Who cared if they had the right flowers or the correct church, or the right meal? To her, it didn’t matter at all. So long as he loved her and she him, nothing else mattered.
“I’ll never forget this day for as long as I live, Alesha. I want you to know that.” He licked his lips. “Where I came from, what I’ve been through—I thought I wa
s lost. I hated the world and myself. You showed me what real love is.”
She grabbed his arms, turning him around and pressing him against the cool tiles. He let out a growl. She chuckled. “See, it’s so cold.”
“I’m trying to share my heart with you and you’re not listening.”
Alesha ran her hands down his muscled chest. “I am listening to you.”
“These words, they don’t come naturally to me.”
“I know.” She pressed a kiss to his lips. “You don’t have to say them.”
“I know, but I want to. I know life with me, it’s hard. You deserve more.” There were weeks where he’d disappear for days at a time. She’d lie in their bed, waiting to hear from him. Xavier had told her many times that it didn’t matter how far away he went, there was always someone watching her. She was taken care of.
For her, that didn’t bother her.
What she cared about was knowing he was safe. And he was never gone for long.
“I can’t promise you life is going to be easy with me. I imagine there are going to be times that you hate me. I’ll hate myself even more.” He ran his thumb across her lips. “You are my world. My love. My everything. I was only half a man when I met you. You complete me.”
It sounded like he’d practiced this.
“Are these … are these your vows?”
“Yes,” he said. “I wanted to say them to you earlier, but they didn’t seem to fit the mood.”
She took his hand in hers and kissed his wrist. “There’s nothing else you need to say. For richer or poorer, I love you. I’ll stay by your side. I will be your loyal servant for the rest of our lives.” She took his hand and placed it against her stomach.
He looked at his hand and then at her.
“Are you trying to tell me something right now?” he asked.
“I’m pregnant, Xavier. We’re going to have a baby.”
“Oh fuck, we’re going to be parents?”
“Yes.”
She laughed as he lifted her up. His lips on hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck, knowing that no matter what life threw at them, so long as they had each other, they were going to be okay.
“Fuck, do you need to lie down? Do I need to call the doctor?”
“No, Xavier, you just need to be the man I love.”
The End