Chasing Paradise (Chasing 3)

He was smiling then he got serious. “Sienna—thank you.” He kissed me on the lips, breathy and packed with emotions. “I know you weren’t ready to get married, but I’m overjoyed that you’ve changed your mind. You don’t know how much this means to me.”

I opened my mouth, but Chad appeared in between us. “She loves you too, Blakeypoo. Okay—do you guys notice that no one is around? Yeah? Well, the reception is right over there. See ya!”

“Ready Mrs. Knightly?” he beamed, loving the question.

~ Blake ~

The reception breezed through me. I was still in shock from Sienna’s surprise.

I knew she loved me, of course I did. But never once did I think she’d change her mind and marry me this instant. She stood firm with her beliefs and for her to break that to make me happy, truly was a big gesture.

“Wasn’t that the most romantic thing a woman can ever do to his man?” Toby grinned, handing me my cognac. “With the man’s approval, of course. Shotgun weddings aren’t romantic what so ever.”

He probably was referring to himself, more like.

“I’m a married man, Watson. I’m still reeling from the events. Consider me blown away. Sienna sure know how to keep me on my toes.”

“You two are made for each other—cliché, I admit, but it’s the only way to describe it. You both are such pain in the arse. We’re all married now, all well except for Luce.” His tone became somber, as he mentioned her name.

Twirling my glass as I studied him, I decided to speak my mind. “You had sex with her. What happens now?”

“I’m leaving Amelia. I already had my lawyers draft everything the next morning. Waking up with her, being with her just brought everything into perspective. I’m suffering, but I’d rather suffer this way and be a free man, other than suffer and be married because I was forced and threatened by her family and mine.” He paused. “Besides Amelia’s having an affair for the most part since she couldn’t get what she wanted with me.”

Not new news to me. She was already like that when I met her. “Find another place to get the DNA tests done. This time, you take charge. You need to know whose child she’s carrying. Once and for all, use your bloody f**king brain. Stop dwelling on that damned heartache for a second. She could be after your inheritance. God know she’s all bent up and demented. Clear all of this, keep updating Lucy while you’re at it, but don’t shag her, kiss her until you’ve cleared all this fiasco out of your life.” I was dead serious. He needed to get his shit together. “You’ve messed up, crucially. You can’t take any of that back, but at least trying to chase what you’re after—what your heart is after instead of running the other way like what I did with Sienna. Don’t wait too long, because Lucy surely won’t.”

“I know.” Toby got up, tapping my back. “Time to be with my love.”

Chad and Luke were dancing, Sienna was talking to Lucy, but the second she saw Toby striding towards them, she said her goodbyes and headed straight to me.

She slowed down, blushing as she inched closer, while I watched her with hooded eyes, looking at my beautiful wife, glowing before my very eyes.

When she finally did, she bit her lip, looking nervous all of a sudden. “Hello—”

“Hi—”

“I don’t know why, but I’m really nervous.” She rushed out saying, breathless.

“Ready to leave?” I said, unhurried, not looking anywhere else but her, before I stood up and held out my hand.

She paused, frowning. “We’re going somewhere? I haven’t planned our honeymoon yet. Sorry—everything was just last minute, it had slipped my mind.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve got it all figured out.” I held her hand, guiding her outside.

“Wait! Where are we going? Our friends and family need to know, in case they worry.”

The car was waiting and I didn’t want to tell anyone that we were, because I just wanted to keep it a secret. This was between my wife and I—nothing more. “I’ll text Luke and he can inform the rest of the party, but now, let’s get this marriage started, cara. I’ve waited long enough.”

It wasn’t until we boarded the plane, Sienna and I were in the bedroom, while I slowly undressed her, lavishing every inch of her. I haven’t had this body for weeks on end, and I wasn’t about to let the first sensations put to waste. I wanted this memory ingrained into my soul.

“My blushing bride.” I smiled down at her, knowing that this was just a beginning for us.

Our love was stronger.

Our bond was immalleable.

Our trust in each other was profound.

Making love to her as my girlfriend was amazing. Making love to her as my fiancé was breathtaking—but making love to her as my wife, was soul shifting, mind-altering effervescent experience.

Spent and sated, we were locked in each other’s embrace. Sienna was tracing the scar the bullet had left on my skin, still a little pink and hasn’t fully healed. “When do you want to schedule the removal for this?”

I was waiting for her to say something for weeks. “I don’t want to get one, poppet.”

“Why not? I thought you said you wanted one?”

“I did, but the more the see it, the more I want to keep it, as a remembrance of my mishap because I won’t fail to protect you, ever again.”

“Blake, no… it wasn’t you’re fault.” Sienna pressed on.

I knew this, I truly did. But still—it won’t leave my conscience. “I want it there as a remembrance, when I surrendered my life to you, knowing that I might never see you again. When the time comes—it’s inevitable—that we will be tested again, one look at this scar, it’s all I would ever need to be reminded of that day. I’d do it all over again without question.”

She moved and kissed the scar three times. “You’re an amazing man, mio marito, mi amore, il mio paradiso.” My huband, my love, my paradise.”

Pulling her face to mine, my soul connected with hers, content, happy and satisfied. “Thank you, Sienna.” I spoke, feeling like the rest of the world has melted and it was just us—existing in this world we made for ourselves. “Paradiso. With you, I have found my paradise.”

Epilogue

Three Months Later…

Sienna

“Happy three-month anniversary, Mrs. Knightly.” Blake murmured, breathing me in.