I laugh. "You're serious? We're going to get married tonight?"
"Unless you don't want to?" He arches his eyebrows, but there's a vulnerability in his expression.
It hits me that Riggs is nervous, which I find pretty cute. It's not a look I ever see on him. I slide my hands on his cheeks, repeating, "Stop asking me."
He closes the distance between us and palms my cheek. He softly states, "Don't wear a lot of makeup. I prefer you like this."
My butterflies go crazy. I nod. "Okay. If that's what you want, that's what you shall get."
He leads me into our suite and says, "I'll get ready in the other bathroom."
I open the closet. My heart races faster. A sleeveless, mermaid-style wedding gown with spaghetti straps, lace overlay, and a court train hangs in front of me. It's the most beautiful dress I've ever seen. It's backless and dips right before my ass with an elegant string to secure it.
A pair of silver-heeled sandals lie on the bed. Inside a glass box is a fresh, white lei, complete with a clip for my hair.
I shower, then dry my hair, leaving it in beach waves. Then I secure the lei on the side of my head. I apply a tad of eyeliner, mascara, and pale-pink lip gloss.
Riggs steps into the suite. He's wearing white linen pants and a matching button-down shirt with rolled cuffs. His ink peeks out on his lower arms and chest. He freezes, dragging his eyes over me in approval, and my butterflies go crazy again.
He steps forward and spins me slowly. "You're gorgeous, pet."
I glance back at him. "You're super handsome, Mr. Soon-to-be-Husband," I declare, but my voice shakes slightly. I add, "Can you tie my dress?"
"Of course," he replies, then laces the back. He steps in front of me, assesses me again, then states, "But there's something you're missing."
"What?" I fret.
He slides his hand over my gold collar and releases it. Then he pulls a platinum choker out of his pocket. It matches my ring perfectly. Diamonds the same size are laced all around the metal, and tiny rings are set around it, along with a few bigger ones. It's a work of art, and there's an engraving on it. It reads:Forever owned. Love, Riggs.
"It's beautiful," I gush.
He secures it around my neck. I go to the mirror and touch it, tracing the edges of the diamonds, then the rings, wondering what goes through Riggs's mind when he selects my collars. Does he think about what he's going to restrain me to?
I touch the bigger ring on the back, stating, "This is stunning."
He steps behind me. His lips hit my ear, and he claims, "My soon-to-be wife is stunning." He pecks me on the cheek, then picks up my hand and kisses the back of it.
He says nothing else and guides me out of the room and onto the deserted beach, except for one person.
A female officiant wears a purple flowing dress and a matching lei in her hair. She chirps, "Welcome. My name is Makayla."
"This is Blakely, and I'm Riggs," he states.
The sun begins to set. It's a clear night with no clouds anywhere.
Makayla goes through the process during the short ceremony. She recites the normal vows, which we're to each repeat after her, but at the end of his vows, Riggs adds, "I vow to prove you wrong and work on my faults."
It brings tears to my eyes.
Makayla turns to me and repeats the normal vows, and I take my turn saying them. At the end, I add, "I vow to always accept all of you, your faults and all."
A look I've never seen on Riggs's face forms. It's a mix between happiness and darkness, and I guess it's fitting since it represents all that's really him.
Makayla pulls us out of our trance, announcing, "By the power vested in me by the state of Hawaii, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride."
Riggs steps forward and holds my face in his hands for a moment, staring at me until I'm almost shaking with anticipation. Then he kisses me. It's raw, consuming, and everything I've ever wanted from him.
And I wonder if this is real or if I'm dreaming. I never thought I would see Riggs so happy or that I'd be able to say that he's truly mine, not just at this moment but forever.