His Naughty Lessons-Chapter 312: I Do

** Eli **

"Ladies and gentlemen, family and friends. We are gathered here today as witnesses to join Harper McKenzie and Eli Isaac Sterling in the union of marriage ..."

Years later, Eli would remember hearing those words somewhat vaguely behind him. But the voice would be muffled, unclear, because at that moment, his whole mind was focused on the beautiful woman in front of him. On that light trail of tears that he lifted his hand to brush his thumb over, trying to dust it away.

Not because she didn’t look breathtaking with that delicate glisten on her face, but because she had done the same for him barely an hour ago ... and he was honored to be able to return the favor. Especially honored when he got to do it while they clasped hands under the rose arch, while she looked back at him with such a soft gleam in her eyes that reflected all the brightness of the sunset sky ... as if her gaze enveloped his whole world.

"As we all know, this marriage is not the start of a new relationship, but a declaration of the evergoing next Chapter in their lives together. Harper and Eli have spent fourteen years knowing each other, sharing laughs and tears with each other, and that is what we are here to witness today — what their relationship has become through over half a lifetime of friendship and commitment and true love ..."

Years later, Eli would remember hearing those words as well, the story of how the two of them had met and fallen in love, how those long years had led them to this moment that carried a holy meaning. But the details would be blurry, hazy, because he knew that no words could ever sum up the journey that the officiant was trying to share with their audience. It was a precious story held close by the two of them, one that only they knew how to tell.

But the muffled haze ended there. The brief drift in surrealness ended when the introductory speech drew to an end, and when the officiant said, "Now, it is time for both of you to declare yourselves to one another."

Everything suddenly became vibrantly, crystally clear, grounding him into the reality that was finally, truly here, with no more uncertainty or doubts.

"Do you, Harper McKenzie, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, to love and to honor, from this day forward until the end of your days?"

"I do."

No hesitation, no looking away from his eyes. The final moment came with the final question, with the final answer that couldn’t be more simple.

"Do you, Eli Isaac Sterling, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, to love and to honor, from this day forward until the end of your days?"

"I do."

The words felt holy and ethereal as they left his lips. Such simple sounds, a mere two syllables, but how could they have the power to change a life forever? How could they fill his heart with so much happiness and embrace his soul with so much joy?

He looked deep into her eyes, just as she did his, and the silent echoes of those two simple words stretched between them like a blessing of eternity ... until the officiant held up the pair of matching wedding rings in his palm.

"These wedding rings are a symbol of binding. An unbroken circle with ends that have been joined together, representing your union and an infinity of love." The larger ring was placed into her palm first, the one that bore her name and today’s date carved on the inside. "Harper, as you place this ring on Eli’s finger, please repeat after me—"

His heart slammed to a hard stop as she held his hand in hers, the wedding band right at his fingertip.

"With this ring—"

"With this ring—"

"I pledge you my love—"

"I pledge you my love—"

"Today, tomorrow, always, and forever."

"Today, tomorrow, always, and forever."

And as that ring slid onto his finger, warm with the temperature of her skin and blessed by her vow and her love ... He wondered how such a tiny piece of metal could seem to weigh so much, and at the same time, feel so perfect in where it belonged.

As if it was the missing piece that finally completed his life.

~ ~

** Harper **

The ring was mesmerizing on his finger. An adornment that shone warmly against the sunset, a mark that proved he was hers.

Harper wanted to hold his hand and admire the sight forever ... if not for her heart slamming to a hard stop as the smaller ring landed in his palm, the one that bore his name and today’s date carved on the inside.

"Eli, as you place this ring on Harper’s finger, please repeat after me—"

When her heart resumed its beating, it was with a lost rhythm that refused to be controlled, thrashing wildly as he held her hand in his, the wedding band right at her fingertip.

"With this ring—"

"With this ring—"

"I pledge you my love—"

"I pledge you my love—"

"Today, tomorrow, always, and forever."

"Today, tomorrow, always, and forever."

For the second time in her life, he slid a ring onto her finger, and it glided snugly over her knuckles, settling perfectly into the spot where it belonged.

A matching adornment, a mirroring mark. A tiny piece of metal that filled her heart and soul with so much happiness and joy that she couldn’t even put it into words.

But they didn’t need words.

Because—

"I am so happy to pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss!"

—Because when he cupped her cheeks with trembling hands and leaned forward to kiss her, she knew the answer that had always been written in the stars.

She was his, and he was hers.

Her husband. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

Her destiny.

The beautiful missing piece to her happy world.

.

.

.

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** Author’s Note **

I’m feeling emotional as Harper and Eli’s journey draws to an end. Sorry that today’s Chapter was late — I rewrote this scene from the ground up three times to try to get the emotions right, and I hope this last version can do this lovely couple justice!

The main story officially ends here. Next up will be a short extra wrapping up some loose ends for Tyler and Chelsea (very short, about three or four Chapters). And for those of you like me who will be feeling nostalgic about Harper and Eli, I’ve also prepared a free bonus gift for you guys :) Remember Harper’s first "primer lesson", the make-out session that got interrupted by a phone call? Well, in my first draft of the story, that scene was quite a bit naughtier. I eventually deleted it because it didn’t quite fit their chemistry at the time, but if you want to take a peek, you can find the original version now at ko-fi.com/hazelwrites.

Hope you’ll enjoy the reminder of how far Harper has come on her journey of these naughty lessons ;) And take a guess — what’s coming up tomorrow between her brother and her bestie?