Chapter 19
Enzo
The wedding was inside and the ceiling was covered with roses. They were hanging from their stems, their petals casting a light red hue over the white satin chairs. The lights they covered were soft and iridescent, and the exotic hue that hung over the church somehow fit the dark desire of Serena’s eyes earlier that day.
Serena’s three brothers had spent all day threatening me with various instruments and creative deaths before helping me get ready. They were all dressed in tuxedos, prepared for their sister’s wedding day. I knew they were protective. Very protective of their sister. They would be glaring at me the entire wedding, making sure I meant every word of the vows I was about to take with her.
I kept reassuring them that they had nothing to worry about. I loved their sister greatly, and so long as I could provide she would want for nothing.
Though that didn’t stop them from painting me a picture of what my head would look like mounted on their parent’s wall.
My three best friends were processing down the aisle with Serena’s. My three best friends and her three best friends. I had really been put through the ringer with them as well. They all had a nice little talk for me and how I had showed my ass in the club that night. It was wonderful, seeing all these people who cared for Serena. It meant she was loved in more ways than she understood, which only solidified my decision in marrying her.
After all, a man was only as good as the woman at his side.
The bridesmaids were dressed in red and the groomsmen were wearing red bow ties with their suits. No one was to be in a tuxedo but me. No one was to outshine me on this day. I was in a white suit with a black button-down shirt and a black skinny tie, and I could tell when Serena saw me only moments ago that she approved of my choice of attire.
I couldn’t wait for her to rip it off my body.
I stood there, waiting for my beautiful bride to make her entrance. It didn’t matter that I had seen her before and it didn’t matter that I’d already defiled her supposed innocence only minutes before this moment. She would be more beautiful than ever before, and her white gown would be tainted with the faintest red glow of the flowers strung up just for her.
The music began to play and everyone went to rise. My eyes held the doors at the back of the church, waiting for her to process down them. I drew in a deep breath to keep my composure, but deep down I was panicking. Worrying that after all this, Serena wouldn’t trust me. Wouldn’t give me the opportunity to be the husband I knew she deserved.
There was still the slightest chance she wouldn’t show.
The doors opened with a slow glide and there she was. Dressed in that lovely satin gown with my mother’s veil trailing down her back. Her father was slowly ushering her down the aisle, beaming like the proud man I knew he felt like. She stepped in time with him, her dress sliding against the floor and collecting fallen rose petals.
But her eyes were connected with mine. Looking only at me and focusing on my presence at the end of the aisle. That cute little smile I’d come to associate with her pillowy lips lit up her eyes, and in that moment there was no person nor thing on the planet as beautiful as her. There was no one experiencing the joy I was and there was no one as ready for their future as I was in that moment.
She was looking at me like I was the only one in the room.
They got to the end of the aisle and her father offered her hand to me. I took it willingly, leading her up the couple of steps to stand with me on the platform. The priest in front of us waited for our families to sit and the music to stop, but I couldn’t hear a word he was saying.
All I could see was Serena’s beautiful hazel eyes from underneath her thick black eyelashes.
I held her hands throughout the ceremony, listening to the priest drone on. I honestly didn’t give a shit what he was saying. They were simply words that were incapable of expressing how I felt to Serena. Phrases that were meant to uphold tradition instead of communicate the unique bond the two of us had formed together.
That was a secret held only for us. One our families would never know or come to understand.
Then, it came time to recite our vows. There was nothing planned and nothing prepared on a sheet of paper for either of it. It was as traditional as it could have been, appeasing both sides of our families who had helped us throw this wedding together so quickly. I repeated everything the priest asked of me, hoping and praying Serena heard my heart crying out for her. Hoping she heard the silent pleas of my heart. How I would never leave her or hurt her or leave her wanting for anything. I hoped she heard my heart stretching for her. Bending in any way it needed to in order to accommodate the whole of the future she wished for.
The moment I said ‘I do’, I slipped that beautiful ring onto Serena’s finger and watched a tear drip down her cheek. Then it was her turn, and my eyes began to sting when she said ‘I do’.
Because I saw it in her eyes.
Those same silent pleas I had tumbling around in my head.
The room was silent, save for the priest talking. As many people as our families could have gathered were sitting in the pews of the church. The beautiful stained-glass windows were casting glows across the room, painting a beautiful picture across the landscape we would forever remember as our wedding day. The smile on Serena’s face was bright and her makeup was still untouched. Her hands were shaking within mine and I could tell her shoes were aching her feet.
But she didn’t have to worry.
I was going to massage them the moment we got into our limo.
“I now pronounce you man and wife. Enzo, you may kiss your beautiful bride.”
I pulled Serena into me and dipped her back. My hand planted into the curve of her spine and my free hand supported her head. Our lips connected and I could feel her smiling. Feel the vibrations of her giggle as she cupped my cheeks. Her body rolled into me. The slightest movement that told me exactly what she was ready for.
But she didn’t have to worry about that either.
I would give her what she wanted every night if that was what she needed from me.
Our families stood and applauded us as I picked Serena up into my arms. She squealed with delight, tossing her bouquet into the crowd. There wasn’t enough time to prepare a reception. There was going to be a massive dinner prepared by Serena’s mother at their place, but I didn’t plan on making an entrance there.
I had other plans for my beautiful bride that night.
I walked her down the aisle, cradling her close to me. Her arms threaded around my neck as her eyes danced along my face. My legs tangled up in her veil, the lace fabric wrapping around my thighs as the two of us exited the church.
I carried her all the way down the steps of the church, making my way for the limo so I could whisk her away.