Chapter 199 - Partners For Life
“There was no first, second or last chance to give you. You’ve always owned my heart. It wants no one else, Hunter. You’re very precious because you’re the only one I have. And you were right when you said we will always find our way back to each other no matter what,” with that said, Hera concluded with her confession.
She took a deep breath, swallowed all their bad memories and cleared her throat before grinning broadly at Hunter.
“I’ll care for you, honour you and protect you. I will love you in sunshine and rain and over the rainbow and under the starry night sky. You know how easily I get jealous, and I’m over-possessive, but that’s the only way I know to love you. You don’t have any choice, though,” she winked at him with a cheeky smile.
“Wherever you go, I’ll go with you because I’m joining my life with yours,” she announced proudly. “I’m immature and act silly sometimes, I know.. Eventually, I will learn to be sensible, I guess,” Hera said more to herself.
Turning to Eric, she said the ‘I do’s when he asked her.
“According to the will of God and my heart’s desire, I take you, Hunter, to be my husband and my partner for life. I promise to love you forever, for good or ill, in happiness and sadness, come riches or poverty,” Hera beamed at her boyfriend slash husband. Her smile was so endearing that Hunter couldn’t help getting lost in it.
“Oh, and for the record, the money you have, or you earn, is also mine,” Hera added as an afterthought. Both Hunter and Eric laughed at that while Hera scowled at them playfully.
Eric cleared his throat and made a show of adjusting his imaginary spectacles on his nose before pointing his finger at Hera. The grin he wore was a wicked one.
“She forgot the health and sickness part again, Ace,” Eric pointed out. “For sure, she’ll ditch you the moment you fall sick,” he said, his tone laced with mock pity. Offended by his statement, Hera yelled at him, shoving him away. “Hey, behave or do you want me to cancel your wedding?” he asked, laughing at Hera’s shocked face while she gaped at him in disbelief.
Hunter snapped his fingers and easily captured her attention when he smiled at her. He didn’t seem to mind what Eric pointed out, and she smiled hesitantly. “I’m sorry I forgot again,” she apologised. Hunter smiled in return and shook his head as if he understood she didn’t do it on purpose.
He took her hands in his and had all her focus zeroed on him with just that.
“I promise to love you faithfully with all my heart, body and soul,” he started with his vow, and Hera’s gaze softened, her lips twitching in a tiny smile. She knew why he felt the need to reassure her of his faithfulness. After all, she accused him of cheating. She knew he loathed himself for cheating on her as much as she did back then.
“Goddess, I want to make you the happiest person in the universe. I want to take away all the sorrow from you and gift you a new wonderful life,” Hunter avowed. “I will protect you, trust you and respect you. I will share your joys and sorrows, and I will always be there for you to comfort you in times of need,” he declared.
Lifting her hands to his mouth, he kissed the back of her hands one after the other. Hera wanted to lean forward and seal his lips with hers. It was so tempting, but she resisted the urge to kiss him. How could she interrupt him when he was saying all those nice things to her?
“I promise to love and cherish you and your hopes and dreams and keep you safe at my side. All that is mine is now yours. Goddess Hera, I give you my hand, my heart, body and soul and all my love to you for as long as I live,” Hunter said with utmost sincerity.
“And of course, my money is included in that list as well,” he added, which earned him a giggle from his bride.
Hera winked at him and laughed when he made a kissy face, pouting his lips.
“Hera Hunter, I promise to love you through the good times and the bad, in sickness and in health regardless of where life takes us,” Hunter concluded with his vows and looked at Eric expectantly.
His best friend grimaced, his face twisting in disgust. “Aw, it’s so cute that you two are way too cheesy and overly dramatic,” Eric said sarcastically. “Seriously though, we can write a script for a romantic movie out of your confessions,” he said, rolling his eyes at them. ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀꪶ
Eric pronounced them as man and wife and then concluded the ceremony saying, “I know how desperate you are, Ace. Go ahead, do it. You can kiss your bride now.”
Hunter grinned from ear to ear, and Hera’s expression mirrored his. “Time to teach you a French kiss,” Hunter said, beaming at his bride while she giggled, blushing crimson red.
They both tore their eyes off each other to look at Eric when they heard him scoff. “As if you haven’t dipped your tongue down her throat yet,” Eric said, pretending to gag. Hera scowled at Eric’s words. “Why does he make it sound so dirty?” she asked, her question directed at Hunter.
Ignoring Hera’s curious eyes, Hunter scowled at his best friend. “For the record, I haven’t,” he said, sounding offended. “Yeah, sure,” Eric said, not believing his words. “Anyway, keep it PG, and now I’m out of here,” he said, turning on his heels to give them privacy.
As soon as Eric left, Hunter pulled Hera into a bone-crushing hug, whispering an I love you into her ear. When Hera pulled away from his embrace, she had a glint in her eyes, a teasing smirk playing on her lips. “Dipping tongue down my throat, huh?” Hera asked. “Are we going to do it right now?” She sounded way too curious.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea. Your brother won’t like it,” Hunter pointed out and laughed at her when she pouted in disappointment. The melodic sound of his laughter was the only sound she could concentrate on in that open atmosphere as everything else faded into mist.
Hera stared silently, admiring his beautiful features without blinking eyes.
“Stop staring, Mrs Hunter. It’s rude,” he said jokingly. “Oh, shut up and kiss me, you idiot,” she said, pulling him down, her hands fisting the material of his T-shirt.
Hunter kissed her slow and sweet, taking his time nibbling and biting her lips one after the other. As Eric said, Hunter kept it to the PG level for sure and no tongue involved in the kiss. He was enjoying the sensual kiss, much to Hera’s annoyance. She took charge and deepened the kiss when Hunter kept teasing her.
Hunter pulled away from the kiss way too soon, and with her chest heaving, Hera glared at him in annoyance. He chuckled, pecking her lips once more. “I heard your tummy growling,” he said as if that was a good enough reason to deprive her of his kiss.
“Hmm, maybe because I’m hungry,” Hera muttered, eyeing him with a starved look in her eyes before trying to steal another kiss, but he moved his head away in time. He knew the hidden meaning behind her words but chose to ignore her. “Come on, you’ll get to kiss me when your tummy gets filled,” he said determinedly, and Hera whined in frustration.
“Don’t you want to eat your special wedding breakfast?” he asked and took her hand in his to lead her back to their friends. Hera looked at her bridal bouquet and asked, “What do I do with this?”
“I thought you would keep it with you until it stayed fresh?” Hunter asked, sounding unsure. Hera would love to keep it, but she wouldn’t. “I’m the bride, and it’s a bridal bouquet. I’m supposed to throw it over my head,” she said informatively, and Hunter laughed at her duh tone. “No one’s here to catch it,” he said and shrugged.
He noticed how her face dropped in disappointment. He bit his lip and looked at the enormous sea as a thoughtful look crossed his features before he looked back at Hera. “You can throw it into the sea. You never know, a mermaid could use it for Goodluck,” he said, winking at his bride.
Hunter smiled in satisfaction and mentally patted himself for bringing her smile back. He also made a mental note to ask someone to pick it up later. He wouldn’t want to contribute to the growing water pollution.
He captured the moment in his cell phone, grinning wide while Hera threw her bouquet over her head.
He opened his arms wide, and Hera rushed into his chest, her lovely smile stealing his breath away for the ninth time.