my eyes find his ocean blue ones. I get lost for a moment in the depth of emotion I can see in them.
“Rex,” I say his name breathlessly and have to fight back everything I’m feeling. “Our ride began innocently enough.” I smile at the man in front of me. “You wanted in my panties.” Everyone laughs. I lean up and whisper in his ear so only he can hear me, “That first day, you should know I wasn’t wearing any.”
He drops my hands and pulls me close, his hands moving to cup my ass in my form-fitting gown. He then drops his head to whisper in my ear, “I sincerely hope you aren’t wearing any now.”
I wink as I laugh and continue my vows. “I tried to fight the connection we shared, only to find there is no fighting destiny. The ride hasn’t always been smooth, and we have had our share of bumps along the way. In the end, it always comes back to me holding on to you and finding my place.” Reaching up, I run my hand over his long hair. “I know I’ve told you I wanted New York, but I learned while you were away that I don’t need the big city lights. I don’t need some drawn-out ceremony. What I need, Drexel, is you.
“I stand here today, in front of our friends and family, and I vow to love you for always. I vow to stand by you through all of life’s curves and changes in direction. I vow to ride with you for the rest of my days, just as you are.
“You always tell me, if I want something, I just have to ask. Today, Rex, will you vow to ride with me for the rest of your days?”
He smiles and leans down to kiss me, and Axel quickly chimes in with, “No, you can’t kiss her yet. Geez, you know the drill. We did this with Momma and Shooter. You gotta say I do and shhh … stuff,” he corrects himself before slipping.
Rex smirks and pulls his head back from mine. “You’re making me hard, Lux.”
I let out a huff sarcastically. “Everything makes you hard,” I reply, and everyone laughs.
“I knew the moment I saw you there was something different about you, about us. From the moment you stepped into this very clubhouse at that barbeque, you were the deluxe model woman. Baby, you say we started innocently enough, but there has never been anything innocent about my intentions with you. The ride hasn’t always been smooth, and we’ve had our share of bumps along the way. In the end, there isn’t anyone I want to ride with me but you.
“Caroline, I stand in front of our friends and family today, and I vow to love you for always. I vow to stand by you through all of life’s curves and changes in direction. I vow to ride with you for the rest of my days, just as you are. Baby, if you want something, anything, I vow to lay my world at your feet.
“Today, Lux, is the proudest day”—he looks at Axel—“other than the day I found out I was a dad, of my life. Today, Lux, I claim you as my ol’ lady, my lover, my best friend, and my wife. Today, I give you my last name.” He leans in and whispers, “And hopefully my baby in your belly tonight.” I gasp in surprise as he pulls back and continues, “Today, I vow that in sickness, health, richer, poorer, ups, downs, lefts, and rights, I ride with you and you ride with me until the very end of our days.”
As Tonka declares us husband and wife, Rex doesn’t wait for the command. He immediately tips my head and kisses me. Our tongues dance, our lips pull, and my heart swells as today, I am Caroline “Lux” Crews, wife and ol’ lady to Drexel “Rex” Crews, Catawba Hellions VP.
The couple we are today is stronger than either of us alone. The couple we are today commits to the ride of life together.
Ride on, it’s what we do.
It has been almost a year since I slid the ring on Princess’s finger, and I’m itching to make her my wife. She thinks we have time and isn’t in a hurry, but I fucking am. Married and babies—I really don’t give a shit what order, but I want her mine, tied to me in every way
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