hair by the time I pull her back up with me and releasing her. With a chuckle, Pastor Bryan shouts, “I now introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Holdings.”
I throw her over my shoulder and hightail it down the aisle to get my wife alone for a few minutes. I hear Lana make the announcement, “Hors d’oeurvres and cocktails will be served on the west side of the barn as the bridal party does photos and last-minute touches are complete in the eatery.”
‘Where are we going?” Amity shouts from being upside down.
“Just over here behind the giant tree.” Once there, I let her slide down my body, pushing her back into the tree. “I can’t wait to get you out of this dress later. Fair warning, it may be ripped off you.” My lips are determined to kiss every inch of her glowing face.
“You can’t rip my wedding dress. I love it,” she breathlessly says.
“I’ll buy a new one,” I groan, sucking her lower lip into my mouth.
“Blake and Amity Holdings, we need you at the altar now.”
“Who the hell gave Lana a megaphone?”
“Good question,” Amity retorts.
I move in for more making out, then, “Do not make us come search for you,” stops me in my tracks.
“Fuck, now Clint. I guess we better show our faces.”
She lets out her beautiful laugh. “Come on, husband, let's get this over with.” Then she’s dragging me back toward the altar.