Page 97 of Falling for the Orc All-Star

Ingrid glows and grips both my hands as she replies, “I, Ingrid Antol, do take thee, King Silverbow, to be my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part. You are all I want, and all I need—just you, as you are. I love you back, King.”

“As a token and remembrance of the vows that you have made, you may place a ring upon each other’s fingers.”

Bryce passes me the rings in a velvet box, and I take Ingrid’s as she takes mine. They’re simple and thick, her band with diamond chips inside and mine with a braided strand running through it.

They slide on without a hitch, fitting perfectly, marking her so the world can see she’s mine—and I am hers.

“This ring is a symbol of all that is most precious and enduring, like the love you share. I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Well, he doesn’t have to tell me twice. I swoop Ingrid into a dip that knocks her off her feet and kiss her with everything I have.

I kiss her, in fact, until Bryce and Kevin tap me on the shoulder and remind me that we have an audience.

And I have a game.

“Who wants cake and champagne?” Ingrid gasps, leaning weakly against me.

I hastily push her in front of me and lock my arms around her waist.

“I have a kilt malfunction,” I hiss.

Ingrid backs up against me, wriggling her delicious hips so that her ass cradles the erection I’m trying to turn off.

“You’re not helping,” I warn as we walk down the aisle to cheers and waves, Chip and Daisy trotting beside us.

“Maybe we can stop at home before the game?”

“You’re going to have to, Mrs. Silverbow. You have a suitcase to pack, because we’re going away for the weekend.”

“I’m married.”

I flash my rings at my reflection as I throw on one of my ever-increasing number of Lumberjacks shirts and jeans. In my suitcase, I put the bridal nightie I bought yesterday, along with the dress that only needed minor alterations.

Everything was simple; everything was perfect.

“And it was perfect because the only thing you needed to make it perfect was each other,” I remind myself.

Hubby: The dogs are coming with us. I packed their bags, and they’re in the truck. I got special permission for them to come to the game tonight and sit with you, Bryce, Fia, Kev, Marina, and the Hilltop crowd in the VIP box. Make sure you bring your suitcase because we’re leaving right from the arena.

Ingrid:

I stop and wonder if King’s phone will now read my name as Mate or Wife. I decide I like both titles.

Ingrid: Where are we going?

Hubby: Where you have no neighbors, no distractions, no inhibitions. You can be as loud as you want... and so can I.

Ingrid: That doesn’t answer the question, but I like the sound of that.

Hubby: Thank you, Mrs. Silverbow. I love you, and I’m suiting up for practice. Thanks for marrying a hockey player, even when he has to work on your wedding day.

Ingrid: I would marry you if you were a hockey player, a saxophone player, a shuffleboard player... I married you, not what you do. And besides, it was the best wedding ever. My cheeks hurt from smiling. I’m glad all of our friends could be with us—and I’m even happier none of them will be with us tonight.

We won again. Coach says I’m playing better than ever. I play with more efficiency, more grace, but I’m still brutal.

Words are nice, the win is nice, but I’m not really here for the cheers of the crowd anymore. I’m here for Ingrid’s smile and her quiet thumbs up, her squealing cheer that I can pick out over the rest of the fans.

“Honestly, I think we might have three members on their way to the All-Star game this year,” Coach says as Jorge and I finish a victory lap.