The Wedding Night (The Billionairess, #3.5)

II. The Wedding

The ceremony was modest. While Rose had found an appropriately grand church, the attendance itself was humble. My family, Rose's extended family, and a dozen of our friends were seated in the pews. Despite the fact that Rose had enough money to go wild, she insisted on a simpler affair.

"Our love speaks for itself," Rose had told me. "Material means can't express it enough."

Meanwhile, the block outside the church was crowded with people. Reporters with cameras or people who just wanted to catch a glimpse inside. The whole world wanted to see the wealthiest woman in the world get married, but Rose closed the door on them. This was her wedding, and she didn't need the media vultures penetrating our little world.

I stood at the alter by the minister. Lance and the groomsmen were behind me. I tried not to look like I was visibly sweating shaking, but I'm pretty sure I was visibly sweating and shaking. And it wasn't just because all the eyes were on me. It was becuase I was awaiting one specific pair of eyes to find me.

The piano swelled with the opening notes of "Here Comes the Brides." The music echoed off the towering walls and arches of the church. Every rose from their seats as the doors on the other end of the church opened wide.

And there she was.

My bride.

My wife.

My goddess.

Rose emerged from the vestibule and onto the aisle. She walked alone down the long red carpet that ran down the center of the pews, a large bouquet of her namessake in her hands. I felt so hot I thought I might faint, but I cleared my throat and tugged at my collar to bring myself back to my senses.

At any wedding, the bride's dress is always a point of interest. And this was especially the case with Rose Delcourt. She was an incredibly wealthy businesswoman and, according to many publications, a fashion icon. Her dress had to be nothing short of magnificent.

And it did not disappoint.

Her dress was an immaculate ballgown of white and gold, glittering and shimmering in the candlelight of the church. A shining crown on her head held her long white veil in place. She was etherally beautiful in a way that was almost painful to look at, like it was sin to look upon her. She was like some goddess that had emerged from a world of divine, a place beyond us mere mortals. And once again, my whole body began to sweat and shiver with fear.

Lance must have sense the nervousness return to my body, because I felt him give me a pat on the shoulder from behind.

"You got it, bro," he whispered.

I tried to keep my composure as Rose made her way down the central aisle. God, she was beautiful. Divine, even, as befitting a goddess. As she grew closer, I could smell the perfume wafting off her, and it made me want to bury myself in her soft flesh.

But I didn't, because we had a ceremony to complete. Rose reached my end of the asile and stood before me, Through her hazy veil, I could see her red-lipstick smile and her blue eyes looking back at me.

I tried to keep my hands gentle and steady as I reached for her veil. I lifted it over her head to reveal her face. My goodness, I didn't want to wait for the minister. I wanted to kiss her right then. I didn't want to wait another second before I could be her husband."

"We are gathered here today," the minister said. "To join Thomas James Luxembourg and Rose Hannah Delacourt in holy matrimony."

He turned to face me.

"Do you, Thomas James Luxembourg, take Rose Hannah Delacourt to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

It took me a moment to respond, in part because I could feel all the eyes, especilly hers, boring into me, and it made me sweat. But also because there were too many words on my tongue, all battling for dominance, all demanding to be spoken.

Yes I do I always have I was born to find this woman and now she has found me and I don't to live another day without her this woman is my soulmate and my mistress and my best friend and my keeper and I want to be hers forever.

But then my eyes met Rose's, and suddenly the whole world fell away. It was just the two of us in the world. Everything melted away like foam in the sea.

"Yes," I said. "I do."

The minister nodded then turned to Rose.

"And do you, Rose Hannah Delacourt," he said. "Take Thomas James Luxembourg to be your husband?"

She gave me the warmest smile I had ever seen, one that sent a warm peace swepeing thorugh my heart.

"I do," she said.

My heart was racing in my ribcage, and I couldn't stop the enormous smile bursting on my face. The candlelight of the church seemed to brighten, filling the room with beautiful light and heat. I heard someone sniffing, and I realized it was Lance.

"But the power invested in me," the minister said. "I now pronounce you...husband and wife."

The minister turned to Rose, and gave her a sly grin.

"You may now kiss the groom," he said.

Rose took my face in her hands and brought her lips to mine. The while church erupted into appaluse as everyone stood clapping. I pulled Rose closer into my arms. I realized in that moment that heaven is not a place,  it's a moment. And it was was there in that church, with my mistress in my arms.

Rose pulled her lips from mind, then bought them to my ear.

"And by the power invested in me," she whispered. "I now pronounce us, mistress and slave."

Her words sent my body trembling. I pulled her back into a kiss, and she ran her fingers up through my hair. I could feel her heart racing by mine, as if our hearts were trying to each other through our chests.

Rose took my hand, and we walked down the aisle towards the church exit. Around us everyon was applauding and crying and cheering. Emily and Lance were holding each other, tears in their eyes and smiles on their faces.

We stepped out the doors of the church and the camera started clicking. We stood at the top of the church steps as a sea of reporters tried to catch our picture and ask us questions.

Rose squeezed my hand and whispered in my ear.

"Don't speak to anyone," she said. "Just hold my hand and follow me."

A limo was pulled up to the front of the church ready to take us to the reception. Rose held my hand in one hand and lifted her skirt with the other. I followed her down the steps, past the clicking cameras and drone of voices. But all I could see and hear was her, as she pulled me through the crowd and into the limo.

I followed her, as I would for the rest of our days.