Chapter Fourteen #3
On a tablet that Bonnie, Finn’s sister, was holding, was Tony Magnus and his wife Jaxon.
Graham couldn’t believe it.
His one and only love had planned this for him. They weren’t getting a quicky wedding.
They were getting a real one.
There were tears in his eyes as the emotion overwhelmed him.
This was exactly why he loved this man. He always made him feel that love with everything he did.
As he approached, he noticed that his Purple Heart, the one he’d given him, was pinned to his fly scarf.
It appeared that someone got it from the kitchen when he wasn’t looking. Not that long ago, it had been sitting on the box on the island.
As he reached him, he took his hand.
“You look amazing,” Michael stated.
Graham couldn’t speak.
Not at first.
“D’Artang…,” he began, and then went to correct himself.
Only, Michael stopped him.
“If that’s who you see me as, it’s wrong of me to ask you to change that. I’ll always be your D’Artangnan, so marry him today. Be mine, Graham Lainey. Marry me and be my husband. Take my last name and be my one and only even after the day we die.”
The second he said that, Graham wanted to sob.
“I love you, D’Artangnan. I can’t wait to marry you,” he admitted. “I will absolutely take your name. It’s been a long time coming.”
Yes, yes, it had been.
Well, then, they should do it.
Here.
And.
Now.
Facing him, Finn and Gryphen were behind them, acting as the best men for each of them. Gryphen had Michael’s back, and Finn had Graham’s.
“Let’s do this,” Graham said, staring into his lover’s eyes. There was nothing he wanted more than to be his husband.
It was a decade in the making, but finally, the day was here.
Next to them, the judge stood there, and he had both men sign the paperwork as he held it on a book. Then, he began the makeshift ceremony.
He’d been paid handsomely, and he didn’t mind doing it. He was getting a first look at the castle and the renovations during his wedding duty.
“Gentlemen, how do you want to do this? Technically, you’re married the second I sign the license.”
Michael knew.
“I have vows.”
Graham’s heart skipped in his chest. This all seemed like a dream, and he hoped he didn’t wake up and it was gone. It would kill him.
Graham did too.
“I want to give my vows to the man I gave my heart to all of those years ago,” Graham said.
For Michael, it wasn’t necessary, since he knew the man had already kept his. This was about him keeping them, too.
To his husband.
“Then go ahead, Laddies,” the judge said.
Michael kissed their joined fingers, and went first, sharing how he felt.
“My dearest love,” he began. “I can’t believe we’ve come full circle, but I’m grateful that we have. Seven and a half years ago, I thought my life was over. When I walked away, I believed that I’d never find love again, but here I am. I did find the kind of love I craved, and it was with you.”
Graham stood there, and he couldn’t believe how handsome his lover was. He couldn’t believe that in a few short minutes, they’d be man and man.
Forever.
“Now, I’m blessed that the universe knew what I knew.
You were, and always will be, my soulmate.
No matter what happened in the years we were apart, there is only one truth to this, and it’s that we were always meant to be.
That’s the only way to explain how the universe put us right back on the same path like we never deviated from it. ”
Michael brushed some hair from Graham’s forehead so lovingly that one of Finn’s sisters whispered in the audience.
“I want that kind of love,” Bonnie admitted.
It made Michael smile.
Because he wanted this kind of love for the rest of his life, too, and he found it. He wanted to live in a haunted castle with the sexiest man he’d ever seen in his life.
The heart wanted what it wanted.
“I vow to love you until the end of my life. I promise to never forget how close we came to being apart forever. I vow my fidelity, my honor, and my undying adoration for you. You’ve had it for seven and a half years as we waited for the perfect time to come together.”
A tear slipped down Graham’s cheek.
Michael wiped it away.
“We both needed time apart to build our worlds. In that time, we went from alone to having family,” he said, looking around. “We built it from nothing, and now, today, they are witnessing our story.”
Graham sniffled, and his heart was so full, not only because he was getting his man, but D’Artangnan was right. They did have family.
They were no longer alone.
“So, in front of our families, I promise to love you in sickness and in health, through the good times, and the bad—until our last breaths. I vow to be buried with you, like how Duncan and Ciarán wanted, and I promise to wait for you on the other side if I cross first. You, Graham David Lainey are my greatest achievement, and my person. In you, I trust and love forever.”
Reaching back, he took the worn ring that he’d gotten polished at the jeweler’s, so it was back to being shiny and new. Then, he slipped it onto Graham’s finger, sealing his vow with the man.
The judge looked at Graham.
“Speak your vows.”
Oh, and he did.
“My beloved. My only. My true love. I stand here to speak the truth. You have, and always will be, the only person I love in life. I’ve walked with you, and I’ve walked without you, and I know the only way I can survive is to walk beside you,” he offered.
Michael stared into his green eyes, and everything felt right with the world.
Nothing hurt anymore, and he was in the right place at the right time. For once, fate and the universe felt aligned, and he was not having to fight nonstop to get what he wanted.
Graham.
“My vows to you are the same ones they’ve always been.
I will fight to love you forever, and I’ll fight to stand with you when life gets difficult.
We lost sight of that once, and I know we never will again.
You were born to be mine. The day you were brought into this world, the threads of fate wove us together.
I believe in the book of fate, and I believe that beside my name, yours is written. ”
Michael wiped his eyes.
He couldn’t help but want to weep. The pure joy and love were overwhelming him.
“You are mine, and you always will be. I’ll fight fiercely to protect us, and I’ll never let go again.
From this day forward, you will always be my husband.
In the good times, and in the bad. Through the storms, and during the sunny days.
My heart and body knows yours, and on the day we tattooed our initials on our legs, we spoke our vow. ”
Graham lifted the edge of his kilt, baring his thigh and the tattoo that was there to show everyone. He was careful not to flash the audience.
Michael did the same, on the opposite thigh. They’d pick those legs so when they were side by side, so were the tattoos.
There were giggles from the ladies, and adoration from their families that these two men had absolutely been right that they belonged together.
“As long as this tattoo lasts on my skin, and it bears the initial of the love of my life, I shall be yours. In death, we’ll be much like Duncan and Ciarán. We’ll still be side by side even when the war is over.”
He placed his free hand over Michael’s heart.
Then, he turned and got the ring from Finn. Gently, he slipped it onto Michael’s finger—where it always belonged.
As soon as he did, they all felt it.
There was a peaceful energy that floated over everyone there.
Turning, both Michael and Graham looked up at one of the windows in the tower that overlooked the courtyard. That’s when they saw them.
Both men stood there, side-by-side.
Duncan bowed, and Ciarán did the same. Then, they disappeared.
“Did you just see…?” Fiona asked, looking around at the rest of the people there.
Oh, those trying to clean up this castle saw it, and knew what it meant.
There was love here again at Ravensmire.
Finally.
The judge patted them both on their shoulders.
“Lads, I now pronounce you husband and husband. You two kiss, and I’ll sign the paperwork,” he said.
Michael was going to do just that.
He took a step toward his husband, and pulled him into his body. With love, he wrapped him in his arms, dipped him, and kissed him.
Oh, and it was one hell of a kiss.
They didn’t slow down, and they didn’t stop until they felt it.
Gryphen found the rice.
As they were being pelted, he pulled his new husband up, and put him on his feet.
They were both smiling.
“I love you, Graham,” he said. “Forever.”
Graham ran his fingers over his face with tenderness and love.
“And I will always love and adore you, Michael.”
He grinned.
“Everyone,” the judge said, handing them the signed marriage license, “I would like to introduce you to Mr. and Mr. D’Artangnan Graves.”
That was all they had to hear.
Everyone sitting in the courtyard clapped. It was loud, raucous, and suitable since it was a long time coming.
As they held hands, their family came toward them, and they hugged and kissed them. As the judge left, already paid, the couple celebrated.
When Graham took the tablet from Fiona, and Michael took the one from Gabby, they focused on their family across the ocean.
“Congrats,” Tony said. “I have a son-in-law. Don’t forget to come home for Christmas!” he said.
Michael laughed.
“You’re going to have to fight my mom for that one. You know how she is with all of her kids being there for the holidays.”
Elizabeth warned him.
“Yeah, Anthony, don’t forget that. Oh, no, you’ll be working, so I get custody of our sons.”
He gasped.
“You’d do me dirty like that?” he asked, making everyone laugh because she absolutely would do anyone dirty for someone she considered her child.
“I’m proud of both of you,” she said, smiling at them. “You both make a beautiful couple.”
Yes, yes, they did.
“Now, who is going to tell me WHAT WAS STANDING IN THAT WINDOW OF THE TOWER?” she asked, catching them off guard.
Callen drew his finger over his neck, and Michael got the clue.
“Sorry, Mom. I have to go. I have a honeymoon planned!” he said, as he hit the power button on the tablet.
She only got one word out.
“MICHAEL!”
And she was gone.
Tony laughed from his tablet.
“Oh, I can hear her losing her nut from here,” he said. “Callen and Chris are dead men.”
Speaking of which, they all had a psychic to visit.
“We’ll let you know what happens, Tony,” Gryphen offered. “We think we know who was in the lake. It’s Catherine, and she’s there because she betrayed Duncan. She let the church in, and she’s why Ciarán died.”
Tony lifted a brow.
“Oh, that sucks.”
Yeah, it did.
“What’s worse is Duncan admitted to killing her child that she had with the farmer husband. He didn’t want the Granndach name to be sullied with someone who wasn’t a rightful heir. Now, we have to find the body or she’s never resting again.”
Crap.
That sounded…horrible.
“We’re going to the psychic,” she said. “We’ll get her back here and see if she’ll help us by telling us where to find everyone’s remains, or to remove the curse.”
Finn stopped her.
“First, we’re going to have lunch. You need to feed the baby, and I want a beer to celebrate getting my best friend hitched. Are you two joining us?”
Graham went to say yes, but Michael shook his head.
“No, I have a honeymoon planned. Him, me, naked in the castle.”
Graham flushed red, and it was likely because Michael’s hand was grabbing his ass cheek.
Oh, and it was a rough grab.
That sent shockwaves through his body, and suddenly, a beer and food could wait.
“I’m with my husband. Honeymoon,” he said, having a hard time thinking.
His erection was the reason.
Gryphen grinned.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” he said, winking at the two men.
Graham wanted just that.
“I’m hoping he does exactly what you’d do,” he said, honestly.
It made Michael grin.
Oh, he knew, and he was going to make sure he rocked his new husband’s world.
A few times.
“We’ll see you when you get back,” he offered.
Well, that worked for them.
Tony logged off, and everyone hugged the two men. As they headed out of the courtyard, Graham looked over at his husband.
“This was a beautiful gift.”
Michael focused on him.
“I wanted you to remember this day forever. I wanted to give you the wedding you deserved. If I had more time…”
Graham put his fingers over his lips.
“It was perfect. I would choose this every time.”
Well, that was good to know.
“If you want to go with them, we can.” Michael offered, despite what he’d just said.
His words just before came out…bossy.
And he didn’t want to be that. He’d done that once, and it blew up.
Graham moved closer, and they were standing toe-to-toe. As he did, he cupped his husband through his kilt, and gave him a rough squeeze.
“I want to be here with you. I want this to be another memory—a wicked and wild one.”
Michael moaned as his husband had his dick in a death grip through his kilt. It turned him on, and he only hoped they were going to be wild.
He missed that.
With everyone he’d slept with between losing Graham and getting him back, he’d kept that wild part of him caged. Not out of fear, but because it never felt right.
There was only one man he wanted like that.
This one.
Leaning closer, Graham put his lips by Michael’s ear, and he whispered.
“Remind me who’s boss,” he whispered. “I’ve been a very bad boy.”
Oh, holy fuck.
There it was.
That was one hell of an invite he wouldn’t say no to—ever. If his new husband wanted kink…
Well, he was going to get kink.
Let the honeymoon begin.