Three months later
***Anouk***
“Remind me again why I’m wearing this?” I sigh and look at Romeo, who’s standing close to the door, ready to make a run for it.
Who can blame him? Not that I’ve been nice to him, I’ve been biting his head off all morning.
“Because you loooove him,” he tells me in a very feminine singing tone before it turns into the rough rumble of his own. “and you wanted to please him so you’re wearing a pristine white, all lace sleeves, open back, layered ball gown. Might I add you are torturing him right back? Demanding that penguin suit? Thank fuck you guys didn’t force us to wear suits, confetti spray the damn clubhouse with flowers, or anything because…”
I know I asked for his opinion, but he doesn’t need to be a whiny ass about it. “Oh, shut up. I already told him last night that I wanted him to lose the jacket and just put his cut over the white dress shirt. I even demanded he left some buttons open at the top.”
Now Romeo’s rolling his eyes. “Sure, get him to give you the perfect eye candy vision so you can drool in front of a pastor, nice thinking.”
I rub my fingers against my temples. “I really hope you get an Old Lady one day that will torment you every second of your freaking life. One who loves fluffy dogs and paints your house purple and wraps your dick in a pink bow and sprinkles you with glitter or something.”
“Everything sounds pretty normal for a chick to want, except for the glitter shit. That’s just not right.” Romeo shivers. “I hate fucking glitter, sticks to everything. My cock will be wearing shiny sparkles for decades.”
“That’s it, I need to get out of here,” I snap. I can’t take it anymore.
Romeo chuckles. “Getting cold feet?”
“Cold feet? Suck it, weird one! Or I’ll find a can of glitter and spray you from top to bottom. I need to get married, as in right now.” Just as I’m about to swing the door open, there’s a knock.
Bark is startled when I pull it open, his hand still in the process of knocking. “Uhmmm, you’re up, sunshine. Time to march down the aisle, or so to speak.”
“Thank fuck,” I growl and practically run down the hall.
Bark chuckles. “That big of a rush to get it over with, huh?”
I spin around and poke him in the chest. “Yes, you can say I’m in a rush, mostly to get away from the weirdo over there.” I point a finger over Bark’s shoulder at Romeo. “But mostly because I want my man. When you’ve had a twisted background it’s hard to lay your faith in the hands of others. Yet everything Ronin has done, said, and shown me, from the very first day we met up until right this very second? I am so freaking honored to become his wife in the eyes of the law, even if it’s just some vows and a signature on a piece of paper. The title of his Old Lady holds more meaning, but somehow this is a finishing touch.”
“Yeah, can you stop talking and start walking? That’s too emotional for me.” Bark reaches for his necklace and shakes his head. “Go on, sunshine, your Old Man is just as impatiently waiting for you.”
When I round the corner, I see Ronin standing there, surrounded by every biker of Lost Valkyries MC. I know there’s supposed to be all flowers, music, and slow steps…a father guiding his daughter toward the altar stuff. But like how everything in life is, you give it a personal touch, shit that means something to you and make it count. For me what counts is the man who’s standing there, wanting to marry me. Me. And even demanded I had a white gown with lace and diamond earrings and a freaking pearl necklace.
I throw my flowers over my shoulder, hearing Romeo curse behind me, so I can lift the front of my dress with two hands and run to Ronin. He takes me into his arms and pulls me close.
“No, no, no. Don’t kiss yet,” the pastor tells us, making everyone laugh.
We turn and face the pastor who nods toward Ronin. “Ronin, you mentioned you wanted to say a few words first.”
He nods and turns to me. “Unspoken, unknown, unbelievable, and unique. From the moment we met, the ride has been one I’ve been waiting for my whole life. I never knew this could happen. Something I thought wasn’t in the cards for me, especially with the background I have. There’s one thing you never mentioned, never asked. So I decided to bring it up myself to let you know the history behind the outer visual along with it.”
I reach up, a lump in my throat and a lone tear sliding down my cheek because I know what he’s talking about. It never mattered to me, so why ask? My fingertips trail a path from his eyebrow to his chin on the left side of his face. Three scars. The skin shows it’s been healed for years and years. But something like that, in plain sight, on his face? That’s something that runs deep and is very personal. I, for one, know deep down not to judge on outer appearances alone.
“Like the color of your eyes, or the sharp shape of your jaw, it was all there, all you when we met. I love you for you.” I breathe before I lean forward and whisper in his ear, “Okay, and maybe because of your magnificent dick and the way you know how to use it.”
His head falls back and laughter booms out.
He locks eyes with me and shakes no slowly. “That’s what I mean, sweetness. You think you’re the lucky one, but in fact it’s me.”
Bark, the best man, growls behind Ronin. “Fucking emotional day. I swear, if I live through this shit I deserve a fucking medal or two.”
We both glare and he gives us two palms up. “Just ignore me and get that shit over with. We all need beer, or at least, I do.”
Ronin turns and takes my head into his hands. “My childhood wasn’t a happy one. I didn’t have a warm, loving, happy family. When I was a kid, playing outside with a ball, it went through the window. Shattered the thing on impact and knocked over a vase inside the living room. My father came outside, my mother was yanking his arm, trying to save me once again, from his wrath. Useless like always. He sliced me across the face with a piece of glass. Told me that was for destroying the window. Sliced again because I broke the vase. Gave me one more so I would remember to never fuck up. With an asshole father I didn’t exactly want to be a father myself. Nor did I think I would know love or had something to give in return. Because I never experienced any of it. But as it turns out, I might be a selfish bastard, because when I laid eyes on you I wanted everything. Shit didn’t seem complicated or unrealistic. With you by my side I fucking know I…”
I don’t give him another chance to say anything more. My lips take his as I keep murmuring, “Yes, yes,” against his mouth.
“Call it, pastor. Pronounce that shit so they can run off to make babies.” Bark groans, making everyone laugh as the pastor says the words.
Ronin swoops me off my feet, not even faltering between kisses. It’s what he does, taking the lead and knowing blindly how to handle anything life throws at him. We both have scars; either inside, outside, or both…we complete each other. And for the first time, I’m not afraid to look backward or forward while dreaming about a future. Because with Ronin by my side, I have everything I ever wanted.