I fought a smile as the poor man stumbled through the ceremony. The entire time, Ryan barely allowed an inch to separate us. I could feel all the eyes on us, but my gaze stayed glued to Ryan. My tears kept falling, but I didn’t even care. Happy tears were the best kind of tears.

Ryan didn’t seem to think so, though, because his jaw grew tenser and tenser with each drop that spilled over my lashes.

My voice shook as I spoke my vows, and he began to tremble. I clutched at his hands, letting him know everything he’d ever wished for was coming true. This was our day. Even though we’d belonged to each other from the moment we met as children, now we were legally and spiritually bound together.

His vows came out choked, his eyes begging me for something I didn’t understand, but I gave him a smile, letting him know, whatever it was, I’d give him. Rings were produced and blessed, and we said our “I do’s” as we slid them onto each other’s fingers. I didn’t know where they had come from and mine was a little too big, but I was just glad to have the small band.

When his ring covered up my name on his finger, I shook my head and pulled it off again, placing it instead on the opposite hand. “I’d rather see this tattoo than you wear a ring. It makes you mine more than a little circle of gold.”

He didn’t complain, but he lifted my left hand to his lips and kissed the ring he’d placed there, waiting for the priest to pronounce us husband and wife.

The moment the words left the man’s mouth, Ryan grasped my hips. It was second nature for me to wrap my legs around his waist. I combed my fingers through the hair at the back of his neck, and I angled my head, ready for our first kiss as a married couple.

His lips barely grazed mine, but that gentle contact took my breath away. It was over far too soon, but the banked hunger I saw in his gaze told me he was barely holding on. I grinned, knowing that as soon as we were alone, he was going to lose control again. I loved sweet and tender Ryan, but when he was out of control, it drove me wild.

“We don’t have to wait around for cake,” I murmured, tracing my thumb over his bottom lip. “I heard Anya telling Mom earlier that one of the jets was ready and waiting for us. I don’t know where we’re going, but all I really need is a bed and lots of privacy.”

“I never canceled the villa in Fiji that I reserved for our honeymoon,” he said gruffly. “I’d had it reserved for the past year and couldn’t bring myself to cancel the reservation.”

“Nice,” I purred, nuzzling my lips against his neck. “Grab the bags, and let’s go.”