“I intend to,” he said, kissing my hand. He led me up the stairs to Ezen and Tiesa and the four of us walked into the courthouse together.
Chapter Seven
Married
“Do you, Thayde Dartmoth, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold until death do you part?”
We stood, hand in hand, in front of the judge and our best friends. Thayde hadn’t taken his eyes off me the entire time.
“I do, forever and always,” he answered.
“Do you, Morgan James, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold until death do you part?”
YES! I wanted to scream.
“I do, forever and always.” I repeated Thayde’s words and watched him break into a smile that could have graced the cover of any fashion magazine.
“Then by the power vested in me by the State of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
Is this real?
“You may kiss your bride.”
Thayde’s soft lips touched mine lightly and lingered as he breathed me in. In a quick move, he pulled me close to him, kissing me deeply. Ezen and Tiesa began to clap, but I could hardly hear them. I was wrapped in Thayde’s love, the energy circling, melding us together.
When we pulled apart, it was as if we were stuck in molasses. The bond between us was so much stronger than I had felt it before and it made me feel warm and fuzzy. Before I knew it, Thayde cradled me in his strong arms.
“You’re my love,” he whispered in my ear.
I didn’t hear myself answer, it was so surreal I wondered if I was dreaming.
“Is this real?” I asked.
“Yes baby, this is very real.” He carried me outside to the limo and I hugged Tiesa and Ezen.
“Will I see you before you leave?”
Ezen nodded. “You’ll see all three of us before we go.”
Thayde and I climbed into the limousine and Jimmy shut the door. I waved at Tiesa and Ezen from the window. As I sat back in the seat, Thayde watched me with those seductive blue eyes. How was I going to survive without him?
“Do you like your ring?” He asked shyly.
I had barely noticed the ring. All I’d been able to focus on was him. I looked down at my hand to see a large round two carat diamond with about seventy smaller diamonds on either side. It was breathtaking.
“It’s lovely Thayde. Thank you,” I smiled. “What did I do to deserve you?”
“What did I do?” He asked and kissed me. His urgency was so passionate, I wanted to cry. He pulled me onto his lap, his arms wrapping themselves around me and one hand making its way to the back of my neck. He tasted like mint and I felt as if I were glowing. For a brief moment, Thayde stopped and looked me in the eyes.
“Morgan, would you mind if we didn’t go back to The Castle?”
“Where do you want to go?” I asked, not really wanting to talk.
“It’s a surprise,”
“Let’s go there,” I had barely uttered the words before he covered my mouth with his.
Jimmy drove us to the harbor and pulled alongside a long red carpet leading to a white yacht.
“This is where we’re staying?” It was almost too much.
“Have you ever been on a yacht?” Thayde asked, leading me down the carpet.
“No,” I said.
“Then you can’t judge it before you try it,” he teased.
We were welcomed aboard by the Captain who left after informing us we’d be setting sail immediately. A butler showed us to our private deck just off our room.
“Where are we going?” I leaned against the rail. The frothy water broke around the yacht’s bow as the ship got underway.
“We’re just going out to sea.” He pressed himself up against me. “I want to forget our problems for just one night.”
My arms entwined themselves around his neck and I stared into those ocean blue eyes. This wonderful, handsome, caring man who was now my husband was going to be leaving in the morning. Tears threatened to spill down my cheeks.
“Morgan,” Thayde shook his head. “Don’t.”
“I can’t help it.” I swallowed hard, trying to blink back the tears.
“Do you love me?” His voice sounded desperate.
“Of course!”
“Then just kiss me.”
He lifted me into his arms and carried me to our bedroom. Despair threatened to overtake my emotions and that was the last thing I wanted to have happen on our wedding night. Instead, I focused on loving Thayde.
Setting me on my feet, he turned me around so my back was against his chest. His soft lips found my neck and delicately traced it down to my shoulder. I felt his hand at my back as he took hold of the zipper.
“I love you so much,” he said. “I have always loved you.” The sound of my dress being unzipped made me shudder.