by J. E. Taylor
Jamie fixed my train, and I began walking towards the small glen on the other side of the stream where a gazebo stood, surrounded by wildflowers. My heart thrummed in my chest, and I had to keep my steps in time with the music, slowing my pace regardless of my feet wanting to rush. I turned the corner, centering myself on the path leading directly to the gazebo, and looked up. The view of him in a finely-tailored tuxedo stalled my brain and my footing.
Even from this distance, I saw the sparkle in his eyes as he slowly scanned me from head to toe and back. He smiled and turned to face me, his arms falling by his sides in disbelief. He was as enthralled with me as I was with him.
“Beautiful,” he whispered, and his voice found my ears even with the music playing.
Jamie fixed my train, reminding me that I should be crossing the distance, and I resumed walking towards my future. Towards everything dear to me. All our planning ended in this sweet perfection. When he stepped forward, taking my hands in his with a satisfied sigh, I smiled with the joy penetrating my entire form.
“In all the centuries I’ve passed through, I have never seen a more beautiful bride,” he whispered. He planted a kiss on my cheek and led me under the canopy of lights to the gazebo.
Jamie stood to the side, and on the other side stood the venue curator acting as our witnesses. I sighed, wishing it was Valerie and Michael instead. I handed Jamie my bouquet and focused on Damian, forgetting everything else with one glance at him.
The justice of the peace cleared his throat. “A wedding is such a wonderful occasion filled with hopes, dreams, and excitement. We are here today to celebrate the love that Damian and Naomi have for each other, and to recognize and witness their decision to journey forward in their lives as husband and wife.” He smiled and flipped the page in the book he was reciting from.
“May your love create a safe haven for you both on the journey that lies ahead. Lead with your hearts, and take the time to do the simple things that will nurture your love. Deeply listen to each other. To your dreams, and to your frustrations. Be playful in finding new ways to give your love anew to each other every day. It is your love that has brought you together. May it grow deeper and sweeter with each passing year.”
He turned to Damian.
“Do you, Damian, take Naomi to be your wife? Do you promise to walk by her side forever, and to love, help, and encourage her in all she does? Do you promise to take time to talk with her, to listen to her, and to care for her? Will you share her laughter, and her tears, as her husband, lover, and best friend? Do you take her as your lawfully wedded wife for now and forevermore?”
Damian grinned and looked straight into my eyes. “I do.”
The justice turned to me.
“Do you, Naomi, take Damian to be your husband? Do you promise to walk by his side forever, and to love, help, and encourage him in all he does? Do you promise to take time to talk with him, to listen to him, and to care for him? Will you share his laughter, and his tears, as his wife, lover, and best friend? Do you take him as your lawfully wedded husband for now and forevermore?”
“I do,” I replied and squeezed Damian’s hands.
“Do you have the rings?” The justice asked Damian.
Damian reached into his pocket, pulled out two wedding bands, and placed them in the justice’s palm.
“And now, seal your promises with these rings, the symbol of your life shared together,” he started and turned to Damian. “Repeat after me: Naomi, this ring I give as a token and pledge, as a sign of my love and devotion. With this ring, I thee wed.”
Damian took the ring from his palm and slid it on my left ring finger as he repeated the words, his voice steady and strong, and as gentle as the grip he had on my hand.
The justice looked at me, instructing me to repeat the same words.
I took the ring from his palm and slid it on Damian’s left hand ring finger. “Damian, this ring I give as a token and pledge, as a sign of my love and devotion. With this ring, I thee wed.”
“Damian and Naomi, by the power invested in me by the great state of Colorado, I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the justice announced and smiled. “You may kiss your bride,” he added.
Damian pulled me into his arms and delivered a searing kiss that jolted me into a heat-filled mass. It wasn’t the tender altar kiss that you see at most weddings. It was one that claimed me at the cellular level. I wasn’t aware of the clapping from either Jamie or the curator at first, but as soon as it registered, Damian pulled away from my lips.
The smile that donned his face promised me all sorts of trouble, and I couldn’t wait to step out of this dress and into his arms.
The End
Continue the Night Hawk Series with book two, Tigress.
Newsletter
https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/y2z2x6
About J.E. Taylor
J.E. Taylor is a USA Today bestselling author, a publisher, an editor, a manuscript formatter, a mother, a wife, a business analyst, and a Supernatural fangirl, not necessarily in that order. She first sat down to seriously write in February of 2007 after her daughter asked:
“Mom, if you could do anything, what would you do?”
From that moment on, she hasn’t looked back.
In addition to being co-owner of Novel Concept Publishing, Ms. Taylor also moonlights as a Senior Editor of Allegory E-zine, an online venue for Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror.
She lives in Connecticut with her husband and two children and during the summer months enjoys her weekends on the shore in southern Maine.
Visit her at www.jetaylor75.com and sign up for her newsletter for early previews of her upcoming books, release announcements, and special opportunities for free swag!
Sign up for Ms. Taylor’s newsletter at: https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/y2z2x6
You might also enjoy other books from J.E. Taylor’s backlist:
THE STEVE WILLIAMS SERIES:
From the mountains of New Hampshire to the streets of New York City, these novels take you on a journey through some of the darkest days in Steve Williams' FBI career.
The series includes these single titles:
DARK RECKONING (Book 1)
"J.E. Taylor has penned a tale of terror worthy of Lovecraft. The strong characters, edgy atmosphere, and unflinching narrative hooked me from the first and kept me riveted all the way through to its horrifying conclusion - a solid piece of storytelling!" Ty Drago, Editor of Allegory and author of PHOBOS
VENGEANCE (Book 2)
HUNTING SEASON (Book 3):
"Unstoppable, breath stealing, and terrifying all at once." - Cat Connor, author of killerbyte, terrorbyte, and exacerbyte.
"Hunting Season goes where few venture, mixing a compelling crime thriller with supernatural forces. The action and drama is thick and fast and I guarantee you will not be able to put this book down." - Poppet, author of Seithe and Darkroom.
GEORGIA REIGN (Book 4)
CRYSTAL ILLUSIONS (Book 5)
“Gripping, rich and magnificent - crime whodunnits don't get any better than this!” Author Poppet – Author of QUISLINGS, BLINDSIDED, DJINN and DUSAN
“CRYSTAL ILLUSIONS is a dizzying thriller with a terrifying killer, a unique detective, and some twists you will not see coming! This is Steve Williams’ most addictive adventure so far and J.E. Taylor at her very best!” Ty Drago - Author of THE UNDERTAKERS Series
"This has to be one of the best mysteries I have ever read. Move over Agatha Christie there's a new sheriff in town, and she is great." - PRG Reviews
SAVING FACE (Book 6)
THE GAMES TRILOGY
Intensely disturbing. Beautifully horrific. Indescribably intense. Gruesome and gory. You can't help but get caught up in this series.
When Ty Aris kidnaps Jessica Connor for his step-brother’s underground film network, he is not prepared for the impact this woman will have on his life. The Games Trilogy brings Ty and Jessica from the dark days i
n his step-brother’s sadistic prison, to the glitz of a major motion picture premier in New York City in a powerful combination of suspense, romance, and heartache. They battle the worst in human nature, as well as a paranormal twist that nearly destroys them and all they love.
This series includes these single titles:
SURVIVAL GAMES (Book 1)
MIND GAMES (Book 2)
END GAME (Book 3)
The Games Series is for sale to Adult Audiences Only. It contains substantial sexually explicit scenes, graphic language, and violence that may be considered offensive by some readers.
FALLEN – Games Trilogy Prequel
Ty Ryan’s downward spiral started the day his mother met Jacob Aris.
An unexpected romance between the emergency room nurse and the multi-billionaire plunges Ty into the wealthy world of entitlement, secrets, and lies.
When tragedy strikes, leaving Ty and his siblings at the mercy of Jacob Aris, Ty is powerless to defend against the old man’s rage. Each random beating chips away at Ty’s sanity, leaving him vulnerable to his stepbrother’s master manipulation.
NIGHT HAWK TRILOGY
Damian Andreas is an ancient vampire tasked with keeping the archangel bloodlines safe. Blinded by his hatred for Lucifer, he snatches Naomi Hawk from the devil to claim her as his own. The moment his teeth sink into her neck, he realizes he has just broken his own vows.
When Naomi bites him back, his blood transform her into an immortal shadow, and puts Damian on a collision path with an angry archangel.
Single titles in this series:
NIGHT HAWK (Book 1)
TIGRESS (Book 2):
TRINITY RISING (Book 3):
THE RYAN CHRONICLES
Tom and CJ Ryan harbor the power of the Gods. Refusing to stand with Lucifer puts both of them, and everyone they love, on the devil’s hit list.
There are only so many ways you can break a man before his wrath changes the status quo. Rekindled by family, by love, by home and memories, the ruthless son of Ty Ryan steps into the shoes left under the family tree by his dad, and this time he’s out of mercy.
The series includes these single titles:
CJ’s Story:
ANGEL GRACE - Book 1
ANGEL HEART - Book 2
ANGEL WRATH – Book 3
Tom’s Story:
ANGEL BLOOD - Book 4
ANGEL FIRE - Book 5
ANGEL FURY – Book 6
MAGICK TRILOGY
Paige Turner’s magick skills are rusty, but she needs to refine her spells or her determination to save a very special soul will prove to be disastrous.
Single titles in this series:
MAGICK
BLACK MAGICK
PRACTICAL MAGICK
THE DEATH CHRONICLES TRILOGY
What would you do if you found out Death was your father and you were destined to take over the family business?
Dylan Nicholas Ramsay—Nick to his friends—does not want the job, but he has no choice. The fallout of refusing to accept his fate is bleak, and when rogue reapers step in to try to overthrow the status quo, all hell breaks loose.
Single titles in this Young Adult paranormal suspense series:
DON’T FEAR THE REAPER (Book 1)
HIGHWAY TO HELL (Book 2)
KNOCKING ON HEAVEN’S DOOR (Book 3)
Introducing THE PARADOX FILES, a new urban fantasy series
A protector. A lost soul. A siren looking for salvation.
Kylee Paradox never expected to be a protector of humankind, but when hell’s portals open and let loose the creatures of the underworld, she can’t see any other way.
Armed with an ultimatum, Kylee has no choice but to embrace her new position as bounty hunter of the damned. Sending these monsters back to purgatory becomes her life’s mission.
The only glitches in an otherwise noble pursuit are those who hold her fate in their hands. They forbid her from using her deadly siren song to lure the beasts back to the pit.
If she harms even a single innocent soul in her quest, Kylee herself will become one of the hunted.
SILENCING THE SIREN – Book One
WAKING THE SIREN – Book Two
HUNTING THE SIREN – Book Three
FRACTURED FAIRY TALES
2018
RED
CINDER
BRAVE
TANGLED
SPINDLE
SNOW
FROZEN
BELLE
Other titles by J.E. Taylor
MESSIAH
SILENCE
STAR CROSSED
Short Story Compilation:
GLIMPSES
Visit Ms. Taylor’s website for more information on any of these titles!
Sign up for Ms. Taylor’s newsletter HERE.
