Epilogue
Jade
One Year Later
I stand in front of a mirror in a sea of lace and tulle, my heart pounding in my chest wildly as I consider what I’m about to do. I’ve survived worse than this, but the idea of everyone staring at me while I walk down the aisle in this gorgeous designer dress is just about to send me over the edge.
Tawny is fussing with the hem of the dress, her fingers tugging and adjusting while she mutters under her breath about wrinkles that aren’t even visible.
“This dress is a masterpiece,” she says for the hundredth time. “And you, my dear, are a vision.”
I can’t help but laugh nervously, fidgeting with the delicate pearl buttons running down the back. “I feel like I’m about to burst into flames.”
“You’re just nervous,” Tawny replies, her voice soothing. “Which is ridiculous, by the way, because you’ve already married the man. This is just a party.”
She’s right, of course. Declan and I got married six months ago, in a quiet little ceremony with just Tawny, Ron, Patrick, and my parents in attendance. It was everything I wanted at the time. Intimate, personal, and without the pressure of a big, showy wedding. I was also adamant that I didn’t want to have a big wedding while I was roughly the size of a beached whale. Even so, I didn’t want to wait to marry him until the baby came. So, we decided to elope.
Declan insisted we do this, too, though. For my humongous family who haven’t seen me in three years. For our friends, old and new. For everyone who’s supported us through our relationship, and all the people in town who didn’t know why the hardware store had to close down for a month for repairs.
And, as much as I hate to admit it, he was right. This day isn’t just for us. It’s for all the people who stood by us, who supported us, who brought us food after baby Philip was born and have helped us navigate this new life.
From the other room, a tiny, familiar cry pierces the air. My heart immediately leaps, and without a second thought, I hike up the skirts of my dress and make a beeline for the sound.
“He’s fine, Jade!” Tawny calls after me, exasperated but laughing. “I’ll bring him to you if you want, but for the love of God, don’t wrinkle the dress!”
I push open the door to the little side room, my breath catching as I see my precious baby boy squirming in his bassinet. He’s so tiny, barely four months old, with the softest dark hair and bright green eyes that are unmistakably Declan’s. I scoop him up, holding him close as his cries quiet into soft little hiccups.
“There, there, sweetheart,” I murmur, rocking him gently. “What’s got you all worked up, huh? Did you just want some attention?”
His tiny hand grabs at the fabric of my dress, his fingers clutching the delicate lace like it’s the most interesting thing in the world. I smile down at him, my heart so full it feels like it might burst. This little boy, this perfect little person, is everything I never knew I wanted. And to think, just a year ago, I was certain my life would never look like this. That I would never get to be happy, to love someone so much and receive that love in return.
Tawny appears in the doorway, hands on her hips, and shakes her head. “You’re impossible,” she says, but there’s a smile tugging at her lips. “Give him here before you get spit-up on your dress.”
Reluctantly, I hand him over, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead.
“Be good for Auntie Tawny, okay?” I whisper, and he gurgles in response.
As Tawny takes him back into the other room, I glance down at myself, smoothing my hands over the fabric of my gown. It feels surreal, standing here, preparing to walk down the aisle in front of so many people. A part of me still feels like that scared, fragile girl who ran from her past and hid in the mountains. But I’m not that girl anymore. I’m stronger now. I’ve built a life. A family. And today, I get to celebrate that.
The music swells as I stand at the back of the church, my hand trembling in my father’s steady grip. He’s smiling down at me with so much awe and admiration it makes my chest ache. Even though we did this six months ago, I know it means so much to him to be back in my life. We both cherish every single moment.
The doors open, and all at once, every eye in the room turns to me. My breath catches as I take in the sight of the aisle, lined with flowers and glowing with candlelight. And at the end of it, standing tall and handsome in his suit, is Declan.
He’s smiling, that slow, easy smile that always makes my knees weak. His green eyes lock onto mine, and in that moment, everything else fades away. It’s just him and me. The rest of the world doesn’t matter.
“You ready?” My dad asks, his voice low and full of emotion.
I nod, blinking back tears. “Yeah,” I whisper. “I’m ready.”
The walk down the aisle feels both like an eternity and a split second. I barely notice the faces of the people around me, our friends, my family, even Patrick, who’s sitting near the front with an uncharacteristically soft expression. All I can see is Declan.
When I reach him, my dad places my hand in his, and the warmth of his touch immediately steadies me. He squeezes my fingers gently, his eyes shining with so much love it makes my chest ache.
“You’re beautiful,” he murmurs, his voice just loud enough for me to hear.
“You’re not so bad yourself,” I reply, grinning like an idiot. “Thank you.”
The ceremony is a blur of vows and laughter and more tears than I expected, especially considering we’ve done it before. By the time we’re pronounced husband and wife, again, I feel like I’m floating. Declan kisses me, soft and sweet, and the applause of the crowd barely registers in my ears. All I can think about is the way his arms feel around me, the way his lips curve into a smile against mine.
As we step out of the church, hand in hand, a sleek black car waits for us at the curb. Declan helps me in, careful not to let my dress catch in the door, and as soon as we’re inside, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
“That was a lot,” I admit, leaning back against the seat.
He chuckles, reaching over to take my hand. “You were perfect,” he says. “Every second of it.”
I glance at him, a mischievous smile tugging at my lips. “Ready to make a break for it?”
“Always,” he replies, grinning as the driver pulls away from the church.
The hotel is quiet and elegant, the kind of place I never would have been able to afford before I met Declan. Of course, Patrick is the one who booked this place for the reception and got us the honeymoon suite. I wanted to protest, but Declan insisted it’s just for one night, a little escape before we head back to reality. As we step into the suite, the first thing I do is kick off my heels, sighing in relief as the pressure on my feet disappears.
“Better?” Declan asks, watching me with amusement.
“Much,” I reply, sinking onto the edge of the bed. “You have no idea how much I hate those things.”
He smirks, tugging off his tie and tossing it onto a nearby chair. “You looked incredible in them, though.”
I roll my eyes, but I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. “You flatter me, husband.”
As he starts to unbutton his shirt, I sit up straighter, my heart suddenly pounding for an entirely different reason.
“Declan,” I say, and he pauses, looking at me curiously. “I’ve been thinking about something.”
He raises an eyebrow, his hands stilling. “What’s that?”
I take a deep breath, my nerves suddenly getting the better of me. “For our honeymoon,” I begin, “I’ve decided what I want.”
“Oh?” he says, his tone teasing. “And what’s that?”
I meet his gaze, my cheeks flushing slightly. “A cabin in the woods,” I say, the words tumbling out in a rush. “No electricity, no distractions. Just us.”
For a moment, he just stares at me, and I can’t tell if he’s amused or horrified. But then he laughs his deep, genuine laugh that makes my stomach flip every time.
“Alright,” he says, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “As long as I get to keep both my ankles intact this time.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Deal.”
He crosses the room in a few quick strides, pulling me to my feet and wrapping his arms around me.
“You know,” he murmurs, his lips brushing against my temple, “I’d go anywhere with you, Jade. As long as you’re there, I don’t care where we are.”
My heart swells, and I tilt my head up to look at him. “I love you,” I whisper, my voice trembling with emotion.
“I love you, too,” he replies, his voice steady and certain. “More than anything.”
He kisses me, slow and sweet, but this is our wedding night, damn it! Momentarily, I forget about the guests who will be waiting for us. They’ll have cocktails and appetizers to tide them over, this moment is just for the two of us.
Declan turns me around, slowly unbuttoning every tiny button on the back of my dress, though I’d be just as happy if he tore the whole thing off. I’m so desperate for him already, a feeling that hasn’t remotely ebbed in the last year. Every touch, every kiss feels better than the last, and he’s constantly surprising me with his romantics.
As the dress falls away from my body, I turn to face him without an ounce of insecurity. I am his and he is mine, for the rest of our lives. I kiss him passionately, my tongue sweeping over his bottom lip, requesting access. He willingly obliges, pulling my tongue into his mouth as I kiss him deeply.
“Was today everything you wanted, Mr. McGregor?” I tease, pulling him onto the bed with me so that he’s hovering on top of me.
“Almost, Mrs. McGregor,” he whispers, kissing down the part of my chest that’s exposed to him. “But this corset has to go.”
I giggle as he fiddles with the strings on the corset Tawny insisted I buy. Though the way his eyes are darkening and his mouth is watering, I finally see the appeal of the garment. But I breathe much easier the moment the fabric is removed, leaving my chest bared to him.
He leaves long, lingering kisses on my throat, down my chest, until he takes one of my nipples into his mouth, sucking and nibbling gently. I writhe against him, the sensation driving me wild.
“We don’t have much time,” I remind him, my voice husky. “We can’t leave our guests waiting.”
“That won’t be a problem,” he assures me, grabbing one of my legs and pulling it around his waist. I can already feel his hardness pressed against my center and I shiver in anticipation.
His fingers slip beneath my silk panties, lingerie I bought just for this moment. He’s winding me up, preparing me for him. When he finally slips into me, I’m more than ready, my hips lifting off the bed to meet his rhythm.
We move together, our bodies dampening with sweat, all the hard work of our wedding looks being wasted in a matter of minutes. Neither of us cares, though. The wedding was for our friends, but this moment is for us. And if we’re a little rumpled up at the reception, who’s going to mention it?
He sends me higher and higher, whispering sweet nothings in my ear as he moves inside of me, beckoning me to the edge of release. We fall apart together, simultaneously, our breaths so in sync it’s almost as if they’re one.
I know it won’t always be this way. It can’t always be this way. One day the honeymoon phase will have to fade and we’ll get lost in other pressing matters. Life will find a way to try and beat us down, I’m sure. But together, we’ll face whatever comes our way, wrapped up tight to weather the storm.
The End