Before she stepped up on the temporary dais decorated with white roses, her dad paused, kissed her cheek and whispered, “I wish you luck, my precious daughter, and should this man not treat you well, I am not so old that I cannot take him on.”
Kira returned his smile. “I promise that won’t be necessary, Daddy, but thank you for the offer to defend my honor.”
After he let her go, Kira held up the flowing floor-length white satin gown with the empire waist that somewhat concealed her growing abdomen and handed off her red-rose bouquet to Madison. She frankly didn’t care what anyone thought about her pregnant-bride status. She only cared about her future husband, who held out his hand to her.
She came to Tarek’s side and listened intently to Rafiq as he delivered a message regarding the responsibilities required for a successful marriage. After he finished, he instructed the bride and groom to face each other to deliver their own personal vows.
At that moment, every word she’d planned to say flew out of her brain, so she opted to speak from the heart. “Tarek, you were a pleasant, albeit unexpected, surprise. I choose you to be my husband for your compassion, your capacity for great love and your commitment to our children, present and future. The yacht doesn’t hurt, either.” After the spattering of laughter died down, she finished by saying, “I love you with all my heart, and always will.”
Tarek looked down for a moment, and when he returned his gaze to hers, Kira saw unmistakable emotion reflecting from his eyes. He declared his love in Arabic, spoke his feelings about her in French, then concluded in English. “I stand before these witnesses and my family to vow that you will not want for anything during our life together. I look forward to waking with you by my side every morning, retiring with you each night and spending my days in pursuit of your happiness, for if you are truly happy, then so am I. I also vow to be actively involved in midnight feedings and diaper-changing, as ordained by my brother Adan.”
Another bout of chuckles ensued, yet Tarek’s expression grew serious. “What you have taught me has more value than any fortune. I love you, rohi.”
My soul...
For Kira, that said it all.
“With the power vested in me as the king of the sovereign country of Bajul, I respectfully pronounce you husband and wife. And since you are clearly impatient to do so, you may now kiss your bride, Tarek.”
Per Rafiq’s final directive, Tarek put his arms around Kira and gave her a gentle, heartfelt kiss. Madison returned the bouquet to Kira before they left the dais and headed down the aisle to applause and well-wishes.
When they reached the hallway, Tarek guided Kira into his private study and closed the door. He came back to her and drew her into a close embrace.
“Shall we begin the honeymoon now?”
Kira playfully slapped at his arm with the flowers. “We have to attend the reception first.”
He nuzzled her neck. “They will not miss us as long as there is food.”
And there would be a lot of food. Kira had been actively involved in planning the ceremony for the past month, when she hadn’t been hanging out in bed with her fiancé. “Patience, my dear husband. We have plenty of time for that. After all, you’ll have me all to yourself for three weeks on your yacht.”
He grinned like the sexy devil he could be. “And we can be very daring.”
“As long as no one sees my enlarging stomach.”
He touched the place that housed their child with such sweet reverence, Kira almost cried. “This is for my eyes only. And you are still beautiful.”
With Tarek, she sincerely felt beautiful. “Well, husband, now that we’re married and we’ve moved Yasmin here, guess there’s only one thing left to do, aside from the honeymoon.”
He sent her a quizzical look. “What would that be, wife?”
“Have a baby.”
* * *
“I swear this baby is never going to get here!”
As he smoothed his palm over Kira’s damp forehead, Tarek had never felt so helpless in his life. “Soon, rohi.”
“Very soon,” Maysa said from her perch at the end of the bed. “I need one more push, Kira.”
Panic was reflected in his wife’s eyes. “What if I can’t do that?”
“You will,” Tarek said as he slid his arms beneath her for support.
Kira’s low moan shot straight to his soul, but his baby’s cry shot straight to his heart. He glanced toward the sound to see Maysa lifting the child up and saying, “It’s a girl!” As she placed the baby on Kira’s chest, Tarek witnessed her motherly instincts immediately set in, touching him deeply.