The two weeks that followed what happened on that cargo ship were long and, at times, very trying, filled with heart-wrenchingly emotional moments brought on by the hellish nightmare that was Dimitri Petrova. But knowing he was behind bars for many, many years helped bring us back to reality, time and time again. We were alive and well, and with time, all of it – Dimitri included – would be nothing more than just that...a nightmare.
So tonight, we weren’t thinking about Dimitri or what could’ve happened that night, we were celebrating all the good things in our lives, love being the primary theme. As I adjusted my bow tie in the mirror, I couldn’t believe my big sis was getting married. In some ways, that competitive sense of sibling rivalry was off the charts with jealousy that she’d beat me to it, but in others, I was happy to have someone to go to with questions when it came time for me to do the same. Which she kept hounding me better be soon, but that was my own fault for showing her the ring after I made my last payment.
Sliding on my double-breasted jacket, I walked back to the mirror and did up the buttons, leaving the very last one undone as my sister had expressed was a very important detail. I didn’t see the difference, but apparently, proper tuxedo etiquette called for such things. Chuckling softly at the memory of that conversation, I barely recognized myself as I gave myself a once over. Aside from the ink sweeping up my neck and what covered my hands, I looked so...normal. It was weird as fuck, but I greatly appreciated the fact Karley had insisted on the tuxedo being tailored. It fit perfectly and I had to admit, I was rocking it damn well. Hopefully my girl would think so too…
A smile drifted across my face as she came to the forefront of my mind. I was beyond anxious to see her. She hadn’t given me a single clue as to what her dress looked like, other than the color and Karley had insisted she wear it. Given my sister’s taste, I assumed it probably something extravagant, but the occasion called for it, and something in me was looking forward to seeing Hazel so dressed up for the first time. To seeing us so dressed up for the first time. The next time would be...well, I’m sure you can guess.
Flipping off the light in our bedroom, I trailed into the sitting room just off the entry of the suite and all but came to a screeching halt at the vision in royal blue before me. Every last bit of air just about left my lungs as I took her in. Hazel had her back to me, looking out the massive windows at the bustling city of New York around us. The sapphire gown she wore fit her petite hourglass figure like a glove, all the curves, dips, and swells of her body accentuated like never before. Made almost entirely of lace – minus the sheer material sheathing her arms – it flared out ever so slightly mid-calf and spilled onto the floor behind her in a small train. But what had me out of my right mind was the back. It dipped low in a V-shape, exposing miles of her soft, fair skin that would likely draw my hands there all evening long. Subduing the urge to peel that dress off her was not going to be easy.
Wanting to catch her off-guard, I padded toward her with slow, precise steps. She stilled as my front brushed against her bare back, my hands sliding around her tiny waist, settling along defined curves to hold her in place. With her blonde hair draped over one shoulder, it left most of her neck on display, luring me into her smooth column. I dipped my head low and nuzzled her skin with my lips, breathing her in deeply.
“You're stunning,” I murmured while planting a trail of soft kisses from the shell of her ear to the lace-covered edge of her shoulder.
Hazel turned her head toward me, peeking up through sky-high lashes. “Says the man who's insanely good-looking.”
Pivoting in my grasp, she took a step back and gave me a onceover I swear I felt down to my toes. Her appreciative stare burned through my being, sizzling my skin to the point of combustion beneath all the suited layers. I was suddenly very, very warm.
“I have no words,” she said quietly.
“Neither do I,” I agreed, drinking her in greedily.
Seeing her from the back had struck me stupid, but the entire package was out of this fucking world. She was the definition of perfect, so disarmingly beautiful in any way, shape, or form, I almost had a hard time believing she was really mine.
Almost.
Slithering back toward me, she grabbed the lapels of my jacket and brought her lips up to my ear. “Is it awful I wanna peel off every single layer of this tuxedo and jump your bones right now?”
“No, cause I already thought the same thing,” I admitted, my hand hitching up her thigh through the slit of her dress.
“You’re not supposed to agree with me. You’re supposed to tell me I’m a bad girl,” she purred in that little way that drove me wild.
“But I like it when you’re a bad girl.”
“Stoppp, seriously.” She giggled, shivering as I bit down on her neck. “We’ll never leave this room if I let you get me naked.”
“Just remember” – I bit her again – “you will be very, very naked later.”
“Yeah, very, very later, when I know your parents aren’t gonna come knocking on the door.”
“I can guarantee you that by the time everything is said and done downstairs, my dad will have to carry my mom up to their room. They’re not ones to stay up late. I’m sure they still have to be jetlagged too.”
Hazel slid out of my arms and collected her small purse clutch thingy from one of the wingback chairs, peering at me from over her shoulder. “Jetlag or not, their only daughter is getting married, but we’ll worry about that-”
“Later,” I conceded, reaching for her outstretched hand. “Are Manny and Maya downstairs already?”
“Yep. They’ve been at the bar waiting for us for the last twenty minutes.”
“Oops.”
“Yeah, oops. You’re worse than a woman, I swear. I’ve never seen a man take so long to get dressed,” she teased, pulling open the door to our suite.
“Listen, okay, this thing has a million layers and you know Karley will go batshit if everything isn’t perfectly aligned. It’s not my us-”
“Shhh.” She set a polished finger to my lips. “I know, I was pressing your buttons. And for the record, you look perfect, Mr. Carr. Handsome, dapper, sexy…”
That last one rolled off her tongue, her eyes gleaming and darkening all in one shot. I didn't miss the little smirk that curled her deep maroon lips either.
Tease.
“Walk” – I tapped her ass – “before I decide later should be now, and we keep everyone waiting longer than Karley would appreciate.”
The St. Regis was literally a seven-minute drive to St. Patrick's Cathedral. Some of the guests decided to walk, but Hazel and Maya were in sky-high heels and I knew that wouldn’t fare well as we crossed the busy streets, so we took a taxi. Manny rode up front with the cabby while I squished in the back with the girls, watching the parade of elegance strolling the sidewalks en route to our destination. When we pulled up in front of the cathedral, both Manny and I stepped out first to usher the girls out.
Hazel flashed me a wicked grin as she took my hand and collected the train of her gown in the other. “Why, thank you, kind sir.”
“Enjoy it while you can,” I warned, setting a hand at the small of her back as we made our way around the cab, “because kind is last thing I’ll be when we make it back into our room.”
“Behave,” she chided.
“You behave.”
“Group pic,” Maya announced in excitement as the taxi sped off. “I brought my selfie stick.”
“You did not,” Hazel said in amused disbelief to which Maya nodded with a gleaming smile.
“Oh yes, I totally did.”
“I could just hold the phone, you know,” I added. “I mean my arms are long enough.”
“Zip it, Carr, and smile.”
Poking my tongue out at her, the four of us huddled together with the cathedral as our backdrop. Maya clicked the button on her ridiculous selfie stick and just like that, the image was captured forever, four bright smiles at the start of a special night.
“This pic is lacking, big time,” she said, tilting her phone so Hazel could take a look.
“What’s wrong with it?” Manny asked.
“It’s missing Rey, Liv, and Luis.”
My heart sunk a little at the reminder. They were all supposed to be here, but Luis was still in the hospital and Reyna refused to come without him. As much as I wished they were here to witness Karley’s big day, I was not about to let their absence dampen our night.
“I know it is, but think about it...Luis wouldn't have been able to enjoy himself in a wheelchair. You know him, he would've been down and out the entire evening.”
“Is that my handsome son I see?” My mom’s light voice resounded from behind us, breaking up the forlorn moment.
We all spun around in time to catch them walking up, Mom latched on Dad’s arm. She nearly jumped on me as she wound her arms around my neck.
“I’ve missed you,” I admitted, melting into her embrace.
“I missed you too, baby. You look very handsome.”
“Thanks, Mom. I’d say you’re looking pretty beautiful yourself. That color suits you.”
“I told her the same thing when she walked out of the room,” my dad said, putting his arms around the two of us.
“Dad…” I smiled.
“How’ve you been, son?”
“Good, working too much.”
“Slow it down. Time goes by too quickly, trust me,” he advised, shaking me to his side just as my mom swallowed Hazel whole.
“I didn’t think it was possible for her to be more beautiful, but I stand corrected.”
“Me? Look at you,” Hazel beamed, holding her at arm's length. “Knox and Mr. C are right. Blush pink makes you glow.”
“I have to admit, I do quite like the color myself.” Mom flushed as pink as her gown, her hand draped over the diamond encrusted heart pendant around her neck.
Dad took that moment to wrap Hazel in a hug, the two of them sharing a few words I couldn't make out. I suppose he was probably telling her to whack me straight if I acted up or to call him. The latter is what I worried about, especially when he leaned over and murmured in my ear, “Don't let this one go, son. She's perfect.”
My chest puffed up with pride. Knowing my old man saw Hazel’s true beauty too was the stepping stone I'd been waiting for. I didn't even need to wait for Mom’s opinion; it was written so clearly all over her face as they chatted easily about some reno project her and dad just started in Costa Rica. Seeing them together in the same place at the same time was it.
Shortly after introducing my folks to Manny and Maya, Karley’s maid of honor and long-time BFF, Heidi, came bustling down the steps to let us know the bride was ready. All that was missing was Mom’s final approval before she walked down the aisle. We followed Heidi inside and separated with Manny and Maya at the doors as they went to take their seats. This place was incredible, leaving me almost as awestruck as I'd been when I first saw Hazel in that blue dress. The ceilings were miles high, joining together at a peak in an intricate design with gold details. Thick, bone white columns and pointed arches separated the dark pews lining the marble aisle that ran down the middle of the cathedral to the altar. From this far back, I couldn't see the altar well, but it looked as grand as everything else. It’s no wonder Karley had dreamed of getting married here since she first visited New York back in her early years of college.
“Hazel, your bouquet,” Heidi said suddenly, and when I turned my head, I sucked in a deep breath.
The small bunch of flowers in her hand completed the look. She was all the more perfect, if that were even possible. I couldn’t stop staring…
“What?” she asked as we settled ourselves into the procession line.
“Nothing, you just…”
“I just what?”
“Nothing, I’m just gawking.” I played it off, holding out my arm to her as the flower girl started her way down the aisle. “Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be,” she said with a soft smile.
Then on Heidi’s mark, Hazel and I made our way down to the front of the church, and all the while, I thought my heart would burst out of my fucking chest.