Sharp Edges

Chapter Nineteen

The Wedding Part Two

The evening turned to night with dancing, food, and sharing about the old days. They allowed a few drunken speeches before the party began to wind down.

Yelena turned to James as she sat beside him at the table. "Should we say goodnight?" she asked quietly between the two of them before she pecked his lips.

"If you're ready," he told her. "We can make the rounds and tell everyone good night."

She nodded and stood before reaching for his hand. "Come on," she encouraged before she moved with him from person to person.

Cara was excited for her night with Clint, Natasha and Steve, though she'd be in bed before too long. She trusted that she'd see her parents in the morning.

They stopped last at Steve and Natasha. "Thank you for everything, both of you. It's not often to find people like you..."

"You deserve all of this," Natasha told her. "We're happy to be a part of it and to see you happy."

Yelena leaned into James. "And thank you for watching Cara tonight. Though I don't think she'll fight sleep too hard after the day she's had."

Steve nodded. "It's no trouble. We love having her around. All of you are family."

"Thank you," Yelena said again. "We'll see you in the morning." She stepped back with James then and left the room, heading down the hall with him. She looked up adoringly at him as they walked. "I love your new look, handsome, I really do."

As they reached the elevator, James looked over at her. "You do?"

She nodded, reaching up to run her fingers through his much shorter hair. "Is this your new James look?" She asked fondly.

"Technically is the old James look," he told her. "Just a bit shorter on the sides."

"Oh, that's fair... well I like new James and old James," she told him surely as they stepped into the elevator.

He chuckled softly as he pressed the button for their floor. "Thank you. I'm glad you like it."

"Do you like my dress?" she asked, looking down at the gold beaded gown. "I'm surprised I went with white at all, but... it makes me feel beautiful."

He turned and gently grasped her chin, tilting her head towards him. "You're exquisite."

His words made her melt and caused her to smile. She wanted to look nice for him, to make him smile like this. "Wait until you see what's underneath it," she whispered heatedly as the elevator dinged at their floor.

James raised a brow curiously. "I'm eager to find out."

She tugged him off of the elevator and towards the room, though she stopped once she reached the door to look up at him. "Did you want to carry me across the threshold?" she asked with a playful smile.

"If you'd like me to," he told her. "Lady's choice tonight."

"I think I want you to," she said, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. "We'll have to do it again at the new house, though."

He chuckled and nodded as he bent to pick her up bridal style. "We can do that."

She reached down to open the door and push it open before she allowed him to carry her inside. She giggled softly at the tradition before she turned her head to look up at him. "Now lock the door, soldier."

James turned and pushed the door shut with his foot allowing Yelena to lock the door. "All locked, Mrs. Barnes."

Her smile grew as he addressed her that way. "Good, Mr. Barnes," she replied, turning to take a few deliberate steps his way after he'd let her down. "Would you like to help me out of this dress?"