Vow of Devotion: 2nd Novel Addition (One Urge, One Plea, Keep Me Trilogy)

by Scarlet Wolfe

  “I possess those qualities because you bring them out of me. You made me believe in myself, and you didn’t give up on us.

  “I love you, Damon, and I look forward to showing you all the days of our life together.”

  We exchange our rings as a token of our love while “All of Me” by John Legend plays.

  Our minister smiles before holding out his hands.

  “I now pronounce you husband and wife. Mr. Lear, you may now kiss your bride.”

  Damon cradles my face and gives me a short but purposeful kiss. We’re practically laughing from joy when he releases my lips. “I love you, Mrs. Lear,” he says.

  “I love you, too.”

  “I introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. Lear,” the minister proclaims.

  We turn to face everyone. They’re clapping for us, and it’s the happiest moment of my life. By far, the happiest moment.

  ***

  “Sue, this is Martin. Martin meet Sue.”

  My friend is four feet nine, so Martin is tall next to her with his five feet seven inches, and the smile she gives him tells me that maybe I wasn’t far off in thinking they could hit it off.

  I leave them alone to take my first dance with my husband.

  Damon is my husband. Amazing.

  “Shall we?” he asks as he takes my hand and kisses it.

  “We shall.” His massive grin tickles me.

  “I don’t recall ever seeing you this happy,” I say.

  “It’s the happiest day of my life, Alayna.” He’s serious now as he pulls me against him to dance to “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra.

  “This was your song to pick,” I say with wide eyes.

  “I knew you would be gorgeous, and I’ll always remember. It seemed fitting.”

  “Why Mr. Lear, I believe you’ve been masquerading as a tough guy. You’re actually a softy.”

  Shoving his body against me, he stills.

  “It can get hard in about five seconds, baby, and don’t forget it. I’m waiting patiently to bite this neck, let down these curls, and sink my cock as far into my new bride as possible.”

  I clear my throat as coal dark eyes stare into mine.

  “I won’t forget … Sir.”

  “Good girl. Now, let’s enjoy our first dance as husband and wife before we go on this crazy honeymoon you picked.”

  “You bought me hiking boots months ago, so we could go hiking together. I think a woodsy vacation sounds exciting.”

  “I guess we will have the inn to recover when we’re not hiking the trails.”

  “Exactly.”

  “I’m ready to begin the next chapter of our life together, Alayna.”

  “I know; me, too.”

  Chapter Nine

  Damon

  The inn near the Appalachian Trail in New York is nice. It’s not the luxurious environment I pictured for a honeymoon or what I would’ve expected a bride to desire, but Alayna isn’t like any woman I know.

  Her down-to-earth quality is one I love about her. She’s giving up a luxurious vacation to experience hiking with me; all because I gifted her a pair of hiking boots early this year.

  I did arrange for her to have some pampering in the spa while we’re here and had champagne and chocolate covered strawberries delivered to our room.

  Judy, Alayna’s mother, ensured that dinner was packed up from our reception to bring with us since we barely had a moment to eat.

  “What do you want to do first?” she asks excitedly as she attempts to look out at the mountainous view from the windows of our guest room, but it’s too dark for her to see.

  “What do you think?”

  She turns and gives a sheepish grin. “I guess there is something we need to do first.”

  Alayna changed into her cream colored going-away dress, as she called it, before we left the venue. All I know is it barely hits her mid-thigh and it’s silky, hugging each of her curves. She’s sexy in it, but it needs to come off.

  Stalking over to her, I undo the small gold belt around her waist and toss it to the floor. My hands slide over her hips and lift the bottom of her dress as I graze my nose up her neck.

  Whimpering, she allows her head to fall over. My teeth nip their way upward until I’m dragging her earlobe between them.

  “Damon, make love to me.”

  “You got it,” I whisper in her ear.

  My mouth crashes to hers while I graze my fingers along her outer thighs. When my hand meets her garter, I growl against her lips.

  “I can remove this now. You’re officially mine.”

  “I’ve always been yours. I was bound to you without chains since our first kiss.”

  With both hands, I take hold of the hem of her silky dress and pull it over her head. After I admire her in a lace bra and panties, I say, “Turn.”

  She does as I command, and I begin removing the pins from her hair, each section of curls falling to cascade over her shoulders. I do this until I have a pile of them in my hand.

  After setting them on the dresser, I return and move her hair to one side of her neck, so I can nibble on it more.

  “Your hair smells divine.” Undoing her bra, I slip the straps off of her shoulders and then strip down her panties.

  “Turn back. It’s time to seal our fate.”

  Alayna

  I shift to face Damon. Taking my hand, he pulls me over to the bed where he has already peeled back the blankets.

  “In bed, my new bride.” He’s smiling as I scoot to the middle of the king size mattress and lie flat. He begins undressing, removing his shiny black and cream cufflinks first. Patiently, he sets them on the nightstand and moves to the end of the bed.

  His white shirt is slowly unbuttoned as his eyes rake over my body. His broad chest and arms slide out from under it, and my eyes are doing the roaming down to the trail of hair leading into his black dress pants.

  He becomes naked, and my eyes wander the rest of the way south. His large cock is ready, but I know this mood of Damon’s, and he’s going to make this time last a while. This moment means so much, and we both feel it. This Damon is going to make love to me on our wedding night.

  Climbing onto his hands and knees at the end of the bed, his mouth presses kisses to my upper thigh. Bumps rise along my skin, and my body trembles.

  His teeth hook onto the garter before he drags it slowly down my leg. It’s off, and a part of me misses it. It’s been a pain to wear in the shower and under certain clothing, but it’s been another reminder of the profound love between Damon and me.

  Leaning up over my body, he stretches and lays it on the nightstand. He lies on top of me, bracing with his forearms, and as one hand delves into my hair, the other grazes over part of it.

  Gentle lips press to my forehead and to my cheek. They land on my nose and corner of my lips.

  “I love you and need you,” he says faintly before his lips land on mine. They’re warm and coaxing, so I open and let his tongue find its way in. It barely twirls with mine before it’s out again.

  Damon plants kisses to my other cheek and ear … then my neck. He’s gentler than he’s ever been, truly cherishing me, and I’m reveling in it. My hands graze the curves of his sculpted shoulders and glide down his back.

  “My soul feels the truth when you’re near and is set free from its pain. You quiet my screaming mind, precious. You do that. Only you …”

  His lips land on my forehead again, and the honest words from his heart leave his body trembling against mine.

  He shifts his body more between my legs before he sinks into me. The fullness from his cock is splendid, but it can’t equate to the fullness my heart feels at this moment in time from his tenderness. The way his fingers comb through my hair with his unwavering eye contact is adoring.

  He begins to graze his lips along my jaw to my ear, whispering sweet words. Damon trusts me. He finally trusts me with his most private feelings, and I trust him, too.

  “I love you. I will not r
un from you–from us, ever again. I’m yours for eternity,” I utter through my short, wispy breaths. He continues to move inside me, making love to me like he’s baring his entire soul. I am undoubtedly in a fairy tale where the prince and princess save each other.

  Damon

  This part of the Appalachian Trail, which is through Harriman-Bear Mountain State Park, varies from flat to some rocky cliffs with difficult footing.

  Alayna and I are hiking, and she’s not saying much.

  “Need water? You have it in your Camelbak hydration bag on your backpack,” I say.

  “No, I’m good right now. I’m thinking I should’ve been adjusting the incline on my treadmill to prepare for these hills.”

  I stifle a chuckle. My girl is struggling, but she’s a trooper and won’t turn back until I say. I’m certain of that.

  “The colorful trees are striking. My favorite are the bright burnt orange,” she adds.

  Following the Major Welch Trail, we are alone, having only spotted two men ahead of us as we make our way into the thick mountain foliage.

  We’re soon climbing narrow steps, compressed between large rocks. Alayna is breathing hard, so I stop and pull out the straw to my hydration pack, so she might do the same. She follows, and I’m relieved she’s taking a drink.

  “I’m tired, and that’s crap, considering how much I work out,” she musters between ragged breaths.

  “I’m feeling it, too. Does that make you feel any better?” I grin at her. “I think we need more hanky spanky to increase our cardio and strength training.”

  Alayna spits out some water and covers her mouth in laughter. “That will never not be funny.”

  “Good. Every time you’re pissed at me, I’m pulling that one from my back pocket.” I give her a kiss, sailing my hand down her sweaty arm. “I love you. Let’s get going. The sooner we get back, the sooner I can have my way with you.”

  Situating her small backpack, she smiles.

  “Yes, Sir, I’m ready.”

  We continue to ascend along the rocky trail.

  “Oh, look, Damon, it’s the Hudson River!”

  I chuckle. “I’m glad it doesn’t take much to excite you.”

  “You have to admit it’s breathtaking,” she adds, stopping to take in the view.

  “You’re right. It is incredible.” I eye Alayna as she stands before a backdrop of water and colored trees in majestic shades of yellow, red and orange. The bluffs mixed in with pine trees add another natural element.

  We begin to ascend again, and Alayna stumbles a bit. Reaching to grab her before she falls, my foot slips along the rocks, and I can’t regain my footing. I’m sliding right off the rocky ledge.

  I hear Alayna scream about the time I grab the ledge with both hands. Fuck. I’m hanging on a steep cliff. If I fall, I’m not certain I would survive. It’s not a straight drop but instead lined with boulders and foliage that cascade down the mountain.

  Alayna squats and grabs my forearm as she screams loudly for help. “Dammit, let me go this second, Alayna, before you fall!”

  “No way!” In a heartbeat, she’s on her stomach, holding both of my arms. She screams louder and tries to pull me up, but there is no way she can move all my weight as I hang.

  I try to reach higher to get a better grip, and this causes her to hold on even farther down my arm, which I don’t want. I won’t take her over this ledge with me.

  “Goddammit, Alayna, let go!” I shout.

  “Never. I will never let go, so you are coming up, or I’m going over with you.” She’s crying and begins screaming once again.

  “Baby, you can’t fall because of me. Please, I’m begging you to let go.”

  “I told you; never will I let you go.”

  With the other hand, I attempt to get a better grip and use my foot to try and brace myself on the little bit of rock it can reach, but it slides along the plant life growing between it. My fingers are turning white amidst the red.

  Suddenly, I hear voices, and two men are standing next to Alayna. One moves to the other side of her, and each of them grab my arms and begin pulling.

  Alayna regains her composure as she works her way back up to her feet, helping them pull me as she goes. I’m panicked, terrified she will fall over me.

  “Alayna, stop!”

  She glares at me, and I think about her stubborn ass that I want to light up. I’m soon on my feet, all of us moving away from the edge.

  “Shit, thank you,” I say breathless before I lean over and rest my palms on my knees.

  “Damn, man, that was a close call. Are you OK?” one of the young men asks.

  “Yes, I’m OK.”

  “Ma’am, you could’ve went right over that cliff with him,” the other guy says to Alayna.

  “I tried to tell her, but she’s stubborn.”

  They both chuckle. “I’m just glad we heard her screams ahead and came back.”

  “So am I,” I say. “Thank you again. I think it’s time we head back.”

  Alayna throws her arms around the first guy and then the second. I don’t like it, but I certainly get it. She’s overcome with emotion.

  “Thank you both so much. We were only married yesterday, and he’s not getting away from me that easily.” She laughs through her tears, and I believe she’s trying to joke, so she doesn’t cry harder.

  That was scary shit, and I’m realizing even more as I look at the distant view how high up we are and how serious of a situation we were both in.

  The men leave, and I remove my backpack and then hers. She’s wiping her eyes as I yank her into my arms.

  “Stubborn. You’re damn obstinate, woman, but thank you. I love you so damn much, and I want to spank you so damn hard.”

  She laughs against my chest but then sobs loudly.

  “I thought you were going to die. I would’ve wanted to jump off that cliff if you had.”

  “Baby, you can’t talk that way. You said shit like that when your ass was holding a gun at Curtis. I need you to live life to the fullest if I’m ever not here for you.

  “Be the strong, courageous women you are. Give that to the world. Because if I deserve it, Alayna, there are others who deserve it more.”

  I realize at this very moment that Alayna needs more, and I want to give her that. She wants a baby that is a part of me, and a child would keep her on this earth if I can’t be here with her. It would ensure she stops behaving so recklessly.

  At least, if I’m in danger. I can only imagine the mama bear that would draw back its claws if someone messed with our children.

  Regardless, I want that with her after seeing how easily our life together could end. I want it before death separates us, and we never know when that could be.

  Picking up her backpack, I walk around her and put it on her back. “Let’s go. I’m ready to relax. I bet you choose the beach next time.” I’m trying to lighten the mood.

  She wipes her eyes once more and takes a deep breath after she turns to face me. “I’m ready to go back to our room and cuddle. I want to hold you and never let go.”

  Throwing her arms around me, she squeezes tightly.

  “Cuddling? You waited until we were married to use that word. I see how it’s going to be. What other surprises are in store for me?”

  She giggles. “Nothing else, only cuddling.”

  Alayna

  Since getting with Damon, life has been nothing but surprise after surprise. I could do without the near-death experiences!

  We get back to our room at the inn, and I fall back onto the bed. Damon falls back next to me and entwines our fingers.

  “There is something I need to say.”

  I turn and tilt my head up at him. “What’s that?”

  “Please stop taking your birth control pills.”

  “Seriously?” I ask, once again pegged with a surprise I wasn’t dare expecting.

  “Yes, I’m serious. That was a close call, and I don’t want to miss out on you having
my baby. I want to experience it all with you.”

  “What about Cameron?”

  “You said you wouldn’t bring it up until after our honeymoon.”

  “I didn’t expect the baby topic to come up, either. Can we at least take him out for an afternoon and see what he’s like before you give the whole thing a ‘no’?”

  Damon sighs heavily. “OK, we can get to know the kid, but you must really want to turn our world upside down if you want a newborn and a fourteen-year-old boy.”

  Squeezing Damon’s hand, I lean up and kiss his cheek.

  “We can tackle anything if we do it together. You will make a wonderful father, and I can hardly wait to experience that with you.”

  Chapter Ten

  Damon

  “There’s the groom. How was the honeymoon?” George asks as I trek down the hallway to my office.

  “Uh, interesting.” As I expected, he follows me inside.

  “Interesting? I don’t need a descriptive breakdown of some of what you were doing. I can guess that, but how did Alayna handle the hiking?” He chuckles like he expected her to hate it.

  “She seemed to enjoy it. That was until I had a near-death experience.”

  George’s smile vanishes. “What? What the hell happened?”

  “I almost dropped to my death off a cliff. At least, I believe I would’ve died. Maybe paralyzed at best.”

  “You’re serious.”

  “Yes, I’m serious. It made me do a lot of thinking and fast, too.” I proceed in telling George the details of the hike.

  “Wow, first Curtis almost shoots you and now this. You’re like a cat. How many lives does that leave you?” He’s laughing again, but I’m certain George wouldn’t find any of this funny had he witnessed the event.

  My hands are still sore from clinging to those damn rocks. I also don’t know how much more respect I could have for my wife.

  My wife. Damn, I love the way that sounds.

  “I, uh, told Alayna I want to have a kid. I also agreed to take Tiffany’s son on an outing.”

  George cackles, and I’m about ready to walk over and shut the door on his grinning face. “Are you sure you didn’t hit your head during that fall?”