I saw the record label heading, and read what it said. It was a contract from the CEO, saying exactly what Alfie had told me he could make happen.
He’d organized for our future together, and I was ecstatic about it. I wondered what Elle was doing with it, and why she was giving it to me right before her wedding
Elle had a wide grin on her face as she handed me a small gold colored envelope. “Now, this one.” I recognized Alfie’s writing as soon as I saw it. When I peeled it open, some small rose petals fell to the floor as I pulled out a rich, vanilla-colored card.
Okay Lily, I kept my part of the bargain from our talk last night, it’s time for you, my beautiful girl, to make good on yours. Last night you told me you would marry me tomorrow, if I could arrange what you just read in the contract. So…come downstairs and meet me, the future Mrs. Black. I’m waiting for my beautiful bride so that we can write our own contract, and be signed to the most important label for the both of us. The ‘Black’ Label.
“I can’t marry him today, not like this. I’m not hijacking your wedding, Elle. I have no dress or anything, apart from that…” Elle wagged her fingers at our moms to bring the carrier over. “Actually, before you go jumping off the deep end, Lily, we planned the wedding together. We chose everything together. You just didn’t know we were planning it for the both of us.”
My mother unzipped the carrier, and the dress I’d fallen in love with when I went to Elle’s fitting was being pulled out in front of me. “Leanne made the final adjustments to it from the measurements she had.”
Speechless and shaking, I swallowed audibly as I choked back my tears. “Are you serious? Mom, you and Dad knew about this?”
My mother nodded sheepishly. “We were worried that you wouldn’t be ready today. Your dad and I had doubts about Alfie in the beginning, but we can see how much he loves you, and we know you couldn’t be in better hands.”
Still shaking from the shock, I stared at Elle and my mother came to help me into my dress. The soft cast supporting my arm was hidden once the silk and lace sleeve was slipped past it.
Elle had tears in her eyes when she looked at me. “I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect person to share this day with, Lily. We’ve done nearly everything else together, so it made sense for us to kill two birds with one stone. This way we’ll be able to celebrate our anniversaries together for the rest of our lives.”
My dad and Elle’s dad arrived, and Elle explained that Holly was going to be maid of honor for me, and Mandy had agreed to be hers. My dad looked at me, his eyes glistening with tears, only a hint of concern in them. “You’re happy about this?”
I was. The whole thing was an incredible surprise. Alfie, along with my friends and family, had arranged everything behind my back, and I couldn’t be happier.
The past few days began to make sense from trying on the dress to everything that was going on during the wedding rehearsals. We were rehearsing, too, just without my knowledge.
Rosie arrived back in the room with the wedding planner, Jenny, to let us know everyone was seated. Our moms and Rosie headed to the wedding suite to wait for us, after lots of fighting back tears, kisses, and hugs.
On my dad’s arm as he walked me to Alfie, he dipped his head to my ear. “Lily, you are the most beautiful daughter any dad could possibly have. I am so proud of you, darling. Alfie asked me at Christmas if he could ask you to be his bride. I was worried about you living that life with a rock star, but after watching you together, I gave him my blessing.” I was surprised they’d even had such a conversation.
My eyes brimmed with tears when I saw Jack dressed like my dad, standing just outside the door. I turned to my dad, and he grinned.
“Jack asked if he could come with me to give you away. I felt it was fitting. He’s going to need some closure on your relationship as it was. You do know how two you are is way beyond weird, right? You can’t behave that way after you’re married,” he scolded, but there was humor in his voice.
Jack smirked. “Well except for the times when Alfie isn’t looking, Lily.” He winked. I giggled. No matter what, Jack would always be important to me.
Music began to filter out from within the wedding suite. ‘Love You Forever’ by Ryan Huston. Softly and silently the doors to the suite began to open.
Elle leaned over at me. “Both boys picked this song because some of the lyrics fit with you guys and some with mine and Drew’s past together.” It was perfect.
Alfie’s eyes connected with mine as soon as I entered the room. As far as I was concerned we were alone. Making my way to the front, I was mesmerized by his gorgeous smile and his beautiful features. He looked incredible in his smart, sexy suit. He was smiling widely, and his eyes held my gaze until I was standing next to him.
My dad and Jack both put my hand in Alfie’s palm, and I heard the registrar ask, “Who gives this woman to be married to this man.” My dad and Jack in unison said, “We do,” before smiling and stepping back. As they did, Alfie’s fingers closed around mine, and he squeezed gently. “Hey,” he cooed.
Staring at his handsome face, I was having difficulty taking all of this in. I didn’t have time to write out any personalized vows, but as I barely managed to squeak out what the registrar asked me to repeat, I was glad I hadn’t spent hours on that. Alfie wouldn’t have embarrassed me by having a set of his own vows when I didn’t either. Besides, we could do that on our honeymoon and recite them to each other in privacy.
I began to relax at the wedding dinner, and our reception went off like a dream. I insisted that Elle and Drew had the first dance. After all, Alfie and I had kind of butted in on their wedding. Elle had invited Will and his new girlfriend, Amy, and Alfie tolerated it because he knew I was his for life.
We were booked into another suite in the hotel for the night, but our honeymoon was postponed for two week until after my physical therapy was finished. He knew how important playing music was to me and keeping to the recovery program.
When we danced to ‘Listen,’ for our first dance, Alfie sang the words into my ear. It was absolutely perfect. Elle and I did the bouquet-throwing-cake-cutting thing together, then kissed tons of relatives. It became a bit blurry about who was who, because of all the people involved.
Feeling eyes on me when I was chatting to one of Drew’s relatives, I turned to see Alfie giving me a dark stare. I’d have recognized what was in his eyes anywhere. It was only ten in the evening, but Alfie smoothly made excuses about not tiring me out, and we left the reception before Elle and Drew.
Arriving at the door to the suite, Alfie dipped his legs and scooped me up into his arms. “Okay, Mrs. Black. Are you ready for the long haul with me?” he asked, looking tenderly into my eyes, his glinting with mischief. I smirked and nodded, before burying my face in his neck.
Alfie swiped his card and opened the door. Pale pink rose petals were scattered everywhere. Red roses and white gypsum filled the room, and I realized we were in the penthouse. We had a perfect view of Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner just down the road.
Placing me back on my feet, Alfie bent and cupped my face in his hands. “Lily Black, I am so lucky to be right here with you. Thank you for picking me. You know you’ve always been my favorite.” He smirked.
He dipped his head to kiss me softly, as his hand swept from the side of my face to the back of my head. He pressed my head gently toward him, deepening the kiss. I moaned deeply into his mouth. It was a kiss full of love and passion, and I had no doubt that Alfie truly loved me.
When we broke the kiss we were both breathless. “Can you undo my dress for me Alfie?”
He grinned wickedly and growled. “With pleasure, I’ve been waiting to peel this away since you walked into the room today.”
Slowly unzipping my dress, it slipped away and fell to the floor. Hungry, hooded eyes lit up and slowly appreciated the lingerie, and my body
inside of it. Alfie inhaled deeply.
“Fuck. God, I shouldn’t swear, but you’re just…perfect.” He swallowed audibly with a click. His eyes had the green hue that told me that I was turning him on, and his pupils were huge now.
“Come here. Sit,” he commanded. Sitting me on the chair, he went into his bag and pulled out his tablet. Scrolling through the screen, he tapped something with his finger and set it on the table.
‘You Can Leave Your Hat On’ by Joe Cocker began to play. Alfie rummaged in his bag again and pulled out a baseball cap, pulling it on backwards. A sexy smirk spread across his face.
“Now then, where were we?” he cooed as he began gyrating his hips, making small circles with them, and moving them from side to side. This was my surprise striptease.
Sliding his jacket down over his shoulders, he pulled the material tight. Turning, he wiggled and twerked his ass at me, grinning over his shoulder. It was so damn cute, and it made me laugh out loud. He let the jacket slip to his hands before swinging it above his head. Alfie’s ass had always gotten my attention. “I hope you don’t mind but I skipped on the satin thong today.” He winked.
Continuing with his sexy dance, he started peeling the layers of clothing away, taking his tie off and looping it over my head, sliding it gently back and forth on my neck before discarding it to the pile he was fast accumulating on the floor.
When I saw his naked, hard body, and strong, pectoral muscles flex, I was digging my nails in my palms trying to control my urge to speed things up for him. I understood what Alfie meant now about it being torture to watch. Except, no one had tied my hands.
Alfie kissed me briefly, then turned back and began wiggling his ass closer to my face. I was tempted to bite it, but he turned and wiggled his bulge and started undulating his hips. His hand moved to the button of his pants and he popped it open, placing his hand on the zipper. I lifted my gaze, and his eyes locked in with mine.
All of a sudden, neither of us smiled any more. “We’ve done it, Lily,” Alfie cooed. “Nothing else matters, except that we’re together. I’m gonna love you my whole life, Lily Black, and you’re never going to doubt what you want again.” Alfie’s mouth covered mine again in a slow tender kiss.
Seeing the look of love on his face today as I had made my way toward him, I had no doubts that whatever challenges we faced, Alfie would work hard to help me figure it all out.
Music would always be an important part of my life, but my accident changed my mind about a few things. I could have died, but I didn’t. It put everything into perspective for me. It put Alfie into perspective for me.
*****
If you ask me the question today, whether I still feel as strongly about my music? I don’t feel as strongly now as I did. My priorities have changed. I still want to stay in my band, but I don’t feel compelled to make music like I did before. I don’t want my music if it doesn’t include Alfie.
“C’mere,” my sexy husband coos. Turning, I meet his smoldering gaze. Alfie is lying on the luxurious, gold silk bedding. He’s naked, sprawling out lazily, and his head is propped up on one elbow. He’s wagging his finger in a ‘come here’ motion at me, and giving me his sexy, lopsided smile. He’s absolutely stunning, and he’s really mine. I am the luckiest girl in the world, not because I married Alfie Black the rock star, but because Alfie Black, the man, loves me.
THE END.
Dedication
This book is dedicated to you, the readers, who stuck with the story and followed it to the end. The previous books in the series contained unfinished business, and although it is frustrating, sometimes life is full of unfinished business and we have to keep going anyway. I’m really glad if you are reading this that you chose to follow Lily’s journey. Thankfully for her and Alfie the story ends with one journey and begins with another. Thank you to all of you who have supported the story of Lily and Alfie.
Acknowledgements
Russell Cleary: Book Covers for The Everything Trilogy, Design and building of: www.klshandwick.com website, graphics & Logo.
Jenny Carlsrud Sims: Editor in the series www.editing4indies.com
Thank you Jenny on behalf of Lily & Alfie and their friends! (You are amazing!)
Also, for allowing my comma fairy to sprinkle some love in your direction. (And for being WP at the event in the book)
Kris: Formatting epub, mobi, ARC’s and all things kindle. (Thank you! I love you very much)
Pete: My husband and best friend. Thank you for allowing me to neglect you to put this together, for feeding me, supporting me, being my sounding board and crash dummy for listening to the scenes! (I love you very much)
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Everything I want: Will Alfie and Lily's love survive?... Page 31
