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He smirks and kisses my forehead. “What did I ever do to deserve you?”
“I don’t know if I’d use the word ‘deserve,’” I tease. “But you did kidnap me and trick me into developing feelings for you. After that, you fucked me senseless and put your baby in me. So, the way I see it now, I’m stuck.”
“You bet your sweet ass you are.” He chuckles, and gently spanks my naked behind. “I’m a goddamn mastermind. Only a genius could come up with that kind of a plan.”
I laugh. “You’re so full of shit.”
“Am I getting you down the aisle or not?” he challenges with a smirk.
“Fine,” I mumble. “I’ll admit that you’re clever when you put it like that.”
Nikolai grins and lowers his lips to mine, claiming my mouth in a passionate kiss. In only a few hours, we’ll be standing in front of our friends and family. We’ll promise each other our love and commitment. I still can’t believe that this handsome man will be forever mine. My heart is his and only his.
The fact is that some love stories are written in the stars. Nothing and no one can come between two soulmates when they’re on the path toward their happy ending.
EPILOGUE
NIKOLAI
My heart skips a beat when Wagner’s “Here Comes the Bride” begins to play. I glance over to the door to get my first glimpse at Katarina in her wedding dress. I thought I had a specific vision in my mind of what she’d be wearing and how her face would look, but none of it compares to the vision of her walking down the aisle right now.
She is the epitome of the divine. As if she’s an angel who has come down to earth. The mere sight of her makes my throat constrict. But it’s the happy tears in her eyes that do me in. The simple action touches me in a way that very few things can. Though I try to show no one how much I care, there’s no denying it today. My heart hammers in my chest, and I take a deep, calming breath. I’ll never give them the satisfaction. Only in my private moments with my soon-to-be-wife do I allow myself to show every part of me. And luckily for me, she’s just like me. Underneath the polished surface, the two of us are cut from the same rough rock, filled with the desire to be together.
My lips pull up in a smirk when Katarina turns her attention to our wedding party. Her brothers stand by my side, right next to my own brother who insisted on being my best man. As expected, Mila is Katarina’s bridesmaid, and next to her is Katya. To my dismay, my sister keeps glancing at Igor while she completely ignores both Ivan and Roman. It’s definitely something that’ll have to be addressed, but not right now.
Now, I want to get married to the most perfect woman I’ve ever met.
I glance at her father, who nods his head at me before turning back to Katarina. Though we’ve had a rough start, I now consider Dimitri a friend.
I straighten my back as I take in Katarina’s impeccable white gown again. The satin and lace details blend perfectly with the strapless dress, turning the entire piece into the most beautiful artwork I’ve seen. There’s nothing unusual about the train. It’s neither short nor long. It can’t compare to Katarina’s elegance.
If it was up to me, I’d pick her up and take her to the judge’s office to make it all legal. I’d never have the patience to go through all the unnecessary pageantry, especially if it meant I’d have to wait so many hours to claim her again. If she hadn’t insisted on a traditional wedding, I’d skip the entire ceremony altogether.
No one bothers to blink or hold the tears back as she walks toward me. Everyone except for me. Though the sight of my soon-to-be-wife steals my breath and my words, I don’t show it. She knows me well enough to be able to read my emotions in my eyes. My gaze is one giant magnet, unable to leave her.
I force myself to look at Dimitri when they arrive at the altar. He offers me Katarina’s hand, and I take it as I shake his as well. We exchange looks of understanding before he retreats to his seat in the first row.
When I turn around, I offer her my elbow, which she loops hers through. Side by side, we walk to the priest who begins the sermon.
We hardly hear what the priest says to us. Our combined desire to finally say “I do” to each other overpowers everything else around us. It’s as if we are alone.
“Speak now or forever hold your peace,” the priest says, and my head snaps in his direction.
What the actual fuck? Is he suicidal?
There’s no one around who’d be foolish enough to disturb us. Yet, the way he said it out loud like a fucking dare makes my blood boil.
As expected, there’s dead silence. No one says a single word.
“You may now exchange your vows,” the priest continues, his voice soft as a feather.
I’ve been rehearsing these words since the moment I decided I’d marry her, though I did hope they’d sound more poetic. But looking into Katarina’s pale green eyes, I know it’s okay to bare my entire soul to her.
“I’m not a man who could ever properly describe beauty,” I start in a low whisper, knowing it’ll be for her ears only. “But your eyes, your long blonde hair, and your figure captivate and enthrall me more than a sunset ever could. Before I met you, I felt like I’d never find my forever. When you told me you were pregnant, you made me the happiest man alive because you opened my eyes to the possibility of love. With you, nothing is impossible. With you, I can accomplish anything.” I squeeze her hands in mine, letting the gesture express the emotions I’ve bottled up for too long. “Katarina Sokolov, I vow to be your devoted husband. I vow to keep you safe and happy. You were created for me, and only me. We’re two of a kind. And there’s not a single soul who can change that. I promise to love, cherish, and respect you. I’ll be all you could ask for and more. I promise to give you the world, moye serdtse.”
Her pink lips are pressed together, her eyes the size of the moon. Her breasts are slightly trembling, her grip on my hands getting tighter and tighter with each passing moment. It’s how I know she’s on the verge of tears, and yet, she’s holding back. She’s too strong to cry in public. The only time I get to see her tearful eyes is when we’re alone, uninhibited. That thought gets me excited for our future life together. We’ll never be parted, not until my last breath leaves me.
Finally, she licks her lips and whispers back, “There’ll never be a more stubborn, impossibly hot, ridiculously possessive man than you. I don’t know when exactly, but somewhere along the way, you’ve turned from my worst enemy to my protector. You’ve taken care of me more than my own family. With you, I feel perfect. No one gets to decide my fate. Except for you.” Katarina looks me square in the eyes, unafraid and unapologetic.
