Breathing Without You (The Courtlynd #2)

Epilogue

CREEDENCE

ONE MONTH LATER

I stand there at the entrance of the dock, with the waterfall behind me. Carsten’s Uncle Kane, who happens to be our officiant to my right and my best friends Carsten, Axton and Chase to my left.

While we watch Winter, Chastity, and Saylor walk down the aisle that we made, our guests line up across from us. We wanted to keep this place a secret but when we decided we wanted to get married we couldn’t think of a better place to have it than here. On top of that it made me feel like my brother is here with us since this was our place to hang out. It made it more special for the both of us.

The music changes and the song “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri starts playing and I close my eyes, taking a deep breath for what’s to come. I know when I open them, I’m probably going to cry and I have no shame in crying because of the beautiful woman that I will get to call my wife here shortly. Everyone stands and I close my eyes again, partly from nerves, wanting to be surprised and trying to calm myself down as tears already start to fall down my cheeks, who knew I’d be this emotional on my wedding day.

I take another deep breath in as I feel a hand on my shoulder.

“Holy shit,” Carsten whispers behind me, he’s the one putting his hand on my shoulder. “She looks fucking gorgeous man open your eyes, brother.”

I open my eyes as Emerald walks towards me and the breath is literally taken from my lungs. She takes my breath away in her beautiful white halter top dress, the whole upper part of her dress that covers her breasts and stomach are all laced flowers that almost looks see through, but it’s the tan fabric underneath giving it the illusion of nothing being underneath. It’s tight all the way down to her hips before the lace fabric starts flowing out into a long train, covered in lace flowers that match the rest of the dress. She looks absolutely gorgeous. Her green and black hair is braided off to the side with loose strands curled around her face. I look at her smiling as the tears fall down her cheeks, she takes her hand away from her bouquet to wipe them before placing her hand back on it and letting out a small giggle that I feel like only I could hear. I smile with her as she gets closer to me, and the tears just keep coming down both of our faces. I feel like a pussy until I look over and see all three of my best friends crying as well as the three girls. At least I’m not the only one, but even if I was, I wouldn’t give a fuck, how I could I not cry while looking at someone as gorgeous as Emerald, she looks absolutely breathtaking in that dress, and I want to remember this moment forever. I stand there completely lost in my thoughts not listening to anything Kane is saying as I stare at Emerald’s beautiful face, as she listens to Kane talk to us and to our guests. I can’t focus, how can I focus when I can’t wait to permanently make this woman mine.

After asking for the rings, he looks at me, hands me Emerald’s wedding band, that’s white gold and filled with black diamonds to match the black diamonds around the emerald heart on her engagement ring.

I take her left hand in mine and look over to Kane finally paying attention.

“Repeat after me.”

“Emerald, I choose you. To be no other than yourself. Loving what I know of you and trusting who you will become. I will respect and honor you, always and in all ways. I will take you to be my wife. To have and to hold, in tears and in laughter, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward, in this lifetime and every lifetime after that.”

I repeat everything he says fighting back tears as Emerald’s hand shakes in mine.

“Emerald, I want you to repeat after me.” He looks to her as she grabs my left hand holding the ring at the tip of my finger.

“Creedence, I choose you. To be no other than yourself. Loving what I know of you and trusting who you will become. I will respect and honor you always and in all ways. I will take you to be my husband. To have and to hold, in tears and in laughter, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward, in this lifetime and every lifetime after that.” Repeating the words through sobs. She still looks so beautiful.

“Do you Creedence take Emerald to be your wife, from this day forward always and forever?” He looks between the both of us, smiling.

“I do.” I smile, sliding her ring onto her finger.

“Do you, Emerald, take Creedence to be your husband from this day forward, always and forever?” he asks Emerald, smiling while looking at her and then back to me.

“I do,” she says, smiling while sliding my wedding band onto my finger.

“I love you forever, Creedence,” she whispers to me as she stares into my eyes.

“I love you, Sugar forever and always, gorgeous,” I whisper winking back at her.

Kane continues talking as we stare into each other's eyes, smiling. I can't wait to kiss her and fully make her mine.

“Did you guys hear me?” He laughs, we’re both in our own world, just lost in each other. We both look over in confusion.

“Umm, no sorry,” Emerald laughs.

“No, sorry I was lost in my thoughts of Emerald.” I laugh looking over at Kane.

“I said you are now Husband and Wife.” Then he looks over at me and smiles.

“You may now kiss your bride.” I wrap my arms around her waist as she wraps hers around my neck and I slowly lean down pressing my lips against hers, as she opens her mouth a little, her tongue dancing with mine, as I kiss her deeply, passionately. Knowing she’ll be mine forever makes me the happiest man I’ve ever been, and the happiest man I’ll ever be. Today, tomorrow and forever, in this lifetime, the next lifetime and in every lifetime after that. She’ll always be mine.