Scorched Ice (Fire and Ice #3)(81)
“I’ll take it from here, Billy Idol,” Clint said to Julian.
Julian scowled at him. “You’ve used that one before.”
“Still applies. Move aside,” Clint commanded.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to kill him for you?” Julian asked Hawtie. “You can do better.”
Hawtie laughed as she released Julian’s hand and stepped forward to hook her arm through Clint’s. “This short little man ran away with my heart in grade school.”
Clint chuckled. “I got to her before she knew better. Now all of you, go. I’ve been trying to get her here for almost fifty years, and I’m not taking the chance of her running from me now.”
“Wouldn’t blame her,” Julian replied with a smile.
“Go,” Quinn said and nudged him in the back.
Julian kissed her before turning away to walk down the aisle with the others. Quinn remained waiting at the back of the white carpet running down the center aisle to the small pulpit at the front. The others split up to sit in the front pews. When the music began to play, Quinn walked slowly down the aisle and slid into the pew beside Julian. He took hold of her hand, and his fingers traced over the gold wedding band and ruby ring he’d given her a week after they’d discussed rings in the RV.
“Mine,” he whispered.
She turned to smile at him and leaned over to kiss his cheek as her hand fell on the silver ring she’d given him. “And you have been branded.”
“Repeatedly,” he replied with a grin that had her imagining wicked things that had no place being thought of in a chapel.
Pulling away from him, she turned to wait for Hawtie and Clint to make their way down the aisle. Julian’s finger trailed over the skin exposed by the off-the-shoulder black dress Hawtie had chosen for her. His hand wrapped around her nape, his thumb brushing over the sensitive skin there. She was sure he’d caught a glimpse of some of her thoughts when his finger stilled on her, and his body went rigid against hers.
Leaning forward, his lips caressed her ear while he spoke. “It’s not a real church.”
She laughed as she shot him a look over her shoulder. “It is a real wedding.”
“After the wedding.”
“You’re incorrigible.”
“Yes, I am,” he said without remorse.
“Behave.”
She swatted at his hand, but he didn’t release his hold on her. She turned back to watch as Hawtie and Clint stepped onto the carpet. They’d decided to walk down the aisle together. She’d never seen either of them look more radiant as they both beamed from ear to ear. Her hand clenched around Julian’s when he drew her closer to rest her back against his chest.
Her gaze fell on the pew across from them as Chris lifted Melissa’s hand to his mouth and kissed the back of it. They both smiled lovingly at each other. “I think we’ll be attending their wedding next,” she whispered to Julian when he rested his chin on her shoulder.
She felt him smile against her cheek. “I think you’re right.”
Behind Chris and Melissa, Lou and Dani rolled their eyes at the couple while Luther stalwartly kept his attention focused on Hawtie and Clint instead of the kissing couple.
Quinn focused on the front of the chapel when Clint and Hawtie arrived there. A small man with bottle glasses and a handlebar mustache stepped forward to perform the ceremony. Tears burned in her eyes while she watched Clint and Hawtie recite their vows to each other.
Quinn broke into applause and jumped to her feet when the two of them were pronounced man and wife. Clint dipped Hawtie back over his arm and gave her a kiss that had everyone cheering louder. Hawtie looked dazed when Clint set her back on her feet.
Chris released a loud whistle and they all moved forward to throw confetti at the couple as they walked down the aisle. Quinn stepped into the aisle with Julian and followed the newlyweds toward the open doors at the end.
In two days, they would be leaving for Oregon to meet with Vern and more vampires. The following day they were boarding a private jet to Europe. Julian had purchased the jet and had it remodeled with detailed specifications designed to keep them safe from the sun while they traveled.
When necessary, they would call on Devon to use his ability in order to guarantee them safe passage as they moved from Europe onto Africa, Asia, and Australia before finally coming home again. She had no idea how long they would be gone, but tonight she planned to celebrate this wedding until the sun came up.
Julian lifted her into his arms and spun her around before setting her on her feet again to twirl her out the doors of the chapel.
EPILOGUE
Two years later
Quinn remained behind the heavily tinted sliding glass door of the beach house Julian had rented for them in Aruba. He stood on the beach, his head tipped back as he let the fading rays of the sun play over his body. The sun was nearly at a point where she could join him, but he’d been standing out there for two hours, absorbing the rays with little ill effect.
“He’s almost there,” Chris said from beside her. “Another couple years and he may be able to stay in it off and on throughout the whole day.”
“Yes,” she murmured.
Julian’s determination to walk in the sun again had remained unwavering through the past two years. No matter where they traveled, he’d spent time every day steadily increasing his exposure to the sun’s rays until he’d attained this point.