Love Redeemed, Book 4 (31 page)

One last wish I had for Azmir, and before Pastor Edmonson and First Lady
Twanece, during one of our last premarital counseling sessions was not to have a long and drawn out ceremony. I don’t need all that to take my vows before him and God. I don’t want the delay, just to take my premeditated vows. I started putting them together almost immediately after leaving Tahiti. In fact, I started jotting down a few lines in my iPhone once Azmir had dozed off after goading me for a date of this coveted day.

What d
oes surprise me is that Azmir has written his own.

“At this time,” Past Edmonson
announces. “Azmir and Rayna will recite their vows. Azmir…”

“Rayna,” Azmir call
s out, as he grips my hand, then cocks his head to the side, and pushes his tongue into his molars, telling of exercised patience, just as he’s done since our first encounter in the cafeteria of his recreation center, barely over a year ago.

“I’m going to start
, of course, by telling you how beautiful you are today…on this special day…at this very moment. I can hardly believe your mine, but this you are. It’s something I’ve known since the fourth time I laid eyes on you. You were pensive, head buried in a leaflet. I envied that booklet…wanted that same attention…dedication. You were an unusual desire. A type of leaf never thought to turn over. I wanted you instantly. It alarmed me…the desire,” Azmir peers deeper into my eyes. “I challenged myself to pursue something that held something different—my heart at arrest. Each day after, I fought with myself until I could no longer defer my destiny. You.”

My breath cat
ches in my throat, and I’m enraptured. “Rayna, I want all of you. Before God and our witnesses, I vow to walk these dogs with you,” his Brooklyn persona cannot be constrained, “…hold your hand, be your endless resource against the world, be your friend, hold you down, protect you when the world is banging at the door, declaring your guilt. I vow to be faithful to only you. To love, honor, and respect you, and only you. I vow to wake up every morning full with fidelity to you and you only. My eyes, hands, desires, and heart belong to you and will always act in accordance to your needs and preference. I want to go to battle for your love and commitment until I no longer have ammunition. I vow to be your forever until the air leaves my lungs.”

Azmir

I watch as Rayna’s shoulders rise and she holds her breath. I just hope she’s absorbed my sentiment. I need her to believe in my ultimate vow to her. I feel everything I’ve said and more.

She choke
s out, “Azmir…” and I know I’ve touched her. I only wish she understood how much it’s felt by me. I love this woman with every fiber of my being. So much that I fear the phenomenon of what she makes me feel.

She flashes
a wide smile that disappears almost as quickly as it appeared, a telling nervous move. Her lips tremble just before she proceeds, “An improbable possibility. That’s the phrase I’ve battled with since the moment I laid eyes on you in
Cobalt
, when I was with my best friend and others. Your smile was bright, scent compelling, and eyes held possibilities that before then, I thought of as impossible. I was eerily drawn to you from the first time I saw you…and fought tooth and nail from that moment on. I didn’t know love. I knew nothing of commitment or devotion until your patience and unwavering assurance.” She gives a fortifying breath and I understand her pacing; Rayna isn’t keen at expressing her feelings.

“It took
you
to recognize my imperfections. It wasn’t until I had a taste of your commitment that I appreciated unconditional love. Because of your assurance, I sought help with my deficits. It wasn’t until running into your being that I perceived the possibility of
more
. It wasn’t until I crossed paths with you that I appreciated God loving me, creating me with a purpose and illuminating love as a gift. And it is because of all this that I’ve come to know love’s improbable possibility. You are every bit of that possibility.

“On this day, I vow to you
…no more running. No more self-protection. No more feeling the need to escape what I have selected as my forever. My eyes were made to…” she coughs and fights back a blush. “…appreciate you. My arms were made to comfort you on lowly days and to protect you on those that are stormy. I am yours, Azmir Divine Jacobs. Forever.”

That
’s all I hear for a while from that point in the ceremony. Each word of her vows keep echoing through my head, my heart, and my groin. Everything in me is aligned as far as Rayna is concerned. I can hardly believe that she’s narrated those words of commitment to me. Rayna is never good at unveiling her feelings via words. I’ve always had to seek alternative methods to extract them. And here, before me, she’s perfectly articulated them. What’s equally satisfying is that I’ve already sensed them, but needed them to be confirmed.

We exchange rings and t
he next thing I hear outside of my introspective thoughts is, “You can now kiss the bride.”

I d
on’t think. Never gave a conscious thought to how this will go down. I only feel what my heart and dick corroborates. I lift Rayna in my arms by gripping her ass and throw my tongue as far down her throat as I can reach.

After hearing a moan extract from her, I then fe
el her pull back, she groans, “Azmir.”

And although I c
an tell she’s turned on, I can hear the reprimand in her tone as well. That’s when I abruptly hear the blaring applauses and pivot my neck to see Pastor Edmonson’s face is red and filled with embarrassment as he laughs his ass off.

I p
lace Rayna on her feet and when I return my eyes to hers, I can see the minx in her. She wants me. And damn if I don’t need her…but I’ll have to wait until a more appropriate time.  

I d
on’t get a moment alone with my new wife. We have pictures to take immediately after the ceremony, our first dance, dinner, and then guests to tend to. By the time Rayna and I come up for air, our reception is in full swing. Rayna and I split while she chops it up with her grandmother; I go to chill with Petey and Kid.

“What the fuck do a man do once he has it all, Divine?” Kid crassly ask
s.

“What do you mean?” I sho
ot back to him while observing his slightly oversized suit jacket and neatly cornrowed hair. He left Syn behind, which is to my relief. I don’t want to have to choke her red ass on my wedding day.

“You got fuckin’
dough, a million and two jobs, and now a bad ass broad to spoil the shit outta,” he squeals, holding a
Corona
. “What’s next, duke?”

I kn
ow Kid’s question is loaded with more than he mentions. He’s referring to my exit from the game. I’m officially out. Totally left a career that I mastered for over twenty years. Most men in my former line of business don’t actually stay retired. They keep dipping until they’re either dead or handed down a life bid. I had been biding my time, preparing my exit strategy for almost a decade. It was just a matter of time that I’d implemented the plan.

“Fucking breathe, man,” I retort. “I can now fuckin’ breathe.” I sigh, feeling the sentiment of that.

And I’m sure my goons do to some degree, too, particularly Petey. He’d been wanting to leave for about five years, but never trusting anyone to watch my back. He rode it out until I was done. I made sure his retirement plan was generous. He never has to work another day in his life.

We cut
it up a little more and Wop joins our trio, followed by Rayna’s little sister and her friend. These young girls are posting hard. It’s weird having your lady’s little sister throwing you fuck me eyes the first time you meet her and on your wedding day, no less. I’ve been avoiding them since our first encounter before the ceremony when they cornered me in the corridor.

Chyna b
ears a slight resemblance to Rayna, which is how caught the relation. I kindly explained who I was, apologized for the disappointment, and invited them to tour the yacht with a crewman before walking off, shaking my head. That slowed them down, but didn’t stop them. Now, I’m nervous as hell, having them around my goons. Everyone has been drinking—I hope not the two youngsters.

“Yo, Divine, man!” Wop call
s out excitedly. “Why you ain’t tell me Rayna had a bad ass sister. We could be family.” The goons burst out in laughing fits.

I watch as Chyna’s
friend seductively pulls her hair back as she licks her lips. And Chyna’s ass is pushed out perfectly, exposing her breasts. Either she’s fucking or is simply great at arching her back.
Damn, I don’t want any daughters.
My baby girl would be targeted simply because of her father’s past indiscretions.

“So what y’all getting into?” Chyna ask
s, pouting her lips pretentiously. It’s all an act to me, but that shit my goons love and eats right up.

Petey sh
akes his head as he snickers. His ass would have probably been on it under different circumstances. He has too much respect than to fuck Rayna’s little sister and her friend. Plus, Kim is around somewhere and he’s barely survived his last offense with his Mexican mami. He’s been laying low; as he should.

“We going
where ever y’all going,” Kid asserts. “What y’all up for?” He goes for his wood. He’s salivating at the mouth because Syn’s ghetto ass ain’t here with his leash. I have to make sure he knows that Rayna’s sister and her friend are off limits. I’m sure Petey is two steps ahead of me on that one.

I c
an’t believe it when Chyna’s friend winks at me and asks, “And what about you?” as she jerks her chin in my direction.

I ha
ve to put a stop to this shit. “I…” I raise my left hand displaying my wedding band, “…am about to look for my sexy ass wife in hopes of getting in trouble with
her
.”

Then I fe
el a hand on my shoulder and turn to find Pastor Edmonson with a knowing smile. “Azmir, your guests are making their way up to the deck. It’s time,” he reminds me.

I nod
. Everyone seems to disperse, leaving me, Kid, and Petey standing with Pastor Edmonson.

“And you,
” Pastor Edmonson addresses Kid. “Let’s give Azmir a chance to surprise his new bride whilst you and I have a chat.”

Kid’s eyes sh
oot open in shock…or horror. Who knows considering his ass.

“Ummmm…Reverend, I was actually ‘bout to get into something over there,” Kid point
s randomly over his shoulder.

Petey and I c
an’t help but laugh at this exchange.

“Oh, I won’t take long. I just want to tell you about a friend of mine named Jesus,” Pastor Edmonson inform
s in a humorous tone. I believe he knows more about Kid’s intentions than he lets on as he places a gentle hand on his shoulder. Kid looks to me for assistance.

I shrug and sa
y, “I have a thing over here. Holla ‘atcha lata.”

Petey’s laughter t
akes on an elevating volume as he walks off in a different direction. I turn and see my special guest approaching.

Before I
go to them, I glance around for Rayna. She’s still conversing with her grandmother when I approach her. Rayna grabs my hand when she looks up to find me, and pulls my arm around her waist as she continues to chat. I revel each show of unconscious affection Rayna gives. It reminds me of her nurturing side; the one she thought she was void of. I can stand this way forever, having her soft frame curved into mine. However, we have to move.

I offer her grandmother, Mrs. Brimm,
a polite smile before I murmur in Rayna’s ear, “You have a special guest here to see you.”

“Oh, yeah…?” Rayna ask
s, not looking for any answer in particular, as she angles her head around, “Who?”

I pivot her frame beneath me in the correct direction.
Our latest guests stand in the center of the galley, looking each way. It takes a few seconds before I see Rayna’s hands rise to her mouth underneath me.

“Oh, my…” Rayna c
an’t speak.

“Auntie
Na-Na!” the little princess shrills and takes off running in our direction, dropping the Barbie doll she had cupped beneath her arm. She leaves her great aunt and uncle behind with pleased smiles.

Dan Smith thr
ows me a nod and wink after I release Rayna to rekindle with Erin. When they meet, Rayna catches Erin in her arms and raises her high in the air, even while draped in her flowing wedding gown. The site of my wife in her gown with a child gleefully in her arms on our wedding day twists something deep inside of me. I thought I had let the miscarriage go, but I see I have more work to do in that respect.

As Rayna and
Erin reunite, Dan Smith strolls over to me, wearing the same pleased smile that I have covering on my face. I’m sure, though for different reasons; Rayna is my wife. It’s my job to meet her needs. She needs this little girl in her life. For Dan, it’s simply doing a good deed in the memory of his niece. Dan agreed to my surprise of waiting down in the salon with Erin until the formalities of the ceremony were out of the way. I knew that Erin’s presence before that would have overwhelmed Rayna.

“I’m glad I was able to do this, Mr. Jacobs,” Dan
offers his hand for a shake.

I oblige, “Please, Azmir will do just fine, Dan. I’m glad you
agreed to this. This day can’t get any better.” I then turn to face him, “I hope this didn’t come as too much trouble for you.” I honestly could give a rat’s ass if it had.

Michelle’s cousin, Amber
, is a bitch with a pitchfork for withholding Erin from Rayna. Keeping with my promise not to sic my legal team on this, I tried going another route. I cut a deal to donate a sizeable contribution to Smith’s prosthetic endeavor. It isn’t just about me keeping my word to Rayna. It also has to do with the type of fight we’d have to engage in considering Rayna has no legal right to Erin, she isn’t a blood relative like Amber. If we had gone to war, it would have consisted of a dirty fight, using some immoral proclivities Amber may or
may not have
stashed away in her closet. I didn’t want to do that in the wake of Michelle’s memory.

“No, not much. I just had to push my familial authority in order to get Amber to reason. And now that I’m seeing these two together,” he gesture
s over to Rayna and Erin. “I’m only sorry that I didn’t intervene sooner.” I give Dan a final handshake and excuse myself.

The night seem
s to have sped by after their union. We’re on the Pacific, sailing arbitrarily, under the moon. We eat, drink, and cut up in merry. Boyd and his staff are exceptional. The food is great. I’ve flown the biggest Big Dawg Pitbull out of New York to spin the wheels on the yacht. Flex is cutting records like nobody’s business for our small crowd. Rayna owns the dance floor, even giving me a few dances after our initial dance as man and wife. At one point, there’s a line of men, waiting to dance with her. It seems all but one of my friends dance with my wife. I guess Wop is too preoccupied with her little sister to care.

Later
, my bride disappears down into the lower level for a while to spend alone time with Erin. I try avoiding Chyna and her girlfriend and keeping Wop’s ass away from them at the same time. Kid gives up his chase of them after his words with Pastor Edmonson. I have no idea what he could have told that dude to spook him so, but I’m grateful for the halt in quest.