Truly, Madly, Whiskey(92)
Her cheeks pinked up, making it that much harder for him to resist going to her.
She’d become so much more than the love of his life. She’d become his world. She’d told Bear that he’d given her the strength to make the call to the police and have her attacker arrested. But it was she who had given him the strength not to rip the guy apart. Love was a powerful thing. They had a long legal battle ahead, but they’d hired Logan Wild, a top-notch private investigator from New York City. Logan had already confirmed that the school had security video from the art building where Crystal had been assaulted, dating back to the attack. Crystal was nervous about the legal proceedings, but this was her journey for justice, and she wanted to take it. And she wasn’t taking it alone. She had Bear’s support and love, as well as that of everyone else who was with them today, and the members of the Dark Knights. Bear would spend the rest of his life doing everything within his power to ensure she was never hurt again.
Crystal and Gemma hugged when they reached the altar, and he noticed her ankle jewelry had a bear on the side. His heart turned over in his chest. Was love supposed to be so consuming? He felt like his world was standing still, and as Crystal and Gemma took their places, he saw tears in Crystal’s eyes. She was his orchid. His symbol of love and affection. His wild filly. His forever.
Bear tried to listen to Truman and Gemma’s vows and pay attention to the wedding taking place, but he wanted to be the groom, and he couldn’t take his eyes off the woman who had captured his heart. She was right there with him, her beautiful eyes trained on him. Isn’t she always?
He mouthed, That could be us.
Her eyes widened, and a radiant smile lifted her lips. She mouthed, You want to get married?
Yes, he mouthed, his pulse racing. Do you?
Truman and Gemma kissed, and everyone cheered, but Bear and Crystal were in a world of their own, stepping across the rose petals toward each other. He reached for her hand at the same time she reached for his.
“You waited months for me,” she said with so much love in her eyes he wanted to dive in and drown in them.
“You’re the only woman I will ever want.”
“Then let’s not wait.” She bounced on her toes as she’d done at the market on the island. “Let’s get married. Here. Now.”
The silence of the others broke through the sound of his hammering heart, and he realized everyone was watching them. He stepped closer to the woman he adored. “Sugar, a man likes to be asked, not told.”
Her smile told him she was tying his comment back to their first date at Woody’s.
“Bobby Bear Whiskey,” she said breathlessly, “I’m truly, madly, crazily in love with you. Will you marry me and make me the happiest woman in the world?”
Bobby Bear. God, he loved her.
“Yes, sugar, I will marry you. But the real question is.” He dropped to one knee, reached into his pocket, and withdrew the engagement ring he’d been carrying since the day after she’d moved in with him, waiting for the right moment to pop the question. Maddox Silver’s brother, Sterling, was a custom jeweler. Bear had designed the black-gold engagement ring with a diamond-encrusted floral design and a half-carat round diamond at its center, and Sterling had created it. It was complex and unique, just like his girl.
Taking her hand in his, he gazed into her eyes and said, “Sweet girl, you are strength and grace, beauty and intelligence. You’re the woman I want to carry our babies, the lover I want to hold every night, and the badass biker chick I want wrapped around me on long road trips.”
She covered her mouth as tears streamed down her cheeks.
“Most of all, you’re the woman I want to be my wife. Sugar, will you please do me the honor of marrying me?”
“Yes. I want all those things with you. Every one of them. I want every day. I want forever.”
He slipped the ring on her finger, and she leapt into his arms as he rose to his feet. Cheers rang out as his mouth came down over hers. They were passed from person to person, hugged and congratulated.
Crystal and Gemma were in an endless embrace.
“Are you sure it’s okay?” Crystal asked. “We didn’t mean to hijack your wedding.”
“Yes. Yes, yes, yes,” Gemma said, and more tears fell.
Bear elbowed Tru. “Dude, I should have asked. Sorry, man. I got caught up in the moment.”
“About damn time,” Tru said, and pulled him into a manly embrace.
When they finally ended up in each other’s arms again, Bear couldn’t resist stealing a few neck and shoulder kisses. “I think I found my new favorite hairstyle.”
“They’re all waiting for us,” she whispered.
“Let them wait.”
He gave her a chaste kiss, and they took their place before the officiator. He was quick to point out that they had no marriage license; therefore the marriage would not be legally binding.
Bear took Crystal’s hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it. “It will be real to us. We’ll get a license this week and go to a justice of the peace. But today will always be our wedding date.”
“And I’ll get you a matching ring. Because we both need to show that we’re not owned, but one.” Her arms circled his neck. “Kiss me as a single man one last time.”
And he did, through whoops and whistles from their friends and family, until Kennedy tugged on his pants leg. Harley must have given her pointers.