Fill Me (29 page)

Luke

It's a warm day in June. Of course, seasons are nearly meaningless in the great state of Hawaii. Every day is warm and humid with a pleasant breeze.

We're on the beach, a gorgeous beach with clean sand and clear blue ocean for miles. The sun is just about to set and it casts a soft glow over everything.

I bring my attention to Alyssa. She looks so pretty in a flowing silk dress. It's not a traditional wedding gown, but it suits her perfectly.

This whole thing is perfect.

She's beaming like the damn sun. I wasn't sure about her idea, about getting married in Hawaii so we could fix our past mistakes. But she was right.

It's just us and the officiant. But right now, the world is just us. The two of us against the world, forever and ever.

She bites her lip and whispers, "I love you."

I squeeze her hands and whisper it back.

I was sure I wouldn't be nervous, but there's a tightness in my chest. But when I look into her eyes, at the joy all over her face, all that tension melts away.

Alyssa is about to become my wife. This is the best day of my life.

The officiant clasps his hands together. "We're here today to celebrate the union of Alyssa Summers and Luke Lawrence. Today, you will promise your lives to each other." He looks at me. "I understand that you have written your own vows."

I start. "Alyssa, you're the stars in my sky. My life is cold and gray without you. But with you, it's warm and vibrant. It's perfect." I look into her eyes. Everything about this moment is perfect. "I don't know where life will lead us, but I promise to stay by your side on this journey. I promise to love you forever. I promise my life to you."

She smiles, a tear of joy rolling down her cheek. She shakes her head, wiping it away and mouthing a curse.

The officiant turns to her. She nods, taking a moment to catch her breath.

She looks me straight in the eyes. "This isn't a vow. It's a privilege. I have the privilege of spending my life with you, of growing old with you, of sharing every bit of joy with you. For that, I am the luckiest girl in the world. And I promise to share every day with you. I promise to love you until the end of time."

The officiant turns to me.

"Do you take Alyssa to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

I smile. "I do."

"And do you take Luke to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

Alyssa nods. "I do."

Everything around me is so vibrant. So perfect. Alyssa squeezes my hands, smiling like she's so happy she could die.

He opens the ring box and hands Alyssa's wedding band to me. "Please place this ring on her finger and repeat after me: I give you this ring as a daily reminder of our love."

I nod and slide the ring onto Alyssa's finger. "I give you this ring as a daily reminder of our love."

She's brimming with joy and everything is so colorful, so beautiful.

The officiant hands Alyssa my wedding band. "Please place this ring on his finger and repeat after me: I give you this ring as a daily reminder of our love."

She slides the ring onto my finger, her hand lingering on mine. "I give you this ring as a daily reminder of our love."

I hold her gaze for a moment. I can see everything inside her, and she can see everything inside me, and I'm sure we're going to be happy for the rest of our lives.

The officiant nods. "You have made your vows as promises to each other and sealed your promises by exchanging rings. So now, with the power vested in me by the great state of Hawaii, I pronounce you man and wife and invite you to kiss each other."

I lean into Alyssa, pulling her close. She smells so good, looks so good, feels so good. I press my lips into hers. I can feel every doubt inside her crumbling. She loves me, and I love her, and, as long as we're together, everything is going to be okay.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Thank you so much for reading Rouse Me. If you enjoyed the novel, please leave a review. Honest reviews help authors and readers alike.

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Rouse Me Series

Rouse Me
(Book 1)

Stir Me
(Book 2)

Fill Me
(Book 3)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

My dearest Kevin, you are definitely the honey in
my
tea. I am eternally grateful for your patience listening to all my crazy pitches, blurb revisions, and minor freak outs. I know we are going to have an amazing life together. To my father, thank you for always encouraging my reading and writing, and for taking me to the bookstore when I was supposed to be grounded. To my mother, I know you don't always understand the path I have chosen, but thank you for believing in me.

Sara, you are the reason why this book is not riddled with typos. Stacie, Amanda, Elly, and Susie-- you are the best beta readers a girl could ask for. Stay honest and brutal. Yoly, you make one hell of a cover.

And to all my writing friends--Eitan, Kevin, Angela, Matt, Jane, Melanie--I wouldn't be half the writer or person I am today without you. Especially Eitan.

COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2015 Crystal Kaswell

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.