Chapter 60
“What do you suppose that was all about?” Mr. Marino asked me while we moved in a simple two-step pattern to the song that had been chosen for the parent-child dance. My own father was MIA, but Sidney’s had very happily stepped up to the plate.
“Troublesome family members who refuse to get help and would rather be a butthole to everyone.”
“Ah, yes.” Mr. Marino nodded. “I feel like most families have one of those.”
“An unfortunate truth.”
“Well, ignoring all that, I want to officially welcome you to the family.” Mr. Marino smiled softly.
“Happy to be here.” I grinned. I relaxed into the easy dance. Sidney’s parents had been welcoming from the start, but his mother had been absolutely ecstatic when we’d decided to get married on top of being bonded so she could show us off.
“This makes me nostalgic for my own wedding.” Mr. Marino spun me around. “I hope you haven’t had too much stress today?”
“A bit,” I confessed. “But my bridal party is awesome.”
“I raised good children.” Mr. Marino grinned, his eyes crinkling. “I’m glad they could all make today better for you.”
I threw my arms around my father-in-law’s neck. “You have a great family. I’m so grateful to be a part of it.”
He hugged me tightly. “I’ll give you back to my son so we can get the guests dancing.”
As if summoned, Sidney appeared next to us with his mom on his arm. “Trade you your wife for mine.”
Mr. Marino laughed and pushed me toward his son, accepting his wife’s hand instead. I rejoined Sidney and the music shifted again as the guests poured onto the dance floor.
“Hey, beautiful.” Sidney pulled me in with a kiss I felt down to my toes. His hands rested on the small of my back, and he smiled down at me as if I were the most exquisite thing he’d ever seen.
Dinner was served while the dancing was going on. We’d gone with a buffet style so people could pick and choose and eat whenever they felt like it. I lasted through a handful of dances in which I was passed around the bridal party before being returned to my husband so we could get some dinner.
We’d elected to have a sweetheart table with only the two of us so we could have a quieter space. I stuffed my face with fried chicken and mashed potatoes, wearing an apron Nicky had thought to bring to protect the wedding gown.
“I dunno how you manage to look so perfect with chipmunk cheeks full of chicken.” Sidney laughed and poked one of my cheeks.
I swallowed hastily. “Love has blinded you to my faults.”
“I’m okay with that.” Sidney pulled my chair closer and draped his arm around the back of it. “Refueled enough for more dancing?”
“I could be persuaded.”
I joined my husband on the dance floor and danced my little heart out. One song bled into another, the minutes ticking by until the DJ announced it was time for cutting the cake. We’d gotten cupcakes instead of the traditional tiered cake but did opt for getting a smaller one just for the cutting ceremony. I swished the knife in the air, admiring the flash of the lights on the polished surface.
Sidney slid his hand down my arm and wrapped it around mine, bringing the blade down safely onto the confection before us. The photographer circled, snapping photos as we sliced two pieces free. I held up a piece to Sidney, and he slowly licked the cherry filling while looking me dead in the eye. My breath caught, and I bit the piece he offered me to cover up my reaction. He took a proper bite and kissed my fingertips.
“Get a room!” Nicky shouted with a laugh.
“All in good time.” Sidney pulled me closer, and I nestled against his chest.
The Macarena started to play and I vibrated with excitement, pulling Sidney onto the dance floor. It lured almost all of the guests too. Laughter and synchronized steps filled the venue, and I giggled, watching Sidney. The DJ fed the crowd with all the dorkiest and most entertaining wedding songs that had me laughing and dancing until my lungs burned.
“All right, everyone,” the DJ’s voice boomed over the mic. “Time for our bouquet toss. All the unbonded or unmarried omegas on the floor. Betas, you can choose bouquet or garter toss.”
Meg brought me the tossing-bouquet. A decent crowd was waiting for me, with Luna front and center and Nicky hovering around the edge. I spun to face my groom and, with a grin, hurled the bouquet behind me.
A whoop of joy filled the air, and I turned to see Luna holding up the bouquet, far more victorious than I’d have expected for someone who never planned to marry. She preened and clutched the flowers to her chest.
“Next up is the garter toss,” said the DJ. “Let’s get a chair out there for the bride and groom.”
Sidney’s gaze flared with heat, and my pussy clenched at the sight. The floor cleared as Meg set a chair down for me to sit on while Sidney dropped to his knees in front of his bride. He lifted the hem of my gown, his hands disappearing beneath the satin. I held my breath, inching my thighs apart as he walked his fingertips over my skin, his eyes never leaving mine. He brushed the lacy fabric of my panties, and I squirmed. Sidney hooked his fingers around the garter and slid it slowly down, teasing my leg the whole way.
He held the garter aloft, and the crowd cheered.
“All right, you know the drill!” the DJ announced. “Unbonded and unmarried alphas and any remaining single betas on the floor.”
Sidney tossed the garter when everyone had gathered. The guests burst out laughing, and I turned to see the garter on top of Luca’s hair.
Sidney snorted. “You’re up next, Lulu!”
Luca groaned and pulled the garter off his head. I tucked up next to Sidney and stood on my toes to get a kiss.
“There’s one more step to this tradition, folks,” the DJ told them. “Our garter-catcher has to put it on the bouquet-catcher!”
Luca paled, and Luna flushed pink. I giggled from my nest in Sidney’s arms. Luna took over the chair I had used, spreading her knees boldly and crooking her finger to draw Luca in.
“Someone’s saucy,” Sidney whispered in my ear.
I snickered. “It’s one of her best qualities. Luca looks like he might burst into flames.”
“In all fairness, he might.” Sidney kissed my cheek.
Luca kneeled and slipped the garter around Luna’s ankle, his face red as he inched it up her leg.
“I can steal you at any time,” Sidney murmured in my ear. “We’ve checked all the wedding boxes. Do you want to keep dancing or can I entice you to a luxury hotel room?”
Warmth sank into my skin where his fingertips slid up my arms. “I could be enticed. I’ll go tell Meg, and you let the DJ know so we can leave everyone to their partying.”
“On it.”
Sidney kissed me again and zipped off toward the DJ while I hunted down Meg in the crowd. I looped my arms around my maid of honor’s waist. “We’re going to head out in a few minutes.”
Meg grinned down at me. “Getting worn out from being railed instead of from dancing?”
I laughed. “That’s the general plan.”
“Go have fun.” Meg nudged me toward Sidney, who was moving through the crowd toward us. “We’ll hold down the fort.”
As the current song wound down, the DJ tapped the mic. “Our happy couple are heading out for the evening, but we have the space for a few more hours so everyone is invited to stay, eat, and dance to your heart’s content. Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Carmichael-Marino!”
The guests applauded as Sidney and I took our leave. The moment the doors closed behind us, Sidney scooped me up into his arms. I giggled and clung to him all the way to the valet parking, where we reclaimed our vehicle and zipped through town to our swanky hotel for the night.