Chapter Twelve
“Our future,” Carver continued, kissing her gently on the lips, “could be whatever you want it to be.”
“I know your business, your organization, is important to you,” she began. Yasmin had thought about this long and hard. “But I also know that you have your own rules, that you’d never deal in drugs, women, or kids. The city’s crime rate has gone down over the past years because you claimed most of the bad neighborhoods as your territory.”
Carver whistled. “Looks like my angel had been a busy little bee.”
“I didn’t want to go into this blind, but you’re my man.” She took a deep breath. Yasmin understood Carver saw himself as only a monster, but that wasn’t true. She’d be there to remind him that he was so much more. He needed one person in his life who understood him completely and held no judgment. She continued. “And I’ll accept all of you, no matter the deeds you’ve committed in the past.”
He kissed her again, and damn it, just one taste and she became hooked. At this rate, with him continuing to touch her, she’d want to melt into him, let him take control. Focus, she told herself, because he could have taken her on the bed, but instead, chose to have this important conversation. Carver had changed. A week ago, he wouldn’t have listened or tried working their issues out.
“Angel, you might not know this, but I own a few legit businesses. It will take time, but in a few years, we can be completely legitimate.”
She sucked in a breath, unable to believe he said those words. “But this organization is everything to you.”
“You’re more important, and besides, you’ll be carrying our future children. I’d want them to grow up not knowing fear.”
Children. God. Tears filled her eyes. She always wanted kids, but her ex didn’t see much of a future with her. Carver, by contrast, seemed to have been planning this for a long time. Yasmin could see it now, having their own home, a boy or girl having both of their combined looks.
“What—when—” she faltered, unsure of where to begin.
Carver took her hands in his and kissed them, the devil in his smile. “Then I accept. You’re going to mine in every sense of the word, my gorgeous, sexy wife.”
She blushed, recalling she’d proposed to him, but she meant every word. Yasmin couldn’t imagine a future without her kingpin, her fiancé.
****
One Month Later
Yasmin fussed with the hem of her wedding dress, smoothed out the soft fabric, then gazed at herself in the mirror. Weeks ago, she would have called the woman looking back at her a stranger. She’d never thought she could ever be this happy in her life. Naturally, Carver spared no expense in getting her the best dress.
He even flew in a designer from Italy, who specialized in making plus-sized dresses, and this one fitted her like a glove. White silk wrapped around her upper body, gracefully exposing her shoulders and arms, and the base flared out with its multitude of layers. It didn’t feel heavy though, as if the dress was made of a special kind of material. She felt like a princess, and the dress was exactly as she envisioned when she and Carver had sat down one afternoon with the designer.
A smile curved at her lips. Carver had been especially attentive these past weeks, and wanted everything perfect, according to her specifications.
A gentle knock came from the door, and Sal, Carver’s second-in-command and one of his best friends, appeared.
She hadn’t been too sure of Sal at first, but soon realized that like Carver, he was a good man underneath despite her initial impression of him. Like with Carver, she could see he was a good man and one she trusted to have Carver’s back.
“You ready?” he asked.
“Ready as I can be,” she answered, smiling when he offered his arm.
She walked up to him and took it, so he could escort her to the man who’d soon become her husband. They emerged from the small room in the church so she could prepare. Carver told her she could have the biggest, grandest wedding in the city’s history, but crowds made her nervous. Besides, this day was for the two of them. She’d declined, preferring a small ceremony instead. They compromised and invited all the important guests and Carver’s allies to the reception instead.
Sal agreed to walk her down the aisle, because the last time she paid her father a visit, they had their biggest fight yet because he refused to let his daughter marry a monster.
His refusal still left a dent in her heart, but it wasn’t like she could ever count on him to be there for her. In hindsight, even if he agreed, he’d only make trouble or cause some kind of scene. Carver only tolerated and allowed Larry to continue to live because he was his father. She long ago gave up on ever forming some kind of relationship with Larry. She only visited him as a kind of courtesy.
Sal would have to do.
“Don’t worry,” Sal said. “You look gorgeous.”
“Thanks,” she whispered back.
Sal pushed opened the doors, and they stepped into the aisle. Yasmin only had her eyes on her man. She could barely see the small number of guests they’d chosen or hear the piano. Carver looked amazing in his fitted black suit, his gaze solely pinned on her ever since she walked in.
She could barely feel her feet move. It was like they had a life of their own. She thought she’d topple over her heels, but it felt like she glided towards him, like some magnetic force compelled her towards her soul mate. Soul mate, yes, that was word.
Who could have imagined that ten years ago, the broken man in the alleyway would eventually become her husband and the most feared man in the city?
He flashed a familiar wolfish grin at her, all hunger and naked need. She shuddered in anticipation, already feeling hot in her dress. It felt like an eternity, but Sal let her go so she could stand with Carver. He held her hands in his, gave them a squeeze, and stole one quick, fleeting kiss that left her yearning for more. The priest cleared his throat, his words inaudible to her ears.
Her heart hammered against her chest as she gazed into the eyes of the man she was about to spend the rest of her life with. It felt like she’d waited her entire life for this one moment. He said his vows and she fumbled over hers, but that didn’t seem to matter, even though she’d spent hours trying to get them perfect.
“I promise to honor and cherish you for the rest of my life,” she whispered. “To stand by you even when the rest of the world turns its back on you.”
Carver seldom showed emotions in front of others, but this moment, his rough and handsome face softened. Yasmin could tell her words meant the world to him.
The thick gold band he slipped into her finger was a perfect fit, and the matching band she slipped into his ring finger complemented it. There. They were bound until death did them part.
“You may kiss the bride,” the priest said after they exchanged rings.
This time, Carver didn’t hold back. He gripped her close and took her mouth, thrusting his tongue down her throat. She held onto his biceps, wanting to be out of her expensive dress so their skin could touch. He pulled away, leaving her panting, and playfully nipped at her ear.
Her nipples tightened, the buds sensitive against the lace of her white bra. Moisture flooded between her legs, and she pulled her thighs closed, painfully aware she had no underwear on, as per his request. She could envision him slipping his big inked hand past the folds of fabric, seeking her soaking cunt, and flushed.
“Wait a little longer, angel. Be good and once we’re alone, you’re mine to ruin,” he said quietly against her ear.
She shivered but had a comeback for her husband. “You’ve already done that. My body, heart, and soul are yours to keep.”
He leaned in for another, gentler kiss. “And I’ll treasure you for the rest of my life, angel.”