BREATHE: A Billionaire Romance, Part Five (6 page)

We were married in the summer when the leaves and flowers were full in bloom and the weather was forgiving. My skin held a beautiful glow.

Yet, the same could be said about his skin, too, which was unlike it had been for many months prior to the wedding.

He was fully healthy now—perfectly tan with no pale yellow tint. He was strong, muscular, and weighty. He looked good.

He looked damn good, and I couldn’t wait to lay eyes on him, as he waited for me at the end of the aisle.

The ceremony was to be held in a church, located near the lake. I wasn’t particularly religious, but my mama was, and so was his family. They preferred a church for the environment, and I was perfectly fine with it when I found this place.

It had windows surrounding the entire main congregation room so that we could look out and see the beauty that surrounded us as we became man and wife.

It was silly, really. Because as I stood at the head of the aisle and looked towards the front of the church with my brother-in-law on my arm, all I could do was look at Derek.

Only Derek.

Nothing else mattered, not even the beautiful view of the outside.

But when I looked at him, I noticed for a moment, that he wasn’t looking at me. He was looking down, with his hands balled together in front of him, his fingers fidgeting and fussing with themselves.

I would have been offended that he wasn’t looking at me had he not have been fidgeting. I could tell that he was nervous. I smiled; I guess I could forgive him.

He looked so incredibly handsome as he stood there, Fredrick at his side.

He wore a light grey suit, crisp white shirt, and a gorgeous blue tie. And to be honest, it was probably the most casual I had ever seen him.

Laura walked towards him, and I watched as his eyes shifted up—but only for a moment—before gluing back down to the floor, his hands still fidgeting.

But beyond all of that, despite his nerves, I saw nothing other than a smile wider than I had ever seen, and I could tell in that moment that he was just as happy as I was.

And I was ecstatic.

I was marrying my best friend and partner.

The music began playing, and the entire room stood. It was show time. I took a deep breath and started down the aisle, feeling Stephen pull my arm as he took his steps with me. It was strange being walked down the aisle by a man that I hated not very long ago. However, now, I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Stephen was a man my father chose for Laura; he was a man he allowed to be in all of our lives. As many faults as my daddy had, and as many issues I had with him, I knew now that he wouldn’t have steered us all so incredibly wrong by allowing him into the family.

Stephen was a lot to take. He was cocky and full of himself—as many bodybuilding-type men tended to be—but he was also a companion and a gentle soul deep down. He was a protector and a friend, and I was beyond thrilled to have him honor me in walking me down the aisle in my daddy’s place.

I walked slowly in step with him, my eyes set on Derek and Derek alone. As I walked, that moment seemed to stand still. I knew that technically I was getting close to the altar, but it all seemed slow-motion because all I could do was wish that I was already by his side and saying the vows to make him my husband until death.

“Who gives this woman?” the officiant asked, as the music died away and the crowd sat.

“Her mama does.” Stephen replied in perfect southern fashion, and I could do nothing but smirk at his accent.

The officiant looked over at Derek and myself, nodded, and smiled genuinely.

“Go get ‘em, tiger!” Stephen roared in a comedic whisper, just before giving me a kiss on the cheek.

“You don’t even know,” I whispered in jest, as he let go of my hand and offered it to Derek. Derek squeezed it firmly, reassuringly, and as soon as he did, it was like the rest of the world disappeared and there was only he and I. Just the two of us.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we are here today to celebrate the union of Zoe Shadrick and Derek Sholts.” He turned to us, and immediately I blushed.

“If you would please take a step up here, holding hands to symbolize walking through life together.” I turned and handed my bouquet to Laura, still holding onto Derek’s hand. We stepped up towards the officiant, both with gleaming smiles on our happy faces.

This would be the day we’d never forget; it was the day we were joined together for our love, in front of all the other people we loved and cared about.

Yet, as I stood in front of all of our friends and family, holding Derek’s hand, I noticed that I didn’t feel like I was the center of attention.

To me, I only felt Derek’s presence.

No one else’s.

Don’t get me wrong, I was glad that they were all there, but there was something about only focusing on Derek that made the moment seem more pure than I had ever anticipated.

I was about to become his wife.

I was about to be his forever; and he mine.

It was as corny as it came, but it was also nothing but the truth.

I squeezed his hand, the affection and love pouring out of me. I could do nothing more than hope and pray the kiss part was coming soon, because I wanted nothing more than to envelope his lips with my own.

But luckily, as soon as I looked into his eyes, the notion of time seemed to float away. Before I knew it, I was saying “I do,” and he was leaning in, ready for the moment. My eyes glistened with joy as the official said in his deep, gentle-giant of a voice, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

Derek leaned down and caressed my cheek with one hand. The other hand busied itself at my waist, pulling me to him. I felt his heat, and I immediately closed my eyes, relishing in the warmth until I felt his breath on my lips and I sighed, allowing his to graze mine and our tongues to dance together in unison.

And as soon as we broke away, everyone laughed, as they stood, clapping.

“Ladies, and gentlemen, I would like to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Derek Sholts!”

And that was that!

We held each other, excitedly, as we ran down the aisle and out of the church. We loaded up in a fancy white roadster convertible and headed off to a nearby fancy-schmancy hotel for the reception.

Once we got there, I could do nothing more than thank the heavens that I had actually agreed to a big wedding. Once upon a time I thought I would have been perfectly content on a courthouse-paperwork-type marriage. To me, there was nothing wrong with one of those.

And it saved a whole heap of money…not like I ever had to worry about that with Derek, but still…it seemed like a perfectly good option—at least for me.

But I was glad we did what we did, as soon as all of my family and friends gathered around. They made it worth it. They made it worth having big wedding, especially the reception, which was full of laughter and love, and a lot of dancing; the main offender being my sister, Laura.

She was a little embarrassing, in fact, since she refused to sit down for even just one song.

To her, she knew all of them and could dance all of them. To everyone else, she looked like a drunken idiot.

But it was all in good fun.

Abigail and Jim made a small appearance, and I was forever grateful that they did. They had nothing but kind words and congratulations to give. But Jim had to go to work early the next day.

Derek had given him a job—a good job—at our office front. It provided secure, frequent, and set hours, as well as incredible benefits for him and Abigail.

I felt forever indebted to Derek and his kindness on that front; and I wanted to think that it was because of me that he did it. However, it was because of himself that he did it.

Derek was a good guy—whether or not he wanted to act it, or believe it…he was still a good guy.

I wouldn’t have married him otherwise.

Derek’s parents even seemed joyous as they danced with one another and poked fun at my sister as she danced like a lunatic. They looked almost lovey-dovey as they danced together, and I guess time would tell how that turned out.

I wondered, if after all the years of regret and loss, if his dad would finally be able to forget what happened moons ago.

He had already forgiven her…Maybe, just maybe, he could forget.

Maybe he could love her again, in the way that she had continued to love him for so many years.

And maybe if they did reconcile, she would do everything in her power to keep him, and the trust that he gave her.

But again, only time would tell.

“I'm so happy for you guys.” Polly stammered drunkenly, interrupting my thoughts, as she hugged us both. “But seriously, Derek…” She looked at him intently, just before slinging her arm around his shoulder. “I can stay with you guys, right? I literally cannot pay for rent by myself.”

Mark Laura off the list for “most embarrassing”. That award definitely went to Polly for the evening.

“Of course, Polly,” Derek giggled. “But we’re going to get out of here.”

And he was right, just as quickly as it had started, it was over, and time for us to leave the reception. We had eaten; we had danced; we had made complete fools of ourselves; we cut the cake; and everyone around us was painstakingly drunk. It was time to go.

And as soon as I realized it, I felt an overwhelming sense of emotion and maybe a little pressure.

It was our wedding night.

Our
wedding
night…

We had seriously just gotten married!

And I had never had sex as someone’s wife before!

I could tell that I wasn’t the only one who felt a little nervous though—because as we rode up the hotel elevator, I heard him gulp just before he took a slow, deep breath.

I almost giggled. At least he was feeling the pressure, too, and I wasn’t just being a weirdo. But the funny thing was, he was a lot more outward with his nervousness than I was.

“You okay?” I asked, hoping that if I embarrassed him a little, he might feel a little better, a little calmer.

He breathed out in a nervous laugh. “Yeah,” he replied, and as soon as I looked at him and his adorable smile, I melted. It was all just so endearing.

I took his hand as soon as we reached our floor with a ding, and the elevator doors opened. I pulled him, excitedly, out into the hall. My nerves had stifled for the time being, and I was just beyond excited to be there with him. I pulled him towards our room, which was the only door on the entire floor.

We had the penthouse. Go figure.

Derek Sholts loved to spend money.

He pulled out the keycard and swiped it with hesitancy. His hand shook with a nervous tick, and I could do nothing but smile as I watched him open the door.

It was like a gateway, beckoning us, into the unknown. And no matter how nervous the two of us were, we were ready to enter it—together.

He took my hand and once inside, he looked at me, as if to ask—without words—if I was ready.

When did the tides turn? When had he become less nervous than I?

I thought I was reassuring him with my excitement, but as soon as we were in the room, his demeanor changed.

And although I’ll admit that the nervousness was endearing and adorable, I preferred a confident and sure Derek. And that’s who had come out to play; that’s who I was staring at…

My husband. I smiled and then shuddered as I looked into his deep, passionate eyes. Indeed, he was back to being the intimidating Derek Sholts that I knew and loved.

We were standing too far from each other—too far for my comfort. Normally we would have pounced by now, like starved animals. But not tonight.

He continued to look at me, his stare demanding, yet completely questioning. He wanted permission to continue, and even though I did feel pressure, and I
was
nervous, I smiled and gave a nod. I wanted him; and I wanted him badly.

He was damn sexy in that suit, and I wanted more than anything to just tear it off of him! I wanted desperately for the show to get on the road so I could pounce on him just as I normally would have!

He grinned for a moment just after I nodded, but it was only for a moment, before it turned into a cocky smirk. Why was he smirking? But just as I was about to ask vocally, he swooped me up in the air in one swift motion and carried me to the bedroom.

His muscles rippled as he held me closely, and I felt them tighten against my body, as we crossed the penthouse suite.

He smirked and lay small kisses atop my forehead as he walked. It all would have been incredibly sexy had he not ruined it by giggling as soon as we crossed over the threshold to the bedroom.

“This
so
isn’t me!” He laughed, just before sitting me down beside the bed, rather than on it.

A slight tinge of disappointment edged into my mind.

“Are you tired?” he asked, glancing over to the bed. I wasn’t sure if he was trying to get out of sleeping with me or not, but I wasn’t going to let that happen. I was going to have him. I was going to have my husband.

“Uh-yeah!” I shot. “Of course I am!”

I wanted to see his reaction, and when his head peered down, as if in disappointment, I laughed.

“I’m super happy though, too. So let’s get it on!”

I was joking, but not joking all at the same time. And I could tell that he knew it by the smile he flashed at me tenderly just before he let out an amused chuckle.

“Let’s get it onnnn,” he began singing completely out of tune. I cringed a bit before enveloping him into a passionate kiss, bringing our bodies close together—just the way they should have always been.