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Dad and I pause in front of him, and my nerves skyrocket. Dad grabs my hand and holds it tightly, hesitating for one beat, and then another, before he places my hand in Lexington’s, his own covering both of ours. “That’s one half of my heart you’re holding,” he tells Lex, his voice trembling.
Lex nods solemnly and tightens his grip on my hand. “I’ll treat her with care, always.”
Dad’s eyes flash, and then he nods, pulling his hand away. He takes one more look at me, searching for the smallest sign of hesitancy, and I smile at him reassuringly. His eyes fall closed for a moment, and then he steps back to take his seat next to Mom and Lex’s grandmother.
“We have gathered here today to witness the marriage of Raya Indira Lewis, and Lexington Windsor,” the vaguely familiar looking officiant says, and I turn to face Lexington, my heart racing.
“You look breathtaking,” he whispers, stepping closer to me.
I smile shakily, reality finally sinking in when we’re both asked to say ourI do’s. Lex slides a plain gold band onto my finger, and I stare at it for a moment, reminded of the article I read about the yellow diamond he bought. Who was that for?
Sierra hands me a similar ring, and I push it onto Lex’s finger slowly, my hands trembling just a little as I push the ring past his knuckle, into place. The entire time, Lex’s undivided attention is on me, his gaze roaming over my face, silently caressing every inch of me. Something passes between us, a moment of understanding, and he smiles at me intimately.
“You may kiss the bride,” the officiant says, and Lex’s hand slides behind my neck, his gaze heated. He moves closer slowly, his nose brushing against mine before our lips meet. Lex groans when I tilt my face and kiss him back, my heart soaring. I missed this — the way he makes me feel, the way he touches me.
His fingers slide into my hair, and he parts my lips, deepening our kiss as he presses his body against mine. His tongue teases mine, and a soft, needy sound escapes the back of my throat. It makes him press against me harder for a moment, before pulling away, his eyes sparkling with desire.
“Mr. and Mrs. Windsor, everyone!” the officiant says.
Applause erupts around us, but Lex and I can’t take our eyes off each other. He drops his forehead to mine and draws a ragged breath. “Mrs. Windsor,” he repeats, the sweetest smile on his face as he straightens and grabs my hand.
Twenty-Three
Lex
My heart races as Raya and I dance in Zane and Celeste’s rose garden to the song Dion composed for us. She looks so ethereal, I almost want to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming. I haven’t been able to take my eyes off her for even a second.
“Why are you staring at me like that?” she asks, her cheeks beautifully rosy. Our steps are so perfectly in sync, and the way we’re gliding across the rose garden reminds me of the way we danced in my penthouse.
“Just looking at my wife,” I murmur, my fingers brushing against the parts of her back that are exposed in that stunning wedding outfit she’s wearing. “You’re just so beautiful, Raya.”
The look in her eyes keeps me enchanted, and my eyes drop to her lips for a moment. The way she kissed me made it nearly impossible to pull back, and I’m already counting down the seconds until I’m alone with her.
My hands move to her hips, and I grin, one brow raised. Raya giggles and nods, knowing exactly what I’m asking. She gasps when I lift her up the way I did in King of Hearts, raising her upabove my head as I twirl her around slowly, entirely under her spell.
She laughs, and fuck, that’s the first time I’ve seen her laugh since that night in my penthouse. She’s looked so reserved ever since, and I didn’t even realize how much I’d missed this part of her.
I tilt her down slowly, carefully, until I’ve got my arms wrapped around the back of her knees as best as I can, her body pressed against mine. She looks down at me, her gorgeous brown eyes twinkling as I continue to turn with her in my arms.
“Raya,” I murmur as I slowly lower her to the floor, my hand wrapping into her hair. She tilts her face up, a soft sigh escaping her lips when I lean in, my mouth hovering over hers. My heart fucking soars when she rises to her tiptoes and kisses me, her arms wrapping around my neck.
I groan when she pulls away, her breathing erratic as I cup her face, my thumb brushing over her lips. Fuck. I can’t believe this beautiful woman is mywife. “Dance with me somewhere more private, my little fairy.” My tone is pleading, desperation bleeding into my voice.
Raya gives me the smallest nod, and I breathe a sigh of relief, a smile spreading across my face as my fingers entwine with hers. I feel my family’s eyes on us, laughter and teasing ringing through the air as we make our way out of Zane and Celeste’s observatory, but thankfully, her parents are nowhere to be seen. Somehow, the idea of stealing their daughter away from them for what is essentially our wedding night feels sinful.
I shrug out of my suit jacket and wrap it around Raya moments before we walk out, shielding her from the evening breeze. “I love seeing you in my jacket,” I murmur without thinking. “You look far better in it than I ever did.” I grab the lapels and pull her close, my eyes roaming over her.
She grins and tilts her head in that way I find so adorable — that way that tells me she thinks I’m just being flirtatious. “I wouldn’t be so sure,” she says, her cheeks perfectly rosy. “You look really good in this tux.”
“Do I?” I ask, grinning as I step closer to her, my body brushing against hers. Her expression is so disarmed, and it’s fucking exhilarating. I haven’t seen her look at me that way since the day we met.
Raya parts her lips to respond, only for headlights to catch our attention. I step away from her when my grandmother’s limousine stops in front of us, and the door opens. I sigh as I glance at my wife. “I guess that’s our ride,” I murmur, apprehension seeping into me as I help Raya into the car.
My eyes widen in surprise when I join my wife and find both of her parents sitting opposite her, right next to my grandmother, all three of their expressions unreadable. “Well,” I murmur. “I suppose I should’ve seen this coming.” I knew my grandmother would do this to us, but I hadn’t expected her parents to be here too. I guess that explains why they weren’t in the rose garden just now.
Raya’s dad stares at me with an unyielding expression, and I have no doubt a lesser man would’ve cowered before him. I merely smile politely and take Raya’s hand in mine, which only seems to aggravate him further when I meant for it to be reassuring.
“Congratulations, both of you,” Grandma says as the car begins to move. The drive from Zane and Celeste’s house to mine is only about ten minutes, but for those ten minutes, my grandmother has the upper hand. Or so she thinks, anyway.
