She seemed to float toward me, and my heart pounded in my chest, reminding me I was alive and in love. Once she was close enough, I could see her brilliant violet eyes through the thin lace veil I’d asked her to wear. I’d wanted us to have the full experience, every bit of tradition.
Maybe that was for me, not her, but as I lifted it and took in her beloved face, I knew I’d never forget a moment of this day.
Her pink lips turned up in a soft smile.
“How are you today, about-to-be-Mrs. Porter?” I asked.
“Better now that I’ve seen you, Superstar.”
“I missed you last night. Slept like shit.”
Her gaze darted to the minister before she lowered her voice. “I missed you, too.”
I stepped forward and hugged Steve, pounding him on the back. No, we weren’t strong, but we’d get there—especially since I’d realized he was one of the only people I’d let touch my kid.
I put Aya’s hand in the crook of my arm and turned her toward the minister. “From now on, you’re in my bed.”
She giggled. “That’ll be hard to do since you tour.”
“I’m putting it in the vows.”
The minister had begun the ceremony so she couldn’t reply.
“And now for the exchanging of vows,” he said after a few moments. “I understand you wrote your own?”
“Sure did,” I said, turning to Aya.
“Aya Jane Aldringham, you make me whole, which is why I’m going to do everything in my power to keep you happy. I’m going to support your dreams and help you fight your demons. Help you, not do it for you.”
She smiled even as she shook her head.
“I’m going to sleep next to you every night I can, and I refuse to go more than a couple of days without seeing your face, hearing your voice, kissing your lips. Because I’m better, stronger, more grounded when you’re nearby. And I intend to make sure you always know that.”
She blinked back tears.
“Also, if you get sick or we go broke, I’ll still love you, but I’m going to be seriously pissed if you die. Because I won’t make it without you.”
Cam managed to turn his chuckle into a cough. The minister glowered, but fuck him. This was my life with Aya. She needed the words.
“And I promise I’ll do my best to be a good father, a present one, one our kids know cares so much more about them than any money or any record.”
Her smile dazzled me, taking my breath. So I nodded to the minister.
“Well, after those…interesting vows, would you like to say yours?”
“Yes.” Aya’s voice rang clear. “Nash Syad Porter, we’ve been through some tough times, and they’ve taught me to love fiercer and fight harder for what matters. That’s you. I’ll put you first. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you know you’re loved. I’ll fight with you to stay sober.”
She swallowed, and I followed suit, fighting the emotions rising in my throat.
“I look forward to listening to you hum your way through your days, and I want to hold you in my arms every night. But I’ll give you three days to get back in case you’re too far away.”
“Not happening,” I muttered.
Her lips twitched, and her eyes gleamed. “And I promise to love you, cherish you, and show you every day that you’re my hero.”
Damn. She knew how to get me. I inhaled, trying to stem the tears now burning in my eyes.
She squeezed my hands. “I’ll never let you drown. I’ll never leave you. And I’ll always communicate, no matter how scared I am.”
I leaned forward and pressed my forehead to hers. “Those were good vows.”
She tipped her head up a little, so our lips were nearly touching.
“Ahem. Kisses come after the exchanging of the rings,” the minister said, censure bleeding into his tone.
I ignored him and pressed a soft kiss to Aya’s lips. Then I turned and knelt in front of Ike, who bounced on his heels.
“Here you go,” he said, his little face serious. “I didn’t drop them even once.”
I gave him a fist bump. “I knew you were up for it.”
He went back to leaning against his dad’s leg as I rose.
I slipped Aya’s ring on her finger, the words drowned out by my thudding heart. She was mine. Just one more thing to do. I turned to Cam, and he was already holding the slim box.
“Thanks,” I murmured.
I turned back to Aya, nerves clogging my throat. I cleared it. “Aya, there’s one more thing I need to share with you.” I took her hand in mine. “You lost your mom, and then you also lost the malas she gave you.”
Aya’s eyes widened. “The string broke,” she whispered. “They scattered…”
“You have another set on your wrist.” I flicked the tassel with my free hand. “And I love that you wear them every day. But I know they don’t have the same connection for you as the ones your mother gave you.”
I opened the lid of the jeweler’s box. She gasped, her fingers to her lips, the large diamond I’d put on her finger weeks ago gleaming in the sunlight.
“How did you…” Her voice trailed off as tears filled her eyes.
“I stayed,” I said, my voice soft, just for her. “And I collected all but one.”
I hadn’t known what to do with them. Having them restrung would have been the simplest option, but I’d hesitated since one was missing. When I’d found the jade beads on my way home that afternoon, I’d known those were what Aya needed to help her heal. But that left these twenty-six beads, which I’d had set along a gold chain, interspersed with an equal number of pearls. I slipped my hand under the gems and pulled it out.
“Pearls represent perfection. Also, long life and fertility.” I winked. I made a twirl motion and she complied.
I slid the necklace around her neck and shifted her hair to the side as I clasped it there. “The garnets were your mother’s promise to you; the pearls are mine. We both love you, and we both want you to be happy.” I kissed her neck just above the necklace, desire rocketing through me as she shivered. She turned and pressed her lips to mine, her bouquet against my cheek.
I wasted no time deepening the kiss.
“Well, you’re married now at least,” the minister muttered even as he chuckled. He raised his voice. “I present Nash and Aya Porter.”
I dipped Aya back and kissed her soundly once more before righting her and grabbing her free hand. I pressed an open-mouthed kiss to the back—a vow of more—and turned us to face the clapping crowd.
As we strode back down the aisle, I heard the faint thwap of helicopter wings. The paps had found us. I gritted my teeth.
“They missed the wedding,” Aya noted.
I frowned up at the chopper, but then I grinned. “Sure did. Guess we managed to confuse the fuckers enough. I promised you the perfect wedding, and I mostly delivered. They won’t get any good shots, Ay.”
Aya shook her head even as she giggled.
We entered the house where we’d planned to take some photos. While we were busy with that, Oblivion’s roadies, who’d been ecstatic to receive an invite to the occasion, unfurled more white pavilions, sealing the entrance to the house from possible paparazzi.