ANABEL

 

“Are you nervous?” Sienna asks from her chair.

We’re all closed in a big wedding suite on the top floor of the hotel Emily booked for the wedding. Both Emily and Mom are downstairs checking the last-minute details before they join us in here to take some pictures and help me get dressed.

Meanwhile, the girls and I are getting dolled up. Sienna called in a favor and got us one of professional hair and makeup stylists she worked with before. Her gift to me. And she asked Johnny to be a photographer at the wedding since we wanted to keep it small, simple, and most importantly, private.

I look at my two best friends, smiling softly.

“Nope.”

“Not even a little?” Val adds.

I shake my head no which ends up messing my hair up and making the stylist scowl at me, so I sit still.

“This is it. William is it for me. I’ve know it for a long time. We’re just making it official.” I look at Sienna, laughing quietly. “And I know how to cook, so it’s not like he’ll suddenly change his mind and dump me.”

Her eyes narrow, but she can’t help but join me. Val looks at us, confused. She wasn’t there when Sienna and J.D. got married, so she doesn’t understand the joke. Sienna tells her all about her meltdown before the ceremony while I try to keep still as the makeup artist applies falsies and mascara.

They are both ready, dressed in matching red dresses. The design is simple—tiny straps over their shoulders with V neck satin dress that hugs their bodies and falls to the floor. Sienna didn’t want to look like tent or whale—her words not mine—and Val looks good in almost anything so she went along.

The door opens, Mom and Emily slide inside carefully closing the door behind.

“Everything is perfect!” Emily excitedly claps her hands. “The only missing thing is the bride.”

Both stylists fuss around me for a few more seconds before they take a step back, calling it quits.

Mom comes behind me, her hands wrapping around me. Her black hair is pulled into a bun, just a few strands curl around her face. Her eyes are more green than brown today, and I can see tears form in them, but she doesn’t let them fall.

“The dress?” Mom smiles at me. It’s big and genuine, and I know she’s happy for me.

I nod my head. “I’m ready.”

Just like what we did for Sienna’s wedding, they don’t let me turn around until I’m completely dressed and once I see my reflection in the mirror I know that this is it.

The moment I’ve been waiting for since I crashed into William more than two years ago.

The first time I laid my eyes on him I knew he’d be my undoing. Somewhere deep down inside, it’s like my soul knew William is it for me.

The missing piece of my heart.

My friend.

My protector.

My soulmate.

My home.

*

WILLIAM

 

“You aren’t nervous today,” J.D. observes out loud.

“If I were him I would be,” my brother chimes in. “Anabel is too good for him. She still has time to run as hard and as fast as she can in other direction.”

I want to roll my eyes, but I contain myself. “I think I used all the nervousness for your wedding, old guy.”

J.D. grumbles something, but the assistant my mother hired starts seating the rest of the guests in their rightful places so that ceremony can begin.

Thank fuck.

I was ready for this to be over. All I want is Anabel in my arms with my ring on her finger. As simple as that.

The music starts to play, and everybody quiets down.

Sienna’s nieces start hopping down the aisle, throwing rose petals on the floor. They enjoyed being the flower girls on their aunt’s wedding so much Bel didn’t have a heart to say no to them. She loves those girls so much.

Sienna is next waddling slowly. Even though she’ll give birth any day now she still insisted on wearing high heels. In one hand she carries a bouquet, and the other is placed protectively over her belly.

J.D. looks at his wife like a hawk. I think I hear him mutter something about “that woman” and “damn those shoes” but I’m not moving my eyes from this door for a second. I don’t want to miss seeing Anabel in her wedding dress.

The last one is Bel’s friend Valentina. She walks much faster than Sienna, thank god, and is on Bel’s side of the altar in no time.

Finally, the music changes and everybody stands up.

My hands squeeze and un-squeeze by my side. I want to see her. No, I need to see her.

They made us spend last night apart. The girls went to the hotel where they had all afternoon of pampering while the guys stayed at the Shelton residence. Just that one night apart made me miss her like crazy. I was used to her sleeping by my side, her body curled into mine seeking heat and comfort. I loved placing my hand on her still flat stomach, holding our baby close. I can’t wait for her to start showing so I can actually feel the baby move.

Then, there she is. Standing next to her father and looking more beautiful than ever.

The first thing I notice about her? It’s her smile. That big, bright, blinding smile that makes my heart race.

My hands relax by my side and I inhale sharply when my eyes take in the rest of her.

Mesmerized.

Dark hair is curled and falls down her back. It’s long, thick and glossy. My fingers itch to burry in that mess and feel the softness of the silky, midnight colored strands.

The veil that is somehow tucked in her hair falls down her back to the floor.

The dress Bel picked is creamy, rich color. The bodice is fitted, tiny straps cover her pale shoulders and V neck emphasizes her boobs that are already fuller than before. All that skin left in open begs for my lips. I want to lean down and nibble at her exposed flesh until it gets that rosy color I love so much because I know I affect her just as much as she affects me.

The skirt simply falls down her legs to the floor. As she nears, I can see the material is covered in lace with a rose pattern. It reminds me of that skirt she wore on the 4th of July party when I gave her her birthday present. The memory of that day makes me smile even harder.

At last she’s there, in front of me. I don’t wait for her father to give me her hand, I take it myself and kiss the inside of her wrist as I pull her next to me.

“I missed you, Tink,” I whisper softly so only she can hear me. “Ready to be Mrs. Price?”

She smiles that sweet smile of hers. “I’ve never been readier.”

Everybody settles, and the minister starts the service.

“Dearly beloved.”

His speech is short because we decided to keep it short and simple. Including writing our own vows.

We turn to each other, and I take both of her hands in mine, kissing the palms before I look at her beautiful face.

“Anabel.” Her blue eyes seem even bigger, somehow darker. And her red lips call me, taunt me to kiss them. “You stormed into my life. So small yet so fierce, like Tinkerbell, you brought me to my knees. I didn’t expect you, didn’t see you coming but then boom, there you were and there was no way I would ever let you walk away. Only a fool would do that, and I’m no fool.”

People chuckle, and I can see her laugh softly too. Her blue eyes are a pool of emotion.

“You fought, oh, you fought long and hard, but in the end, it didn’t matter because there was no way I’d lose the person who made me fall so hard and fast there was no return. And I never want to return to the man I was. I love you, Anabel Majer. You changed me, made me a better man, and I’ll be one lucky bastard to call you my wife forever. And even that won’t be enough, because what I feel for you is timeless. You’re my heart, Bel. My soul. My home.”

Dark lashes blink a few times, silent tears escaping. I brush my finger over her cheek, kissing her forehead.

Anabel smiles through her tears. She lifts my hands to her lips and kisses softly the knuckles like I did to her before.

“Do you want to know a secret?” She chuckles at her own words and continues without waiting for my response. “That day we met I knew it. Deep down in my bones I knew you’d be my undoing. I knew you could be the man to make me fall, so I ran. What I didn’t know was that there was no sense in running or hiding. I was already doomed. One brush of our fingers. One look. That was all it took for me to fall for you, William Price.

“And although you can be stubborn and bossy, I wouldn’t change anything. I want it all, the good and the bad, because that’s what makes us. Sometimes I feel like I’ll burst from all these feelings you wake inside of me, but then I catch myself falling even harder, falling deeper in love with you all over again. I love you, William Price. You’re my heart. My soul. My home. My forever.”

“My forever.”

The silence stretches over the room, interrupted only by soft sniffling. Anabel and I grip each other’s hands. She’s my anchor and I’m hers.

Minister clears his throat. “Can we have the rings?”

Reluctantly, we let go to get the rings. Exchanging simple, gold bands feels like lifetime.

“I now pronounce you …”

I don’t wait. I can’t. My hands cradle her cheeks as her hands go around my neck and we kiss. This kiss in not short or decent. I kiss her hard and deep. Almost desperate. My tongue goes past those red lips.

Teasing her.

Claiming her.

Loving her.

She moans into my mouth; her fingers grip my shoulders pulling me in.

Closer.

We finally break the kiss when our family and friends gather around us, ready to congratulate us.

“Our forever is officially beginning, Mrs. Price.” I plant another, much shorter kiss on her lips.

“And I can’t wait to see what other adventures forever will bring us, Mr. Price,” she whispers against my lips, placing our intertwined hands on her stomach.

We smile secretively.

“No matter what, as long as I have you, I’ll be one happy man.”