Epilogue
SHELDON
A Month and a Half Later
Oleander beamed beside me, probably the biggest smile I’d seen him wear in a long time.
“Are you going to do that all day?” I asked.
“I am, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
I smiled then, not as big as him, but I smiled nonetheless.
“Of course, it took you getting married for you to show more emotion,” JJ said as he stopped in front of me. He was joking. JJ had seen me in a variety of moods since Forest started working at his shop, and since Forest had returned to his office there.
“If you’d like, after the ceremony, I can punch you in the face and you’ll see a whole new range from me. I’ll go from irritation to pure joy in seconds.”
“There he is, the Sheldon we are all creeped out by.” He clapped me on the shoulder before moving to take his seat.
The way Colleen decorated the home and yard was like an autumn wonderland.
Fairy lights adorned the tree branches as if they were there from the time the trees grew.
The dark wood seats we rented were lined up on either side of the aisle, which was scattered with brightly colored fall leaves.
At the end of the aisle was an arbor covered in more lights and leaves; these were the fake kind, so they could be woven through it.
Lanterns hung from the trees, adding to the ambiance.
The sun had just set as I stood waiting for Forest to make his way to me. There was no full moon tonight. In fact, it was a new moon. I was grateful and a little sad about it. The moon didn’t do me any favors, but something brought Forest into my life. Whatever it was, I was grateful.
On Forest’s side were Vail and Hartley, who would stand beside him.
I only had Oleander with me. He was all I needed, although Raiden pouted a bit, saying how we shared nachos often and that should have counted for something.
I let him go with me when I met with Hartley to go over the design of my suit.
He’d healed well from his injury. I’d forever be thankful for what he and the others had done for Forest and me.
We couldn’t find someone to officiate who we were both comfortable with, so Kayli stepped up and offered to do it. She wore a black pantsuit that accentuated her waist. Her blond hair was down in waves. She took this job as seriously as the one guarding Jordan.
The music started to play, and my god, Colleen was right again.
She had friends who played string instruments in an orchestra.
They offered to play for us tonight. The music was beautiful yet haunting at the same time.
It was perfect for the setting before me.
Not only was I about to marry the man I loved beyond reason, but I would absolutely follow his ass around when I died, unable to let him go in the afterlife.
Forest emerged in a navy suit that fit every gorgeous line of him.
Hartley outdid himself, making Forest look breathtaking.
Each step he made toward me, the faster my heart beat, and emotion rose in my throat.
Given the small group we had with us today, I wouldn’t mind shedding a few tears in front of them.
They knew I’d give my life for this man. Hell, I almost did.
He stopped in front of me, the man of my dreams. Taking his hand in mine; I brought it to my lips and pressed a kiss to the back of it. The music stopped, leaving nothing but the sounds of nature as our backdrop.
Kayli began to speak and, honestly, I hardly heard what she said.
I spoke when I had to, didn’t fumble over my words, but my eyes wouldn’t leave Forest. After all I’d suffered, the hell my father put me and my mother through on a daily basis, how I found a second family with Oleander and wasn’t alone, Jordan hiring me, everything I did brought me to this moment.
When Kayli told us to kiss, I started out soft, tasting Forest and the mint on his lips. Then my tongue entered the equation. All bets were off. I possessed him in a way no one else ever would. Forest was mine for life.
Clapping and whooping finally tore us apart.
A sweet blush graced Forest’s cheeks; reminding me of one of the many reasons why I loved him.
We turned and faced our friends and family, found and blood.
Together, we walked down the aisle to where there was a tent set up and food was catered, thanks to Vail.
He refused to let anyone else do it outside of himself and his brother-in-law, Dana.
I had no clue what they had on the menu.
It didn’t matter. Whatever it was would be amazing.
Before moving to the tent, I pulled Forest behind one of the trees and pressed his back to it so I could kiss him again. I had no plans to take it further, only to revel in the fact that this man was bound to me now. We had our rings and said our vows.
“We should find our guests,” he murmured against my lips.
“But this is so much more fun.”
“We have the rest of our lives to kiss.” He leaned back, his head bumping the bark of the tree. “Don’t mistake this for me not wanting to kiss and do a lot of other things to you, but we do have a party to attend.”
“Fine, but I’m holding you to that a lot of other things part.”
His hand wrapped around my tie, pulling our lips close again. “You better.”
“I’m taking this tie to bed by the way.”
“You won’t hear any objections from me.”
Forest could do anything he wanted to me, and I’d let him.
I could do the same to him. It wasn’t a matter of control.
It had to do with the immense amount of trust we had for each other.
We would never hurt one another. When we were together, no matter if it was walking down the street, out to dinner, in the shower, or in bed, we always held a lot of respect.
There was no other way we would work, especially given what I did for a living. Forest accepted that part of my life.
“Can I shove cake in your face?” he asked.
“Only if I can wipe it off with my hand, then grip your ass with it so you have a nice frosting-shaped handprint on you.”
“Pass. Back to eating cake like everyone else.”
“If we must.”
He laughed, then placed a quick kiss on my lips. “Let’s go.”
With my hand in his, Forest led us to the tent where everyone waited. They cheered as we entered, not stopping until we kissed again.
“I should always be applauded when showing my love for you,” I whispered in his ear.
“I applauded you once when you did that thing… You know what I mean.”
“Oh yeah. That was worthy of a standing ovation.” It was very dirty but also very hot. A moment I won’t soon forget, especially the way Forest…
He slapped my chest with the back of his hand. “Stop thinking about it.”
“You brought it up.”
“But you didn’t have to relive it when we should be thanking everyone for joining us.”
“Please. We live in the same building as most of them. We can thank them later.”
That was another thing, Forest had officially moved in.
The apartment above Hartley’s studio was now vacant, although I’d heard Hartley threaten to sleep there one day when Jordan pissed him off.
It wasn’t far away, but enough of a warning that it didn’t go over well with my boss.
His men slept with him every night. He made sure to fix whatever he did to irritate Hartley so he wouldn’t be tempted to say that again.
The tent had tables along the perimeter filled with food and a cake. There was also one for gifts, even though we’d explicitly told them not to give us anything. We didn’t need much, just each other.
As the music began, this time from speakers instead of the instruments, I led Forest to the center of the floor and took him into my arms. We swayed to the song, his chest to mine.
I did nothing more than breathe him in and soak up the warmth from his body.
I’d never been happier than I was in this moment.
“Sheldon?”
“Yeah, beautiful?”
“I know we said we didn’t want to write our own vows, and that was more than fine with me, but I need you to know I will never take you for granted.
I won’t ask you to do anything that will make you uncomfortable.
And I will always be here for whatever you need.
I don’t care if you come home covered in blood, ready to confess what happened to make you that way.
Everything you say to me won’t go past my lips.
I will hold all of your secrets and lie like a pro if needed.
You’re the most important person in my life.
I will love you with every beat of my heart. ”
Somehow, I managed not to let tears fall during the ceremony. Forest had to say sweet words, and now I couldn’t hold them back. One fell down my cheek.
“And I will always support you,” I said, my lips to his ear.
“Anything you need, I’ll readily provide it.
I’ll hold you in my arms every night, kiss your body and lips, and tell you I love you.
Whatever we do, wherever we go, no one will be as important as you are.
You’re my dream, my reality, my life. I love you more than I thought was humanly possible. ”
He held me tighter. “Forever, baby.”
“And beyond that.”
Thank you for reading Sheldon!