Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 137131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Bees.
Of fucking course.
Hundreds of tiny bees are embroidered into the skirt and bodice.
If it were anybody else, I’d throw back my head and laugh. But because it’s my Sugarbee, my breath stalls in my lungs.
Most of her auburn hair is piled high on her head in an elegant updo, but a few curls hang down, brushing her bare shoulders. She wears the tiara like a princess, the big silver bee in the middle catching the light and throwing it back, making her glow.
Fuck me.
She’s wearing minimal makeup, but somehow, whatever she has on makes her eyes pop.
Stunning isn’t good enough.
I can’t even find a word that does her justice.
I love this woman with my whole soul and I don’t know how to stop.
I don’t want to.
She’s everything wrapped up in one neat honey-sweet package, and it’s like time grinds to a halt as we take each other in.
We lock eyes in silence and I watch her bashful smile.
There’s no one beside her.
A high definition camera livestreams the wedding to her parents back in Springfield, but she’s opted to walk down the aisle by herself. It’s the most she’d agree to at this stage of mending their relationship.
Her father isn’t handing her off to me today. She’s presenting herself like the smart, lovely, independent woman she is.
Her wide-eyed gaze travels from my suit to my face, her red mouth parting slightly, and although I can’t hear her, I can imagine the way she gasps.
It does terrible things to my cock.
She beams, too, so bright it’s almost blinding. I can practically taste her happiness every time she breathes.
I remember what Patton said about watching her face.
And I’m already grinning back at her like I’m deranged, my face split with joy, my stupid smile spurring hers on.
As she reaches me, I lean in. “I love your dress. Almost wish I could leave it on you.”
“Well, yeah. It’s bees,” she whispers back.
She’s gilded in the morning light, a patchwork of sun and soft shadows.
If our family—my family—wasn’t watching, I’d have kissed her until she gasped and melted by now.
Patton clears his throat, as if the smarmy prick can read my thoughts.
I take Winnie’s hand and face him.
Save it for later, you idiot, his eyes warn.
Winnie looks at him with a grin and his face softens.
There’s no denying he’s taken a real shine to her, just like the entire family. I think if we got into a fight, they’d take her side, no questions asked.
Can’t say I mind.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to celebrate the union of Archer Rory and Wynne Emberly in legal matrimony,” he starts, holding out his arms, no doubt loving the attention. “Friends and family, please bear witness to this union.”
Winnie glances at me. I roll my eyes.
Show-off, I mouth at her.
Let him have his moment, she mouths back.
He’s already married.
Patton glares at us and clears his throat loudly.
Snorting, I squeeze Winnie’s hand as we look at him again and try to keep our faces straight.
We haven’t written long vows, thank God, so the ceremony finishes relatively fast. You know how it goes.
I promise to love her for the rest of my life, to have and to hold to my very last breath, and she promises I’ll always be her first and last, in sickness and in health, till death do us part.
Even then, I’ll find her again.
Come heaven, come hell, or a hundred more lives in the Great Beyond, I will always claim this woman.
“I choose you,” she says, her voice shaking. Mom lets out an audible sob behind her. “I choose you today and tomorrow, next week and next month, next year and all the years to come. Every day I wake up, every moment, I choose you, Archer. I choose you forever.”
Damn, she’s good.
There’s not a dry eye in the house by the end.
Finally, Colt steps up and presents the rings to Patton, who directs us to put them on.
First, I slide mine on Winnie’s finger. It’s white gold and it matches the ring that sits beside it.
She doesn’t know it yet, but I had them engrave a small bee inside our rings.
I don’t give a crap how eccentric or overdone it seems. I’ll lean into my wife’s life obsession because I know I’ll always be manic about loving her.
Then it’s my turn.
She slides her ring on my finger, and there’s this heady feeling of release, of relief, of finally being able to breathe again.
I don’t wait for Patton to tell me I can kiss the bride.
I wrap my arms around her and crush my mouth down on hers. And yeah, maybe I’m a little emotional and watery-eyed, but no one can tell besides Winnie.
She pulls away and wraps her arms around my neck. “I hope calling you husband never gets old. Because I already love it, hubby.”