Authors note: Hello all! This is part one of two for the wedding. A 25k word chapter is just too long.
Now we all know describing clothes and such isn't my forte so pull up the pinterest page, link on my profile page, so that you can 'see' what I'm talking about.
APOV
Early morning. Saturday, September 24, 2011.
Today, I, Anastasia Rose Steele will marry the man of my dreams whom I have known less than half a year. Who has promised me the world and who I know can deliver it. Today I become Mrs. Christian Grey. I stare up at the ceiling and wiggle my toes. Nope, not dreaming.
From across the bed there's a groan, a deep masculine one that seems to be in pain so I suppress my giggle and roll out of bed as soundlessly as I can.
"Oh god is it time to get up yet? I can't. I just…oh my word what the fuck was in those drinks that whore made last night? Oh good grief. The devil was in those cocktails." Devin falls, literally falls out of bed and stumbles to the bathroom. "You're welcome," he says before he shuts the door.
"For what?" I call after him.
"For being the last man you slept with before you got hitched." I laugh loudly. "Oh my Lord go be happy somewhere else, Ana. Damn you're loud for a tiny little thing. Shit, I need an Advil."
Downstairs is quiet except for Kate and Heather who are making coffee and instructing the two women hired to cater breakfast. They both clap their hands together and run to me, hugging me even when I tell them to stop.
"Come on, Maddie and Kelsey here are going to make breakfast in about 30 minutes so we've got time for a quick session. Missy and Casey are coming down right now and I've already laid out the mats for us in the sun room."
For the next hour I'm not a bride to be or a billionaires to be as the papers are now calling me. I'm just Ana Steele, doing Pilates with her best friends like I've done a hundred times before. At breakfast everyone teases Devin who has just made an appearance, ice mask on his face and hands in his Shiseido skin softening gloves. He shoos away Lisa who hands him a croissant, muttering something about carbs and bloating and instead has the caterers make him an omelet with extra bacon and extra cheddar.
Hem and Grace arrive at ten and join us for mimosas on the deck and toss out marriage advice as freely as they threw out sex advice last night.
Now that was something else. I knew Grace had a wild streak in her but I had no idea it extended to almost daily sex with her husband of however many years. Her gift had been first and she'd kept to the rules of the party; one piece of raunchy advice and one piece of lingerie.
Her advice had made me blush and gasp and had made Mia want to throw up but I read it out loud just the same. "Never stop giving blow jobs. Once a month minimal, twice a month optimal. And never spit. It's rude. Oh! And save the 69's for birthdays and holidays."
"Oh god, mom now I'll never be able to look at either of you at Christmas!" Mia had groaned while the rest of the room squealed with laughter.
Grace had sat there, her lemon drop martini in one hand and a smug expression on her face before she blurted out, "Sex only gets better as you get older ladies!" My first thought was that if Christian got any better at sex he'd kill me with orgasms long before I reached middle age but as open as Grace was being, I was not about to tell her about her son's sexual prowess.
Her raunchiness had been followed up with a beautiful spaghetti strapped pale pink nightgown that went to my ankles. It was less lingerie and more sleepwear but it was still silk and still pretty and frankly, the idea of wearing a piece of lingerie my mother in law had chosen kind of grossed us both out. So the nightgown was a nice compromise that I know made us both happy and still stayed within the parameters of the game.
Hem had gone next, her advice hands down the best in my opinion. "Keep his belly full and his balls empty!" She had shouted to hoots and howls and high fives. "And," she continued, her face alight with mischief, "I agree with my friend Grace. A lady never spits!"
She then explained that traditionally in her country, and apparently here in the US too, it's the job of the bride's mother to provide the wedding night attire. She walked over a silver box and thanked me for the honor of allowing her to purchase this particular gift. It was a sweet gesture and one I hadn't expected but loved all the same.
The gown was sheer white, completely transparent and down to my ankles but all along the sides was the most delicate lace panels I had ever seen. The tiny panties it came with would barely cover me but I figured they won't be on very long anyway so what's the point. Between the lace and the gossamer, the gown somehow was extremely sexy and innocent all at the same time. I doubted I would wear it tonight since Christian has told me, no less than a hundred times, that he'll be removing my wedding dress himself but this would be the perfect lingerie to kick off our honeymoon.
Kate reminded me to not neglect the balls, Lisa said to make him a video of me touching myself and Casey reminded me that handjobs were not overrated and were, in fact, coming back into style. 'No longer a painful reminder of eight grade', he handed me a how to video made by none other than the woman who gave us lessons at my bachelorette party.
As the advice spewed forth and the lingerie came, things got raunchier and more risqué until I finally opened Devin's box. I'd saved it for last thinking that of anybody, his gift would be the most embarrassing so when I got to the crotchless panties and the leather bustier from Heather I was sure he'd find a way to upstage them all and I guess in a way he did.
"It's a…mint green…barbell?" I'd asked, the gold wrapping paper falling to the ground at my feet which were adorned in those boudoir slippers with the fluffy pink feathers on them courtesy of Mia.
"A barbell, Annie? Really? You think I would get you a barbell?" I examined the curved plastic, didn't see an on or off switch, didn't think it looked like a dildo and couldn't imagine how it was sexual until he took it from my hands and waved it in my face. "It's called the Energie Kegel Strengthener." He twirled around and showed it to everyone much to my horror. "You can dish out all the advice you want and dress her up like a whore or a virgin but at the end of the day, if the fit ain't tight, the sex ain't right. Who's with me? Hmm? Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about either ladies."
It was then that Grace had handed him one of the lemon drops Carrick had made for us. She said she was being polite but I think she was just trying to shut him up. I'd only had one but Devin had at least three before Casey carried him to the bed and tucked him in to half snorts of, 'Tell James Franco I'm in the guest room on the left.'
The rest of us had gone to bed shortly after midnight but I had come down around two to get myself a drink when I noticed two figures on the back deck. I thought nothing of it until I heard a man's voice, one I recognized but couldn't pinpoint until Lisa laughed. Gavin Grey was here and by the looks of it, they were just...talking. Two people famous for their promiscuity and they were sitting in two separate chairs just hanging out together in the middle of the night.
The nosy part of me wanted to eavesdrop but the part of me that so desperately wants my best friend to find happiness tiptoed back to my room while offering up a prayer that maybe, just maybe there was one more Grey boy for her after all. I had fallen asleep easily at first but after finding Gavin here and getting excited for what that might mean for Lisa I tossed and turned, my mind getting stuck on stupid shit that kept me awake for close to two hours.
I had a mini panic attack over the floral arrangements and then broke out into a cold sweat thinking I'd forgotten to give Kate and Mia the Tiffany bubble diamond rings and matching earrings. After that I spent a half an hour flipping through my phone to find the email from Tucker with the musical playlists and went over each one again, sure that I'd missed something important. But it was when I had a half awake dream that Dona Cidalia had forgotten my dress in Italy that I finally succumbed and took the half of the Tylenol PM Kate had given me.
"When does the massage therapist get here?" I'm interrupted from my thoughts by Devin as he groans from the couch, one hand over his ice pack, the other limp by his side.
"They're setting up now in the guest…Devin?"
But he was already down the hall, the stomp of his feet on the stairs indicating he'd be lying on a table in no time.
Heather brought me upstairs into the room I'm using and introduced me to Marta, one of the best massage therapists in the Seattle area. I want to relax, I really do but I'm so aware of everything that need to be done and everybody around me that I'm finding it difficult. As good as her massage is, after an hour I'm still too keyed up to be able to relax so instead of continuing as she suggests, I find Grace and convince her to take my place.
I need to do something. Anything so that I feel like I'm making progress towards my ultimate destination but the only thing I can do, besides follow a flustered Tucker around, is shower. So that is exactly what I do, shaving my legs to within an inch of their life and then exfoliating myself from brow to toe with the ginger grapefruit scrub that Christian likes. He thinks I don't know that he sniffs it each morning but I do.
"Annie girl!" Sometimes I wished Devin's hangovers lasted longer than an hour especially when he's standing outside of the shower I'm currently in.
"What?"
"You went for that wax yesterday morning, right?" Oh my god he's so embarrassing.
"Yes, Devin."
"They did your pits too?"
"Yes, Devin."
"Did they leave his initials like I told them too? I mean, if your legs were any indication of what you had going on I'm sure there was enough in your, ahem, bikini area. Bush is so 1997 you know."
"I hate you you know that?"
"I do. Initials?"
"No. I'm bare as your ass."
"You're cute. You keep talking like that and I'll show you my ass. Hurry up, you have a delivery from Cartier out here and they'll only let you sign for it even though Sexy Sawyer is the one guarding it."
On the counter he's left the golden shimmered body lotion to apply, which I do quickly so that I can deal with the issue downstairs. In a robe down to my shins and a towel wrapped around my head I sign for the custom made jewelry I designed with Dona Cidalia and Grace to wear with my gown. I felt guilty as hell when I found out the necklace and bracelet cost close to 1.2 million but it had pleased Christian immensely which in turn pleased me. I've opted to wear the diamond earrings he gave to me in Rome even though he encouraged me to purchase a new set. How many pairs of diamond earrings does one girl need?
"Ms. Steele, I'll put these in the safe for now. Ms. Kavanagh, if you could please open it for me." Sawyer walks down the hallway with Kate, his body disappearing just as Franco and his team descend on the house.
Tucker reappears behind them, a tray of Starbucks in one hand and a phone in the other while his assistant waves me over, a phone up to each of her ears.
"I'm with the bride now so goodbye," Tucker quips, hanging up his call before he gives me a run down of anything he things I need to know about which turns out to be pretty much nothing. Just get me married! "The only thing that really has put a wrinkle on the day is that the media knows exactly where the wedding is being held and because of that they've swamped the marina and the area outside of Escala. The good news is that they have no idea where you are so we're free and clear on that front. It's just your fiancé that will have to see their faces on the way out. We will, however have to deal with them at the marina but I'm told by Mr. Grey's security chief that he has additional assistance and that I need not worry." He sighs and clicks on his tablet, "So I won't. I need to call the caterers and ensure that they're on schedule if you'll excuse me."
"Ms. Steele?" Behind me a smiling Franco waits along with his minions. I hear my name again, this time with an Italian accent when my dress designer and her grandmother appear at the same time that the flowers are brought in by Prescott and Sawyer. Naturally the delivery driver wasn't permitted onto the property.
In just a few short minutes the house has gone from peaceful zen to mass chaos and it's me in the center. Lisa steps up, greets Dona Cidalia and leads the two women to the guest room so that they can iron out any wrinkles and prepare the last few stitches. Franco gently takes my arm and pulls me to the kitchen where a woman named Kiki, yes, Kiki, has laid out what's equivilant to a nail salon.
"I thought you'd want to be in the middle of things while we did your nails and start on your hair. I've got another tech who will do your sister in laws at the same time so that you can chat and relax." I smile weakly and lean back while Kiki puts my feet in the warm soapy water below. Being the center of attention isn't something I've gotten used to yet.
Kiki holds up the picture Devin had sent to her of how he'd like my nails to look and asks if I still want the barest pink with an overlay of delicate silver glitter. I look again, surprised at how not trashy it looks especially since it sounds so bad and Devin's chosen it. He appears out of nowhere and crosses his arms with a look that says, 'Of course you do.'
"It's perfect, thank you." She smiles and bends her head to her task just as Mia leans in to whisper conspiratorially.
"My mom just talked to Christian," she says happily, her own nails colored in the same shade as mine. "He called your phone but Kate saw it and handed it to mom. He was not happy to not be able to talk to you but she said it was against the rules."
I grin and bite back a laugh. I bet he just loved being told he had rules to follow.
"Did he need me?"
"No, just wanted to check in with you. He's sparring with Bastille and Elliot. I think he said my cousins were heading over there now too."
"Sparring? He's sparring while I've got," I wave my free hand around, "a hundred people here to help me get ready. For one day I'd love to be a man just to know what that's like."
"I know. You can pee standing up, you never have to shave your legs or underarms, you're allowed to get old and look old, and you come every time you have sex." My eyes widen and then my future sister in law and I laugh.
"You don't…you know…finish every time?" She crinkles her face and covers her eyes after darting a glance to the nail techs who are engrossed in their own conversation.
"Oh my god, I so do not want to hear about my brother in bed. Forget I said anything! Ew ew ew ew!"
"You brought it up," I laugh at her expense. "But seriously, you don't?" I'm blushing like crazy but talking about sex with my girlfriends is something I've not had the chance to do yet and as I hear little comments, I'm beginning to realize how much I don't know.
"No, I don't. I mean," she looks around to ensure that Kate isn't around, "Ethan is very good at what he does but sometimes, you know…it just doesn't work out for me."
"We talking sex here? 'Cause I am so in if we are." Lisa sits down with a bloody mary and props her feet up on the table next to me, handing me a glass of water. "Drink up Cinderella, can't have you dehydrated on your big day. Anyway, sex? Let's dish."
"Um, you're boinking my cousin so no, I don't want to talk sex with you either." Mia makes that face again but Lisa presses on.
"I haven't shagged him yet but I will tonight. Got myself all primed and ready for it." Mia makes a gagging motion with her free hand and then stands when her hair stylist comes into the kitchen to retrieve her. Lisa continues, "And no, Ana, most women do not get off every time. So if you are, hold onto that shit with both hands because a good lay is almost as important as the rest of the shit marriage is about."
I'm not sure how much is appropriate to share so I remain silent even when Heather sits down and is brought up to speed by Lisa. She picks out her polish and sits in Mia's abandoned seat, resting her head back.
"I finish every time with Sawyer." Now I'm going to gag. "But he's the best lover I've ever had and he's a man. I'm not dealing with a boy anymore. You know, now that I think about it, I probably am getting two for every one of his. If anything he's got the short end of the stick." She slaps her hand on the armrest and stands. "I'm going to find him and say thank you the best way I can. Even things out a bit," she winks and walks away to the sounds of Lisa whooping like a sailor.
"How is he in bed, Ana?" I blush and shush her but Lisa was never one to take to subtlety. "Oh come on, you know you want to talk about it and God knows I want to hear about it." I do but I won't. At least, not with his sister and mother in the next room.
"I'm happy. I'll leave it at that."
"Party pooper," she throws at me with a smile. But now I'm curious. And a little horny.
CPOV
"Bro you're not supposed to talk to her or see her until the ceremony. Would you stop with the melodramatic pouting?"
"Fuck off, Elliot. Get your gloves on so I can pound your face in." He laughs and tapes his wrist, offering his hand to Bastille so that he can cut off the white tape.
"No hits above shoulder level today, boys. If I'm the one responsible for the groom having a broken nose my wife will gut me and as scary as you assholes are, she's got a much scarier weapon."
"Yea," Elliot laughs, "closed legs."
"I may break your rib for that but damn if you aren't correct." Claude begins to move around, crouching low and waving his hands around to get into the mood. "Sometimes I wonder if there's anything a man won't do for sex."
I stop and think for a minute while Taylor finishes my hands. Nope, there is nothing I wouldn't do to have sex with Ana.
"Outside of capital crimes, there is nothing I wouldn't do for pussy. I admit it, I'm weak when it comes to that particular piece of real estate," Elliot says with conviction.
Gavin laughs and reaches for the tape that Taylor has thrown to the ground. "So true. I once took a photography class with some chick I was trying to bag."
"Speaking of you trying to bag a chick, what's the deal with that girl Lisa? She's into you for sure and she's a ginger. You gotta tell us if the carpet matches the curtains." Dale winks and laughs but Gavin is surprisingly quiet.
"She's cool but I think she's got baggage. Not sure if she's a love 'em and leave 'em kinda girl. I mean, she is...I'm just not sure how good of an idea that would be. For her sake."
"Since when do you care, Gavin 'I'm Gods gift to Women' Grey? You're almost as much of a whore as Elliot is," his brother Kevin asks dismissively.
"Was. As Elliot was. Those days are over for good gentlemen. My prediction is that we will all be congregating soon for my own nuptials."
"You serious, E? You're really saying you're ready to fuck only one chick for the rest of your life? I mean, damn, that's just stupid. You get more tail than anybody else I know. Hell, I saw you walk those two girls out of the club on New Year's Eve last year like it was no big deal! You're a legend, dude!"
Elliot, for the first time in his life looks embarrassed by his reputation and for once I completely understand. "It was fun, sometimes it was real fun but that's not the legacy I want. I want to be known for loving one woman and loving her well and for being a really great dad. So yes, those days are over for me boys. And I'm cool with that."
"Well I never thought I'd see the day, E." Dale, shrugs and taps gloves with him to initiate the fight. "What the fuck has happened to the Grey men? From unpaid porn stars to minivan drivers."
"The fuck if you'll ever see me in a mini-van asswipe. Just because I'm only sleeping with one woman doesn't mean I'm not getting my freak on. Fareakay!" Elliot does his best Prince impersonation and then nails Dale right in the gut.
Three hours later we're all showered, shaved and are now lounging on the balcony of my apartment. They've all got snifters of brandy but I'm sticking to water. I'm not nervous but I can't sit still and I'm beginning to feel like a caged animal. So when Welch calls with my daily security briefing I take the call in my office with Taylor there.
"Sir, all security personnel are in position. The ship has been swept and was clean as expected. The designers and caterers are on board and have begun prepping. The band is enroute and the photographer is with Ms. Steele presently as are the dress designers and the stylist team."
"And Tucker Davis?"
"Is bouncing between Elliot's and The Grace. There are quite a few paparazzi outside of Escala and even more down at the marina but we've been given authorization by the local police departments to put up a barricade. They've also sent over four officers to help control the crowd there though I'm afraid that bill will be coming to us directly."
"Money well spent. Have any of them set up camp at my brothers?"
"No, Sir. From what we can tell, nobody has thought to go there so on that front, Ms. Steele has been left alone."
"What else?" Taylor shifts his feet and widens his stance. Obviously they've already spoken and there's some sort of news to share.
"The man who has been taking pictures of Ms. Steele and has also been sending the emails detailing their bogus relationship is still an unknown to us but we have been able to trace the IP address to the Seattle Public Library. So he's either smart enough to know not to use his own computer or he's stupid enough to think we won't post someone there until he's caught."
"They've all been sent from there?"
"Yes, Sir." Stupid moron. "We've already begun to run background checks on all of the employees there but there were only five men in total on staff and none of them appear to be our perp. At this point we're confident that the culprit is a visitor. We're crosschecking the names of anyone who checked out a book during the time frames the emails were sent though that will take a few more days to complete."
"In a few days I'll be on my honeymoon." A small thrill of excitement runs through me at the mention of it.
"Yes, Sir but we'll be sure to reach out to Taylor who will inform you of any issues you need to be aware of. Our hope was that to use the computers you would need to sign in but that is not the case with this particular library which is why he chose it I'm sure. In any case, we'll find him."
"You've confirmed Carla Adam's whereabouts today?" The last thing I want and the last thing Ana needs is her mother popping up out of nowhere.
"She's in her apartment as we speak. Our guy saw her get coffee about an hour ago, said it looked as if she had been crying. She met with a woman who seemed to be consoling her and then went back to her residence where she is currently. No surprise visits."
"And the dick waiter from last night?"
"Not on the roster for today and is therefore not on the ship." Good. Asshole.
I take a deep breath and rap my knuckles on the desk. "We're done here then?"
"We are, Sir. I'll see you in a few hours." He hesitates, I wait. "I'd like to request that we skirt our normal procedures today as far as direct and immediate contact with you on security issues. Today, Sir, let your team handle things." I consider, my eyes darting to Taylors where we exchange a silent conversation.
"Agreed."
When the time comes for lunch Gail lays out a spread of my favorite things. On the breakfast bar is a build your own sandwich station with everything you can possibly ever want along with salads and ice cold beers. I watch as everyone loads up their plates but I can't eat. For the first time in my entire life, I can't eat food that's being offered to me.
Because I'm freaking the fuck out.
"Mr. Grey, can I make you a plate?" Gail takes my indecision as unhappiness but when I turn to answer her she must see what's really going on because she takes the empty plate from my hand and suggests that I go close my eyes for a few minutes. It's a surprising thing for her to mother me so boldly but I take the opportunity to be alone for a few minutes and excuse myself.
Off of our bedroom is a small balcony that is used so rarely that I forget it's there but today it offers the perfect place to get away from everything. Going through all of the coping mechanisms Flynn has introduced me to over the years I waste ten minutes on breathing techniques and visualizations but the threat of a panic attack is still taunting me when my dad knocks on the glass door behind me and walks out without waiting for me to invite him.
"Son," he says with a smile, shaking my hand with a firmness I know speaks to the pride he feels right now. I'm finally making them happy.
"Dad, good to see you. Did Grandpa come with you?" He shuts the door and hands me an iced tea, no doubt from Gail.
"He did. We dropped Grandma off at Elliot's and then came here."
"Did you see Ana? Did she seem ok?" I ask the questions so quickly he pauses his step and then walks to the railing to look out.
"I did not. No men allowed according to her blue haired friend who opened the door for Grandma." He points at me, "That kid is a riot. Anyway, she was getting her nails done and couldn't come to the door."
My fear does not subside. "So you didn't see her?"
"No, Christian. I didn't. She was too busy getting ready for your wedding." He looks around but not at me and leans forward. "Why aren't you getting ready?"
I scoff. "It takes me ten minutes to throw on a tux and I'm not doing that until we're on board anyway." The seconds tick by uncomfortably. Over the years, there have been hundreds of times when my father and I had nothing to say to each other but this is different. I feel exposed now because despite my calm exterior, I get the feeling he knows I'm going crazy right now.
"Are you nervous, son?"
"I don't get nervous, pops. But thanks for your concern." He just smirks at me and then looks back out into the sky.
"So the fact that you're bouncing on your heels and isolating yourself has nothing to do with nerves?" I roll my eyes and take a sip of my iced tea.
"I came out here to be alone." Take the hint. He turns to me and grins.
"She'll show up, Christian. She loves you. She wants to marry you. She will marry you." My expression must give me away because he just laughs and sits on one of the lounge chairs out here. "What? You think your old man didn't know what was going on? Even Elliot knows why you're holed up back here. Listen, I know you've come a long way and I'm proud as fuck over what you've accomplished in the last few months but I also know you see Ana as too good to be true. Am I right?"
I don't answer or nod, I just sit down and stare straight ahead.
"She's young, Christian. But she's smart and mature beyond her years. She knows what she wants and what she wants is you. If it makes you feel any better, your mom said she was excited and kept asking how you were."
"I'd like to talk to her. You know what? Fuck this shit, I'm going to talk to her. Give me your phone." He hands it to me immediately.
"Where's yours?" he asks as I dial Ana's number and wait.
"In my pocket but whoever's guarding her phone won't even answer it if they see it's me. Stupid tradition or some shit."
"Anastasia Steele's phone," Devin trills over the line. OK, I can work with him.
"Hi Devin, it's Christian."
"As in, the soon to be Mr. Anastasia Grey? You sneaky little thing you, calling from daddy's phone. I'm still not putting you through though."
"Yes, you are. I want to talk to my girl."
"Oh stop, you know you can't until the ceremony. We talked about"
"Now."
"Why of course! Let me just find her." A full minute later I'm still waiting on hold and I'm pretty sure I'm in his pocket because I hear everything but it all sounds muffled. I haven't waited on hold for anyone other than Ana in…well, ever. I don't wait. I make people wait.
"Christian? Are you ok?" Just hearing her voice, just knowing she's where she should be makes me feel better.
"Hey, baby. I am, how are you?" Without looking at my father who is on his way out to the kitchen I make my way into the bedroom and fall back on the bed.
"Nervous. Not to get married but for the whole ceremony part. I mean, there are more people involved in planning the wedding than people invited to it and every single one of them wants to speak to me at the same time. We should have eloped."
"Yes, we should have," I sigh. Because truthfully, had we eloped, she wouldn't have had the chance to change her mind. She'd be my wife already.
"What are you doing right now?"
"Laying on our bed while everyone else eats lunch." She's quiet for a few seconds so I know she's thinking and that just makes me even more anxious.
"Are you pinching the bridge of your nose?"
"Yes."
"Are your legs hanging over the side?"
"Yes." Why is this becoming funny to me?
"Are you wearing jeans and a white t-shirt?"
"Yes. How did you know?" She giggles. God I love that sound.
"Because you have a love affair with white button downs and white t-shirts," she jokes. "Christian, are you nervous?"
"Not to get married, no." More silence but this time I feel almost as if she's with me. Like somehow she's reaching out to me through the phone because even though I haven't verbalized the root of my anxiety, she already knows it. Because she knows me.
"Christian, in 12 hours I'll be right next to you with my head on your chest and my hand over your heart and that hand will have two wedding bands on it. And 12 hours from then it will be just me and you for three weeks. And 12 days from then we'll still be together and 12 years from then we'll be surrounded by our kids and 12 years from then we'll be planning a second honeymoon to get away from said kids and 12 years from then we'll be wishing those kids were still living at home and so on and so on and so on."
"You promise, Ana?" Fear rushes through me like a fountain, "Because I can't return to a life without you in it. Promise me that life, Ana."
"I'll do better than promise you. I'll make a solemn vow to you. Now go get ready so you can make me your wife."
APOV
"You're not even the slightest bit rattled?" Lisa asks me while the photographer continues to take pictures of us getting ready.
"About what? Getting married or the wedding itself?"
"The attention this life is going to bring to you. I talked to Gavin a few minutes ago and he said that the police had to get involved down at the marina and that there were news organizations fighting the block on the air space." That makes me nervous.
"Are they going to rescind it? The no fly zone we got for the day?" She waves me off.
"You're marrying one of the most powerful men in the country sweets. The air," she makes a grand gesture, "is yours."
"And wait, you talked to Gavin a few minutes ago? And don't think I don't know all about your little tryst last night on the back porch either."
"How in the hell?"
"I saw you two and no I didn't stick around to watch and no I didn't overhear your conversation. But I do want to know what's going on."
"Now? Today? This is your day, Annie."
"Please! I am so over talking about myself and the wedding and hair and nails and dresses and flowers! Ugh! Please tell me what's going on with you guys."
"Ok, ok, wow, simmer down there sister." We pause and smile for the camera as it makes its way to us before she continues. "That night at your house when I had my little, what shall we call it…meltdown?" I nod. "I left and went right to Rudy's Café to get drunk. Ordered myself a nice line of shots and tilted 'em back in record time."
"Now you know me, I don't really get drunk but I do get chatty and guess who I called to come out and play?"
"Gavin Grey," we say in unison.
"The one and only. And he came out, drove a ways from what I understand too which made me feel good that he wanted to come out and of course it also made me feel guilty for making him drive so far so I tried to sleep with him to say thank you or some fucked up shit like that." I avoid looking at her because I know my friend and this is hard for her to even admit that she's got issues.
"So we go back to my apartment, I start stripping, he starts stripping, we're making out, he's excited and then suddenly he pulls back and looks at me like something's wrong. I mean, Ana, we were naked. He was into it, the evidence was right in my hand if you know what I mean."
"So after a few seconds of him just staring at me he says, 'Something's wrong. You're not yourself right now'." She scoffs, "Like he even knows who I am after two days together but whatever. I kind of just laughed it off but when he said it I felt like I was going to cry and then when I tried to kiss him again he pulled back and said it again like he was concerned and I don't know what the heck happened but I started telling him everything. Like…everything."
"Wow, Lisa," I say softly, "I know how hard that is for you." She looks up and offers me a weak smile.
"It was easy with him. I don't know why, it just was. And you know what was crazy about it all? He listened. Actually listened. Even though we were naked as jaybirds he sat there and let me talk for God knows how long and took it all in, asked questions when I was done and then…"
"What?" My heart is racing while I wait for her to finish because of all of my friends, Lisa has had the hardest life and is the toughest person I know on the outside. But we all know that inside she's still struggling to breathe.
Her fingers knot in her lap and she sighs. "I cried." And thank God the makeup artist is following me around because I tear up instantly. In all the years I've known her and all of the terrible things I've learned about her past not once have I seen her cry about it.
"What did he do?" She huffs out an unbelievable laugh.
"He pulled me onto his lap and let me. I mean, don't get me wrong, I let loose for like, two minutes but still, that was enough for me. Gave myself a migraine and everything," she laughs. "He stayed over even though I didn't ask him to and the next day at work he sent me an email with links to five different books he'd found that might help me and the number to two hotlines so that I could talk to someone."
"Wow," I breathe.
"Yeah, wow." After a beat she adds, "I could fall for him if I let myself. He's called every day since all that went down and last night he came here just to hang out. Though I'm not going to lie, we did do some bumping and grinding out there and had I not had respect for Kate's patio furniture I'd have totally," she looks around to make sure nobody's really listening, "fucked him. But I will say this, you will not be the only person at your wedding having sex tonight. It's been over two months for me. A new record and I'm not looking to get a medal so whether he wants it or not, I'm bagging my Grey tonight!"
I watch from the living room window as Dona Cidalia and her grandmother climb into the Audi with my dress. They helped me to get it on and helped to arrange it for the pictures we took here at the house but together we decided that to keep it wrinkle free and to keep the press from snagging a picture of me in it in the car, that they would bring the dress over and wait for me there.
Devin and Kate are still sniffling next to me, both of them having cried when I stepped out of the room in my full bridal attire. I had begged them to stop so that my own makeup didn't smear and they had done their best but Devin's a sucker for weddings and a bride in a custom made gown.
I had seen myself in the mirror, had been blown away at how perfectly the gown had fit and was happy with the way my hair and makeup had been done but surprisingly it was when I saw Sawyer that I felt the full effect of being a bride.
"Stunning, Ana. You look absolutely stunning," he'd said right before he leaned down to kiss my cheek, all semblance of a professional relationship gone for a few moments. "Mr. Grey won't know what to do with himself when he sees you."
That little statement made me so excited to walk down the aisle that I now find myself restlessly tapping my foot in the back seat of the stretch limo that will take us to the marina. Around me everyone is celebrating, dressed and ready to go, downing champagne and cranking up Ellie Goulding which just makes me more excited.
Until we pull down the road to the marina and come to a crawl because of the photographers and reporters literally banging on the windows trying to get a picture or a story. Suddenly it goes eerily silent in the limo. Sawyer is in the front seat and leans back to tell me not to worry, that it's all under control but I have never, ever been surrounded like this and it's terrifying.
Heather reaches over and takes my hand in hers when the car begins to rock back and forth. Sawyer is quietly barking orders into his phone, his eyes darting to Prescott who is sitting by the back door, hand on the lock to ensure nobody can get in. Pin pricks of panic begin to set in until little by little the crowd thins out as uniformed officers pull people back. Once we're inside the marina itself the gates behind us close, the entire car ushering a collective exhale.
"What in the fuck was that shit?" Casey blurts out, clearly as flustered as the rest of us. "I mean, shit, I could never ever be so pathetic as to hang on a moving car for a picture. Loser scum pieces of dog shit."
"Ana," Heather says on an exhale, "if that was any indication of how your life is going to be, you can never ever ever be without security." I laugh.
"I know and after that, you don't need to worry. Now get me on that boat so I can get married!" Devin throws his hands up in exasperation.
"Ship! For Cher's sake it's a ship!"
"You are ready to get dressed now, Ms. Steele?" Dona Cidalia knocks on the door to the master bedroom where I've been holed up with my friends for ten minutes. I look around at the wide eyes of my friends, all waiting. This is actually happening.
"You're ready," Hem says firmly. "Come in, Ms. Cidalia!" She turns. "Ana do you want privacy?"
"I want anyone in this room to stay in this room." Because frankly, right now, I'm an emotional basketcase and I need my friends. "I just want some privacy when I'm half naked."
The minute the engine roars to life my stomach drops to my feet because this is it. My dad must be here, my guests, my future husband. All on board. Holy mother of God this is actually happening. We head out to the open waters for a good twenty minutes during which time Dona and her grandmother help me back into the dress with Hem helping and taking pictures on the camera I bought for her trip to the States.
"Baby girl," she says, holding a small piece of colorful fabric in her hand, "this is a prayer cloth. I wore it under my dress to my Samuel and my mother wore it under her dress to my father. All of my girls have worn it when they married and I'd like for you to wear it as well."
My hand flies to cover my mouth but I nod like a lunatic and stand perfectly still so that she can pin the scrap of fabric to the underside of my train. And even though I don't have my shoes on and I'm not holding my flowers, I feel ready to walk down that aisle to see my groom.
After a few more minor adjustments Heather, Lisa and Missy say their goodbyes amid a few sniffles as do Dona Cidalia and her grandmother. Tucker peeks in to tell me I've got five minutes until show time and to ask if I'm ready to let my father in. My stomach drops again. God, how many times today is that going to happen?
"Yes, send him in please." For this moment the rest of the people in the room; Devin, Kate and Hem all sneak out onto the balcony to give us some privacy. I've always thought this part of the movie, where the bride waits for her father to see her is really cheesy but as I stand here, dressed up like a princess I can't help but anticipate what he's going to think.
The click of the door has me standing perfectly still, eyes trained on the entryway. Ray walks in, shuts the door firmly behind him and turns to me, a stunned expression on his face. For a few seconds he says nothing and makes no move towards me but as soon as I start to wonder what's going on he covers his mouth and inhales sharply to hide his emotions.
"Annie. God you're beautiful," he chokes out. "And so grown up. For 23 years I've seen you as a baby but the person standing in front of me is a beautiful young woman." He reaches out and hugs me close, careful not to smudge my makeup. I'm blinking furiously so that I don't cry even though Franco told me he'd be right outside the door should I need any touch ups.
"You look handsome, dad." And he does. Why my mother ever left him is beyond me. There are so many things to love about Raymond Steele, so many things he has to offer someone.
"I thought I'd know what to say when this moment came but I'm speechless." He pulls back, keeping hold of my hand and reaches for his hand kerchief, a muted gold to match the color scheme. "When I met your mom and she told me she had a baby, at first I didn't know what to do. A baby? Was I ready to get involved with someone who had a kid? What if I hated it? What if I loved it?" He snorts. "Man did I love you."
"I've been dreading this moment for 23 years, Annie. Positively sick over it to be honest." He kisses my temple and squeezes my arm gently.
"Dad, no matter what my last name is, I'll always be yours. You're not giving me away today." I made sure our ceremony didn't include that whole line about 'giving the bride away'. It just seems so cold and final.
"I know that," he waves me off, "but your life will change now. And that's a good thing because marriage and kids are such a wonderful adventure and I'm so happy you'll get to experience all of it. And I know," he rushes to add, "that you won't leave me behind. But to know that my role has changed…that your life is beginning with someone else, it's something I've dreaded."
He laughs and looks up blinking. If he cries, I will lose my shit. "I never met the man, Annie but I know that your father would be so proud of you today. And not because you're getting married but because of the wonderful, compassionate, caring, loving, intelligent human being you are."
His words catch me off guard. I hardly, if ever, think of my birth father. But at the mention of him, the pain of being here without either of the two people who brought me into the world hits home. But now is not the time for sadness and not the time for melancholy reflection so I push back my shoulders and steel my resolve to enjoy the day.
"Dad, no matter who is in my life, no matter how much time passes, no matter what the future holds, you will always be my first love. You remember that especially when I make you babysit my kids." He grins and breathes deeply.
"I can't wait for that day, baby. Now let's go get you hitched. There is one antsy groom in the next room dying to see his bride."
CPOV
"Are you fucking kidding me with this?" At the gates of the marina is a crowd of onlookers that makes even my head spin. "These pariaha's have nothing better to do with their time? Losers."
"Ignore them, C," Elliot says casually, flicking a piece of lint from his pants. Easy for him to say, it wasn't his fiancée whose name was being screamed. When I heard the police had to get involved for her limo to pull in I just about blew a gasket but my grandfather intervened and talked me off the ledge so that I could collect my thoughts and get in my own limo without having a coronary.
"Tucker is waiting at the dock to escort you to your room. Most of your guests are already on board," my father informs me. I roll my eyes. Of course there are, nobody is going to risk being late to this wedding.
"I know the way around my own damn ship, I don't need a guide," I shoot at the snotty wedding planner Andrea hired and Ana likes for some god forsaken reason. The guy's a class A tool and isn't shy about showing his interest in my very straight brother. Though I have to admit, I do get a small bit of joy out of seeing the way Elliot is always making sure he's not alone with the guy. Anything that makes Elliot uncomfortable makes me happy.
Walking into the main salon I pause to greet my mother and grandmother before letting Mia hug me. She's bouncing with excitement, going on and on about how beautiful Ana looks and wait until you see her and blah blah blah. If I had it my way, I'd get the justice of the peace down here right now and marry the girl behind the door at the end of the hall. Enough with this waiting shit.
Just knowing she's on board has me feeling better though. If she's here, then she's got to still want to go through with this, right? In the guest room Tucker lays out the itinerary for the nth time and then leaves the four of us alone with a bottle of 21 year old Balvenie Scotch. Even Mia takes a sip but I refuse the glass my father pours for me, opting to not have alcohol on my breath when I kiss her for the first time as my wife.
When the ship begins to move I feel more anxious than before, the patience I've executed over the last 24 hours wearing thin. When Ray knocks and comes in, shaking hands with all of us and sharing in a toast before heading into Ana's room I do my best to appear confident but it's hard to muster up. Because despite all evidence pointing to the contrary, I am terrified that she's going to bail at the last minute.
Flynn told me to expect this, told me that I'd be forced to face a lot of emotions today but I was wholly unprepared for the extent at which I'm feeling them. I don't know if it's because I haven't seen her for a day or if it's because we haven't made love in two days or if it's the fact that she will be asked a very simple question. Do you take this man? And she could still say no. Maybe I should have that scotch.
But then Tucker comes in and tells me we're one minute from our destination and confirms that there are no boats in sight other than the patrol boats we've commissioned for the day.
"Skies are blue, waters are calm, sun is shining, and you have a good looking crowd of family and friends. You couldn't have drawn up a more perfect day, Mr. Grey. If you'll follow me please, I'll escort you and your brother to your mother and grandmother and we'll begin the ceremony in just a few seconds."
"Holy shit, man. This is happening." I stare straight ahead, ignoring Elliot completely. Right now I need to focus on putting one foot in front of the other and just getting this part done. Once she's legally mine, once she's wearing that wedding band and in my arms I'll relax and enjoy myself.
On deck the string quartet we've hired is playing Handel's 'Air from Water Music'. I can hear the muted chatter above me, my mother's hand in the crook of my arm. She's been emotional all day and has done her best not to cry but as we stand here, she throws her hands in the air and gasps back a half laugh half cry.
"Oh for fucks sake I'm a wreck. Christian Trevelyan Grey I am so damn proud of you." I laugh, the chink in her otherwise perfectly cultured armor the perfect way for me to lighten up right now.
"Never thought you'd see the day did you mom?" I lean down and wink, kissing her forehead softly.
"We wanted you to have it all, Christian. Not the money, not the fame or the power but the best of what life has to offer. And you've got it. We couldn't be happier than we are right now in this moment."
"Thank you mom," I say humbly, the music growing slightly louder as the crowd grows quieter, "for everything."
"You will make a wonderful husband, baby," she says to me as we begin to ascend the stairs.
Everyone watches from their chairs, faces familiar to me; some for years, others for my entire life as a Grey. Only a few are unknown to me, Ana's family I presume but outside of them, these people are here because they're important to me. It's a startling revelation for me, a man who so recently thought everyone but a very select few individuals were expendable to him. It does not escape my notice that though my business is what I've poured my time into for so many years, business associates are nonexistent today. The people who are truly important to me, outside of a select few, aren't related to my work at all.
At the end of the aisle Grace leans up to kiss my cheek and I let her, embracing her tightly. I think she's about to cry but instead she whispers, "Go make me some grandbabies!" and then winks, taking her seat and giggling at my surprised expression.
When the music changes to the soft strains of a guitar and a violin my heart begins to beat so fast I almost move to put my hand over it. This is happening. Right now. When the man begins to sing, I listen to the words like Ana requested I do, telling me that this song was her promise to me.
Mia comes into view, her face a stoic mask until she sees me and Elliot. As we predicted she bursts into tears and waves her hand as if to say, 'You win!' which elicits a few laughs from the audience. I can't help but give her a big smile when she finally takes her place next to me and Elliot, the Grey siblings standing up together for the most important merger of my life.
Kate is next, her eyes darting from me to Elliot who I know is barely holding himself together right now. I know my brother and I would bet my fortune that he's about to cry.
When Devin begins the song hits a line that resonates with me, 'And when the mirror tells us we're older, I will hold you'. I will grow old with this woman. She will grow old with me. Over and over the song repeats 'I will be here', and if this is Ana's promise to me, then all of my worries can disappear because at the end of the day, that's all I really need.
I almost laugh when I notice he's holding his own bouquet of flowers and then crack a smile when I realize the tissue he's using to wipe his tears is covered in gold dust. Cute little fucker.
But then the mood shifts, the air grows heavy and my heart grows light because at the end of the aisle, only thirty five feet from me is the single most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my entire life.
The woman of my dreams, the one my heart beats for is wearing a white dress and holding a big bouquet of white flowers. I notice the details only in the peripheral.
Because all I really see is her.
Ray leans down and whispers something to her and she takes a step towards me, her tiny hand on his arm, her eyes on me. Only on me. Inside my heart screams with joy but outside my eyes fill with tears. I'm hyper aware of everything right now, the way the boat rocks slightly back and forth, the way the wind carries the scent of the ocean on it, the way my feet keep twitching in their desire to go to her. The music fills my ears along with the hushed murmurs of our guests and the clicking of a camera next to me.
And then she smiles and the entire world fades away and it's just her and I.
Unsuccessfully I blink away my tears, giving up and wiping them with the back of my hand while she looks at me, her own face wet.
Without a word I take two steps forward and reach for her hand which she slides into mine. The same spark of electricity that I've always felt when I touch her is there, the connection reminding me of that first night and of how far we've come both individually and together. Dorothy, our justice of the peace steps forward.
"Who brings this woman to this man in support of their union?" Ray lifts his chin and takes a deep breath, the emotion all over his face.
"Her father does," he says, his voice catching on the word father. I make a note to only pray for sons. Ana kisses his cheek and then looks at me, her eyes wide and happy. She is, in a word, stunning.
"Family and friends, we are gathered here today to witness the joining of two lives; Anastasia and Christian. Marriage is defined as an intimate or close union between two people recognized by law. But marriage is so much more than that. It is the promise to love another being more than you love yourself. It is the promise to care for someone more than you care for yourself. It is the promise to cherish another's life more than you cherish your own. It is meant to be sacred and precious and it is meant to be forever."
I squeeze Ana's hand and stare at the officiant, the ball of emotion that lodged itself in my throat the first time I realized I was in love just about strangling me. Dorothy motions for Missy and Casey who walk to the microphone off to the side just as Devin takes Ana's flowers from her.
"Ana and Christian, will you please face each other and hold the other's hand." Casey's baritone voice doesn't falter like it did last night. I grin at my bride, so gorgeous in a dress that I'm just now noticing.
"You look beautiful," I mouth to her, her answering smile enough to make me float away.
"So do you," she mouths back, her glossy lips begging to be kissed. For as long as I live I will never, ever forget this moment. When I'm an old man and my last breath rushes out of my lungs, this is the moment I will remember.
Missy begins, "These are the hands of your best friend; young and strong and full of love."
"These are the hands that will work alongside you to build your future together." Casey counters, the two of them reading one line each.
"These are the hands that will passionately love you and care for you through the years."
"These are the hands that will hold you through grief and fear and will bring you comfort with the simplest of touches."
"These are the hands that will celebrate your accomplishments and will share in your victories."
"These are the hands that will support you when you struggle and encourage you when you dream."
"These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children and will nurture them as they grow."
"These are the hands that will wipe tears of sorrow and tears of joy from your eyes."
"These, beloved, are the hands that, even when wrinkled with age, will still be reaching for yours."
I stare at her hands, the tiny, delicate fingers, the dainty pink polish, the crease of her palm. These hands will hold my children. The words rain down on me and saturate my soul.
We continue to stand and face each other when Hem unfolds the paper in her hand and speaks into the mic, her accent thick with emotion.
"A reading from The Song of Solomon chapter eight, verses six and seven. 'Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy as fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised.'"
I'm not a religious man, I wouldn't even say I'm a believer but having this woman read verses from the Bible at our wedding just seems so right. Almost a safe guard. I watch my brides eyes tear up and on instinct lean down to kiss her, catching myself at the last moment and pressing my lips to her forehead. She sighs and leans into me, the feeling of utter contentment washing over both of us as Hemwatee continues.
"Colossians chapter three verses twelve through fourteen. 'Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.'"
Neither one of us misses the emphasis she puts on certain words and if she and Samuels marriage is a testament to what following those verses means, then that is exactly what we'll do.
When she's seated Dorothy begins again, my heart rate kicking up a few notches as I turn to Ana, the words I've written down seared into memory. Of all the speeches I've made, this is the one that counts the most.
"Anastasia," I start, my voice faltering just enough for her to notice and grip my hands a little tighter. "From the time I can remember, I was always searching. For what I didn't know, I just knew that there was something missing. I had a family who loved me, a healthy body, a sound mind. But still I searched. I amassed great wealth and even greater power, saw the world, tasted it all. And still I searched. I filled my days with challenges and conquered each one. I occupied myself with hobbies and my own quest for enlightenment. And still I searched."
With the shudder of a breath I continue, her green eyes reflecting back into my own so that I see myself the way she sees me. And it heals me because all I see is love.
"The days bled into weeks, the weeks bled into months, the months bled into years. I had everything, wanted for nothing. And yet, there was an emptiness I hadn't known existed until you stood before me in a black dress and smiled. Because without so much as a word spoken, I knew my search was over." I take a deep breath.
"I, Christian Trevelyan Grey vow to love you faithfully and wholly, forsaking all others in body and mind. I vow to encourage you in your endeavors both professionally and personally. I vow to protect you in all things forsaking my own life. I vow to cherish you and provide for you. I vow to carry your heart in mine for as long as I live. I love you Anastasia."
Dorothy speaks but I don't take my eyes off of my bride. "Christian, do you take Anastasia to be your partner, your confidant, your lover and your wife? Do you pledge to honor her, cherish her and encourage her? To share in her sorrows and to share in her joys all the days of your life?"
"I do." Damn that feels good to say.
Ana wipes her eyes and leans up to kiss me even though it's against the rules. Neither of us cares. And as much as I want to hear what she has to say, I just want to hear the words, 'I do' and then the official announcement that we're married.
"Christian," she pauses to bite her bottom lip in an attempt to wrangle her emotions, "ever since I was a little girl I would lose myself in the classics. Books about love, written by people who had experienced it and had lived it. Surely it couldn't be that overwhelming. That all-consuming, that life changing. I experienced love through the pages of those books."
"Until the day I met you. I love you, Christian Grey and it is that overwhelming and it is that all-consuming and it has totally and completely changed my life. Today we start to write our own love story and though we don't know what the upcoming chapters will bring, I know that we will write them together. Today, I promise you eternity."
"I, Anastasia Rose Steele vow to love you freely and generously. I vow to you my faithfulness in all things. I vow to trust you with my safety, with my body and with my heart. I vow to comfort you in times of trouble and rejoice with you in times of gladness. I vow to give myself to you in body, heart, mind and spirit until the day death parts us."
Her words, so carefully chosen weigh heavily on me, the awesome responsibility of her trust laid at my feet. I will not fail her.
Without thinking I wipe the tears from her cheeks with the pads of my thumb and am surprised when she does the same to me. I'm crying?
"Anastasia, do you take Christian to be your partner, your confidant, your lover and your husband? Do you pledge to honor him, cherish him and encourage him? To share in his sorrows and to share in his joys?" My heart stops, my chest aches. This is the moment, right here, right now. She smiles at me, the sight of it enough to bring me to my knees.
"I do." She said yes. She said yes!
"The rings, please." Elliot leans forward and hands Dorothy our wedding bands. Ana's reflects the sun so brilliantly that it's almost blinding, the emerald cut single carat diamonds that cover the entire platinum band glinting in the sun. My own band, plain platinum with smooth finish rests in the palm of my bride who is anxious to put it on me. I grin.
"The wedding ring is the perfect symbol of what love in a marriage should represent. The circle is unending and continuous and always comes back onto itself. So should the love that flows between a husband and wife. It is worn on the third finger of the left hand over the vena amoris. Also known as the vein of love."
She looks down at me and smiles, "Repeat after me," and so I do, the words spoken from my mouth but to Ana's heart.
"This ring is a sacred gift to you, a symbol of my undying love and faithfulness. From this day forward and for eternity my love will surround you. With this ring, I thee wed." She chokes back a sob when the ring is in place before repeating the words back to me.
"This ring is a sacred gift to you, a symbol of my undying love and faithfulness. From this day forward and for eternity my love will surround you. With this ring, I thee wed." The cool metal warms up instantly on my skin, the tiny round symbol that tells the world that I'm married.
"In so much that the two of you have pledged yourselves to each other in matrimony and have promised each other your love for each other by these vows, the giving of these rings and the joining of your hands, it is my pleasure on behalf of the great state of Washington, to announce you husband and wife."
Before she can tell me to do it I swoop in and kiss my wife, bending her backwards and planting a firm kiss on the lips that just pledged their undying love to me. She kisses me back, the sound of applause and whoops surrounding us.
"You are mine," she whispers against my mouth, the declaration completing something in me.
"And you are mine," I say back before pulling her up to face our family and friends.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Christian and Anastasia Grey!" Raising our conjoined hands between us we make our way through the people we hold the most dear to us, pausing to embrace our immediate families before we're ushered by Tucker into the master suite to enjoy a few minutes of private time.
"Mrs. Grey," I say salaciously, finally able to take her in from head to toe. "You look resplendent. My wife." Her lips purse with a suppressed smile when I reach for her, my nose nuzzling along hers.
"Did you read the inscription I had put in your wedding band, Christian?" I pull back enough to pull the platinum from my finger only to miss the metal immediately.
"It's in a foreign language," I say, turning the band.
"Yes, it is. When I found out you were mostly Irish I had the words written in Gaelic. Translated it says, 'I am my beloved's and he is mine'." She shrugs, "It's a fairly common phrase but for me, it sums up everything I want to say to you." Her eyes set on mine, the intensity burning me from the inside out.
"I am yours, husband. And you are mine." I am hers. She has made a public declaration to me and to the rest of the world that I am hers. Emotions clog up my throat and my vocal chords but I fight them back because if I let them come to the surface, they will consume me.
Instead I lift her in my arms and hold her close to me, my face buried in the curve of her shoulder so that I can calm my emotions. I feel raw, exposed, and utterly protected.
"What, baby?" she questions softly, her fingers massaging my scalp with such tenderness that it shakes me to my core. I move my head as if to speak but nothing comes out. "What is it?" I exhale sharply, my emotions falling into line when I demand it of them.
"I'm just…" I pull back and look into her eyes, "overcome." She giggles and kisses my cheek.
"I've felt that way since the first time you kissed me."
"You have?" She kisses me again, her lips cooling the burn of emotions.
"I have. You just, I don't know, you instantly meant more to me than I thought possible from day one. The best way to describe it is to say that I feel like my feet have been above my head since the beginning." I laugh at the innuendo.
"Well, not since the beginning, I mean, it took a few weeks for you to let me position you that way but yes, you've had your heels in the air a fair number of times now." She smacks my chest and laughs with me, her face radiant.
"Did you read your inscription?" She shakes her head and lets me pull her ring off, my chin dropping in mock rebuke. "This will be the last time this ring leaves your finger, Mrs. Grey." She squeals at the name.
"My hearts content, my loves desire," I read, gently sliding it back into place. "I'd never known contentment before you, Anastasia. You've given that to me."
"It's beautiful, Christian." We kiss then, a heated union that promises ecstasy but she pulls back, wiping her lip gloss off of my mouth. "We should get back up to our guests."
"Fuck our guests, I want you," I growl, pressing myself against her body to show her just how much I want her.
"Husband," she states, momentarily throwing me off so that she can move towards the door. "We have an entire lifetime to make love and we will start tonight."
"Damn right we'll start tonight." She laughs at me reaches for my hand.
"Come on, I want to show you off." I take her hand and pull her to me for another kiss.
"You get your way now, Mrs. Grey but tonight, I am going to take my sweet time making love to my beautiful wife who will be wearing nothing except those two bands around her finger. Are we clear? Wife." She smiles, her hands trailing down my shoulders and back on a contented sigh.
"Just rings, nothing else. I happily agree to that. Husband."
I Will Be Here-Steven Curtis Chapman
'The Hand Poem'-Author unknown. I altered this a bit but the skeleton belongs to someone else even if nobody knows who they are.