It felt like I’d been waiting for this moment since I first realized I wanted Lily as mine. My heart thundered, my palms were sweaty, and I was suffocating in my full dress navy whites. But it was all worth it as I waited for my bride-to-be to walk down the aisle and officially become mine.

Despite there being a shitload of SEALs and an array of other military personnel that made up our guest list, this was a pretty intimate affair. We didn’t have anything flashy, not because we couldn’t afford it, but because we didn’t want it. We didn’t need it. Hell, I would’ve gone to the courthouse years ago and made her mine.

I glanced over at the three best men I had at my side. Wolf, Cookie, and Dude. We weren’t on the same SEAL team, but they’d saved my life, and I considered them family, not just friends. I would’ve had Cutter right there beside me as well, but he was doing the honor of walking my girl down the aisle and giving her away. With her dad gone, he was who she looked up to, who she saw as a father figure. I even saw Lily’s mom off to the side with the other guests. I was glad she was here supporting her daughter and our union.

I’d known Lily was meant for me from the beginning, but I’d also wanted to give her time to understand what she was getting into with me. And so we’d waited two years after I’d proposed to make the wedding date official. It gave her time to move in with me, for us to get to know each other better, for me to spoil the shit out of her.

I was so fucking possessive of Lily. There was nothing in life that meant more to me than the woman I was waiting for.

When the music started playing, everything and everyone faded away. All I could think about was Lily, about how this day was finally here. I couldn’t fuck this up. I wouldn’t. With the Makonovich threat long gone, all we had to look forward to was our future.

I knew there were threats lurking around the corner, knew that Lily being with me might put her in danger. But not having her with me, by my side, was just as dangerous. At least I could be with her, make sure she was safe…make her happy.

I might be a hard-as-fuck military man, but when it came to the woman I loved, I was soft as hell, bending to what she wanted. She’d never know the lengths I’d go to make sure she was always smiling.

I focused on the aisle, and my heart stopped when I saw her turn the corner and stop at the double doors. Cutter had his arm entwined with hers, and to see such a strong man like Cutter wearing his full dress navy whites had me grinning. He’d do anything to make sure Lily was happy too; I knew that without a doubt.

She started walking toward me, and everything in my body froze up. I couldn’t help but feel the most intense emotions to ever consume me. I’d always felt this with her, and I always would.

I couldn’t stop staring at her, at the way her gown formed to her perfect body, at the way the light came through the window and made her look ethereal.

And then she stopped a few feet from me. Cutter gave her a hug and kiss on the top of the head before handing her over to me. He stared me right in the eyes, his face set hard, the badass in him coming out.

“You take care of her,” he ordered.

“Always,” I said in reply, not put out in the least. He was only looking out for Lily, and I appreciated it more than I could say. I looked at my soon-to-be wife. All I wanted to do was pull her to me and kiss her senseless, not even wait for our vows, just lay one on her so everyone knew she was mine.

I was in this trance as the ceremony started, we said our vows and were finally pronounced husband and wife. I was still looking into her eyes when she leaned in and whispered, “This is where you kiss me.”

My heart started beating a mile a minute then. I pulled my new wife in close. Right now, at this moment, it was official.

“You were always mine,” I said arrogantly, but it was the truth. I kissed her then, holding the back of her head as I devoured her mouth in front of everyone. I didn’t care what anyone thought. I’d been waiting for this moment my whole fucking life.