Page 44 of The Healing Touch (Manwhore #3)
“Angel, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, through sickness and in health, for all the days of your life?”
It was hilarious the way the minister was saying all this in his dead-on Elvis voice.
“I do,” Angel answered.
“Thank you, moye serdtse , for giving me another chance. I promise to never hurt you again and protect you and our family with every breath I have.”
Angel was a blubbering mess. Hormones.
When Elvis turned his attention to them, Dimitri was prepared. He knew exactly what he wanted to say to his beautiful, beautiful woman.
But then she wrecked him.
“Dimitri and Becca have decided to say their own vows.” Elvis smiled at them. “Becca asked to start.”
Becca’s voice came out strong and sure.
“You asked me to marry you several times a day for almost two weeks straight, and you’ve been patient with me for over a year, but I know it hurt you.
I was afraid. Afraid of getting hurt when you got tired me and my anxiety.
But you never did, Dimitri. You show me every day how much you love me.
You keep me safe and shielded from any storm that comes into our life.
” Her hand went to her stomach. “You’ve given me a gift I never thought I’d have.
Your words are my words. I want you because you’re my heart, my breath, my life.
My soul, Dimitri Sean Kincaid. You are the soul that gives me a reason for being.
That’s why I want to marry you. Because you love me the same way I love you. ”
This time, he didn’t stop himself. He yanked her to him and held her so tight, she gasped for air. How the hell was he supposed to follow that?
Elvis cleared his throat.
“She’s not moving from where she is,” he barked at the man.
“That’s fine. But you need to let her finish her vows.”
Grudgingly, he loosened his hold enough for her to look up at him.
“I promise to love, honor, and cherish you every day for the rest of our lives, Dimitri.”
“Fuck, baby, you’ve gone and done it.”
“What’s that?” she whispered.
“You’ve ruined me for every other woman on the planet. If you leave me, I’ll never survive.”
“I’ll never leave you, D. Besides, no one else would put up with you and your crazy, finicky stomach.”
“Dimitri, do you want to say your vows now?” Elvis asked, snickering.
Fucker needed to stop laughing.
“I remember the first day I saw you in the library. You had on this green shirt that was way too big on you and jean capris. Your hair was in some kind of braid, and you were so busy looking at books, you didn’t notice me come up behind you.
I didn’t understand then what pulled my feet to you.
Hell, I didn’t understand it until I thought you might die and it hit me all at once.
Souls recognize each other. You’re my other half, and while my eighteen-year-old self didn’t realize it, I understood you were important.
It’s why I bugged you every day. It’s why I had to talk to you first thing every morning and every night before I went to bed.
For ten years, we did that dance. We’re not done dancing baby, but our souls aren’t reaching out trying to connect anymore.
We’re whole again. I love you, Rebecca Joyce Rhodes, and I promise to love you, to protect you, to cherish you, and to try not to be such a Neanderthal every single day for the rest of our lives. ”
He ignored the minister and swept his mouth over hers in the gentlest kiss he’d ever bestowed upon any woman.
“I love you, Krasivaya . Thank you for marrying me and giving me the most precious gift in the world. Not only your heart, but the gift of our daughter.”
“A girl?” she whispered, desperately trying not to bawl.
“Yes, it’s a girl with her mommy’s beautiful brown eyes. I made up my mind last night. She’s going to be a daddy’s girl, and you can teach her how to kick the little shits right in the balls when they mess with her.”
“Dimitri!”
They all heard his mother’s shout.
“Sorry, Mama.”
The minister laughed. “We’ve heard worse. Now, Dimitri, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife to have and to…”
“I do,” he interrupted the preacher. “Becca, do you take me as your husband?”
“I do.”
Dimitri stared pointedly at Elvis, who laughed harder, but he took the hint.
“I now pronounce you both husbands and wives. You may kiss your brides.”
“Finally,” Becca muttered and melted against him when his lips crashed onto hers. He kissed her until she had no air left.
“I love you, Krasivaya.”
“I love you too, Dimitri.”
They turned to face the family, and Becca gasped. She ripped herself away from Dimitri and ran straight at Mason.
He was holding up a tablet with a man sitting in a chair, the biggest grin on his face Dimitri had ever seen. He was also the spitting image of his wife.
Jackson Rhodes.
At least they’d given him clothes to wear instead of an orange jumpsuit.
“Hey, little bird.”
“I can’t believe it.” Becca brushed tears away. “How…”
“You can thank Conner. I’m not sure what he did, but I got to watch the whole ceremony. I’m so proud of you, little bird.”
Tears streamed down her face. She hadn’t seen her brother in almost three years. Her finger traced the outline of his face. She missed him so much.
“Hey, now, no tears. Old ladies don’t cry. They take names and kick ass.”
“I just miss you so much.”
“I know, Becca. I miss you too. I love you. You take care of my nephew until I can get to you. I’m getting out in a few months. Good behavior.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “Didn’t want to say anything until I was sure it was a done deal, but I’ll see you soon. Congratulations.” His eyes shifted behind her, and his face hardened. She knew it was Dimitri.
“You hurt her or my nephew, and you’re dead.”
“Niece,” Dimitri corrected him. “And I won’t. I’ve never hurt her once in almost eleven years. I’ll take care of her and our daughter. I swear it.”
“You better, fucker, because I know how to hide the body.”
Dimitri understood the threat, and he also understood it wasn’t an idle one. This man would carry through on his promise.
“Jackson,” Becca frowned, “it’s my wedding day. No threatening my husband.”
Jack laughed. “I have to go, little bird. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
The video cut off, and she burst into tears.
Dimitri looked over at Mason, alarmed as sobs shook his wife. He pulled her into his arms and tried his best to calm her. If he’d known she’d react like this, he wouldn’t have suggested trying to get a live feed for her brother.
“Don’t cry, Becca. It cuts me. Please don’t.”
“I’m just so happy,” she wailed. “That meant more to me than anything else you could have done.” She stuck a hand out, and he had no idea what to do with it, but his brother did. Conner wrapped his around hers and leaned in close.
“We all love you too, sestra . Welcome to the family.”
Becca cried harder.
“Hormones,” Kade whispered in his ear. “Get used to it, brat . She’s going to be bursting into tears at the drop of a hat for the next few months.”
Angel kicked her husband. Hard.
“So, hormones, huh? I’ll show you hormones. No wedding night sex for you.”
“What?” Kade looked up alarmed. “We need to discuss this…”
Dimitri laughed and picked Becca up, leaving his brother bickering with his wife. He’d be alarmed too if Becca said that to him.
She snuggled into him as he turned to everyone.
“Thanks for coming, but I have plans for my wife that don’t include the rest of you. I love you all, but we’re out.”
He heard the well wishes and the congratulations as he walked out of the church and got into another limousine waiting. They were going to a different hotel tonight because he wanted his wife to himself, and his family would burst in on them.
“Becca?”
“Yes?”
“Are you happy?”
“More than I’ve ever been in my life. I’m not scared anymore. I…” She took a deep breath and looked up at him through wet lashes. “You love me. That’s all I ever needed, D. Thank you for giving me back everything I lost. I love you so much.”
“I love you too, babe. Just remember that when I tie you to the bed and have my way with my naughty little wife tonight.”
She giggled and snuggled closer to him. “Promises, promises.”
He pulled her closer and settled down to wait, content and happy.
The original manwhore had finally found his perfection—his best friend, his lover, his wife.
He was happy.