Page 85 of Lethal Salvation

“Thank you for doing this, I know it will mean a lot to Nadia.”

Gideon shook Jack’s hand as they waited at the end of the aisle in Mr Johnson’s now-converted barn. As soon as the word got out that he and Nadia were getting married, offers had flooded in to help them. He’d been touched by how this community had accepted a stranger, and not just the Shadow team but the people of this village.

“Wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Duchess means a lot to us all.”

Gideon glanced at the people who were waiting to celebrate with them. Jack’s wife, Astrid, with her infant son in her arms, was seated beside Alex and his wife and daughter. Zack and Ava were with their two children, Riley and Ella. Miss Rose and her daughter were grinning at him from the second row. Charlie was beside Bishop, who held his six-week-old daughter Iris in his arms.

Gideon felt a pang in his gut of want. He wanted that with Nadia and today was the start. Music began to play and Lotus and Aoife stepped into view. The two women were acting as her bridesmaids. They looked lovely in olive green gowns, but his eyes were glued to the back of the room, and when Nadia stepped into sight he almost lost it.

Tears hit his eyes, almost blinding him, and he blinked to clear his vision, biting his lip to keep more at bay. A choked sob slipped from his lips and he felt a hand on his shoulder.

“Keep it together, brother.”

Gideon nodded as Damon, his best man, kept him from running up the aisle and grabbing her out of the hands of her father.

She looked like a dream he’d never dared to have. Her dress was ivory lace and skimmed her curves, ending in a train that dragged the floor as she floated towards him. He’d never felt more unworthy or more determined to be the man she’d be proud to call husband.

Her father kissed her cheek and handed her over to Gideon. “Look after her.”

“I will, sir.”

Her hand shook as it was placed in his, and he raised it to his lips and kissed her gently on her palm.

“You look… I have no words.”

“You look handsome, too.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, we come here today….”

Jack spoke, his speech something Gideon hardly heard, so engrossed in the spell this woman had cast on him so many months ago. He recited his lines and promised to love her until he died and she did the same. He went to slip the ring over her finger and saw new ink on her ring finger.

It was his name tattooed on her skin and he almost blubbered again like a big baby. “Nice ink.”

“Thank you. I like it.”

She winked as Jack pronounced them husband and wife and, before permission was given, she was in his arms. Everyone but them fell away as he kissed his wife for the very first time. Her tongue slid against his, her breasts pressed against his chest, and he knew he had to pull away or walk back down the aisle with an erection.

Cheers and joy surrounded them and he’d never been happier, although later that night he thought might top that.

* * *

“I can’t believe you’re married.”

Duchess sat for a second beside Snow and Charlie, who were both nursing their babies. “I can’t believe you two have babies.”

“My vagina can.”

Snow was only two weeks post-partum, her stubborn son coming two weeks late. Elliot was adorable, with his mother’s blond hair and his father’s piercing eyes. Iris, Charlie and Bishop’s rainbow baby, was all her mother, from her hair to her eyes, and her father was besotted.

“So you and Gideon next?”

Duchess laughed and went to answer, but Miss Rose who’d appeared from nowhere beat her to it. “Not yet, deary. Her twins won’t be along until the year after next.”

“Twins?”

“Oh yes, dear, you’re a double yolker.”

“I’m a what?”