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Chapter 20
Steph POV:
I stood, overlooking the ocean. Waves crashing against the beach, only a few feet away from my sandal clad foot.
A set of strong arms wrapped around me and I leaned back into a strong chest. A warm set of lips found my neck, warming it against the chilly air.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked.
"Nothing and everything," I replied, leaning back against him. He kissed my temple.
"It's almost time," he whispered, his lips brushing against my skin softly, his breath fanning against it and leaving the area warm.
I shivered and turned in his arms. "Let's do it."
He smiled. Leading me down the short path, we came to stop in front of a man. Our closest friends gathered, sitting on either side of us filling the seats behind us.
"Are you ready?" I asked him. He smiled softly at me, cupping my cheeks and leaning down to kiss me.
"I've been ready!" He grinned.
"You're supposed to wait for me to tell you to kiss the bride," the judge chuckled. Carlos smirked and took a step back.
"Overzealous, your honor." He chuckled.
Judge Martin Sanchez laughed softly at one of his oldest friends. "You always are, concerning your lovely bride. Let's move on with the proceedings."
"We are gathered here today, to honor and to celebrate the marriage of Stephanie Michelle Plum and Ricardo Carlos Manoso."
"Marriage is defined as a public declaration of two people, to accept each other as a married couple. But beyond that, it means that you are making a commitment to each other, to always be there for each other. It means that you will be there to share in each other's joy during happy occasions, and to be there to support and comfort one another during difficult times. It means that you will walk the path of life alongside one another and experience everything it has to offer you together as a married couple."
"Do you, Stephanie Michelle Plum, take Ricardo Carlos Manoso to be your husband/wife from this day forward, to honor and to cherish him, in sickness and in health for richer or for poorer, and will be faithful to him, for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," I answered, assuring him of my commitment.
"Do you, Ricardo Carlos Manoso, take Stephanie Michelle Plum to be your husband/wife from this day forward, to honor and to cherish her, in sickness and in health for richer or for poorer, and will be faithful to her, for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," his voice rang out, strong and true.
"Your wedding rings are an outward and visible sign of your eternal love for each other. As you look upon them from day to day, may they remind you of the promises you have made here together. Place the ring on his or her finger and repeat after me: With this ring, I thee wed, and pledge you, my love."
"With this ring, I thee wed, and pledge you, my love," I said softly, staring into Carlos's chocolate brown eyes and slipping the ring onto his finger.
"With this ring, I thee wed, and pledge you, my love," Carlos said, his voice full of conviction and love as he returned my engagement ring and my new band to my finger.
"Stephanie and Carlos, because you have now both declared your intention to take each other in marriage, through these vows that you have accepted, and these rings you have exchanged," he said a huge grin on his face. "It is with the authority that has been granted to me by the state of Florida, and my great honor and privilege, to pronounce that you are now man and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Carlos pulled me tight against him, claiming my mouth in a possessive kiss. One full of love, heat and promise for what lies ahead. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and he picked me up. One arm under my knees the other behind my shoulders. I pulled back giggling and he grinned. He carried me down the aisle.
"Now, let's go down to the reception!" he told everyone with a smile. He carried me across the beach to the reception are.
"Carlos!" I laughed softly.
"Yes, my wife?" he asked.
"I like the sound of that." I grinned. He smiled and kissed the tip of my nose.
"I can walk," I told him.
He chuckled. "And?"
I rolled my eyes as he stopped in the reception area; it was decorated in gold and black. He didn't set me down until he reached our chairs in the front of the room. All of the Rangeman employees were here, along with the girls from the stores, and members of Carlos's family. Mine wasn't here.
My grandmother couldn't get here without my mother knowing. She didn't want to risk her following her. Instead, she was going to get a video of the wedding ceremony and give it to my mother. She told me she would let me know how she reacted.
Carlos nuzzled my neck and kissed me under the ear. He pulled my hand up to his mouth and kissed my knuckles. Tank, Les, and Bobby took the seats to Carlos's left. Magnum settled next to me on a small table that had been built for this situation; he had been my Man of Honor. Alex was a bridesmaid, along with Rosa.
Carlos's parents sat at a table close to us. After the first course was served Tank stood. "As Ric's Best Man, I've been told I have to make a speech." Tank grinned. I heard Carlos's groan and I stifled a laugh.
"I've known Ric since Basic. Back then, he was a punk ass kid with a lot to prove," he said. We all laughed, including Carlos's parents. "After a while, we became friends and moved onto the Rangers together. We've always had each other's backs. When Ric saw Steph that first night, you would have thought they were magnets, they were drawn together.
"He came back home at almost four in morning; not for the reason you're thinking!" he smirked. This earned an eyeroll from Maria and a chuckle from Ricardo. "He took her out for coffee and then gave her a ride home. Only a few hours later he was out on a morning date with her. I knew then he was hooked. Anyway, let's toast to them, the new couple, for many years together."
Cheers went up. Alex stood next. "I'll be speaking in place of the Man of Honor," he said. "Mainly because he would just bark at everyone."
After everyone shook their head and laughed, he grinned and continued. "Steph and I have known each other since college. I joined the Navy; she started a business. We stayed in contact as best I we could, then I lost my leg. Steph showed up at my beside in Germany, the last person I expected to be there. A few months ago, I called Steph up after I had already flown into Miami and asked her to take Magnum. We sat and talked for a while and she told me about the man she was dating, Ricardo Carlos Manoso. A living legend, but the way she talked about him, I knew she had fallen head over heels in such a short amount of time. It doesn't surprise me that we're all here months later celebrating their marriage."
After another round of cheers, we finished the meal. Carlos stood, taking my hand and leading me to the dance floor in the middle of the room. He pulled me close, no space between our bodies. One of his hands came around my waist, holding me close. The other, taking my hand and holding it to his chest.
Slowly the first verse of Who I am With You began to play. Carlos whispered the lyrics softly to me as we danced, and I joined him. Months ago, we had been driving to the beach when the song came over the radio. Carlos reached over and took my hand, kissing it softly. "This song reminds me of us," he said. "You make me a better man, Babe."
"And you make me a better woman, Carlos."
The song came to an end and Carlos kissed me slowly, full of passion. "I love you," he told me.
"I love you, too." I smiled up at him. His eyes were so full of love, my heart soared.
Hours later Carlos carried me to his new Porsche and put me in the passenger's seat. He pulled out of the garage our friends and family waving behind us. I took his hand with a smile, kissing the back of it.
Tonight, we would be staying in the condo, tomorrow we would be flying down to Belize for our honeymoon. Carlos carried me into the elevator after congratulations from the crew in the lobby. He leaned down and kissed me as we got off on our floor.
He carried me up to our room. He turned me so he could start unbuttoning my dress. With each inch of skin he revealed, he left a kiss on my skin. Finally, the dress slipped from my shoulders, pooling on the ground.
I turned, and Carlos groaned. I wore a sheer lace bra and no panties as my bridal lingerie. His eyes roamed over me before pulling me close. His lips found mine in a passionate, bruising kiss. My fingers dug into the lapels of his suit jacket; I pulled back slightly and started to push the jacket it from his shoulders. My hands came back to his shirt buttons.
I repeated the same motions he had. My fingers unbuttoning his shirt, my lips touching the newly revealed skin. Finding his belt buckle, his hands grabbed mine, pulling them against his hard stomach.
"Not yet," he whispered, his voice deep and husky. "I want to take my time with my new wife."
His hands released mine, grabbing me under the knees he wrapped my legs around his waist before crawling into the bed, laying me against the comforter.
Hands roamed over my legs, leaving my skin, warm and missing his touch. Lips claimed mine before moving to ghost over the sensitive skin of my neck. My back arched, my chest meeting his.
My bra was suddenly gone, discarded and out of the way. One hand at my hip the other on my breast. Holding me down, he teased and tortured me, his fingers stroking the sensitive nub and lips against that spot under my ear.
He moved down my body, kissing and teasing. His tongue slipped into the rings in my nipples pulled gently, causing a spike of pain to shoot through me. He shot me a wicked grin as he moved between my legs, pulling them apart and licking a stripe from the bottom to the top of my slit.
I let out a gasp, and he growled. "So wet, Babe. You're already ready for me," he growled against my thigh, nipping at the skin. I tangled my fingers in his hair and pulled, trying to get him to come up my body. He surrendered to my request, coming equal with me.
"Carlos, as much as I love you going down on me, I need you to get your pants off and to get inside of me!" I growled against his lips. I grabbed his bottom lip with my teeth and bit hard enough for it to sting before letting him go.
He stood with a smirk. He kicked his shoes off, his hands found his belt, slowly pulling it through the loops. I moved to make him go faster and he sent me a lustful look. "Don't move," he growled lowly. My body went rigid with the command, my eyes followed his movements, and my chest heaved as I waited.
He pulled off his socks, folding them and tossing them into the clothes hamper. He slowly pulled his slacks off, his erection bobbing as it was released. He continued with the torture as he began to fold his pants carefully as to not crease them.
"Carlos!" I whimpered. He grinned. He plucked the heels from my feet, tossing them behind him. He crawled over me bringing his body over mine, he cupped my face and kissed me softly.
"You're gorgeous like this," he whispered against my lips. "I love seeing you like this."
"Carlos," I whispered, a prayer coming from my lips. He slid into me, my arms wrapping around his neck, my legs around his waist. He paused inside of me, his forehead against mine, letting the both of us adjust. We had decided we wouldn't sleep together for the week before the ceremony. What a horrible week it had been, leaving us both desperate for the other.
He rocked into me, each thrust was slow and deep, hitting all the right spot. One of my hands tangled in his hair, as I rocked my hips to meet his. This wasn't just about the orgasm; this was about the connection.
We came together, clinging to each other. Carlos rolled, bringing me on top of him. I nuzzled into his neck. Already he was hardening again inside of me.
"Somebody missed me," I laughed softly against his neck.
"How could he not?" Carlos said, his voice gravely. I grinned and sat up, straddling him. He moaned as I moved. I planted my hands on his chest and looked down at him.
"We can do soft and sweet again in a little while," I purred. "Right now, I need my husband to take me."
Carlos growled and grabbed my hips. "Then that's what he'll do."