Black Thorns: Chapter 44

Today’s the day I’ve been dreaming about for years.

The day I thought would never be a reality.

My wedding day to Sebastian.

I feel as if I’m walking on air, reaching and touching the stars. It’s like levitating out of my own body although my feet are on the ground and I’m heading toward the aisle.

This is the second time I’ve done this, but I don’t even remember the first. All the memories I have of that day are tears and blurry images of metaphorically burying myself.

That marriage was nothing.

This one is everything.

My fingers tighten around the roses I’m holding in my hand and I inhale their scent and let the whole setting sink in.

We decided to get married in the back garden of my old house. This is where we’ve been living for the past couple of months and will continue to. Just the two of us.

We’ll erase the bad memories that linger here and replace them with new, happy ones.

Sebastian and I will start a new page in both of our lives.

Only our closest family and friends are attending. And that means my father isn’t here.

We’re estranged now and if it weren’t for Mio, I’d never see him again. He’s still allied with Akira and that’s all that matters to him.

My ex-husband stayed Japan after we finalized the divorce and he gave me my freedom.

Ren went with him, or more accurately, Akira threatened him to either accompany him or he’ll lose his head at Father’s hands. On the other hand, my father, who now believes that Akira is plotting against him because of that ledger, wanted Ren with Akira to keep tabs on my ex-husband. So both of them are using the guard. I feel bad for him sometimes, but it’s not like he can’t take care of himself.

The only members present from my family are Mio and Kai. My father’s second-in-command insisted on being a part of my life, even if it’s from the shadows.

I’d rather have no relation whatsoever with my father and the Yakuza and their dirty business. But ever since that red night about twenty years ago, Kai has been different. Like a big brother of sorts. A fucked-up one at that, but it still counts.

The other attendees include Reina, Asher, Owen, Lucy, and Prescott, and when they smile as I walk down the aisle, I smile back.

We’ve all been getting together over the last couple of months, and it feels…normal. I have friends; I have a life here.

I’m not lonely and miserable.

I’m not sad.

If anything, it’s the absolute opposite.

I nod at Debra, Brian, and Nate, who are seated in the front row. The senator and his wife insisted on attending their only grandchild’s wedding even though Sebastian wasn’t really keen on inviting them. They’re not the best of friends with Nate and Sebastian, but I know they care about them in their own snobbish way. They’re also a bit scared of me after Kai’s threat so they don’t dare to voice their displeasure about me anymore.

Sebastian’s co-workers are also here—Aspen included. I still don’t like her, but it’s probably my irrational jealousy. Candice smiles at me and wipes a tear with her handkerchief.

I love that woman so much. She’s been a huge help with all the wedding preparations and ‘keeping her boss’s head in the game,’ as she called it.

All of these people are here to witness our wedding.

Mine and Sebastian’s.

I finally see him. He’s standing at the altar, wearing a dashing black tuxedo that makes him look like a model.

A strand escapes his styled hair and the small imperfection makes him even more perfect.

More…irresistible.

That man stole my heart when I was eighteen and has never given it back.

He confiscated my body when I was twenty-one and turned each of my fantasies into a reality.

And along the way, he also stole my soul.

He took my innocence and twisted it into something absolutely addictive and never gave it back to me.

My feet come to a halt in front of him and he takes my hands in his, pulling me toward him.

“You’re so fucking beautiful,” he whispers in my ear. “I want to claim you here and now, baby.”

“Stop it.” I laugh, biting my lower lip.

“I mean it. You’re killing me, Tsundere.”

“Be patient.”

“And what do I get in return?”

“Chasing me?” I whisper.

“In your wedding dress. In the forest.”

I nod eagerly.

Sebastian never stopped chasing me or pushing my buttons. He gives us both what we need and more.

The night I got him out of the cell once and for all, we moved into this house. Sebastian had absolutely no attachment to his apartment anyway.

And that same night, he chased me.

It was one of the best chases of my life and I came more times than I could count. Probably because I knew there was no longer anything standing between us.

That I was his as much as he was mine.

Or maybe it was because he kept calling me his fiancée as he fucked me hard and fast.

After we say ‘I do’ and we put on each other’s rings, Sebastian’s lips meet mine, and he kisses me with a hunger that matches my own. I hug his neck to return it, to sink deeper into him.

I’ve lost so much time already and there’s no way I’ll let that happen again. I’ll take advantage of every moment, every kiss, and every damn touch.

I squeal into Sebastian’s mouth when he picks me up in his arms and walks in the direction of the house.

The crowd breaks out in laughter, and some teasing remarks echo in the air, but neither of us could care less.

Once we’re inside, he kicks the door shut behind us and slams me against it. My legs wrap around his waist with my dress bunched over them. And then we make out as if we were still those hot-blooded college kids.

Maybe we are.

A part of us will always be trapped in that period of time when we became each other’s addictions.

When we became best friends.

When we fell so deeply in love and never managed to crawl out.

Sebastian’s mouth leaves mine with a groan. “I’m going to fuck you, Mrs. Weaver.”

I smile, my heart thundering. “I like that.”

“The fucking part or your new last name?”

“Both.” I palm his cheek, staring deeply into his tropical eyes that I’ve used as a source of light in my darkest moments. “I can’t believe we’re actually married, Sebastian.”

“I’ll spend the rest of our lives reminding you of it.”

“Promise?”

“I fucking promise.”

“I love you so much. I loved you seven years ago and I love you even more now.”

“I’ve been in love with the idea of you since we were fucking eighteen, Nao. Then three years later, I found the one woman who not only didn’t judge me, but also embraced my crazy. I never stopped loving you, baby, not even when a part of me hated you. Not even when you left. And for the rest of our lives, I’ll love you hard, love you fucking right.”

“Oh, Sebastian…”

“Say you’re mine, baby.”

“I’m yours. Always have been.”

“Even when you weren’t with me?”

“Especially then.”

His lips slam against mine and I close my eyes as laughter bubbles to the surface.

I’m happy.

I’m free.

I’m with the man I’ve always loved and forever will.