Sinners at the Altar (Page 145)

Everything around him faded into the background as she took a step closer and then another. With each step, his heart swelled larger and larger until he feared he’d suffocate. He’d never seen anything so beautiful in his life. Her long black hair had been artfully arranged around a small sparkling tiara. Curled tendrils framed her face. Her beautiful, smiling face. Oh, Aggie. His Aggie.

There was so much love in her expression that he felt it tugging at his chest until he couldn’t resist its pull and his feet started carrying him toward her. There were a few delighted chuckles from the spectators, so somewhere in his addled thoughts he knew he was doing something out of place, but it felt right to meet her in the middle. It felt right to touch her cheek when she was standing before him. Felt right to get lost in her brilliant blue eyes. Felt right to finally suck a decent breath into his lungs before leaning toward her and kissing her soft lips.

“Tripod,” he heard Eric call from the front of the church. “You’re doing it wrong.”

Maybe. But it felt right. She felt right. From the moment he’d seen her dancing at Paradise Found in Vegas, the woman had felt right—as if she’d been designed exclusively for him. And he knew he’d never feel right again if he ever lost her.

Their lips lingered, parting slowly as he drew away and opened his eyes. She smiled and touched his cheek.

“Did you lose yourself there for a moment?” she asked.

“Found myself,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.

She tilted her head slightly, her smile brightening. “Do you want to marry me now?”

He nodded eagerly, his cheeks aching from the smile that couldn’t possibly reflect the immense joy trying to burst from him. He took her hand and placed it in the crook of his elbow as they walked the rest of the aisle together. He was glad she was paying attention to where they were going, because he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

She halted unexpectedly and tugged at his elbow to get him to stand beside her.

Someone cleared his throat loudly, and Jace dragged his gaze from Aggie’s face to the priest who was staring at him with one eyebrow raised. Jace licked his lips and tried to swallow, but his mouth had suddenly gone dry.

“She looks beautiful, doesn’t she?” the priest asked.

“Yes,” Jace said, unable to stop himself from stealing another glance at her. Wow. Even the gaudy gold-foiled plastic heart dangling from her necklace looked perfect. He knew it was the only token she had of her father’s and was glad she’d thought to wear it today no matter how much it contrasted with the rich fabric of her white gown.

“Do you think you can keep your wits about you long enough to marry her?”

“God, I hope so,” he said, still staring at his bride.

Aggie released a soft laugh, and a blush tinged her cheeks pink as she stared down at the bouquet of black roses she held at waist level.

Jace no longer felt nervous. Or self-conscious. He felt proud. Confident. As if he could tackle even the most daunting task—including speaking about mushy feelings in front of his peers—as long as Aggie was beside him.

“Take each other’s hands and turn to face one another,” the priest instructed.

Aggie handed off her bouquet to Rebekah, who arranged the long train of Aggie’s gown for her, and then she offered her hands to Jace. He took them in his, noting that they were trembling slightly. He lifted her hands to his lips and kissed her knuckles reverently before dropping his head forward to press the backs of her hands to his forehead. He loved this woman—worshipped her—and he really didn’t care who knew. In fact, he wanted them all to witness his devotion and recognize it for what it was.

The priest cleared his throat again and Jace reluctantly straightened. The tears swimming in Aggie’s eyes as she offered him a tremulous smile squeezed at parts of his soul he’d thought he’d surrendered to pain long ago.

“You’ve made me whole again,” he said.

A single tear coursed down her cheek. She bit her lip, her thumbs stroking his fingers, sending sparks of pleasure and awareness between them. Incapable of maintaining any distance between them with her looking so shaken and vulnerable, Jace released his loose hold on her hands and pulled her into his arms. Much better, he thought as she melted against him. His fingers found a crisscrossing ribbon down the length of her back. It reminded him of the lacings of one of her corsets, only more delicate. Later he was definitely going to have to take a moment to admire her wedding gown before he stripped it off her.

“You’re not good at taking orders, are you, Mr. Seymour?” the priest said.

Jace wasn’t the least bit sorry for not following protocol, so he didn’t bother to apologize.

“You have no idea how right you are,” Starr Lancaster said from the end of Aggie’s line of bridesmaids.

“One of his best qualities,” Aggie murmured and dropped a kiss on the sensitive pulse point in his throat.

He reluctantly loosened his hold so he could stare into his bride’s eyes and prevent himself from getting overly aroused in front of God and everyone.

“Can I proceed with the ceremony, or shall I wait until you’ve fondled her a little more?”

He’s just jealous, Jace thought, grinning deviously at Aggie.

“You shouldn’t have given him options, Father,” Eric said. “Any man in his place would choose fondling without ceremony.”

“Eric!” Rebekah hissed a warning and glared at him over Aggie’s shoulder.

“Just stating a fact,” Eric said.