Mid Life Love: At Last (Mid Life Love #2)(72)

“For better or for worse,” the pastor said. “For richer or for poorer...”

“For better or for worse, for richer or for richer.”

The pastor rolled his eyes. “...To love and to cherish...” He wiped his brow. “Jonathan Carter Statham, do you take Claire Alicia Gracen to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

“I do.”

When it was Jonathan’s turn to listen to me repeat the words, I felt tears slipping down my cheeks.

He leaned forward and wiped them away as they fell, watching me intently as I followed the pastor’s lead.

“Claire Alicia Gracen, do you take Jonathan Carter Statham to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

I looked directly at Jonathan, noticing that he was looking as if he was nervous that I would say anything other than the right words.

“I do.”

The pastor smiled and shut his book. “By the power vested in me—”

Jonathan cupped my face in his hands and kissed me like he’d never kissed me before—tenderly tracing my tongue with his as if we were alone.

“Mr. and Mrs. Statham.” The pastor didn’t even try to interrupt us this time.

There was roaring applause and deafening cheering, but he didn’t let my lips go. He pulled me even closer and whispered, “I love you, Claire Statham. I always will.” He took my breath away with another swoon-worthy kiss and then he finally let me go.

Before I could tell him that I loved him too, he scooped me into his arms and carried me down the aisle. The photographers captured his every step, telling us to look their way, but we couldn’t take our eyes off one another.

We approached the building and Miss Corwin stepped in front of us.

“Time for pictures! Mr. Statham, put Mrs. Statham down please.”

He blinked.

“Mr. Statham...” She crossed her arms. “You both agreed to take pictures directly after the ceremony. You’ll want these to look back on. Trust me.”

He sighed and gently placed me on the ground.

For the next half hour, we took several staged photos with the wedding party—me amidst the champagne colored dresses, and him amidst the black tuxedos.

We were also forced to take a series of shots together, and Miss Corwin had to practically tear Jonathan away from me when it was time to take my solo frames.

“Okay, lovebirds...” Miss Corwin walked us into the custom Sweetheart Suite. “Take a quick breather before dinner. Cocktail hour is already underway...How long do you think you’ll need to get ready for the reception?”

Jonathan looked me up and down. “Two hours.”

“What? You can’t let people wait that long!”

“Two. Hours.”

“Yes sir...I’ll um...I’ll figure something out...” She left the room and he immediately locked the door.

He walked over to me and backed me against the wall.

“Jonathan—”

“Shhhhh...” He looked deep into my eyes and tilted my chin up to reach his lips. “The things I’ve been wanting to do to you, Mrs. Statham...” He kissed me so thoroughly that my knees went weak, that every nerve in my body instantly came to life.

“I want to go to the reception, Jonathan...” I said breathlessly.

“After.” He reached behind me and unzipped the back of my dress. “I’ve waited way too long for this...”

I stood still as he slowly peeled me out of my dress, leaving it in a fluffy white puddle on the floor.

He ran his hands along my satin corset, slowly untying every string—unclasping every hook. When it fell to the floor, he bent down at my waist and took the bow of my panties between his teeth, tugging at it until it unraveled and joined my dress on the floor.

He stood up and looked into my eyes, silently telling me to undress him.

Compliant, I slid his jacket off his shoulders and unbuttoned his pants, seeing that he was beyond ready to make love to me. I slowly unbuttoned his shirt, and pushed it off his shoulders.

As soon as it hit the floor, he picked me up and carried me over to the leather chaise, gently laying me on my back. He covered my body with his, and even though he’d been waiting for this moment forever, he hesitated. Then he gently brushed his lips against mine and gazed into my eyes.

“Mine, Claire...” he whispered. “Tell me you’re mine...”

“I’m yours...”

He threaded his hands in mine and held them over my head as he slowly slid his dick into me, pushing every thick inch further and further until he was completely buried inside.

We lay like that for several seconds, simply staring at one another as our bodies molded together for the first time in weeks. I couldn’t believe how good he felt inside of me, how I’d ever gone so long without having him.

I gasped as he started to thrust in and out of me, as he pressed warm kisses against my chest and made me squirm beneath him.

“Be still, Claire.”

“I can’t...” I let go of his hands and wrapped my arms around his back, scraping my nails across his skin as he sped up his thrusts.

“I’ve missed this so much...” His mouth connected with mine again and he rewarded each of my moans with a deeper kiss. “So much...”

He rocked into me over and over again, caressing my face with his hands—never breaking eye contact with me.