Music, Ink, and Love (25 page)

“Come on, guys. You weren’t supposed to see each other.” Bekka's disappointment made Nix pulled away. She looked at me, regretful for a second and playful the next.

“I'm glad I saw him, Bekka. Look at my man.” She said proudly. Bekka ignored her and went by the pool to see Tyler.

Dad and Colleen joined us outside We sat at the table on the deck and we all seemed pretty relaxed, enjoying the day. Inside me, I started to feel it, the tingles in my legs. The big moment finally approaching.

We shared a lunch altogether. Salad with grilled chicken and mangos and then, we all went our separate ways. I jumped in the shower, washed my hair thoroughly and used the shower gel Nix had gotten me. Calvin Klein, nonetheless. I shaved, fixed my hair the best way that I could, put on some cologne and a pair of boxer briefs. My fingers trembled and my legs didn’t feel so strong. I sat on the bed and took some time to chill out and do some breathing exercises. 
Be a man, Levi. You've wanted this since the day you
 
first saw her.

A knock on the door interrupted my meditation.

“Are you okay, son?”

I nodded. “Trying to relax before getting dressed.”

He chuckled. “I can't believe you got all of these tattoos. It’s more than I remembered.”

“Because I keep getting tattooed, Dad.” I tried not to laugh. 

“Right, you should slow down, though. What are you going to tell your kids when they grow up?”

I had tried to avoid that thought for years, since I got my first tattoo. “I'll just tell my child that his or her daddy is an artist and if he or she wants to get one, we'll need to discuss it with Mom. No tattoos before eighteen.”

He laughed. “Sure. Good luck with that, son. The officiant is here, I thought I should let you know.”

“Alright, time for me to get dressed.”

“I'll give you some privacy. We'll be outside.” 

My clothes were hanging in the wardrobe. Nix had taken care of ironing everything last night before we went to bed.

I got dressed, feeling calm and serene. I could hear the girl's babbling coming out of the master bathroom.

I wanted to see her now.

I needed to see her now.

I knew she wasn’t going to run away.

But I missed her smile.

Once I had everything ready on my side, I walked out of my room and went to the bathroom in which Nix hid from me.

I knocked.

“Who's there?” Bekka asked.

“Me.” I said nervously.

“Levi, you can't see her.” Tiff ordered me away.

“I know.” I whispered.

“Hey, Levi.” I heard a familiar voice coming from behind me.

“Hey, Val. Just in time. Nix is in there.”

“Girls, let me in.” She could barely keep still on her side of the door.

One of the girls on the other side opened the door very slowly to let Val inside. “Nix, please.” I begged her, but they didn't hear me. They squealed and screaming loudly.

“Go and wait outside, Levi. It's almost time.” Tiff had decided I wouldn’t see Nix.

Thankfully, Val had made it on time. I knew Nix wanted her by her side for her big day. Our big day.

Even if I couldn’t see through the door, by the sound of it I knew, Bekka, Val and Nix were hugging and kissing. The return of the trio. Bekka introduced Tiff to Val and at that time, I decided to let them be. I joined the men downstairs.

“Isn’t it the husband?” Tyler teased.

“Where's your wife?

“Hiding with your girlfriends.” I laughed nervously. “They won't let me see her. All of them, against me. I stand no fucking chance.”

“Val just got here.” Tyler said.

“I know, they let
her
in.” Tyler and Kyle started laughing and I might have heard Dad too.

“You should see your face, man. Relax, she will be all yours in less than an hour.”

I knew that. I simply hated the fact that they wouldn’t let me see her. It only made me want to see her even more. 

Colleen came out of the house, looking great in a beige long summer dress, and Tiff followed. “The girls are ready. You should all take your assigned places.” I almost ran to the arch. The officiant followed me and the rest of the guests sat in their chairs. Colleen sat with Dad and Tyler and on the other side of the aisle, sat Kyle and Tiff.

We had soft music in the background and the sound of the waves on the shore. The atmosphere relaxed me, I felt very calm and ready for this moment.

Nix appeared in the middle of the French doors of the house. Val and Bekka stood on either side. My breathing hitched, my hands turned clammy. My eyes were glued on her. She had curls in her hair, it fell loosely around her face. She looked incredible, her smile beaming. They started walking slowly toward me. I wanted her to run. I wanted to run to meet her and kiss her. I wanted to say ‘I do’ now and skip everything else. My princess.

My vision blurred when she was three feet away from me. She offered me her hand, I took it and vowed to never let go of her. Tears in my eyes made it impossible to see her clearly now. I tried to control myself but I couldn’t. Kyle would never shut up about it.

The officiant handed me a tissue, I bet he was used to this. I dried my tears and the officiant started his speech.

Her lips were glossy, her eyelids had shades of turquoise and gold. The reddish tint on her cheeks made her adorable. I couldn’t look away or concentrate on anything else. All I heard was my heart beating fast, pushing the resistance of my ribcage. She mouthed to me that she loved me and I returned the words to her. 

Nix squeezed my hand and it brought me back in the moment. I caught a few words from the officiant.

“Now, Phoenix Silverstone and Levi Munroe, you’ve gathered your friends and family together to celebrate this special day with you. There’s no doubt that you will be receiving some advice today. But I believe I speak for every witness here when I say this. The love you will feel will always be stronger than your anger. Compromise will be the key in any difficult situation and a key to a lasting relationship. Love your beloved with everything within you. Look after your spouse with devotion and admiration. Never forget to say I love you, not a single day.” He paused. “ I understand you would each like to say something. Levi.” He motioned me with his hand to speak. I hadn’t written it down because I wanted my vows to come from my heart.

“Phoenix Silverstone.” I had only said her name when the tears started flowing again. “The first time I saw you, I stared at you and saw my life with you. I didn’t know anything about you, only that you were beautiful and you had the most mesmerising eyes I had ever seen. The first time I spoke to you, I irritated you.” I chuckled. “I didn’t know how to approach you, you unsettled me. I could have walked away, but I didn’t. I had to have you. It took you some time before you saw me beneath the ink. I want all of our kisses to be like our first. I promise to always look after you and protect you. I will buy you flowers every week. I want to see your smile when we wake up and I will make sure you smile until we meet again at night. I love you with everything I am.”

“Phoenix.” The officiant said.

“Levi, my angel, my lover, the love of my life. You gave me everything. You showed me life, you taught me how to love, and you gave me strength when I needed it. I will be the best wife I can be. I will work my best to make you happy. I will continue to support your amazing work and I will be the best mother to our future kids. I want to start each of my days with you because I love you.” Her voice became soft, her bottom lip trembled. “You make me the happiest woman on Earth, I want to give you the same, every day of our life together.”

“With these vows to each other, Levi do you take Phoenix to be your wife? Do you promise to love, honor, and cherish her for all time?

“I do.” I said it loud and proud. The moment I waited for was finally here.

“Phoenix, do you take Levi to be your husband? Do you promise to love, honor, and cherish him for all time?” The officiant asked Nix.

She snuffled. “I do.”

“May I have the rings, please?” He asked. Both of us reached for the rings and placed them into his hand. “Please place the ring on her finger and repeat after me. Phoenix, I give you this ring, as a daily reminder of my love for you.”

“Nix, my rock star, I give you this ring, as a daily reminder of my love for you.” I slid the ring on her finger. I loved her ring even better on her finger.

“Phoenix, please place the ring on his finger and repeat after me: Levi, I give you this ring, as a daily reminder of my love for you.”

“Levi, I give you this ring, as a daily reminder of my love for you.” She placed the ring she had chosen for me on my finger. I knew I would never take it off.

“I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.” He said looking at me.

“Oh hell yes.” I grabbed hold of her waist, pulled her to me and our lips crashed against one another. We kissed with eagerness.

We were finally married. I had never expected to feel like this. I wanted to tell the world she had become my wife. Everything I had dreamed of in the past months had finally happened. I was on a high like I had never felt before.

I went to see Dad and I hugged him and thanked him for everything he had taught me about life. I hugged everyone else, all of our guests. I had reached the peak of my joy.

Where was Nix? I had lost her in the moment.

When I saw her walking down the aisle, I looked at her. Nothing but her eyes, the love she let me see and the excitement we were both feeling that lingered in the air around us. I saw her dress, but didn’t look at her carefully until now. That woman reflected pure sexiness. Gorgeous, wasn’t she? Her dress hugged her curves and small pearls covered the entire dress in a flowery design. Her shoulders were bare for me to see. Small pieces of ink were apparent. I loved how she looked, how precious she was in my eyes.

“Hey, wife.” I startled her. She stood facing Colleen and was talking about how great everything had turned out.

“Husband.” She said smoothly, beaming at me.

“I can’t believe we did it.” She draws me into her arms. “You’re mine now. Forever.”

“I have been yours ever seen the first night. I knew.”

“Maybe, I knew it too. You were such a bad boy with bad pick lines.”

I laughed. “You loved it.”

“I love you.”

I’ll be good to you. I’ll never be the bad boy you once thought I was.

“I love you too, Princess.” So much.

And so, we kissed.

A
lone, enjoying our honeymoon. I sat on the sand and watched her play, letting each of the waves hit the back of her legs. She seemed so young, happy, and carefree but mostly, she was one hell of a hot wife. Her white bikini, showing just enough skin, hugging her in all the right places.

I took picture after picture, not wanting to ever forget that moment, or vision.

I watched and I had that impression of watching a movie in slow motion.

Kyle had been right all along, she had transformed me into a pussy-whipped man and it fucking rocked.

Phoenix Munroe married me two days ago and, since then, the distance between us now was the farthest we had been away from each other. I had to fix that.

I ran to her and she jumped into my arms, her legs wrapped around my waist. Her body enveloped mine.

So beautiful. “I missed you.” She murmured between kisses.

I never wanted her to miss me ever again. I never wanted to give her enough time apart for her to miss me.

But I missed her too.

I let us fall into the water briefly. Her beautiful eyes, the color of the sky, her long brown hair covering her breasts.

“You’re hotter than Brooke Shields.”

She laughed, having no idea how much I had craved that moment.

I love you.

- The End -

F
rom Body, Ink, and Soul

I had been back from New York City for two days the first time I saw her.

When I left New York, I left a dream and a girl. The dream consisted of opening a tattoo shop there. I almost did it; I wanted it so badly, but it wasn’t realistic. The costs were way more than I expected, but I had a good time thinking about it there. I met great people and a girl. Mercedes, wild, fun and a bit on the crazy side. She had no fear, absolutely none, and it drove me to push my own limits. Her talent as a tattoo artist knew no boundaries. Her portraits looked like paintings, her flowers looked real and her Japanese artwork attracted many people from around the world.

We had a fun ride; she taught me a lot of tricks and I shared with her everything I knew. We connected, we partied, but I still felt a void. Something was missing. Our time had brought me a lot but it wasn’t meant to last. It sucked but I ended us. I broke her heart and flew back home.

Uncertainty haunted my mind. Questioning myself about the choices I’d made. I sat at my friend Tyler’s club, sipping on a beer thinking about her, my life and my doubts.

Until I noticed a woman behind the counter. She was the shining star on a dark and cloudy night.

Her beautiful blue eyes, that long silky hair; but what hypnotized me was her smile. Who was she? She danced, laughed, sang to the song that was playing and smiled at each of her customers. A true star that made my world much more alive.

“Tyler, who is she?”

“The tall one is a no go, okay?” He said with possessiveness.

“No, I’m talking about the blue eyed babe.”

He chuckled. “That, my friend, is a good innocent University girl who appears to love her job. From what I heard, it’s her first time living by herself; she was over-protected by her mom.”

“I have to talk to her, man. There’s something about her.” I tried to chill out, but my eyes kept on diverting to her.

“I think she already has her eyes on a certain guy named Tristan.”

Tristan? No, I was going to talk to her, flirt with her, I needed to make her mine. “Not tonight, but soon, I’ll talk to her. I’ll keep on watching her.” I couldn’t look away.

“Okay, stalker. Do your thing. I have my eyes on the tall brunette. She doesn’t know yet, she is clueless, but I can’t stay away from her for too long.”