Iris had proven to be somewhat of a gem of a mother-in-law and had made Micah and I swear to get married as soon as the sedatives had worn off some time after I had started haemorrhaging and the doctors had anxiously realised that the 'twins' were in fact Fallopian pregnancies and had raptured, consequentially I lost my Fallopian tubes and was told that the chances of me ever having children again were extremely slim. I was hurt but shocked speechless when Iris had made Micah and I vow to get married as soon as possible.
After that, she had waited until I was strong enough to leave hospital before she had told me that it was an old family tradition for the bride and groom not to communicate or see one another for a month before the wedding. She had also pointed out that she wanted us to get married in a blue-tin roofed, grey tiled, ebony paned manor that she had sat literally three feet from the edge of a cliff and surrounded by a stunning expanse of silky smooth, lush green grass. The only real problems were electricity and water and she had managed to invest in solar power and water was in abundance thanks to the rain so she wanted us to be wed there. I was overwhelmed but smiled away my fears and was hoping that Raven could act like some sort of a messenger binding me to Micah because I craved him like a druggie would crave a special drug but Raven decided he wanted to stick with his father and so I was forced to hold my breath and push down the fiery sexual tension that was almost daily threatening to burn me from the inside out; at least I had a reasonable excuse and explanation for why my pants may end up burning white hot as I walked down the aisle.
I glanced over at Iris; she lay sprawled and swathed in a cotton-like expanse of baby blue duvets and bed sheets, her raven black hair a messy ink splatter. She snored adorably; a small, barely audible 'fisss' sound whenever she breathed out and I was surprised that she was managing to sleep on the eve of the wedding because she had been so worked up earlier on. She had almost hyperventilated earlier on when I had screamed like a banshee upon waking up and seeing a big black scorpion the size of two of my hands by the bed and my screams had made everyone-including Micah-come flying into the room. She had made me flung the smothering blanket that reeked of lavenders over my head as Micah marched over to it and literally turned it into a flattened, ugly pancake with a heavy slipper before sweeping it away and using a shower head to send it down the drain.
I shakily took my phone out, heart in my mouth and eyes frantically darting to Iris and back out of fear that she would somehow wake up and catch me skyping Micah. I told myself that it was reasonable and I would go crazy otherwise because I had not seen him in what felt like a hundred years and my head was still ugly and shorn; there was only so much I could do with the eccentrically patterned bandanas that I wrapped around my head during the day and maybe my near baldness would turn Micah away. My mouth was thumping against the roof of my mouth when I dialled his number and felt my soul explode.
He answered almost immediately and momentarily, I heard crackles and rustles before the screen flickered and Micah appeared.
My heart slipped a beat and a crazy smile shot onto my face.
He was as beautiful as always; if not even more beautiful than he ought to be, his hair was a gorgeous silky mullet with a slight fringe and he was wearing a black turtleneck and looking slightly, adorably sleepy. Raven was asleep; his head on Micah's chest with a grey and blue patchwork quilt wrapped around him like a cocoon and my heart blew up with passion.
"Hi!" I croaked.
Micah scowled at the screen. "I can't see you...."
"Yeah, well I can see you and that's enough."
He rolled his eyes and snorted, "don't blame me if your phone explodes and the sound wakes mum up ok? Where is she anyway?"
I glanced at the sweetly dozing Iris, "in LaLa Land with the fairies."
Micah nodded knowingly. "Thought so..."
"Why would my phone explode?" I raised an eyebrow.
He sighed. "Why do you think?"
"Because you're hot enough for anyone to drool..."
He grimaced.
"It's true."
"What about you?" He scoffed.
"I'm bald." I offered.
He rolled his eyes.
"Honestly..." I reached out and rubbed a hand over my sharp, bristly, barely there, dark fuzz. "I'm an ugly, bald mess..."
"You mean the hottest bald mess ever right?" He smirked cheekily.
I chuckled despite how I felt.
"Dr Carter said your hair would get back...it's only slow because of all the treatment and because your body is trying to heal. When it has healed you'll have your hair back again...as of now I hear you're the most gorgeous woman alive or something?"
My face flushed.
"Fitting isn't it? I mean...some blind person named me sexiest man alive and some incredible person voted you sexiest woman..." He paused and bit his lip. "Though I'm angry...only I'M allowed to say that..."
"Micah?"
He nodded and shifted slightly.
"You are taking care if yourself?"
"Between squashing scorpions yes."
"I'm being serious."
"Well I am too. Do you know I carried a poor little goat up the side of a cliff today, Raven named him Itchy and he kind of refused to leave us alone and I literally ran for it because I was scared his owner would come and I would lose everything when I flung myself at him and tore him apart."
I rolled my eyes, "you do know you need to work on anger management?"
He nodded slowly, "and you need to work on staying calm."
"Fuck you."
He smirked mischievously, "go on then."
I blushed and curled up my toes.
"You should sleep. It's a big day tomorrow..."
"So it's ok that I'm bald?"
He rolled his eyes, "can I show you something?"
"Ok.." I frowned confusedly.
He lifted a gorgeous, tattoo covered hand and I made out my name tattooed across four of the fingers of his right hand. He then held up his other hand and smiled as he showed me his half of our special tattoo.
I smiled sheepishly.
"Good night Mrs Wolverton." He winked.
I giggled like a crazily in love school girl.
He sang for me; his voice beautiful enough to make my hair stand on end and heart shatter and burn, melting me from the inside out.
"I love you.." I finally managed through the passion-infused tears that were obscuring my view.
"I love you more." He murmured.
I shuddered.
He hung up and I dropped my phone on my throbbing heart with a thump before smiling as I took in the sweet caramel colour of the wooden boards of the ceiling.
XXXXXX
Alice shook her head as she quickly looked me up and down.
I opened my mouth to speak, grabbing hold of the fluffy pink towel wrapped around me hard enough to make my fingers hurt.
She smiled. "You have just been waxed, washed, primped and cleaned within each and every inch of your body..."
I whimpered as I remembered the pain and shuddered.
She chuckled. "You should be proud of what you have ok?"
I shrugged my shoulders and looked down at my pedicured feet with pearls for nails.
"I would be if I were you."
Her daughter; Zoe squeaked from somewhere outside and we heard the sounds of clip-clopping heels before there was a knock on the white wood bathroom door and Iris slipped in. She smiled when she saw me and I was shocked into speechlessness when I noticed how beautiful she looked; both her and Alice were wearing purple dresses, hers was slightly darker than Iris's and unlike Iris's hers was a bit more figure hugging and a bit less revealing; covering most of her alabaster white and smooth skin, billowing out and patterned by intricate, beaded patterns over her arms before ending in silver sequinned cuffs at her wrists. Her legs looked neck-high and bone white, the heels she wore were flawless purple, sequin covered velvet and she was smiling like an Angel.
Alice smiled at me as she bent to rummage through the small, white rose shaped, net and silk bag in which she kept all of her makeup and I was amazed to see how smooth and white marble like her back was; her knobbly spine was only barely visible and dusted by golden freckles that looked more like a starry tattoo that covered most of her spine. Her dress ended in a frilly skirt that ended just below her knees and showed off her perfect legs that were also neck-white and ending in perfect, dainty feet and a pair of silver and purple wedges. She had her hair swept off her neck in a collection of intricate tattoos and the small black tattoo on the back of her neck was visible. She was wearing small, white gold studs and an elaborate, white gold necklace that dripped diamonds to her tiny waist.
Iris ran a hand over her own, white pearl necklace before she smiled at me and walked close enough for me to smell her mysterious scent. "Ready?"
I nodded dazedly as Alice marched over and gently pushed me down onto the edge of the bathtub before she attacked my face with a make up brush.
Iris watched over her before turning and grabbing something on a grey hanger covered in a maroon cloth and hanging it from a nail-like hook that jutted out of the high rafters above our heads.
Zoe whimpered.
Iris tutted and marched out.
Alice waited until she was gone before she stepped back and smiled at me.
I gritted my teeth in what I hoped was also a smile.
She winked at me. "My brother is one lucky person."
I blushed. "It's your doing."
She shook her head. "You haven't noticed how many men would willingly wriggle into your lace thongs..."
I blushed again.
"You must wear the lingerie I got under the gown ok? My brother deserves the best and he loves you in a way that I honestly find a bit scary so you know....do me a favour and please PLEASE don't hurt him....he's so delicate and fragile."
"Keep that up and I'll be a blubbery mess." I murmured.
She smiled. "Whatever though. You two deserve one another."
I felt warmth wash over me and smiled like I had just won the weight of the world in gold.
"Don't kill me but I was certain that he was some kind of bizarre he-she-it thing and would have believed that if he hadn't shown me you. The two of you are incredible and it's so cute how when the two of you are close by each other both of you seem to emit this kind of magnetic force field that makes you more in coordination and sometimes when he thinks you don't know, he stares at you and smiles like he can't quite believe it and when you aren't around it's always 'Anna this' and that and yeah...my brother is CRAZY about you..."
I smiled. "I wish I had been there earlier...you know...when-"
She nodded sadly. "But you fixed him. You brought him back from the verge of us losing him..."
I just shrugged.
"And he's an incredible father to Raven too."
"I think he's incredible at anything he does."
She nodded slowly before shooting me a sheepish look. "I take it he's incredible...down there and in bed too."
I pulled a face. "He's your brother."
"But it doesn't stop me from wishing he wasn't..."
"Ew."
She chuckled. "I'm just teasing...but seriously...?"
I cleared my throat, "why should I tell you?"
"Because a certain little birdie told me that he's real good."
"What birdie?"
"He makes you scream and we kind of end up hearing it...plus there's the whole headboard bashing against the wall sounds and your moans..." She smirked, "don't worry though. I'm the only person who hears the two of you and that's because everyone else is almost always too busy."
"You need a life." I offered teasingly.
She nodded.
Iris swept in, making us both jump guiltily. "Get ready!" She called out with a smile.
I got up, almost fainted and sucked in a huge breath before turning to them. "I need some alone time to get into my undergarments..."
Alice nodded and her and Iris marched out.
I shakily reached for the black leather covered box, pulling it open and letting the lid fall to the tiled floor as I pulled out the white lacy thong with shockingly dainty blossoms and white roses knitted into it and pulled them on before tugging the garters up next with the lace-net stockings and then wriggling my way into the soft white, strapless bra before pulling on my corsage that was somewhat like a flower, pearl, diamond and crystal encrusted corset and marvelling at how perfectly it moulded over my body before I dared call out to let Alice and Iris in.
Alice wolf whistled. "Hey, hot Lil' mamma!"
I blushed madly. "Dress...." I choked.
Iris nodded and strode over to the nail/hook from which she tugged off the covered dress and carried it over.
My heart hurt when I saw how beautiful the dress was; my eyes filled with tears and I tried to speak but could not.
The bodice was white lace covered in dense embroidery that gave it a ruffled, almost feathery look. It was sleeveless and low cut and the skirt was a perfect umbrella shaped lace, embroidery and satin covered ocean of breathtaking elegance. A few silk roses in white were woven into the skirt that ended in a perfect train. I hardly noticed when Alice helped me out of the corsage and I somehow ended up in the dress that fit me like a silky second skin made in heaven and then the corsage. My shoes were another breathtaking masterpiece; incredibly high pencil heels that were made of the same delicate materials as my dress and made in a way that meant they would be hidden beneath the elaborate train and the wedding guests would be given the impression that I was floating down the aisle.
XXXXXX
"I think I'm going to be sick..." I managed as everyone took their places around me to lead me down the aisle.
"Don't worry," Harry slipped an arm through mine and it took me every ounce of self control I had to refrain from slumping against him.
I forced myself to take a deep breath as the music started up, I kept my head up but eyes down as I was led down the stairs. My legs were jelly as my eyes took in the sea of bright eyes and happy faces, the pastel coloured decorations, the rich red carpet that stopped at the end of the aisle. My heart skipped a beat when I saw Micah; he was wearing knee length black leather boots with tight black trousers, a black collared tail coat that accentuated his slender frame and slightly broad shoulders with a pink rose placed in his pocket. A top hat at a slant sat atop his head, shadowing only a very small part of his stunning face and his hands were mainly obscured by white suede, diamond studded gloves and he wore a Snow White, collared shirt under his tail coat. Everything about him was beautiful and delicate enough to hurt my heart and make me want to throw myself at him. The smile he gave me made my heart freeze and then explode.
I smiled back, feeling my face flush. I knew nothing but him, even the music was no more than a him though I knew it was his eerily beautiful voice singing I Choose You; a song that was for me alone. The blinding camera flashes made everything seem diamond studded and I could smell freesias, roses and lavenders as I gripped my huge bouquet harder and forced myself to keep walking. And then I was beside him and I was trembling as I struggled to fight off the urge to hurl myself forward in his arms and press my lips against his with enough urgency to combust.
XXXXX
I could not tear my gaze away from him, my lips tingling from the wild kiss we had shared and my heart screaming as he pressed me against him, hands gently placed in all the right places and head bowed as his intense gaze tattooed our love onto my soul. We were dancing, camera flashes threatening to blind us but all I knew was that Micah and I were FINALLY married! And the truth was enough to render my speechless. All I really wanted to do was take in his beauty, his delicacy and memorise the sweet features of the man who was mine for life.
He smirked sheepishly.
My face flushed and I forced myself to look away, down at my tiny feet on his big one.
"You look like the most beautiful person ever." He murmured softly enough to kill my heart as he gently spun me around, past a colourfully dressed, twirling couple.
I felt my sight blur.
He frowned. "Why are you crying?"
I shook my head slowly and moved forward to press my ear against his pounding heart, moulding us even closer together with my arms wrapped around his waist.
He slowed down a bit, arms tightening around my waist and making my bare feet slip closer to his legs, the hot material of his boots soothing my soles. "I think I could do this for life..."
I lifted my head to smile at him.
He smiled back at me and my heart sped up. "I'm serious...though I'm sure I could do anything as long as it meant that I got you...."
"You keep up with the sweet talk and I'll faint..." I muttered.
He smirked cheekily and gently tipped me slightly.
My lips parted, eyes burnt by his intense gaze as he bent and pressed his lips of silk and velvet against mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck and the cheers and applause around us made us both smile, our kiss fiery enough to make me want to lift myself off the ground and wrap around him like a snake.
He gently pulled away, straightening up and pulling me up with him as he nuzzled my ear, hot breath scalding me.
I giggled into his neck as I realised that my legs were wrapped around him.
"I love you Mrs Wolverton." He whispered gently enough to tickle and tantalise my heart strings.
"I love you more Mr Wolverton." I murmured in response. "I love you forever."
"Till death does us part and more..."
"Indeed."