Chapter Twenty-Three
Tiana
“I don’t know why you didn’t let me pick a dress with a lower neckline. You can barely see my tits in this thing. I’ll never find a guy at this rate.” Roxie holds her bouquet and adjusts her bodice with the other.
“Rox, we are literally walking down the aisle to my soon-to-be husband. Can you stop thinking of picking up men for at least one second?” I say to her beneath my breath. Guests in the pews are turning to look at us as the Wedding March starts to play.
“Shit. I’m sorry, babe!” she hisses back. “I promise that’s not all I ever think about. And… And you know I was totally out of line with that Kirill thing, right? I mean, I know he’s your man, and I was such a stupid bitch for making a pass at him.”
“I know you’re sorry. I believe you.” I really do.
My bestie has practically groveled for forgiveness for hitting on Kirill to a degree which really wasn’t necessary – I know what her life was like, how desperately she wanted to get away from her dickhead family.
Since I wanted to get away from Kirill at the time, she thought a man like him would be her ticket out of there.
Clearly a terrible move, but typical Rox.
Although if she pulls that shit again, our friendship is history.
“I’m so relieved because-” She’s still talking. People are starting to stare.
“Rox, could you please shut up?”
“Shit, sorry, Tee. It’s just that I love you so much and I feel terrible for-”
“Rox, we’ve been over this. I love you too, but right now, I’m trying to get married.” I smooth a hand over the white satin of my dress. It’s cut generously over the full swell of my belly. The twins are due any day now, and Kirill was adamant that we would be married before they arrived.
I take a deep breath and start walking down the aisle, my heels muffled by the thick carpet. All eyes are on me, but I only have eyes for him.
He waits at the altar, and my heart swells.
Holy shit, just look at him!
He’s breathtaking in his black tuxedo, his dark eyes locked on mine as if I’m the only person in the world. Dima stands beside him, looking uncomfortable in a matching suit. I can’t help but smile at their contrast – one so at home with opulence, the other itching to be back on the streets.
As I get closer, I see the love in Kirill’s eyes – for me, for our unborn babies.
It takes my breath away to think how far we’ve come since that fateful day at the auction.
He thought he was buying a piece of property; an asset to manipulate; instead, he found his soulmate and a family he never knew he wanted.
And I…? I found the love I’d always wanted.
Needed. And the kind of family I never had.
My steps quicken despite the weight of my swollen belly. I’m sure some brides feel trepidation as they walk down the aisle. Not me. Kirill Vyronov may be hard as nails, a brutal killer when it’s necessary. But he holds my happiness in his hands. I can’t wait to be his wife.
As I reach him, he looks down at me, and the world melts away for a moment.
Kirill’s eyes bore into mine, and I feel like I’m drowning in their depths.
The love I see reflected there is overwhelming, and I can’t help but feel like the luckiest woman in the world.
It’s a wordless moment, but it speaks volumes.
The priest clears his throat, and I’m brought back to reality. Kirill and I turn our attention to him, and he begins to go through the ceremony. I barely hear it, lost in the emotions that overtake me, until the priest draws my attention back to him.
“Kirill Vyronov, do you take Tiana Avants to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for as long as you both shall live?”
Kirill’s voice is strong and steady as he responds, “I do.”
The priest then turns to me. “Tiana Avants, do you take Kirill Vyronov to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for as long as you both shall live?”
I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment. “I do,” I say, my voice filled with emotion.
“The rings, please,” the priest says.
My throat tightens as Stepan steps forward, holding a small pillow with our wedding bands.
I can’t help but observe him fondly. The poor kid went through so much.
After a bit of digging by Dima, we learned he’d been orphaned in a war zone, he hasn’t said a word since; probably why Zoya picked him – because he wouldn’t let her secret out.
When Kirill told me he was going to adopt him, I fell in love with him a little more.
He can act as tough as he likes, but I know beneath the surface, there’s a heart as deep as the ocean.
Kirill takes my ring and slips it onto my finger, his touch gentle. “With this ring, I thee wed,” he says, his voice low and filled with meaning. “ Skazshi chto lyubish menya ,” he says.
I know what that means now; he taught me the words: “Say you love me.” I happily comply. “I love you, Kirill Vyronov. With everything in me.” And then I take his ring and do the same, my hands shaking slightly. “With this ring, I thee wed,” I repeat, my voice shaking.
“Then I am delighted to pronounce you husband and wife.” The priest beams at us. “I think you know what comes next?”
I sure do. This is the best part of the ceremony.
My love, my husband leans in and kisses me, and the room erupts in applause.
But I barely hear them. I’m drowning in the sensation of his lips against mine.
Firm and warm and so tender. It always feels like the first time with him.
I’m floating on air as we turn to face our guests.
Stepan is beaming up at us, and I can’t help but feel a sense of pride. He still doesn’t talk much, but his love for us is evident in his eyes. I know that together, we’ll be able to give him the love and support he needs to heal.
“You ready, Mrs. Vyronov?” Kirill looks down at me, drawing my hand through his elbow.
“For you? I’m always ready, Mr. Vyronov.” I wink at him.
“Later,” he growls, and my panties are instantly wet, my nipples hard against the satin of my dress. Pregnant or not, this man still lights a fire in my belly with just a look or a word.
As we make our way down the aisle, I can’t help but feel grateful for everything that has led me to this moment. The twists, the turns, the drama, the heartache, and the joy. It’s all been worth it for this moment, standing here with Kirill by my side, surrounded by the people who love us.
As we exit the church, the sun is shining brightly, and I feel like it’s a sign. Petals rain down on us as guests scatter them in our direction. And then Kirill stops, his arm tightening around my waist.
“I have a gift for you,” he murmurs into my ear.
“I know. I’m getting it tonight.” I’m grinning like a fool.
“That, too. But this is something else.” He gestures at Dima, who’s standing nearby, and the man moves silently into the crowd. When he emerges, he’s guiding a woman out with him.
My mouth drops open at the sight of her.
“Mom?” My voice breaks. I can’t move. I just stand there like I was struck in the head. Luckily she hasn’t turned to stone like me because she rushes forward, and before I know it, I’m running too.
“Mom!” I cry, flinging myself into her open arms. I can’t believe it’s really her. After all this time, she’s here. A sob rises in my throat as she hugs me tightly, and I bury my face in her shoulder, inhaling the scent of her perfume.
“Oh, my darling,” she whispers, her voice shaking with emotion. “I’m so sorry for everything.”
“It’s okay, Mom,” I manage to say around the lump in my throat. “I just… I can’t believe you’re here.”
We pull away from each other, both of us wiping away tears. She takes in my swollen belly and gasps. “Oh my goodness! Look how beautiful you are with that gorgeous belly!”
“Yeah, about that…” I blush, glancing at Kirill, who stands beside me with a proud smile on his face. “Have you met my husband?” Husband. How I love the feel of that on my tongue. “This is Kirill Vyronov.”
She extends a hand to him. “It’s an honor to finally meet you,” she says cautiously. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you.”
I fight down more tears, knowing the lengths he’s gone to make this happen… to make me happy. Just as he’s promised that he’ll always do.
Kirill takes her hand and presses a kiss to her knuckles like the old-fashioned gentleman he can be when he wants to be. “The pleasure is all mine,” he says smoothly in that accent that still gives me goosebumps after all this time.
She smiles at him, then steps away as Dima leads her over to mingle with the guests while we pose for pictures.
The reception starts properly later tonight at Kirill’s mansion – our mansion – where security is tighter than Fort Knox itself after what happened with Vlad Petrov.
He may not be around to threaten us anymore, but Kirill’s not taking any chances. Not when he has a family to protect.
“The bouquet! Throw the bouquet,” someone calls, snaring my attention. I’m pretty sure it’s Roxie.
“Isn’t that supposed to happen later?” I grin.
“Do it now!” It’s definitely Roxie.
Laughing, I turn and toss the bundle of roses over my shoulder, looking back to see who gets it. It hits Dima in the chest just as Roxanne flings herself through the air in a flying tackle. They clash heads as both their fingers close into the petals.
Kirill starts to laugh.
Next thing I know, I’m laughing, too.
“I don’t get it. What does this mean?” Dima’s confusion is unmistakable, but Roxie is staring at him as if for the first time.
This is going to get interesting.
But all of my life is going to be interesting. And filled with happiness. And love. Gazing up at my gorgeous husband, I take a step forward into our new life together.
We have a whole world of joy before us.