Chapter 13
Saylor
Mal moved quick.
The next two days were all about preparations and so much sex I barely had time to think, let alone doubt our plans.
He flew a jeweler in so we could pick rings. Despite his pressure for me to pick a gargantuan rock, I fell in love with a two-carat cushion cut diamond with a twisted rose gold band. When he saw the way my face lit up as I slid the ring onto my finger, Mal relented.
But he demanded that I pick out his ring. So I went with a matching rose gold men’s band with a center inlay of brushed black zirconium. It looked masculine and whimsical at the same time. Perfect for Mal.
The way he grinned down at the ring made my heart skip a beat. He was just so happy. Giddy even.
It was contagious.
When he offered to get some dress options boated over for me, I asked for fabric instead. I’d never made a dress in such a short turn around before, but I’d grown up watching Project Runway and was na?ve enough to believe I could do it.
It was close, but I’d forgone sleep last night to make it happen.
Which was how I found myself walking down a flower strewn beach path with a bouquet in my hands and a short, flirty white sundress flowing around me. At the end of the beach, Mal stood under an arch made from branches with topical flowers twisted around it.
It felt like a dream. Or an out of body experience.
Was I really going to marry this man?
I hadn’t even told anyone back home this was happening.
I didn’t want anyone to talk me out of it—because they would’ve.
In contrast to my heartbeat thundering in my ears, Mal looked so calm and just awestruck. Like he couldn’t believe his luck that I was going to marry him.
Oh god. We were really doing this.
Before my doubts had a chance to multiply, I reached Mal, and he took my hands in his and grinned down at me despite the tears sparkling in his eyes.
A sense of peace enveloped me.
I could do anything with Mal looking at me like that.
“We’re gathered here to celebrate the wedding of Malcolm Holt and Saylor Tate.” Samu stood in front of us inside the arch with a mischievous grin. “And for some reason, Mal asked me to officiate this wonderful day for them.”
The few people standing nearby chuckled at his cute expression. But I couldn’t take my eyes off of Mal.
I jumped when Samu clapped three times. It felt like it was right next to my ear.
“The kava ceremony marks the official start of wedding celebrations in Fiji. During this ritual, we have both families gather in a circle as the village chief prepares kava in a tanoa bowl. Since it’s just the two of you here today, Mal has asked me to prepare the kava.
” Samu turned and picked up a coconut bowl floating in murky water.
“The ceremony strengthens bonds between families while seeking ancestral blessings for the marriage.” He took a drink from the bowl then turned to refill it and passed the bowl to Mal.
Mal let go of my hands to take the bowl and took a deep drink before passing the bowl to me.
No one mentioned this part of the ceremony to me. I swapped my bouquet for the bowl and held it in both hands. After taking a deep breath, I took a drink.
It did not taste good.
Pretty much had the flavor I expected of murky water. But a weird sensation afterward had my tongue tingling and numbing a little. I passed the bowl back to Mal who gave me my bouquet and passed the bowl back to Samu.
Samu set the bowl back into the murky water then clapped once. Again in my ear.
I jumped and then scowled teasingly at Mal’s grinning face.
“It’s time for the salusalu exchange. The salusalu symbolizes honor, love, and celebration.” Samu turned to Mal. “I understand Mal has written his own vows?”
Mal nodded. Samu passed him a flower garland made from hibiscus and grass.
Mal turned back to me and laid the flowers over my head like a necklace.
“Saylor, I promise to be there when you need me, to fill your days with sunshine, to comfort and encourage you, to help you reach your goals, to be your best friend, and to love you all my life with all my heart.”
The love and intensity in his eyes made tears well in mine. It was everything. Everything I didn’t know I wanted. Everything I needed.
My tears streamed unchecked down my cheeks, and I laughed, so full of joy and love for this man.
He brushed my tears away then reached into his pocket and pulled out my ring. “With this ring, I give you my heart, my love, and my commitment. For now and for all our days.”
He slid the ring onto my finger, and it was getting hard to see for all the tears blurring my vision.
“Saylor?” Samu asked from a distance.
I shook my head and turned to the arch where Samu stood, holding out a salusalu for me to give Mal. I accepted it with a teary smile, and he held my bouquet for me. I went up on my toes to drape the garland around Mal’s shoulders. He bent down for me slightly and gave me a teary smile in return.
“Oh, the ring!” I turned to Samu and gently untangled Mal’s ring from the ribbon holding my bouquet together.
As I faced Mal with his ring in my hand, I had a hard time remembering the words I’d wanted to say.
So many thoughts jumbled in my brain. “Mal, I still can’t believe we’re doing this.
Only you could make such an impetuous, spontaneous decision feel like the only thing that makes sense.
You have become my safe harbor in an insane time, and I can’t wait to see what crazy adventure you convince me to go on next.
But I’ll jump into it with you because I know I’ll be safe as long as I have you at my side. ”
His eyes were misty as he looked at me, and I caught my breath at the naked love and devotion I could see in his gaze. He made me want to believe in everything.
I took his hand in mine and slid his ring onto his finger. “With this ring, I give you my heart. I choose you—today and always. I love you so much.”
He laughed huskily. “You realize that’s the first time you said it?”
“Really?” I shook my head slightly. “It can’t be.”
He blinked at me like he was waiting for my realization.
“Dammit,” I whispered. “That’s—That’s crazy. I’m so sorry, Mal. But I do. I love you today and always.”
Mal’s eyes shone with emotion as he bent toward me to kiss me.
Samu cleared his throat. “Uh, we’re not there yet. Give me one more minute.”
Mal turned his head to glare at Samu while I tried and failed to swallow my laugh.
Samu grinned back at Mal. “Rerevaka na Kalou ka Doka na Tui. Fear God and honor the King. You may kiss your bride.”
“About damn time,” Mal mumbled just before his lips covered mine and muffled my laughter.
His kiss went on and on. My heart thundered in my ears, and I couldn’t hear the ocean or the small crowd cheering for us.
I was too busy being loved by Mal. I don’t know what I’d been so worried about. The promises he’d just made me were everything. And this was the best perk of our marriage by far. Mal seriously knew what he was doing when it came to kissing…and other things too.
Finally Mal broke our kiss and wrapped an arm around my shoulders.
“May I present Mister and Missus Malcolm Holt! Vinaka!” Samu shouted. “We have a lovo feast for the guests to enjoy back at the dining bure. Bula!”
It was at that point I realized that we actually had a crowd. It looked like everyone on the island had turned up. I don’t know how I’d missed them on my walk down the beach. So many smiling faces greeted us as we walked down the beach, including Eva and Justin.
“I can’t believe you two got married!” Eva squealed. “It’s so romantic.”
“Congrats.” Justin smiled at us with his arm wrapped around his wife. They were both casual beach chic with his khaki shorts and polo and her bright, flowery sundress.
“Thank you,” I replied, but Mal didn’t do more than mutter something no one could hear as he tugged me down the beach.
“Someone’s eager.” Eva laughed in a loud aside to her husband.
“Yup, gotta fuck my bride,” Mal returned as he fast walked toward the treehouse. “It’s not legal until I’ve come inside her. Fijian law and all that.”
“Mal!” I shouted before I slapped his shoulder. “Oh my god. I cannot believe you said that. I’m never showing my face at the dining hall. I’m so embarrassed.”
“Come on, it’s not like we’re ever going to see them again after this trip. Who gives a shit?”
“But this trip isn’t over!” I wailed as we hustled down the path. “We’ll still have to see them for the next week or whatever.”
“Nah, they’re leaving tomorrow. Most couples only stay a week.”
“Oh. Um, so does this mean we’ll miss the feast or whatever? Because it smells amazing.”
Mal stopped at the bottom of the stairs and bent down to pick me up in a bridal carry.
“Mal!”
“Well, you were taking too long.” He puffed as he climbed the stairs with me in his arms.
“Because my legs are shorter than yours, and now you’re going to screw up your back. Slow down.”
“No, the faster we get to the treehouse, the quicker I get to see that gorgeous dress on the floor.”
“Oh my god! You’re insane.”
He was only puffing slightly when he reached the door. “And it’s tradition to carry the bride over the threshold.”
He gave me this look so full of love and tenderness.
And I just melted. That look. I pressed a kiss against his chin since I couldn’t reach his lips. “Now giddy up! We have a marriage to consummate!”
His laughter echoed around us as he carried me into the bedroom, which had pretty much become our bedroom the last few days.
“And for the record, I bribed Samu into leaving a picnic basket on our front step with all the fixings from the feast. I’m not gonna let you go hungry.”
“Mal, you thought of everything.”
“Just doing the job of taking care of my baby girl.”
“For all of our days,” I whispered.
Emotion clouded his eyes. “Nothing else I’d rather do.”
Then he set me down on the bed and made quick work of my dress. And since I’d only worn panties underneath, the emotion in his eyes quickly turned to desire.