Bound for Nirvana: (The Bound Trilogy Book 3) (38 page)

When I offered him my condolences for the circumstances surrounding my father’s death, his response had astounded me beyond words. “I’d have thought dying was the least he could for you.”

I didn’t expect we’d ever have a regular familial relationship. Hugs and affection and bonding over lunch—well that ship had sailed long ago. But this was good. They were here at my wedding and that was more than I’d ever dreamed I’d see.

Turning, I walked back into the room and gazed at my reflection in the mirror, nerves now fluttering delicately in my belly. Ethan had stuck to his word, agreeing to an understated wedding, and he’d been thrilled when I suggested we ask his parents if we could do it at the house. As far as weddings go, this would probably be as low-key as it got, but as Ethan had rightly pointed out, it was about a marriage, not a wedding.

My dress was simple, but perfect—white with a triangular crocheted bodice featuring delicate, whispery spaghetti-straps which ran over my shoulders to cross over my bare back to my waist. The skirt flowed gracefully from a gathered waistline to just above my ankles with an unfinished hem. It floated around me like a daintily falling snowflake—effortless, yet intricately beautiful.

I wore my hair down, deep mahogany waves cascading over my shoulders, crowned with delicately spaced, small wildflowers, tiny leaves and berries twisted into a woodland halo. My feet were bare other than the subtle splash of pink polish on my toes, and my bouquet was a handful of whimsical wildflowers bound simply by a strand of ribbon.

There was gentle tap at the door. “May I come in?” Veronica poked her head around the door, her face lighting up with warm affection when she saw me.

I nodded and she came to stand by my side, gazing at my reflection through the mirror. “You look so beautiful, Angel. Your mom would be so proud.”

I smiled at the thought of her. “I wish she was here.”

“She is.” Veronica squeezed my arm. “She’s always with you.”

The notion filled me with a rush of pleasure and for a second I thought I caught the scent of her, just a fleeting waft of honeysuckle and jasmine.

“The minister is here. It’s time.” Her words caused the nerves to flutter inside my belly. I nodded and she turned for the door.

“Veronica?” I asked suddenly, pausing until she turned to face me. “Do I look like a bride?”

“You look like an angel.” She stepped toward me, her expression one of deep veneration as she reached out to touch my hair. “All that’s missing is a pair of wings.”

“Oh, Ethan is my wings.” I smiled. “It’s being with him that completes me.”

“That’s a beautiful thing to say. Thank you.” She turned for the door again but then seemed to hesitate. “Angel? Your brothers are here.” She paused again as I responded with a smile. “Only, I wondered if you’d thought about someone giving you away.”

My smile faded slightly as I shook my head, dismissing the idea without a second thought. It just didn’t feel right—too soon.

Veronica smiled reassuringly. “I’ll see you there, then.”

The moment she was gone an idea suddenly occurred to me. A glance out of the window saw the group disappearing at the end of the garden, and I rushed to find my cell, typing out the message as swiftly as possible:

Hey! Any chance of a favor?

The reply came back immediately:

Sure, kiddo—name it.

Will you come get me?

Moments later there was a knock at the door. “Hey, what’s up?” Jackson’s smile faltered slightly as he entered the room and took in the sight of me, his Adam’s apple shifting suddenly over a hard swallow as he tried to contain his obvious emotion. “Jesus, Angel, you look… well put it this way—when the boss sees you, he really is going to think he’s died and gone to Heaven.”

“Thanks, Jackson.” Unsure as to why, but I felt suddenly shy as I averted my eyes, suddenly conscious of my flushed cheeks. “Is he okay?” I asked of Ethan.

Angling his head to one side, he made a face. “He’s chomping at the bit. Anybody would think you two shared the same heart valves or something. He only functions at half capacity when you’re not around.”

“Same,” I laughed.

“Was there something you wanted me to get for you?”

“No, just you. I mean… well, yes. There was something I was hoping you might do for me.” The flush in my cheeks deepened as he nodded, waiting patiently for instructions. “Not as ‘The Man,’ Jackson. As my friend.”

His crinkly eyes narrowed with concern. “What is it, kiddo?”

“Will you give me away, Jackson?” Blurting the words quickly, I watched as his eyes now widened in surprise. “I’d love it if you would, if you’re comfortable with it. It’s just that… well I feel like you’re the nearest thing—”

“I’d be honored, Angel.” He beamed a smile. “If you’re absolutely sure. I don’t know whether you know, but everyone’s here.”

I nodded, knowing he was referring to the twins. “I’m certain. You’re the only one I want to ask.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” He held out his arm for me to take and guided me proudly out of the room toward the sweeping staircase.

The house was quiet as we moved through it to the garden, the lush grass soft beneath my feet as I padded across the lawn, arm in arm with Jackson. As we moved through the gate in the wall, the ball of nerves and excitement curled up tighter inside my belly. I would soon be Mrs. Wilde.

We followed the path into woods, the fragrance and sight of fresh greenery and wildflowers a stark contrast to the earthy smell of a dark autumn night on the first time I’d been here. A strip of red carpeting had been laid on the ground to cover the dense vegetation of the forest floor, and I felt like I was entering some sort of whimsical fairy tale in search of my prince.

Jackson squeezed my hand on his arm and looked down at me. He looked fresh in his casual jeans and pale blue shirt, so un-Jackson-like, but somehow it made him more real.

“Thanks, Jackson. I don’t just mean for agreeing to give me away, or for saving my life—” He laughed and shook his head like it was nothing, the way he always did when I thanked him for that day. “I mean for making me feel like I deserve you.”

“You do deserve me, kiddo. You deserve the best. And I don’t know whether I’ve mentioned it, but I happen to be the very best.”

“Yes, you’ve mentioned it,” I teased.

“And anyway, it’s me who wants to thank you.” He bowed his head slightly. “I don’t think you realize quite how much you guys mean to me. How much
this
means to me.”

“Oh, I think I do.” Squeezing him back, I stretched up to kiss him on the cheek.

“Right, come on.” He quickened his steps. “Because if I don’t give you away to him soon, all that mushy stuff there will count for nada, because
The Man
won’t be
The Man
anymore.”

Up ahead the sun shone brightly on the clearing and the sight of familiar faces came into view. They stood en masse in a semicircle, each face wearing their own unique expressions. Jia with one perfectly manicured eyebrow hitched in approval, her lips mouthing:
Work it, bitch.
Abby’s effusive sentiment spilling freely in her white-toothed grin and clasped, excited hands. Damon’s cheeky, lopsided smile spoke a silent “
Well if he doesn’t, I sure as hell will.”
as he stood in an easy pose with hands in pockets. The twins stood side by side, their smiles cautious but genuine, their eyes expressing words they’d never utter. Richard stood with his arm around his wife, offering a wink and a warm welcoming nod of assurance while Veronica, as graceful as ever, blinked away her welling emotion as pure and gentle as that of a mother.

As I approached, the sound of John Legend’s soulful voice began to sing
“All of Me,”
the lyrics so meaningful and appropriate causing a lump to form in my throat. It was Ethan’s choice.

The semicircle divided into two, allowing me to walk through the middle of them. And that’s when I saw him.

Ethan stood on the banking leading to the jetty, his weight on one leg, hands clasped in front of him. The sight of him made me halt in my tracks. The way he stood, his fresh, casual look of white jeans and pale blue shirt hanging sultrily from his long, lean sculpted frame. The perfect angles of his face took my breath away as his sumptuous lips curled into a shy smile, and when my brown eyes collided with his oceans of blue, my insides began to melt.

The look which passed between us was of infinite love, and for a moment nobody else existed. Just the two of us locked in our own safe, private bubble of love, our eyes conveying feelings and emotions and a knowledge that our connection was one so intimate and strong that nothing would ever penetrate it.

I felt my body begin to tremble as Jackson urged me to move forward, and Ethan’s smile deepened as he glanced at him briefly before offering me a single, approving nod. It was silent affirmation that he supported my choice.

As we reached him, a man stepped into view, taking his place behind Ethan at the start of the jetty—the minister. Jackson released me, squeezing my hand, before nodding to Ethan and muttering, “She’s all yours, boss.”

Ethan reached out, his hands closing over mine as he claimed me and brought me to his side. As the minister began and the group gathered around us, we lost ourselves in each other’s gaze, in a world which encompassed just the two of us.

Suddenly, I was brought back to the here and now as Ethan cleared his throat and began to speak, his words clear and unwavering. “I spent twenty-four years searching for a part of me I didn’t even know was missing, not realizing I’d only been living half a life. Then I was granted the most precious gift in the world when I found you. My Angel. You stole my breath away the moment I saw you, hypnotizing me so completely, it was as if the world had frozen still and you were all I could see. I watched as you twisted your hair around your finger, trying to hide your shyness behind your hands. Little did I know, they were the telltale signs that you’d already stolen my heart long, long ago. Suddenly, the world seemed different, more colorful and vivid, more inspiring—a much brighter place. You’re everything to me, Angel. The holder of my heart, the air that I breathe, the reason I wake up every day. You’re my strength and my weakness, my past, my future—my everything. I promise that I will walk with you on all of life’s journeys, I will hold your hand, and you will never, ever be alone. I am yours completely, Angel—always. My sole purpose here on Earth is to love you and cherish you and keep you from harm, and I promise to do that every minute of every day of my life. I give you all of me.”

A solitary tear spilled onto my cheek as I swallowed past the lump in my throat. Ethan reached out, gently brushing it away with the pad of his thumb, the simple gesture a solid seal of his words. Praying that I could hold my emotions together long enough for my words to make it past my lips, I began to speak.

“Ethan, when you found me, I was barely breathing. I was living, but I wasn’t alive. My heart was merely a ticking clock, beating to pass the time of day away. Now it beats for a reason. You breathed life into me, gave me a reason to be, to laugh, to live, to love. You own me, mind, body, heart, and soul. You’re my teacher of life and healer of my soul. You’re my salvation, and you’re my wings. I can finally breathe freely, and I can finally sleep peacefully—and it’s all because of you. I’ve loved you and you alone for all of my life. And I swear with all of my heart and every cell of my being that I will love you for eternity and beyond, because no time will ever be enough. I give you all of me. ”

The tears of joy and love trickled down my face, and as the minister spoke his words and we whispered the words, “I do,” I felt completely whole for the first time in my life.

The minister pronounced us husband and wife and the cheers went up, everyone hugging and congratulating us. We celebrated with a champagne picnic on the lawn, and at the end of a perfect day we slipped away, taking the boat out into the middle of the lake and losing ourselves to each other once again.

Our journey had been tumultuous. A wild, blustery storm that had threatened our lives and threatened our love. But we’d come through it stronger than ever, we’d battled our demons and won. Ethan was my Wilde salvation. I was once a broken Angel bound for Hell. But Heaven had sent me a savior and finally I was free. We were bound forever—hearts, bodies, minds, and souls.

Dragging my gaze away from the starlit night, I tilted my chin to find Ethan looking back at me, his eyes a deep and limitless sea of love and endless desire. “What?” I asked quietly into the night.

“I just can’t believe you’re mine, Mrs. Wilde. All mine, every inch of you.”

“Ditto, Mr. Wilde.” I leaned in close, brushing his lips with a kiss, my tongue lapping gently against his. “I love you, E.”

“And I love you, my beautiful, perfect Angel.”

“Perfect?” I giggled dubiously, watching as he nodded, his eyes narrowing as if daring me to challenge him. Instead I shifted, moving to straddle him, my hair cascading down over my bare breasts as I leaned in to tease him with a gentle kiss. “Yes, you’re right. I am perfect—whole, complete, and perfect. And it’s all because of you.”

The End

Thank you for reading

Dear reader,

Little did I know when I sat down at my laptop and tapped in the words
Bound for Hell, Chapter 1
that two years later I would be writing
The End
at the bottom of
Bound for Nirvana
. That’s because I had no idea if the story in my head would emerge as words on paper that people would actually want to read. That they have and actually enjoyed it is an achievement beyond any I’ve ever dreamed. I’ve learned that there is nothing more satisfying than hearing from readers and discovering how they responded to the story and my characters - those who loved it, those who just want to pass on a simple comment and even those who didn’t like it. So please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or visit me on the web at
www.kendraleighauthor.com
because I would love to hear from you.