Chapter 8 #2
As Liam worked to get the groomsmen, including Ritchie, up and out of the church, Ghost turned his attention to Pastor Anthony. “Forgive me, Father, I seem to have sinned.”
Becks’ jaw dropped, and she lost it. Bending over, she laughed so hard that she nearly peed herself. Ghost tightened his grip on her to keep her from tumbling over. Pastor Anthony said something else to Ghost, and Becks heard him reply, but didn’t process the conversation on top of everything else.
It took far too long, frankly, for Becks to get ahold of herself.
When she finally did, she noticed that a decent amount of the guests who’d been invited to see Ritchie and her get married were gone.
Mostly her meager family members and only a few co-workers remained.
She caught sight of Liam at the back, still ushering people out.
She turned her attention back to Ghost. He lifted his hands to her cheeks to start wiping away her tears from laughing so hard. “Are you going to get in trouble for what you did?”
Ghost shrugged. “Technically I hit first, but I’ll have Keys destroy any video evidence. If anyone does come after me for being a pansy-assed bitch who can’t take a hit, I’ll deal with it then.” He cupped her chin. “Are you ready to get married?”
Becks nodded enthusiastically. “Please, and then let’s get out of here.”
He cracked a smile at her. “You read my mind.”
“I like seeing you smile,” she told him, transfixed by the sight. “You’re always so serious, and you need to smile more.”
“I used to,” he confessed. “But heavy is the head that wears the crown, and I have a lot of responsibilities now that keep me busy.”
Becks shook head. “That’s no excuse. From what Liam says, you’ve been doing more than necessary too. And now you’ve got me, and I’ll help you.”
Ghost raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
She shrugged, feeling a little sheepish as she said, “I’ll be the first to admit I don’t know a thing about motorcycle clubs.
But I was already planning on moving to the city and looking to lessen the job I took that included travel time.
Plus, we’re kind of getting married after knowing each other only two days, so I figure helping you out will help both of us get to know the other better. ”
Snatching her up around her waist, Ghost brought Becks flush against his chest. “Fucking hell, woman, do you have any idea how incredible that sounds?”
Pleased he wasn’t deterred by her offer of assistance, Becks smiled up at him. “I warned you how awesome I am.” Tapping her temple, she added jokingly, “I was due for a good idea.”
Ghost leaned down as if he was going to kiss her, but something caught his attention. Frowning, he picked up her right hand from where she’d been tapping her temple, and brought it between them. “This is your engagement ring, isn’t it?”
Becks swallowed, a little embarrassed now. “I forgot I put it there.” She’d moved it from her left hand to her right when she’d gotten dressed earlier.
When she tried to pull her hand away, Ghost wouldn’t let her.
His grip was tight, but he slipped the ring off her finger with gentleness.
He held it up between his pointer finger and middle finger.
“You’ll wear my ring,” he informed her, his voice brooking no argument.
“We can donate this to the poor or we can shove it up your ex’s ass.
The choice is yours, but either way, it will be my ring on your finger. ”
Becks cocked her head to the side. “You really would shove it up his ass if I asked you to, wouldn’t you?”
She’d just openly admitted to those who remained in their audience how little time they’d known each other, and yet Becks felt in that moment like she really knew Ghost at his core.
The rest, the details of his life, she could learn all about that later.
But right here, right now, she knew in her soul that at his baseline, he was a protector, and an honest one at that.
He did what he said and said what he did.
It was refreshing in a world of social media, AI, and fake news.
Ghost didn’t blink, nor did he hesitate. “There’s not much I wouldn’t do if you ask it of me, Rebel.”
Oh, damn, there went her knees again. “This is the oddest wedding ever, but I’m totally here for it.” She took the ring from between his fingers and offered it to Pastor Anthony, who was a bit gob smacked by now. “Will you see to it that this goes to someone in need?”
“Um, yes.” The pastor nearly dropped the ring as he took it from her. “Yes, of course. I, uh, I mean, do you still want to skip saying any vows?”
Becks met Ghost’s intense eyes, and shook her head. “I’ve said everything I need to say. You?”
“Actually,” he responded, “I do have something I’d like the pastor to read if he would. Everything else we can figure out later.” At Pastor Anthony’s nod, Ghost pulled out his phone and typed into it for a moment before handing the device to the pastor.
Pastor Anthony placed it on his closed bible and looked down to read it. Startled, he looked up at Ghost, “Really?”
Becks’ eyes danced nervously between them as Ghost replied, “Really.”
Pastor Anthony blinked away his astonishment and then said, “Well, it’s your wedding.
” Clearing his throat, he spoke in a louder voice, “‘Mawage. Mawage is what bwings us togethah today.’” Becks’ jaw dropped and she looked at Ghost in awe and confusion, her chest filling with warmth.
He just shrugged—and Becks fell for him just a little bit more.
“‘Mawwiage,’’ the pastor continued, glancing up and down from the phone, “‘that bwessed awwangement, that dweam wifin a dream! Taran and Rebecca have come here to make this tweasured agweement in front of their family and fwiends, pwomising their commitment in this holy and magnificent pwace, today and each day fowawd. We would not be here today without wuv. Wuv, twoo wuv between these two. Twoo wuv will follow you fowevah, so tweasure your wuv, Taran and Rebecca, always.’”
Becks hadn’t realized tears started to flow down her cheeks until Ghost lifted his hands to wipe them away. “I can’t believe you just had him do that. You hate The Princess Bride.”
Again, Ghost shrugged as he accepted his phone back from Pastor Anthony. “True, but you love it, so I guess I’ll have to get used to listening to that speech,” he added with a lack of enthusiasm.
Becks sniffled. “And I’ll have to get used to watching Blazing Saddles a lot.”
Ghost winked down at her. “I think we just said our vows, Rebel.” To the pastor, he asked, “Do you have to wave a magic wand or cross or something to marry us?”
Pastor Anthony actually chuckled, “No. I just declare you husband and wife, and tell you that you can kiss your bride.”
“Fucking finally,” Ghost declared.
Ghost didn’t just kiss her though. Anticipation sang through her blood as he closed the distance between them again.
Only this time, when he wrapped his arms around her waist, he hoisted her up to him.
Their lips collided as Becks’ arms went around his neck.
It was a damn good thing her skirt was so big, because her legs went around his waist. He supported her with a hand up her back, gripping her low bun at the base of her skull, and his other hand under her ass.
Fire danced as their tongues dueled. Becks had never been kissed so thoroughly or passionately. Like Ghost wanted to devour her, to reap her soul through her mouth so he could claim that too. She twined her fingers through his hair, and met his kiss with equal ferocity.
A loud, ear-piercing whistle shocked Becks so badly that she nearly flung backwards out of Ghost’s arms. He held onto her, though, and kept her steady.
Becks was not a small girl, and she fucking loved how easily he took her weight.
As far as she could tell, he hadn’t been startled by the sound as she had.
That was when the murmuring and uncomfortable coughing reached her ears, and Becks realized she’d completely forgotten about their audience. Who included her brother, mother, aunt, and several cousins.
“Oh fuck,” she mouthed before burying her face into Ghost’s neck. She didn’t know if she should tell him to let her down so she could face them appropriately or if she should beg for an invisibility cloak.
The rumble of Ghost’s chuckle soothed something inside her, but it was the gentle kiss to her forehead that really relaxed her. “Don’t worry, Rebel. I got you.” Then he walked them down the aisle and out of the church.
Ghost did not give a damn about their audience.
He’d gotten what he wanted—he’d gotten Becks.
And fucking hell, it felt amazing. Freeing.
Right. He was never so sure of anything as he was in his decision to claim Becks.
Not even being patched over as president felt this good, and that had been one of the proudest moments of Ghost’s life.
Once outside the sanctuary doors, Ghost carried her down the steps to the parking lot.
More eyes turned to them. Guests who had come to see a completely different wedding.
Ghost spotted several of the groomsmen by a red Mustang, but no sign of the former groom.
Good. While Ghost wouldn’t have minded kicking the guy’s ass again, he’d much rather be buried balls deep inside his new wife.
Wife. Christ, that sounded good. For years, Ghost had watched as his club brothers had fallen in love and claimed their women, and even before that with his SEAL teammates and fellow sailors. Ghost had never dreamed that this was something he wanted, let alone could have.
Thankfully, Ghost had parked his hog relatively close to the church entrance at the end of the sidewalk before the cemetery.
He hadn’t really been thinking when he’d parked—his goal only to get to Becks before she walked down the aisle without making a giant scene, which he semi-failed at—but he had been careful not to block access to the sidewalk.