Waverly

Archer and I are to be married in a small ceremony in the palace chapel. It turns out even with the king’s approval, it takes longer than a few hours to put together a wedding. I stare at myself in the mirror and smile at the simplicity of my gown. Knee-length white lace with a scalloped collar. The birdcage veil is my favorite part. It reminds me of Archer’s name for me.

“You’re a vision, darling,” Mum says as she stands behind me and looks into the mirror. She toys with a lock of my hair, positioning it just so. “I wish your father could be here to walk you down the aisle.”

Sadness grips me, but I push it aside. “I have Ryder.”

She squeezes my shoulder. “I know, thank God for that.”

Alina bounds into the room, her light and flowing rose colored gown perfect on her slight frame. “I’ve been sent to collect the bride.” I nod and smile, ready to marry the man I’ve dreamed of for years. “But first, I have something for you…from your groom.”

She hands me a small package wrapped in light blue paper. “What is this?” Delight floods me as I tear into the paper. The box is black velvet and when I open it, my eyes well with tears. Inside is a delicate platinum chain with an intricate sparrow in the middle. The chain is linked to each wing and it looks as though the bird is in flight.

“A bird?” Alina asks.

“He calls me sparrow,” I whisper.

“Here, let me help,” she says, taking the necklace and putting it around my neck. It fits perfectly, the bird nestling just below my collar bones.

Then she grabs my bouquet of calla lilies and hands them to me. The soft strains of a string quartet echo in the stone hallway as we walk toward the sanctuary. “I’m nervous,” I admit.

“You’re perfect. Just wait until he sees you. All your nerves will vanish.” My mother’s words are uttered with such strength and certainty that I can’t help but believe them.

I catch sight of my brother waiting at the entrance to the sanctuary, and my mother and sister head down the aisle, leaving me with Ryder. He takes my arm and smiles. “Ready, little sister?”

I nod, but my stomach is in knots. “What if I fall?”

“I won’t let you.”

“What if he changes his mind?”

“I’ll imprison him.”

I laugh then, louder than I should. “Okay, I’m ready.”

We walk slowly, in time with the music, and the moment we breach the open doorway my gaze finds Archer. Time stops, the world around us pinpointing to him and me. His dark eyes burn with intense happiness, and the sweet smile on his lips is all for me. “I don’t think he’s going anywhere,” Ryder whispers.

“No. He’s definitely staying.” He promised me after all. Archer will never leave, just like I will never stop loving him.

When we reach the altar, Ryder kisses my cheek and offers my hand in marriage, but most of that is a blur because I can’t take my eyes off my handsome guardsman. Archer links hands with me and pulls me close, probably a little too close, but I don’t care. All I want is to start my forever with this man. We repeat our vows, exchange rings, and then it’s time for the kiss. I don’t know what my husband will do, and honestly, I just need his lips sealing this promise between us.

He leans in and whispers, “Hold on tight, Sparrow.” Then he dips me low and kisses me until my knees go weak.

The small congregation claps and cheers as we exit the chapel amid a flurry of falling rose petals as we run to our waiting car. As soon as we get inside, hidden behind the dark privacy windows he’s on me, lips and tongue, hands roaming my body. “I love you so much, Sparrow. I can’t believe you’re finally mine.”

“I’ve always been yours. From day one.”

“But now I can keep you with me. I can fly with you and make a home with you. You’re my home.”

The car starts moving, whisking us away to our honeymoon at our ski chalet in the mountains, and his hands are busy, working my stockings off my legs, unzipping my dress, baring me to him. “Impatient, are we?”

“Yes. I haven’t had you in weeks. I don’t want to waste any more time.”

His cock is a length of steel inside his tuxedo pants. “Well, then, I definitely don’t want to cause you more discomfort.” I unzip him and pull his erection out, running my fingers over the tightly stretched skin and making him moan.

“Do you remember when I told you I wanted to put a baby inside you?” he asks, and my God, I swear I have a mini-orgasm from those words.

“Yes,” I breathe.

“I’d really like to do that. I want to start our family. I know we only got married less than an hour ago, but I’ve known you were my future since the first day we met.”

“I’m so glad you said that.” I straddle him and place his blunt head at my entrance. “Because,” I say, sinking down onto him. “I stopped taking the pill a week ago.”

“Fuck.” His groan makes me shudder in pleasure.

Harsh breaths, soft kisses, moans and whimpers become all we are as we ride our way to climax. The rasp of his slightly stubbled jaw over my sensitive skin, mixed with the spicy scent of him and the taste of his tongue sends me exploding around him. When he cries my name and jerks under me, I take a moment to feel him pulsing, filling me, claiming me as his.

After a few minutes, I do my best to clean up and put myself back together, then we sit together, my head on his shoulder as we continue the ride to our honeymoon and the beginning of our forever. Archer is everything I’ve ever wanted, and now he’s mine. I’ll never let him go.