Intrigued and Enchanted (35 page)
Read Intrigued and Enchanted Online
Authors: Eva Simone
Everyone is seated and looking in my direction as I stand like a fucking idiot, pacing up and down, and turning my hair into a mess running my hands through it. I keep checking with Si to make sure he has the rings. The priest keeps trying to give me a reassuring smile, but every time I look at him it makes me think about getting through the vows I wrote for Lily without breaking down like a pussy in front of 200 friends and family members!
The alter is a replica of the archway I commissioned for proposing to Lily in South Field. She loved it so much, she insisted that we have the exact same one to get married under. I fucking love how sentimental she can be. It just makes me love her even more.
The tiered steps surrounding the ancient amphitheatre, where thousands of people sit every night to watch opera as it was meant to be seen, are covered in thousands of lanterns, creating an otherworldly atmosphere, romantic, somehow intimate and beyond captivating.
Nate is standing at the other end of the aisle where screens made of Monet water lily paintings create a partition so that Lily can stay hidden until the music starts. The water lilies idea was my contribution to today. Every time I look at a water lily it makes me think of her, how stunningly beautiful she is, how I am the luckiest bastard on the face of the planet that she let me in, let me see what’s beneath the surface. Behind her obvious beauty is something even more special; the most beautiful heart and soul that will ever exist.
After checking for the hundredth time with Si for the rings, I get him to check me over; is my tie straight, is my waistcoat sitting properly, is my fly down! I know it’s ridiculous, I’ve been dressing myself for the past 27 years at least, but I just want everything to be perfect for Lily. I don’t want to disappoint her.
I’m wearing a dark grey three piece suit; Lily insisted. She says I do, and I quote,
‘very good, should be illegal, things to a three piece suit.’
I think she’s crazy but I’m happy she likes it. I’m wearing a fitted white shirt and a silver silk tie. The groomsmen are wearing something similar but with a purple tie to match the bridesmaids – Jess and the twins.
Si pulls me to his side and gestures his head towards Nate. Fuck, my heart is really hammering as I look to Nate who confirms in a single nod that I am about to see Lily. A shiver runs through my body, a thrill of excitement and anticipation, ready to see the most beautiful woman on earth, walking towards me…fucking…ME.
A string quartet starts playing ‘Back to You’ by John Mayer, and everyone goes quiet, turning to catch a glimpse of my gorgeous bride.
The bridesmaids make their way down first, looking stunning in strapless floor-length purple satin dresses. The look on Simon’s face as he watches Jess walk towards us tells me everything I need to know. He is head over fucking heels in love with that girl. She gives me a smile and a wink before taking her place and locking eyes with Si. I’m glad to see the feeling is mutual with those two. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves as I shift my gaze to the top of the aisle.
She appears in the distance, ethereal in her transcendent beauty. Breath-taking, angelic, and completely stunning. Her gown is ivory lace, delicate and intricate, just like the woman inside.
The bodice is fitted, tight to her ample breasts and cinched in at her tiny waist before flowing out endlessly. She looks like a princess, a fucking queen – my queen. She has flowing curls cascading down her back, with some of her hair swept up in effortless elegance. She’s holding a small bouquet of white roses, a few purple spaced throughout, with crystals and pearls woven through the foliage. She calls that my ‘signature’ when I give her flowers.
As she walks towards me, Jess’s dad by her side; our eyes lock and my nerves become a distant memory as I take in the vision of my bride. My heart stops beating in anticipation of her reaching my side. She is so fucking beautiful.
It feels like an eternity by the time she is standing next to me, a smile that melts my heart, splitting her gorgeous face. I smile and take her hand in mine as Mr Foster takes his seat, a jolt of electricity sparking between us as our skin comes into contact.
Wow. Standing here, taking in the sight of Lily close up, she is fucking perfect, even more beautiful, if that’s possible. Her make-up is soft and natural, highlighting her flawless features, her eyes sparkling like emeralds.
I notice an intricate tiara in her hair, and a few crystals holding her loose tendrils of glorious blonde curls in place. She looks like a goddess. She decided on no veil which suits me, I don’t want anything covering her lovely face, the face that consumes me, the face that fucking owns me.
Before the ceremony begins I lean in to place a feather light kiss on her cheek before whispering so only she can hear.
“You are a vision of flawless beauty Lily. I love you so much…Miss Pritchard.” The sly grin she gives me tells me she knows that this is the last time she will ever hear me call her that.
I don’t hear most of what is being said during the course of the ceremony, my attention locked on Lily. Luckily I do hear the priest announce that is time for us to share the vows we’ve written for each other. I thought I would be nervous at this moment, 200 people waiting for me to pour my heart out, but I’m not. Lily is the only person in L’Arena with me as I begin to put into words what today means to me.
“Lily. As I stand here before you today, enchanted by your beauty, inside and out, I vow to love you with all that I am, with everything that I have. I will strive to be the man that you deserve. Since the moment that you came crashing into my life, I’ve wanted to be a better man…for you.
In you I’ve found the other half of my soul; you’re the better half of me Lily. I will support you in every endeavour and help you make your dreams a reality. I will always be by your side, to celebrate the good, to comfort you through the bad, and to hold your hand as we write the chapters of our life together.
I’ve loved you from the moment I looked into your stunning eyes, and I will continue to love you through this life and the next.
You will forever be my best friend, my lover, my wife and my one true love. My beginning, my end, and everything in between - Forever yours.”
I struggle to get the words past the massive lump in my throat. As I look into the eyes of my reason for breathing, tears streaming down her face. I place the ring on her shaking finger, my name engraved on the inside for only her to see.
I cradle her elegant face in my palms wiping her tears away with my thumbs before kissing her forehead. I exhale a long shaky breath, preparing myself to hear her sweet voice reciting the vows she has written for me.
“Brandon. I was lost before I met you. Walking through life, but not really living it until you found me. Every moment with you is a gift, every look, every touch, every word that comes from your lips, I cherish.”
The swell of love I feel for her in this moment is a physical ache in my chest, all I want is to hold her and kiss her and show her how much I love her.
“My notions of love and romance only ever came from the pages of a book, the ideal that no one can live up to. Except you do live up to it; you surpass it in every way imaginable on a daily basis. You are the missing piece of my heart, the reason it beats in my chest.”
She slays me with her eloquence, her ability to speak to something deep in my soul.
“With every breath I will love you, honour you and strive to be worthy of your love, through the good times and the bad. When you are happy I will share your joy, when you are sad I will share your pain. I give every part of myself freely and willingly to you Brandon, because I know that you will always protect me.
I love you with everything that I am, today, tomorrow and for the rest of time - Forever yours.”
As she slides the ring onto my finger, my entire body is buzzing, her touch eliciting such love that it radiates from every fibre of my being.
I don’t wait to be given permission to kiss my bride. I couldn’t stop it if I tried. Lily and I are like magnets, drawn to each other, our desperate desire to connect driving us closer until our lips meet and everything else becomes white noise in the background.
I run my tongue along the perfectly pouting seam of her luscious lips, tasting her, begging her to open up for me; her sweet little tongue darting out to meet mine, stroking me, our tongues tangling together, an outpouring of pure love and devotion. I vaguely hear the priest announcing that we are now man and wife, and register the roar of applause from our friends and family, but I can’t bring myself to stop kissing her…my wife.
My hands fist in her soft hair, pulling her closer as her body melts into mine. When I feel like my chest is going to explode with so much fucking love and desire for her, I pull back to catch my breath, my teeth nipping her lip before I look into her eyes.
“You’re mine now Lily. Only mine. Always mine…sweet girl.” The shy smile she gives me is so fucking beautiful.
“Always yours…Mr Redgrave.” Her tone, so seductive.
“That’s right…Mrs Redgrave.” I like the way that sounds and feels on my tongue; almost as good as she’s going to feel on my tongue when I taste her for the first time as my wife…so sweet…all mine.
I will forever be, intrigued and enchanted by her…my Lily.
The End
Acknowledgements
First and foremost I need to say a massive thank you to my wonderful husband Simon. You’ve shown me what true love and romance is honey. You have supported me through the good the bad and the downright awful, and supported every endeavour I’ve embarked on, no questions asked. Without your constant love and encouragement I never would have had the confidence to make my dream a reality. I love you so much. Maybe one day I’ll be able to get you that Ferrari 458 Italia, and make your dream a reality!!
I need to give a MASSIVE thank you to my betas, proof-readers and editor for this project. You took a chance on me and gave your free time willingly. You helped sculpt the raw material into the polished article. Lauren Field - baby beta, official teaser poster and cheerleader, Leslie Stone Lewis – multi-talented beta, editor and proof-reader rolled into one awesome lady. You girls have kept me sane over the last few weeks and I consider myself extremely lucky to have you in my life. A huge thank you to Cydni Thebert – my fabulous, indispensable editor. Your work is outstanding! It has been a pleasure working with you and I look forward to working on the rest of the series with you. I am eternally grateful to all three of you for your encouragement and constant positivity! Not only did I find excellent colleagues, I found great friends, and partners in crime!!! Thank you so much my lovelies. I’m already looking forward to working with you on Jess and Simon's story.
I also need to give a shout out to the VPPitCrew and the Author that inspired us all, Kristy Bromberg. You created a community that inspired me, gave me a place to talk with other likeminded, awesome women, and gave me the confidence I needed to start this project. Your books rock Kristy!
And last but by no means least, thank you, to you, the reader – for taking a chance on a new author and supporting this fabulous genre. I hope you enjoyed reading about Brandon and Lily’s journey as much as I enjoyed writing it.
The next book in the series will be Jess and Simon’s story – Enchanted and Desired. I’m positive there will be more of Brandon and Lily in there too! There’s still a lot for them to do together. The second book in the series will be available later in 2014.
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Thank you so much for reading.
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