“Don’t I know it.” She rolls her eyes before looking around, taking in her mud-soaked wheels. “Guess the lake is out of the question.” She reaches up, wiping her face and looking down at her palm, seeing a clump of mud. “I need to clean myself up.”
I bend down and scoop her up. “Then I guess we should go and get you cleaned up.”
Wrapping her arms around my neck, she says, “But, my chair.” Flitting her gaze to me and the chair that’s still partially stuck.“What if it rains?”
“Then it’ll get wet instead of you. Don’t worry about the chair, I’ll get it later.”
She huffs out a breath and I shiver as it fans across my neck. “Fine.”
I trudge back through the mud, being careful not to slip with Amelia in my arms—my fiancée. I wish I waited until I had the ring with me, but we’ve never done things as they should be done, so why start now?
As I’m about to walk through the patio doors into the kitchen, I say, “Does this count as carrying you over the threshold?”
She snorts. “No, Nate. I think we actually have to be married for it to count.”
“Well then I think we should get married soon,” I joke.
I never expect her to say, “Okay,” and as soon as the word echoes around us, I stop in my tracks in the hallway outside the bathroom I can hear running water coming from.
“What did you say?”
“I said, okay.” She scans my face. “What?”
“You’re—you’re being serious?” I walk into the master bedroom, placing her down on the bed even though she protests she’s dirty. “You want to get married soon?”
She smiles wide and runs a hand through my hair, shrugging. “Why not?”
My gaze flits back and forth between her eyes to make sure she isn’t having doubts, and when I see nothing but sincerity shining back at me, I tell her, “Close your eyes.”
“Why?”
“Just close them.” She does as I say and I walk over to the closet, taking the ring box out from under one of my folded t-shirts and walking back over to her.
I know she’s already said yes but my leg shakes as I bend down on one knee before clearing my throat. “You can open them now.”
I open the box as she opens her eyes, her gaze falling on my grandmother’s diamond ring.
She gasps, covering her mouth and shaking her head, her eyes shining with tears threatening to escape.
I immediately start to panic. “If you don’t like it we—”
She shakes her head, reaching out and placing a finger over my lips, effectively cutting me off. “Nate…” Her voice is choked, emotion fueled. “It’s so beautiful.”
I take the ring out of the box and slide it onto her ring finger. “It was my great-great-grandmother’s and has been passed down to each generation.”
Her eyes widen, a look of horror flashing over her features. “I can’t take this!”
I push a strand of stray hair behind her ear. “My mom wanted you to have it, she never wore it because she’s allergic to gold.”
The tears threatening to escape finally do, and I watch as one flows over her cheek as she stares down at her hand. “I can’t believe we’re getting married.”
I wait for her gaze to meet mine, trying to convey every ounce of love I feel for her through one look as I say, “I couldn’t imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone else.”
My love is reflected back at me in her eyes and it takes all of two seconds for me to swoop her up in a kiss worthy of this moment.
I hear the front door slam closed and I’m guessing it was Maya going out, so when Amelia grabs hold of the collar of my shirt and groans into my mouth, I get swept up in the moment. My tongue darts across the seam of her lips, my hands instinctively falling between us, unzipping the coat she’s wearing as she loosens my tie, yanking it off and throwing it across the room.
We’re a frenzy as one by one items of clothing fall to the floor. I lay her across the bed, a sheepish look on her face as I crawl over to her after ridding myself of the only item of clothing left on me—my socks.
We haven’t gone very far sexually since she came home from the hospital so I haven’t wondered about the logistics of everything until now.
I place a kiss on the side of her neck, gently brushing my hand across her collarbone. “We don’t have to—”
“I want you,” she assures me, clearing her throat. “I want to try.”
At her words, I whisper my fingers down the curve of her body, ending just before the middle of her stomach. “Are you sure?”
Her eyes flutter closed as she moans, “Keep going.”
I hesitate knowing any farther down and she won’t feel a thing, but she places her hand on top of mine, guiding it down to her hip, her eyes opening. “Please don’t treat me like I’m fragile.” She leans toward me. “I just want to forget about everything and be with my fiancé.”
I capture her mouth with mine, admiring how strong she is, but the answering moan speaks to the primal part of me and I move on top of her, kissing my way down her chest, stopping at her hardened nipples and taking one into my mouth.
A sharp gasp leaves her at the sensation it elicits and I grin against her skin, flicking my tongue once more before I move over to the other one, giving it equal attention.
“Nate…” she moans again, causing me to lift my head. I swallow any doubts I had about touching her below the waist before kissing down her stomach, watching her as she watches me in fascination.
My hands move of their own accord, gliding down her thighs as I move my head, kissing my way down the inside of one. When I look up, I see her eyes turn glassy with tears and I immediately feel guilty, pushing back up toward her.
“Lia, we don’t have to do this.” My thumb brushes the apple of her cheek.
“I want to more than anything. When I’m watching it’s like I can remember what it felt like.” She lifts her hand, cupping my cheek. “I’m not upset, Nate. It’s a good thing; I promise.”
Threading her fingers through my hair, she pulls me toward her, kissing me with a passion I can’t ignore, throwing gasoline onto the roaring flame and igniting my need for her.
I place myself over the top of her completely, sliding a hand underneath her back and guiding her down until our hips are aligned. I lower myself on top of her gently before I rock forward as I enter her, a gasp leaving her mouth making me pull back, my eyes wide. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
She smiles. “I can feel you inside of me, Nate. I can feel you.”
Placing gentle kisses against her jaw, I keep a steady motion as I pull her closer, holding her to my chest as I continue my controlled thrusts, eliciting soft moans from her.
I pull back to look into her eyes, captivated by her completely. No one has ever come close to making me feel the way I do just by looking at her. She was right in front of me the whole time and it only took me being off my guard to be knocked off my feet by everything she is.
The pleasurable smile on her face is enough to send me over the edge, but I hold on a little longer, willing myself to slow down as I nip at her bottom lip.
Her fingernails dig into my shoulder blades as she whispers, “Nate… I love you.”
Capturing her mouth with mine as we both lose control, I swallow down her moans, both of us pouring our hearts and souls into this one kiss. It’s epic, the kind of epic you only read about. With this one kiss, I vow no matter what, I’ll always be there through the good times and the bad.
“I’ll love you for the rest of my life.”
I take a look in the mirror once my mom has shut the door behind her, my gaze skirting around my perfectly made-up face before landing on my blond hair that’s pinned at the base of my neck, trailing over one shoulder in soft curls.
When Nate suggested we get married quickly, I didn’t think twice about it. I know in my heart and soul he’s it for me—he owns me completely. So when we realized it was nearly our one year annive
rsary for our first date, we knew it was fate to get married on the exact same day.
Lifting my hand, I brush my palm over the veil Charlotte placed at the bottom of my updo, the soft, delicate material of the silk tulle flowing through my fingers.
My gaze drifts lower, soaking in my beautiful dress. A dress I knew would be perfect because Charlotte made it especially for me.
The doorbell rings and I spin my chair around, moving forward and opening it up, not expecting to see Charlotte’s face beaming at me.
Her smile is spread wide, her eyes taking in the beautiful ring. She rushes forward, grasping my hand and gasping as she says, “My God, it’s beautiful.”
A grin spreads across my face when I continue to look at the Edwardian style ring: the 1.64 carat diamond is surrounded with two sharp-edged ovals filled with more diamonds on either side.
“It is,” I murmur, my voice full of fascination and awe. It’s been two days since Nate proposed and the date has already been set for nine weeks from now—the exact date we had our first date.
“We need to make you a dress that’ll do this ring justice,” she says, stepping inside fully as I wheel my chair back, a leather folder tucked under her arm as she shuts the door.
“Make me a dress?” I ask.
“Yep,” she walks over to the sofa, her heels clicking on the hardwood floor. “You didn’t think I’d let you buy an off-the-rack dress, did you?”
“Well… I… Do we have enough time?”
“We sure do!”
The dress does do the ring justice. My eyes tear up when I trail my fingers over the deep V that dips between my breasts, the skin-colored overlay holding onto the intricate lace pattern that’s been hand sewn onto the bodice. The lace flows gently over the wispy white skirt of the dress and into the split running up my left leg, giving the illusion it’s there but still having the modesty of being covered. The back dips all the way down to the bottom of my spine, showing off my whole back, lace interwoven into the small portion of my dress at the base of my neck.
When Charlotte did the big reveal a week ago, I couldn’t stop the tears from flowing down my face at the beauty of it, and now it’s on my body, I’m not sure I can hold them back much longer.
“Amelia?” Maya’s voice sounds through the door with a knock and she comes in, her gaze trailing over me as she steps inside and shuts the door behind her. “You ready?”
Taking a deep breath, I place my hand on my stomach, nodding my head. “As ready as I’ll ever be.” I pause, smiling at how beautiful she looks in her mauve bridesmaid dress. “You look stunning,” I tell her.
“Thanks.” She shuffles on her feet before coming forward, her voice unsure as she says, “Jake’s here.” Frowning, I tilt my head to the side, not understanding why she looks so worried. If there’s ever a time to introduce your boyfriend to your family, then a wedding is the perfect one.
“Maya? What’s wrong?”
“Erm… well… you remember you asking me to keep something a secret?” Her gaze bats down to my foot before coming back up. “I may have kept another one.” She worries her bottom lip. “Jake is… he’s… erm… he’s a senior and will be going off to college after the summer.”
I groan, leaning my head back as a bark of laughter escapes me. She may have not long turned sixteen, but it means he’s two years older than her. It doesn’t sound like much, but when you’re in high school, it’s huge. “Your brother’s gonna be pissed.”
“I know.” She flops down on the chair in the corner of the guest room where I’ve been getting ready. “You have to help me. I don’t want him to kill him because… well, I really, really like Jake.”
Wheeling over to her, I place a hand over the top of hers that’s holding our bouquets, full of earthy-toned flowers. “I’ll be there, don’t worry.” She blows out a deep breath, her chest moving up and down as she breathes in and out slowly. “Come on, it’s time for me to get hitched.”
She giggles, standing up and following me out as I wheel down the hallway, through the living room and kitchen, and outside onto the patio.
Dad waits for me next to the golf cart to take us down to where we’re having the ceremony: on the open grass in front of the lake. His black suit and white shirt are pressed within an inch of its life thanks to my mother. He paces back and forth but as we come to a stop, his head lifts and a smile spreads over his face, his eyes turning glassy.
“Sweetheart,” he murmurs, clearing his throat. “You look… beautiful.”
“Thank you. You don’t look too bad yourself.” I take my bouquet from Maya before titling my head toward the cart. “You ready for this, Dad?”
“No.” He swipes his hand through his hair. “I’ve been so stressed I swear I have a bald patch.”
I laugh at him, shaking my head but taking an extra long look at his hair. I think he really does have a bald patch.
I move closer to the cart, maneuvering myself into it as dad attaches my chair to the rack Nate had installed as Maya sits next to me. I hear the sounds of the guests talking the closer we get toward the lake. My nerves get more intense when Dad comes to a stop next to a small partition set up close to the end of the aisle so Nate can’t see me yet.
The sounds of the guests die down as someone must tell them it’s time, and a flock of butterflies take flight in my stomach. Today is a big day—a huge day.
Moving back to my chair, I wheel close to the aisle where Izzie and Clay stand at the edge of it, Izzie in her white dress with a mauve sash and bow, and Clay in a navy-blue suit, a tie to match the sash and bow on his sister’s dress.
Winking at them, I relish in the smiles I get back. The last couple of months I’ve made a conscious effort to see them both more, driving over to Tris and Harmony’s house and even having them stay overnight at ours.
They start to walk forward down the aisle, Izzie throwing petals down as Dad and Maya walk ahead, coming to a stop at the start of the aisle and concealing me.
My eyes take in all of the white wooden seats, the small signs hanging off the back of each of them with a different quote. Some speak of love, some of hardship, but every single one means something to me and Nate.
When Dad and Maya step aside, I see him standing there, his handsome face smiling down at me, his green eyes shining bright. His navy suit fits him perfectly, the tie he wears matching the colors of the bridesmaid dresses.
The altar he’s standing at is covered in flowers, wrapping around each of the four white, wooden beams are holding it up, the openness of it showing the beautiful lake and the clear blue sky behind him.
Maya steps behind me, her hand landing on my shoulder and giving a gentle squeeze as Dad moves beside me on the right. My wheels move smoothly over the wooden walkway that’s been laid down, petals floating along it, moving with the gentle breeze flowing over us all.
My breath catches in my throat when we get halfway up the aisle, twenty feet from where Nate is standing with Tris beside him. Izzie and Clay are now sitting in the front row next to Charlotte and Edward, and my stomach dips as I come to a stop, nervousness coursing through me.
This is it. This is the moment.
Nate frowns, his head tilting to the side, and I can see he’s confused as to why I’ve stopped, but when Maya comes to stand next to me, reaching out for the bouquet, he steps forward.
I give him a small shake of my head before bracing my arms on the side of my chair and pushing up. My muscles ache with the force, but I’m determined to do this—to show him and all of the guests what I can do.
There’s only three people who knew I was going to do this: Traci, Maya, and my dad. Each one of them didn’t want to keep the secret, but after the day Nate proposed, I was determined to try and walk down the aisle.
The feeling has slowly come back in my legs since the day I could feel Maya touching my foot, and although there are spots I still can’t feel, I know they’ll come back with more time and therapy.
I stand to my
full height, reaching out for my dad’s arm and grasping onto it, steadying myself as I look back at Nate, taking one step toward him.
The first of many more.
My knees grow weak at the sight of my beautiful wife-to-be walking toward me. I sink down to the wooden platform beneath me, unable to keep myself standing as tears of joy and wonderment roll down my cheeks. I can hear the sound of our friends and family gasping and a few sobs ringing out, but I don’t move my focus away from Amelia’s determined eyes.
I feel a hand on my shoulder and Tris helps me to stand up as Amelia steps closer, Carl at her side with every one she takes as I send a silent thank you up to the heavens. Although I know most of this is down to Amelia’s determination. She always wants to go one step further. And she’s achieved it.
They reach the altar and I take a shaky step toward her, Carl placing her hand in mine as we both help her step up onto the small platform, the ramp going unused until Maya pushes up the chair.
Everything else goes silent the moment she looks at me with a soft smile on her face and I cup her cheeks, brushing my thumbs over them as my breath catches. “What—how?”
She smiles wider. “I wanted to be able to walk down the aisle.”
“But…” My eyes flick behind her to Maya who has tears streaming down her face, complete with a big grin. “I don’t understand.”
Her face turns pained. “I won’t be able to stand for long but I really want to be able to do this without my chair.” Maya wheels her chair over to her but she refuses to sit down as she says, “I’ll explain properly later on.” Her gaze flicks to the man who will be witnessing our vows. “Shall we get married first?”
I chuckle and she lifts her hands, wiping away an errant tear off my cheek. “I’m so proud of you.”
She nods before whispering, “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
I squeeze her hand, a peculiar feeling flowing through me at seeing her standing in front of me. “Yes, you could.”
She puts her other hand on mine as the officiant starts to speak. “But I wouldn’t have wanted to.”
Fighting Our Way (Broken Tracks Series Book 2) Page 43
