Without looking away from each other, they both nodded as Lacey slid her hand up his chest to his face, cupping it as she waited for the words that would be the start of their forever.

“Do you, Karson Jett King, take this woman whose body you now hold, to be your true and wedded wife? And do you solemnly promise before God to love, cherish, honor, and protect her; to forsake all others for her sake; to cleave unto her, and her only, until death shall part you?”

His eyes glittered with love as he promised, “I do. Forever.”

She found herself gasping for breath as she fought back the tears. She didn’t want to mess up her makeup and look like a drowned cat in their wedding pictures, but she wasn’t sure she was going to be able to hold them in. She had waited for this her whole life.

“And do you, Lacey Arielle Martin, take this man whose body you now hold, to be your true and wedded husband? And do you solemnly promise before God to love, cherish, honor, and protect him; to forsake all others for his sake; to cleave unto him, and him only, until death shall part you?”

The tears fell in steady streams as she nodded slowly. She’d always imagined when she promised herself to Karson that her family would be there to support them, but that wasn’t the case. She wanted to be sad they weren’t here, but she wasn’t. She wanted this. She wanted to marry Karson.

“Forever, I do.”

They were supposed to stay for lunch, but as soon as the photographers were done taking pictures of the new Mr. and Mrs. Karson King, Karson insisted on having their lunch delivered to their room. She laughed as he dragged her out of the venue and to their suite that doubled as a romantic retreat. When they had gotten to the hotel early that morning, he’d looked at her and then said to the host that he wanted the best room they could offer him. What they got was a huge suite with marble floors and counters, a view that was to die for, a tub she wanted to soak in with Karson, of course, and one huge-ass bed. Apparently Karson was ready to break-in the bed because he didn’t waste any time pushing the card in and throwing the door open.

“Someone is in a hurry,” she teased as she started to go in, but he stopped her.

“You have no freaking clue,” he groaned before swiftly picking her up into his arms, causing her to shriek in surprise.

“Karson!”

“Oh, hush, I got you,” he said and then shot her a wink. “Gotta carry my bride over the threshold.”

Her heart melted a little more as he slowly walked into the room before kicking the door shut. She expected him to put her down, but he carried her to the bed, laying her down slowly before covering her body with his. She welcomed his weight and closed her eyes in ecstasy as he kissed her long and hard. Threading his fingers in her hair, he deepened the kiss as his other hand held her face tenderly. As he kissed her, her heart pounded in her chest.

They were married.

The feeling was euphoric, to say the least, and as she got lost in Karson’s kisses, she knew this was the best moment of her life. She wasn’t lying when she said she had been waiting for this her whole life. She’d known when she first met him that he could be someone to completely steal her heart and he had. Thankfully, he had never given it back, or this moment wouldn’t be happening. She was excited for their future, the trips they would take in the off-season, the house they would make a home as they both furthered themselves in their careers. She was excited to grow old with him. To be his for the rest of their lives.

Sitting up on his elbows, he moved his fingers along her jaw as he whispered, “Let’s get this dress off you before I rip it off with no cares in the world.”

His need for her had her dripping between her thighs. She nodded as she fought for breath, and he sat up, pulling her with him. Standing her up, he turned her and slowly unzipped the back of the dress. When his lips touched her back, she took in a sharp breath as the straps fell down her arms. Soon the bodice followed, leaving her topless as he placed small kisses along her spine. Dragging his tongue along her shoulders, he bit her neck playfully before inching the dress down over her hips and dropping to his knees to help her out of it. He placed a kiss to the small of her back before running his tongue along her left butt cheek and then playfully smacking her right, causing her to jump.

She turned around, a grin on her face, and the smile on his face was glorious and all for her. He looked up at her like she wasn’t twenty pounds overweight or had boobs that weren’t real or tattoos covering every inch of her chest. No, the only thing in his eyes was pure and undying love for her.

“You are stunning, Lacey Arielle King.”

Her heart stopped at hearing her new name leave his lips. Taking in a deep breath, she cupped his face and said, “I love you, husband.”

Turning his face in her hand, he kissed her palm and then looked up into her eyes before saying, “I love you, wife.”

She swallowed past the lump in her throat and begged the tears to stay at bay, but when he stood, lifting her dress slowly, her heart exploded in her chest as she watched him take such care to lay the dress over the chair that was beside the bed. As he looked back at her, she slowly lowered herself to the bed as she watched him remove his shirt and then pants, leaving him in a thin pair of boxers, his erection visible and long.

Coming to the bed, he gathered her in his strong arms, lifting her off the bed and against his chest. He kissed up her neck and her jaw before meeting his mouth to hers. She felt so safe, so perfect in his large arms, against his strong chest.