Page 5 of Killer Honeymoon
“I think I’ve changed my mind about sleeping apart,” Royce said.
“Not after you got me all psyched up for our first-look photo shoot.” Sawyer rose to his feet and extended a hand to help Royce up. He didn’t drop the connection once they faced each other. “I’ll walk with you.” They strolled hand in hand across the expansive lawn, stopping when they reached Royce’s SUV. “I’ll meet you at the arched gate tomorrow.”
Royce glanced at his watch and saw it was just past midnight. “Sawyer,” he whispered.
“Yeah?”
“It’s one minute into tomorrow, and it’s already the best day of my life.”
Sawyer stepped in front of the full-length mirror in the guestroom at his parents’ house. His gaze immediately locked on the corset vest he’d commissioned from Julian. The gray ombre pattern had reminded Sawyer of Royce’s mercurial eyes. The shift from light to dark was like the changes Sawyer witnessed in Royce’s expression whenever his man experienced heightened emotions. The deepest shade matched the hue of Royce’s eyes when he was on the cusp of climax, a phenomenon he couldn’t wait to experience again once they’d satisfied their wedding obligations.
“Julian, you are brilliant,” Sawyer said to the empty room. Then he did a three-quarter turn to look over his shoulder to check out the rest of the tailor’s handiwork. Sawyer already imagined Royce’s fingers tangled in the charcoal gray laces cinching the vest closed in the back. “Fucking brilliant.”
A knock sounded at the door, and Sawyer’s heart leaped into his throat. Glancing at his watch, he saw it was time to head to Wormsloe for their first-look pictures. He’d been shockingly calm since parting with Royce the night before in his parents’ driveway. Sawyer had expected a rash of nerves like he’d experienced before every significant moment in his life, but all he felt was excitement.
He slid his suit jacket on and called for his visitor to enter. He’d expected Evangeline, but instead, Kelsey opened the door and peeked her head around it.
“Oh my god!” she exclaimed before fully entering the room. She covered her mouth with both hands and walked toward him as tears filled her eyes.
“Oh no,” he said, wagging a finger. “Don’t get me started, or I probably won’t stop crying until I’m too dehydrated to enjoy my wedding night.”
Kelsey snorted behind her hands before dropping them to reveal a beaming smile. “I’ve seen you in a suit, but this is extra fine. Just wow.”
Sawyer took in her long lavender maxi dress and espadrille sandals. Kels had pulled her riot of black curls back on one side with a glittering flower pin and let the rest tumble around her stunning face. Marriage and motherhood had only amplified Kelsey’s radiance, and Sawyer often felt the need to wear sunglasses around her.
“You look beautiful too, Kels. It’s pretty rude of you to show up the grooms on their big day.”
“Ha!” she said. “As if.”
Sawyer opened his arms and she stepped into them. They hugged for a long time before she stepped back and smiled up at him.
“I meant what I said last night,” Kelsey said. “It wasn’t just the alcohol talking.”
Sawyer smiled and brushed a stray curl away from her face. “The thought hadn’t crossed my mind. How could it when I can’t wrap my brain around your selfless offer. When the time is right for all three of us, Royce and I would be honored to take this journey with you, Kels.”
She fanned her face. “Whew. We better change the subject before I get weepy.”
“And I shouldn’t keep my groom waiting. Is everyone ready downstairs?”
“They’ve headed to the park already. I get the honor of escorting you downstairs to our waiting chariot.”
“How’d I get so lucky?” Sawyer asked.
“I mean mugged them until they cowered in fear.” They shared a laugh on their way out of the suite.
“No, really. How’d you convince my mom to head to the park without me?” Sawyer laughed. “Christ, I make it sound like I’m still a toddler.”
Kelsey looped her arm in Sawyer’s as they navigated the staircase. “You’ll always be Evangeline’s baby. She just didn’t want to miss a single expression on either of your faces during the first look.”
Butterflies took flight in Sawyer’s stomach when he tried to imagine the moment they’d lock eyes on each other for the first time in their wedding attire. The light fluttering sensations felt more like bats swarming a belfry the closer they got to the Wormsloe Historic Site. Evangeline had timed their wedding ceremony to take place during what she called the golden hour, a phase prior to dusk where the sun was softer and would bathe them in a golden glow. Sawyer had to admit his mother knew what the hell she was doing. The park looked like pure magic in the fading sunlight.
Sawyer’s breath snagged in his throat when he caught sight of Royce standing at the gate, even though his back was to them as they approached. They’d chosen their suits individually, but Sawyer wasn’t surprised to see Royce had picked a similar color gray. They were always so in sync with one another. Candy, Holly, and Dru let out a collective sweetawwwhen they spotted Sawyer and Kelsey. Royce started to turn around, but Jace clamped a hand on his shoulder to keep him in place. Sawyer glanced at his family, who radiated joy and happiness for him.
Kelsey and Sawyer stopped a few feet behind Royce. Kels kissed his cheek and whispered how happy she was for him, then she and Jace joined the rest of the people gathered. Then it was just the two of them centered in the middle of the historic archway, and Sawyer swore he heard Royce’s heart pounding in time with his own.
“Beautiful,” Whitney said cheerfully. “I’m just going to snap a few pictures of the two of you like this. I just want to make sure the angle is good, and I’ll count you down.” Her camera clicked and whirred as she captured the moment. Sawyer caught her in his periphery a few times, but he kept his eyes locked on the back of Royce’s head. He, too, had gotten his hair trimmed for the big day. Sawyer’s fingers twitched to touch the soft, short bristles at Royce’s temple and neckline. He knew how soft they’d feel, a perfect complement to the silky strands Royce had left longer on top.
“Okay, I got some stunning shots,” Whitney said. “Let’s try one more pose. Sawyer, you step up behind Royce and cover his eyes with your hands.”