Milkshake Hearts

Chapter 118: Speechless

The breathlessness hits him harder than he has ever felt before. He lets his eyes travel up and down her body a couple of times before they settle on hers. He opens his mouth, as if to say something, but he can't find the words and instead he closes it again and stays silent, reaching his hands out in front of him to take hers. He can feel the tears leaking from his eyes despite his attempts to press his lips together and hold back the flood of emotion he feels, watching tears run much the same down her own cheeks.

"Shayne," she breathes, tone heavy with affection as she takes a small step to bring them even closer together. It somehow makes him cry even harder, his mind overflowing with everything he can't yet work out how to put into words.

He vaguely hears the photographer's camera come to a stop a minute later, and quickly following that, he hears both doors open – he had truthfully not even registered Kari's presence – and the others step out of the courtyard, leaving them with a moment to themselves. It is then that he finds a way to communicate what he's feeling, dropping her hands only to let his arms slide around her waist and hold her close.

"You being shy, or I have I really got you that speechless?" she asks, gently, sniffling through her own tears as she embraces him in return.

"That speechless," he answers, his voice cracking as he does. He doesn't feel the need to hide anything from her, and the two-word admission breaks through the block on his mind as he reluctantly shifts back from her ever-so-slightly to again meet her eyes and take both her hands gently in his own.

"Courtney, you are... so stunning. Magical. I just-" Shayne pauses, again, still fighting for the right words. "You look absolutely gorgeous, and you look so much like, just... you. And you're standing in front of me in a beautiful white dress because you're marrying me, and I just- I love you so much."

"I love you too, darling," she murmurs her response, pressing herself against him again although she keeps hold of his hands and threads her fingers between his, "I've been dreaming about this moment for months, ever since I saw the dress myself."

"Did I cry my eyes out and lose the ability to speak in your dreams?" Shayne asks, lightly, feeling her laugh softly against him before she again steps back so she can meet his eyes.

"Not usually – but you did always give me that look I love more than I could ever explain. The one you're giving me right now," she tells him, softly, Shayne feeling yet another – somehow – rush of affection wash over him in response as he lets himself beam at her. "I'm guessing you... like the dress?"

"Like is quite the understatement," Shayne answers, keeping hold of her hands as he steps back to allow himself to look over the delicate lace again, "I love it, baby, and I don't think it could possibly suit you more. I know you're not a big dress person, but this? This is pure Courtney. And I love that I can tell you're happy in it, too. Also, it's sexy as hell without being too much."

"I love your suit too, darling. You're looking particularly gorgeous yourself," she replies, hand reaching up – still holding his – to brush against the fabric of his jacket, "and... I won't lie, yeah, I'm kinda feeling myself in this a little."

"I mean, you should," he emphasises, watching on in unabashed joy as she laughs, head tipping back slightly before she leans forward again, towards him.

"I made them give me non-transferring lipstick," Courtney comments, in response. Shayne doesn't need to be told twice, arms holding gently around her waist as he leans forward to press his lips against hers. She kisses him with just as much intensity and softness, a quiet reminder that she, too, is feeling her heart race with more love than she has ever felt before.