“James,” the officiant continued, “please repeat after me. I James take you Audra to be my wife, my partner, and my love.”
“I James take you Audra to be my wife, my partner…” He paused for a second, and looked over Audra’s shoulder to Natalie as he finished, “and my love.”
“I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever.”
“I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever.” When he looked back at Audra, she took a deep breath and nodded, the gesture surprisingly reassuring to his own nervous senses.
“Audra, do you take James to be your husband? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only unto him?”
Audra hesitated, and for a moment James wondered whether she was having second thoughts right then and there. But whatever gave her pause passed, and she sniffed before saying, “I do.”
“And James, do you take Audra to be your wife? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only unto her?”
He had no intention of it whatsoever. And he strongly suspected that neither did Audra. Still, he said, “I do.”
“By the power vested in me by the state of Nevada, I now pronounce you husband and wife. James, Audra, you may now kiss.”
Without hesitation James leaned into Audra and kissed her, chastely and sweetly, sealing their bond. He could just taste the salt of the tear that had gathered above Audra’s lip. When she pulled away, James took the opportunity to look at Natalie, who was doing an admirable job at holding it together. To anyone else she looked like nothing more than a happy bridesmaid crying for the newly wedded couple. He knew better. He knew that despite the strength she put on display for the world to see, inside she was trembling.
The officiant put a hand each on James and Audra’s shoulders, and announced, “I present to you our happy couple, Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerald!”
** *
Bidden will conclude with book 6.
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Titles By Crystal Cierlak
THE BIDDEN SERIES
Candidate four
Sinful Reunion
Secret Desires
Beyond Ruin
Unbidden Love
Part 6 (coming soon)
THE ROMANCE OF NICK AND LAYLA
Walk Away
Sorry
White Flag
Damaged
Undone
Heartlines (coming soon)
ZOE THANATOS
Zoe Thanatos
The Lost Heir
AWAKENING RIELLE (SERIES)
Awakening Rielle
Observing Rielle
Entrapping Rielle (coming soon)
Unbidden Love (Book Five of the Bidden Series) Page 20
