by Louise, Tia
That does it. I’m crying.
“Remi…” My voice is a high whisper.
That gorgeous smile touches his lips. “I love how smart you are and how funny you are. I love the way the light shines off your hair and sparkles in your eyes when you laugh. I love the way you get on your knees, right at eye level with Lillie when she wants to tell you something. I love how you don’t back down when I say something you think is wrong… or when these bitches at school call you mean names…”
Serena makes a huffy “I never” noise, and I put my hand over my mouth to cover my laugh. A hot tear rolls down my cheek, and he looks at it with so much care, gently wiping it away with his thumb as he cups my face.
“You’re strong and fierce and loving.” He leans closer to whisper in my ear. “I especially love that sound you make when I kiss your pussy…”
“Remi!” I whisper, pushing his arm.
He only grins bigger, heat burning in his eyes. “I love that you’re passionate about art and music and your work. Your dad was wrong—you’re a strong woman. You’re amazing. You’re everything I want.”
With that he steps back and reaches into his jacket pocket. Then he carefully lowers onto one knee. “You can’t be Lillie’s nanny anymore, because I want you to be my wife. I want to marry you. Will you marry me, Ruby?”
Blinking hard, I see he’s holding the most beautiful blue-velvet sapphire ring up to me. It’s set in white gold with small pear-shaped diamonds on each side. My heart is in my throat, and I don’t know how I’m still standing on two feet. Or maybe I’m floating off the ground.
Taking the ring, I slide it on my finger as he slowly rises to standing. “Is that a yes?” He’s holding my hand. “I couldn’t ask your father, because he’s no longer with us. But I stopped by the church this morning and talked to your mom. She thinks it’s a good idea.”
My eyes go wide. “You talked to my mom?”
“It’s the traditional thing to do.” He does a shrug.
“And she thinks it’s a good idea?” Her speech about him not being one of us is in my head, not that it makes one bit of difference. I’m a total goner for this man.
“She says we’re a good match.”
“Oh, Remi.” I jump forward, putting my arm around his neck. “You want to make me yours?”
He laughs, lifting me off the ground, holding me under my butt as my legs wrap around his waist. “More than anything. Be my wife, Ruby. Be my lover for life. Help me take care of Lillie. I can’t stand another minute of my life without you in it.”
Hugging my arms around his neck, I study the gorgeous ring on my finger. “Yes… I will. Yes.” I’m hugging him so close. His warm lips press against my neck, rising higher to my chin, igniting my panties, and before I lose all ability to reason, I quickly add, “In a year.”
Remi draws back, frowning. “A year?”
His arms relax, and my feet slide to the floor as I try to explain. “We’ve only known each other a month, Remington. I can’t just marry you like that. We have to at least be engaged a little while to be sure.”
His brow lowers, and determination glows in his eyes. “I’m more sure of this than I’ve been of anything in a long, long time.” His words are heat and warmth, and lightning in my veins. “But if it makes you happy, we can be engaged for a little while.” His thumb is on my chin and his eyes focus hot on my lips. “As long as I get to kiss you.”
“Definitely.” Leaning forward, I peck his soft mouth. “Lots of kissing.”
He presses my back to the wall as he cups my face in his hands. “I intend to kiss you everywhere, any time I want.”
His mouth covers mine, moving my lips apart, and when our tongues meet, I ignite. My hands go around his neck, pulling him closer. His hands go to my waist, sliding beneath my crop top, over the bare skin of my back, pulling me even closer.
Everything is forgotten as I’m lost in the heaven of his arms, the love on his lips, the strength of his words, the satisfaction of his love. Lifting my head, our eyes meet in a moment so heavy with promise.
“I love you, Remington Key.” He grins, and I know he’s the love of my life.
I almost jump out of my skin when the hall erupts into cheers of teachers, children, and Lillie running to hug our legs, Buddy snug under her arm. Not even Serena North’s sour-grapes face can rain on this parade.
I’m in the arms of my family, and even in a messy bun and sweat pants, it doesn’t get any better than this.
The End.
Epilogue
Remi
Ruby didn’t actually make me wait a whole year to get married.
I have my daughter and her best friend to thank for speeding up the timeline. After three months, she started looking at dresses. At four months, when she completed her art therapy licensure and returned to working at the clinic with Drew, I convinced her to let her small rental house go and move back into the McMansion with Lillie and me.
By six months, we were talking locations. I wanted a destination wedding, something like renting all of Cuixmala for a weekend and taking our family and closest friends.
Ruby decided that would be a better honeymoon destination, just the two of us. I couldn’t even begin to argue.
Eleanor was a situation Ruby insisted she had to resolve.
After we were engaged, the two of them went to lunch. They returned to the house afterwards and continued an on-again, off-again heated conversation. Until, by the end of the day, they had become allies.
I was skeptical, but their friendship remains strong. Ruby said it took all her training as a therapist, but basically it amounted to Eleanor’s fear that once Ruby became my wife, she would be out of Lillie’s life for good.
“I never wanted that,” Ruby says, wrapped in my arms in the large, whirlpool bathtub in my master suite. “She said once we were married, there would be no place for her. Ma would be your mother-in-law, and she would be nothing.”
The jets swirl foam from the bath salts around us, and a relaxing, lavender scent is in the air. It’s soothing, but my hands are on Ruby’s breasts, and the sensation of her in my arms, her hardening nipples, is giving me a semi.
“Eleanor will always be Lillie’s grandmother. Nothing will change that.” My lips press against the side of her neck, rising to behind her ear, and she shivers. “I would never dream of taking her family away.”
Ruby nods, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial tone. “I also told her if she stopped pushing Lillie so hard, she’d never have to worry about losing her. Maybe she’ll listen.”
“In my experience, Eleanor does what she wants, regardless of what anybody says.” Palming her breasts, I pinch her tight little nipples. “Now, the last thing I want to do in this moment is talk about my mothers-in-law.”
My beautiful bride-to-be starts to laugh, and I slide my hands lower, over her flat stomach, until I’m cupping the space between her thighs, massaging her clit. Her head rocks back against my shoulder and she moans. “Remi…”
“What, beautiful?” I kiss her ear, pulling the shell between my teeth. “Are you wet for me?”
“Yes…”
Her hips slowly rock as I massage her, firm and steady. I’m patient, watching my girl’s breath grow faster. I feel her muscles tense, and I slide her thighs apart with my knee.
I position her so I’m right at her entrance. A thrust of my hips sends my tip into her clenching pussy. “Oh, fuck,” I groan.
She’s so wet and hot. It’s delicious torture, but I do it again, just giving her the hypersensitive tip of my dick, teasing us both.
“Remi…” Her moves grow faster. She turns in my arms, slippery as a bar of soap, until she’s facing me.
Now we’re chest to chest, her small breasts floating in the water. Our mouths meet, tongues caressing, chasing, driving the heat between us higher as she straddles my lap.
Her hands grip the tub behind me, and I position my cock at her entrance. Then, with a swift drop, I’m she
athed inside her. We both moan at the incredible sensation, the clenching satisfaction of complete connection.
“My beautiful girl,” I moan, sliding my hands from her hips up to her waist as she rides me. She’s such a great rider. I’m trying to stay here with her and not get lost in the heaven between her thighs.
Grinding her body against mine, she bites her lip to keep from crying out. Her breasts rise out of the water, and she’s moving fast. She’s gorgeous to watch, the flush covering her breasts and rising to her neck.
My orgasm is tightening in my lower stomach, but I’m doing my best to hold out. It’s hard with her luscious insides pulling me, milking me. Leaning forward, I give her nipple a hard suck, a little bite.
“Remi!” It’s a high whimper followed by a cascade of spasms through her core as she comes on my cock.
Her body breaks into shudders, and I let go, pulsing and filling her, bucking up into her, groaning through the final waves of orgasm.
She collapses with her arms around my neck, and she’s relaxed and smiling. “I love doing that.”
“I love doing that with you.”
Our lips meet, sweeter this time. I hold her to me so I can kiss her shoulder, nibble her neck, pull her lips with mine again as our tongues caress gently, languorously.
I’m so in love with this woman…
It brings us to today, to this lavish wedding ceremony right here in Oakville.
Stephen is in town as my best man, and Drew is Ruby’s matron of honor. We have Ruby’s mom, Eleanor, Dottie, Gray, Dagwood, a few people I don’t know very well, and even Ms. Terry taking a role in the festivities.
We erected an arch and chairs in the town park square in front of the gazebo. It’s spring, so flowers are blooming. Azalea bushes are giant masses of magenta, and wisteria hangs over our heads like lavender grapes on vines.
Drew and Mrs. B, as I’ve learned everyone calls Ruby’s mom, added more flowers to the already bursting scenery. They let me know the wisteria, lilies, and camellias were added. I’m not an expert on flowers, but I think it looks like a technicolor rainbow straight out of any one of my daughter’s favorite Disney movies.
I stand before the arch with Pastor Hibbert behind me and Stephen, Dag, and Gray at my side, and as much as I’ve counted down the days to this moment, my stomach is in knots as the music changes and everyone shifts in their seats.
First comes Lillie, the little show-stopper. She’s wearing a floor-length blue gown to match Ruby’s engagement ring. It’s designed to look like a princess with a full tulle skirt, and she has Buddy on a long leash as she drops petals down the aisle. When she gets to the front, she steps beside me, holding my hand.
Ruby wanted to be sure she was included, so she’s taking part in the unity ceremony, lighting a candle to show our union as a family.
Dottie comes next, followed by Drew, also dressed in sapphire blue. They line up across from my groomsmen.
The music changes, and everyone stands. The Bridal Chorus begins, and when I see the white of her veil, I have to swallow the ache in my throat.
“Don’t cry, man.” Stephen is at my shoulder, and I exhale a laugh.
Ruby is utterly gorgeous. Her dress is fitted to her body, sleeveless, and floor-length, ending in waves of white satin. The veil hangs over her face and hair, but through the mesh, I see the light glistening off the tears in her eyes.
Fuck Stephen, I have to wipe away the mist. She’s the most beautiful angel sent to bring me back to life.
Pastor Hibbert joins our hands, and Ruby bends down to take Lillie’s small hand. My daughter looks up at her in wonder, and after the pastor’s introduction, the three of us take our small candles and hold them together to illuminate the one larger candle in the center representing our new family.
Satisfaction calms my insides as I watch the yellow flame grow taller. I couldn’t have imagined I would have this chance again, and I’m so fucking grateful.
Lillie goes to sit on her grandmother’s lap, and Ruby and I take hands, reciting the words that will bond us together. I promise to love her, cherish her, protect her for the rest of my days. The words are so easy to say.
She looks up at me, and when she promises to love, honor, and care for me for the rest of her life, I know I’m the luckiest guy in the world.
At last we reach the part where I can remove that veil and kiss her beautiful lips. For a moment, I hold her in my arms, drinking in her beauty, making a permanent memory of this point in time, this time when I am given a second chance at love.
Our lips unite, our eyes close, and we’re swept up in the bliss of union.
* * *
Ruby
Lillie touches her daddy’s face before their dance, and my heart is just bursting. The music starts, and he leads her in a sweet version of “When You Wish Upon a Star.”
My dance with Remi was equally magical. We glided around the space, me lost in his eyes to the strains of Elvis’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” At the end, he kissed me gently, and I’ve been smoldering ever since.
Now, watching him with his daughter… Everyone’s sniffing.
“You’re making all your guests cry.” Drew is at my elbow, and I put my arm around her waist. She’s bouncing her new baby and smiling.
“You’re just a softie,” I tease. “Lillie picked this song all by herself. It’s when the Blue Fairy brings Jiminy Cricket to life.”
“That girl.” My best friend blinks quickly. “She really is adorable. It’s the second most beautiful wedding I’ve ever seen.”
That makes me laugh. “Can you even remember your wedding? I feel like I’ve been in a daze the whole day.”
“You’ll go back and watch the video in a few weeks.”
The song ends, and Remi kneels down to hug Lillie. Everyone claps, and I expect the room to burst into partiers now that the official stuff is out of the way.
I’m surprised when my husband (squee!) motions for the DJ to give him the mic. The opening notes of Kenny Rogers fill the room, and my eyes go wide.
“He is not singing that.” My stomach flips.
My mom hops up and starts dancing, flapping her elbows like a chicken.
Drew is laughing so hard, she’s crying more. “Your mom should not be allowed to dance.”
“No joke!” I shout.
Remi launches into the opening verse of “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town,” and I can only shake my head and focus on how great his voice sounds. The crowd goes wild with his moves and his singing.
When he finally finishes, begging for God’s sake, that Ruby will please just turn around, I can’t stand it anymore. I squeal at the top of my lungs like all the other females in the room.
The mic is returned to the DJ, and his arms are around my waist as the dancers fill in around us.
“That’s a terrible song for a wedding!” I cry over the noise of K-pop.
“Your mother requested it.” Remi grins, as if he can’t tell my mother no.
My mind drifts to a moment before the ceremony, standing with Ma and looking at my version of “Mother and Sleeping Child.”
“You were always a gifted artist.” She says it as if it’s common knowledge, and not a dream I sat on for twelve years.
“You think so?” I can’t keep the sarcasm out of my tone. “What happened to art being a useless degree?”
She only clucks her tongue. “Art is a risky degree. It takes a lot of luck and a lot of patience.”
“You could’ve said that to me. I was old enough to understand that reality.” It’s times like this when I realize some old scars still ache a little—like a bad knee when a rainstorm is coming.
“It was a different time.” She turns to me and smiles, arranging my veil, warmth flowing from her eyes. “You are very beautiful, Ruby-ah. Your father would be very proud of you.” Her rare use of the diminutive makes my eyes heat.
“Thank you.” It’s the most I’m able to say.
She nods decisi
vely. “Remington is a good man. He will make a good husband for you.”
I couldn’t agree more…
Now I’m in the arms of my husband, this beautiful man who gave me the courage to change my life.
Our crowd of friends flood the dance floor, jumping up and down, swaying their hips, pointing fingers disco-style, and pretty much dancing horribly to the music, but Remi and I are in our own separate bubble of love.
“I was just thinking…”
“What’s that, wife?” His low voice calling me wife, thrills my insides.
“The first night we met, you said you wanted me to help you.”
“You did help me.”
“I did?” My brow furrows. “How?”
His eyes capture mine, intense and serious. “Well, for starters, you helped me not be like my dad—”
“But you were never like your dad. Everything you do with Lillie shows you’re not like him. You were only grieving.”
Long fingers smooth my hair back. “You helped me find my way back.”
He pulls me close, and my eyes close as his cheek presses to mine. The music swirls with our friends around us, and I confess, as much as I adore Disney movies, I never believed fairytales really happened in real life.
This past year changed all of that.
I’m no longer an only child or even an insecure career girl, searching for meaning in my life. I’m a wife and mother. I’m using my art to help others at the clinic with Drew, which makes me financially independent—not that I need to be anymore.
I’ve met every goal on my list, with the benefits.
Lifting my chin, I kiss Remi lightly on the cheek, realizing he helped me as well. He’s my living handsome prince, and together, we’ve saved each other.
* * *
Thank you so much for reading Ruby + Remi’s story.
I hope you laughed, cried, and fell in love with these two as much as I did.
