What Love Is

Lawfully claimed

" Oui , hurry , chop chop—"
"OH FOR GOD'S SAKE , we're all out of  our respective limousines Yaya! , quit screaming"Susie exclaimed , her pretty glossed lips twitching , I giggled again , and again when I caught Kendall falling face flat on the red carpeted floor behind Joe , he sharply turned when he heard the loud thud and helped his sister up before anyone else turned their heads. I heard Lisa cackle.

Hahaha..Too late.
Upon all the things I should be concentrating on right now , I just couldn't help laughing each time Sandra or the members of the Banks family enthusiastically run around during our preparation to get here on time . I felt so calm and uneasy all at the same time. Sandra and Caroline busied themselves with my long laced gown.
" You are so beautiful child , God bless your soul" My dad muttered to me , taking my right hand and placing it in his.
Those words sent a chill through me , a megawatt smile followed up.

Uhuh..That's the first for the day..

"It's time sweetheart" Mom gestured to the church gates , Susie and Aunt Yaya standing beside her , they all flashed me an encouraging smile as they lined up like we rehearsed and moved into the massive church building with the bridesmaids leading.
Taking a right turn  , they were out of sight. I sucked in air , turning to my dad. His eyes smiled , I always did love it when it did.
"Ready?"I asked when I nervously tightened my grip on him , He laughed.
"That was my line"He said before taking a step forward.
"I am"I smiled at him , walking by his side , into the hall.

~~~
I took a few seconds to admire the beautiful flowers that decorated the aisle and the entire hall. As I walked down the aisle with so many people on their feet, watching me. I still couldn't believe this was reality. I was getting married today , meant to exchange vows in front of hundreds of people.
My eyes spotted the one soul in the hall that had given me the whole galaxy when I only imagined a single planet of happiness.
Caesar Leo Banks , my Caesar , standing near the priest, along with his best man , Edward and Alex , who I had only seen in a video call till now. Close pals of Caesar's who owned huge businesses abroad had gotten here right in time.
I switched my gaze back to him , eyeing his elegant black suit. I knew he was watching me even before I gazed right into his eyes , he passed me a heart warming smile , his eyes sending a message I couldn't get a second to figure out since the pianist halted his melody and he warmly took my hand from my father's.
I couldn't take my eyes off him after he smiled even more , his face devoid of any doubt or reluctance , the first few words of the priest escaping me.
••••

Caesar's eyes focused on mine as he put the wedding ring on my ring finger , he glanced down for a split second to smile at the ring on my finger and looked back up just in time for me to put his ring on. The hall burst in claps.
"Finally"Caesar whispers , playfully rolling his eyes ,I unsuccessfully stifle a laugh. With the crowd silenced , the priest calmly asked us to repeat after him.
"I ,Kayla Aniya Wills , take you Caesar Leo Banks as my lawfully wedded husband ,to have and to hold from this day forward , for better for worse , for richer for poorer ( I could swear I heard a few scoff) , in sickness and in health to love and to cherish from this day forward , until death do us part."

"I ,Caesar Leo Banks , take you, Kayla Aniya Wills as my lawfully wedded wife ,to have and to hold from this day forward , for better or for worse , for richer , for poorer( Even more scoffs and hoots , I caught Caroline giggling) , in sickness and in health to love and to cherish from this day forward , until death do us part." He tightened his hold on my partly gloved hands ," Till infinity and beyond" He whispered right after that. A flashed him a goofy smile , barely
hearing what the priest proclaimed after that except for the words that had the crowd cheering me back to my senses.

"—I now pronounce you husband and wife , you may now kiss your bride"

Caesar reached for my veil , rolling it up till it was out of the way.

HUH? , He stared right into your eyes the whole time. This VEIL was NOT in the way..
Shussh , my husband's looking at me in that way..

The sexy- grin way???!!
Yeah sub-conscious!

Kiss him , girl!!!?

Caesar's hands reached for my waist as we shared a slow kiss. The hundreds of people going wild.
"Leave the rest for the night man , quit showing off"I heard Edward's hushed voice , before Caroline came in  , Sandra and Alex cheering with everyone else.
"Hey hey , we get it , she's yours , you're hers , every man and woman here  digested the current unavailability of you two! , He's messing up your lip gloss Kayla!"
I grinned along with Caesar as we pulled back from each other.
We were in a different world as Caesar turned to the congregation , lifting up my left hand , I chuckled , my free hand pointing to my ring finger. I noticed Mom and Susie clapping ,  tissues clasped. Dad and James embraced each other.
This was it...the four lettered word.
"Ready Mrs Banks?"
"Ready"I passed Caesar a confident smile , joy rushing through me.

****
"Caroline is gonna kill us for this"
I laughed out , running out of the back door of the  premises with Caesar Banks , leaving our wedding party , full of  guests behind. A white  Rolls Royce drove in and Caesar let me go in first , joining me afterwards with the tail of my gown in his hands.
"Congratulations Mr and Mrs Banks"Max turned to us , flashing as a big smile before driving into the main road. We muttered a breathless  "thank you Max" . Caesar laid the lace down.
"I'll call her when we're on the plane , Jesus! , Carol will definitely give me a panic attack one of these days , Kay , a wedding party shouldn't last that long"Caesar grumbled , taking out two bottles of water from a cooler in the car. I marveled at the interior of the vehicle.

Amuse , amuse me. Amuse me.

" I know babe , The fifth opera singer did it for me"I sighed , playing back the memories. The location picked for the after party was definitely the best. It looked more like a ballroom. Red carpets , gold chandeliers, peach and gold decorations and  glass furniture arranged for the guests screamed both simplicity and elegance. It was beautiful , the dream! , Aunt Yaya ,Susie and Mom really did set everything up so nicely with the help of the wedding planner. The music , the buffet , oh the buffet!  , the lighting , the performances , the speeches from the family were just right.

When right is an understatement.
Totally

Caroline might have gotten a little carried away with the list of entertainers. Everyone else seemed so engrossed with the whole show but Caesar and I just wanted to be alone.

—And you were definitely dying to know the surprise Caesar kept whispering in your ear about.

Uhuh ,I was itching to know where Caesar had chosen for our honeymoon.
Taking a long sip of the water ,I glanced at Caesar as he quietly typed a message on his phone.
I rolled my eyes , not today.
"—Kay , baby wait—"
I snatched the modern phone from him , stuffing it beneath my long gown , He stared down , following my silly gesture with a quirked up eyebrow , then a smirk when he looked up at me.
"Kayla , if you wanted to make out in the backseat, you could have just said so , though , that's another—"
"—Caesar!"I cut him off , glancing at Max. He shrugged , looking back at where i stuffed his phone.
" You know , that wasn't business , I was informing Dad to break the news of our 'escape' "He said , dramatically muttering the 'e' word.
"Great "I sighed in relief.
"Can I have my phone back now?"He grinned.

Those dimples are 'evil'

"Tell me where you're taking me first"I challenged him with my seductive smirk , though badly yearning to kiss and embrace him, he read right through my act.
"What's wrong darling? , can't wait for a few hours while your beloved starved for months?"He said in a small voice loud enough for me to hear , dimples in display. I glance back at Max , not wanting him to see us being intimate in the least way.
My whole body felt hotter , fervent with desire when Leo's now hooded eyes roamed on my lips. Now what cheeky , less triggering response do I give to that?
"I need—(What?)—erh—to change clothes , yeah , traveling in a wedding gown isn't a plan"I settled for a statement. He laughed lightly.
"That would be taken care of when we get to the jet , Trust me , I've got this"He proclaimed.
"Private jet?...sure"I gulped.
"I know it's your first flight Kay, For better for worse , yeah? , I'm sure I can handle you puking , wife "He grimaced.
"Oh cut it out! "I giggled , embracing him. I really couldn't keep my hands off this man.