The Wrong Bride

30

I yawn and sit up from the bed, glancing at the digital clock on the nightstand.

4:55 PM

It's time for me to get ready for the anniversary party. Today marks forty years of marriage for Amy and Carl, and they are throwing a big celebratory party in honor of their marriage.

Forty years.

That's a long way. A long ride of love, commitment, and a few misunderstandings here and there, but at the end of the day that's what makes up a marriage.

I glance down at the ring on my finger. Very soon I'll be starting mine too, and I hope with every breath I take, that Sebastian and I will be able to do forty. Forty and over. I hope we can do it forever.

Just then, the bedroom door clicks open, and Sebastian enters, holding a tray filled with sandwiches, cookies, and a glass of juice.

He places them on my vanity table, where I'm about to do my makeup and get ready, before placing a soft kiss on my lips, "Hey"

I smile, wrapping my arms around his neck, and his hands find my waist, holding on like he always does.

"I brought you a snack. Thought you would be hungry when you wake up"

I look to the tray, and a smile tugs at my lips, "Thank you. You are always so sweet"

"You deserve more than that my love. Everything. The whole world" he says, pecking me once more. "I need to make a phone call. Why don't you eat up and get ready?"

I nod in response, and he kisses me again, a little deeper this time, before he shakes his head, a smile on his lips, and leaves the room.

God, I love the man. I hope we can do forty. I hope we can do it forever.

☆☆

I slip on the burgundy gown Sebastian ordered for me. It fits perfectly and clings to my body like a second skin. It has a low cut at the back that ends just before the dip to my butt begins. The front has a sweetheart neckline that exposes a good amount of cleavage, but leaves a lot of room for imagination, with an off-the-shoulder design.

It is tight at the waist and clings to my hips, but has a long slit at the thigh. The whole design is finished off with little diamond studs scattered all over that catch the light every time I move or take a step.

It is beautiful, and it makes me feel sexy, wanted, and powerful.

"You look like a temptress. My temptation" Sebastian says, and I turn to see him standing at the door, and the look he is giving me, that look, makes me breathless.

"But it missing something," he says, walking closer to where I am standing.

"What could be missing from this look and this dress Sebastian? It is beautiful"

"It is just a normal dress Sweetheart, you make it look good," he says with a smirk, before revealing a jewelry case.

Inside is the most beautiful necklace I have ever seen.

"Sebastian this is too much," I say, as tears well in my eyes

He takes my jaw between his thumb and forefinger, "Nothing is ever too much when it comes to you. I told you already love, you deserve everything, and I am going to give it all to you"

"I don't even want to know how much this costs"

"That doesn't matter. The cost doesn't matter. You are worth it all" he kisses me chastely, and I let out a little giggle when I see the lipstick smudge he has going on.

"What?" He asks and I shake my head

"You have a little something here..." I trail off, placing my lips on his, eager to kiss him some more. I wrap my arms around his neck, wanting to have him impossibly closer.

His fingers trace my exposed back, and I shiver, my heartbeat picking up.

Every touch from him is like fire dancing across my skin. I'm never going to get enough. He makes me feel alive and wanted. He makes me feel loved. And I am forever going to be grateful that we found our way back to each other.

He moves his lips to my jaw, trailing kisses from my collarbone to neck, before sucking on my sensitive skin there, making me gasp with pleasure. He lightly bites me, and I can't help but laugh at how ticklish it feels. He releases my neck with a pop, before trailing his thumb over his work of art.

"Did you just give me a hickey?" I ask, giving him an accusing look

"Seb, how am I going to cover this up?"

"Whoever said anything about covering it up?" He smirks "That lovebite is an exhibition and I want everyone to know that you belong to me and no one else" he winks, leaving me speechless

He did that on purpose. The sneaky thing!

"Now turn and let me put this on you," he says, and I turn and raise my long hair, as he slips on the beautiful ruby teardrop-shaped necklace.

"We can announce it there tonight," he says, raising my left hand which has the ring finger on it. The action causes the diamond to sparkle

"Do you want to do this with me?" I ask, my eyes meeting his in the mirror in front of us "Do you want to marry me?"

He turns me around to face him, looking at me directly in the eye, "More than anything I've ever wanted in my life. You accepted me again Emerald, you gave me a second chance at love, even life itself, and if I don't claim you as mine for the whole world to know, if I don't make you my wife, then I'm a damn fool"

"But then I can't give you everything, you know that," I say, looking away, and wiping the tear that slips from my eye

"There are a thousand and one solutions to that problem, baby. We can always adopt. The most important thing is that you and I are together." He says, and pulls me to his chest, embracing me in a sweet comforting hug.

Even though I can't bear his children, being with him like this, is peace. Peace I've always longed for.

And I know a certain part of me is always going to long for that feeling of bringing babies to the world for Seb, babies with eyes like his and hair like mine, but then I am still grateful.

Content.