Sam grinned, she couldn’t help herself. “Thank you.” Chevon had her crying now, of course. They had all pitched in to ensure that Samantha had a wedding like the ones on her home world. An Imarian joining wasn’t as lavish of an affair as the weddings on Earth. “They’re playing our song. I’m ready,” she told Chevon and straightened slightly so she could walk down the aisle with him.
He gave her a nod and squared off his shoulders. He was in full dress uniform. From what Petr had shared with her they rarely wore these particular uniforms except for funerals or extremely special occasions. A wedding apparently fell into that category, given the number of them she saw in the room they entered when the music swelled. While it wasn’t the wedding march, it was perfect for their wedding. Everyone stood and turned to watch her walk down the aisle they’d created with chairs in the largest ballroom of the house. At the far end in front of the doors opened out into the yard stood Petr and an official who would be performing the ceremony.
Samantha looked at Petr and felt her heart swelling with happiness. She was crying, but she had warned him she likely would. Her man looked amazing standing up there and she laughed a little when Tarek reached out to grab Petr’s arm as he left the small, raised dais that they waited for her on. He was as anxious to get to her as she was to get to him. Once they were there, Chevon gave her off to Petr after he vowed to always be there for the couple should he be needed. “You look amazing,” she whispered to Petr when he pulled her close there before all of their friends.
“I pale in comparison to your beauty, little one.” Lifting her hand, he pressed a kiss to her fingers, his gaze focused on her face. Even when they turned to face the official who would be reading an Earth wedding ceremony they’d found in her ship’s databases Petr couldn’t seem to stop looking at her.
She couldn’t stop looking at him. She was impressed by him, by how he had dedicated so much into pulling off a wedding for her. She couldn’t help but smile. “You amaze me,” she confessed. “Now, why don’t we get married and then go cut the cake, dance a little, have a meal with our friends, and slip off in the drinking after?”
“Sounds reasonable to me,” he said. He gave a nod to the official, who started the wedding like so many had on her former world. “Dearly beloved we are gathered here today to witness the joining of this man and this woman in holy matrimony.”
Barely five minutes later, Petr was kissing her to seal the deal and those who had born witness were applauding. Sam felt his lips curve against hers before she got a second, quicker kiss, and they turned to face everyone. With her hand on Petr’s arm, they headed down the aisle to go to the other ballroom, where she knew the food was already set up for the coming meal.
Sam didn’t let Petr go. She couldn’t let him go. She let him lead her away and seat them at the head of the table. She looked out at the people that were there, then looked to Petr once more. “The only way this would have been better is if our family was here.” She knew he was missing his sister and his niece and nephew and that made her hurt for him. She could only hope and pray that one day they would be able to see them without worry about what would happen to them if they were caught.
“I know, little one.” Sliding his hand over her back, he shuffled his chair in closer to hers so their thighs touched. “I had one of the crew recording the entire ceremony, so I might send it to Adira when I have the opportunity. She’ll enjoy it, I’m sure. Next time we’re there, we’ll try to do something special so she doesn’t feel left out. One day if we are blessed by the spirits they will come home, and we will be free to go visit them.”
One of the house staff came by then to set a platter down before them, and two glasses another server filled up. Petr thanked them, and when they were alone again, Sam noted the items on the platter were all her favorites. At her look, Petr shrugged. “This is our day. The least I could do was arrange to have only your favorite foods as part of the dinner to celebrate our union.”
“You are so good to me.” And he was. He had made so much of this happen. She had helped, but the biggest part of it was all his doing. “This all came together so perfectly.” She was stunned at the number of flowers, the way that the people all seemed to want to pitch in for the wedding celebration. “I hope this is a tradition that will catch on with our people. I think it would be cool, don’t you?”
He nodded. “It was a brilliant idea, little one. A nice way to bring everyone together in celebration during times where we have too little to smile about. It’s nice to see everyone relaxed and enjoying themselves. They work so hard that they needed something like this without the stress that comes from any of the military functions. Here they can relax, be themselves, and not worry about who might know who. Right now we are all equals and friends.” Leaning over, Petr pressed a kiss to her temple. “Did I mention this was a brilliant idea?”
“Thank you.” She bumped her shoulder with his and smiled. “You did mention it, but it’s more than the idea, it’s the implementation. You and your friends and so many worked hard to get this just right. It’s perfect. Even the gown that I had created, it’s perfect. All of it.” She had given the seamstress a rough drawing of the gown she wanted and the woman had created it to perfection. “It will create several new trades as well, so that’s even better.” Wedding planners, gown makers, florists, and so on. It would create a whole new setting for people to create livings from.
“One step at a time, little one. Let’s get through this night without any major incidents before you start planning your revolution.” Reaching out, he picked up their glasses and handed her one. Then he gently tapped his to the one she held. “I love you, Samantha van Jahnsen. I cannot thank the spirits enough for the day they blessed me with your presence in my life.”
“I love you, too, Petr van Jahnsen.” She looked down at the rings that he had created for her and smiled. “I still can’t believe you had this made for me and I didn’t even know it. As for the spirits, I’m thankful to them as well. That they led me to you.” She had to believe that she was steered in his direction for a reason.
“I read everything that came from your ship’s system, little one. While the majority of it is apparently beyond even my considerable understanding of how things work, I paid particular attention to the intricate rituals surrounding marriage. I did like the symbolism of the rings. The fact they mark you as mine. I also enjoyed the challenge of working with the silversmith to create them for you. He thanks your world, too, for a new line of items that will soon be offered to the people of Imara.”
“It is eternal, the circle of our love never-ending.”
When the band began to play and he asked her to dance, she nodded. She slipped her hand into his and let him pull her up and out of the chair and onto the dance floor. She moved easily with him, their bodies so attuned to one another that it was like second nature. “The band is very good,” she told him with a smile as they swayed together.
“I’m glad you approve,” he said. They moved in time to the soft, gentle beat of the music. One hand in hers, the other at the small of her back while they danced slowly around the floor. Other couples joined them, but the majority of the guests were either snacking or outside exploring the grounds of the estate.
She just smiled and rested her head against his chest. Her eyes were closed and happiness filled her heart. Nothing could ever be better than this moment and this time with him. She moved with him, swaying to the music, and knew that life was as perfect as it could be in that moment in time.
The End
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p; Petr's Mate (mobi), Petr's Mate
Petr's Mate Page 14
