28 The Marriage
It was the day of the wedding, and Shao Lin felt nervous jitters throughout her body.
Long Xia helped her put on her wedding dress after her personal stylists had placed her hair in a half-up and down fashion, then completing her look with some light makeup. She then had the time to take some photos in her lacy sheath dress shortly before Long Xia, and a few others escorted her to the venue of the hotel she checked in. She saw the man that meant the most to Long Yat-sen waiting for her shortly before she had to walk.
He approached her. He had combed his auburn hair to the side. He wore a fine dark-blue suit that hugged his body, and he held a gentle smile that touched his eyes and calmed her nerves.
Long Jie gave her an arm as he said, "Are you ready?"
At that, Shao Lin smiled at him with a nod. "Yes," she breathed.
The double doors opened. Her bridesmaids walked in first as Shao Lin stepped forward behind, fully veiled, with Long Jie by her side. She did not know Long Jie very well, but his presence provided her with a sort of comfort that meant she was not alone, to assure her that everything would be all right. Perhaps because he was the one that raised Long Yat-sen and Long Xia, two people that meant something to her now, even if it was difficult for her to describe what it was.
She started to walk down the aisle. Flowers of different types covered the venue, and she stepped over a sea of them when she saw him. Long Yat-sen.
Her heart started to flutter in a thunderous beat as she took him in. He wore black as she wore white. His inky hair had fallen over his deep ice-blue eyes. His expression was reserved for the crowd, but it gradually softened as she neared.
Shao Lin beamed beneath her veil. She then took a glance at the crowd. To one side, she saw a beautiful woman with dark hair who resembled Long Xia. She wore a gentle smile at her—and Long Jie. Next to her stood two tall auburn-haired identical twin men.
The other side of the venue, meant for her family when she had none, was filled with some friends and relatives of the Long family.
Shao Lin also noticed a man standing closely behind Long Yat-sen—his best man—kept glancing at where the bridesmaids stood, but he was staring at her maid of honour. Long Xia had looked beautiful in her light-blue gown that hugged her curves and complemented the starkness of her winter eyes, the jet-black of her hair. Shao Lin understood why people would stare at Long Xia, but there was something in that man's gaze that resembled something else, like…longing.
Shao Lin then shifted her gaze, returning her focus onto Long Yat-sen as she got closer. His eyes were filled with mirth, and her breath caught. She did not want to misunderstand him, but the look he gave her revealed that to him, this was not just a marriage contract, that it meant something else to him, too, but she wondered what.
She stopped right at where he stood, and Long Jie let go of her, kissing her forehead lightly, giving her away gently.
Standing before Long Yat-sen, Shao Lin was afraid of what he'd see beneath the veil.
She never thought of herself as plain, but she never thought of herself as devastatingly beautiful like Long Xia. She wondered if he would regret his choice when she sees her, whether it was because he did not want her or because, to him, this was only just a marriage of convenience after all.
Long Yat-sen unveiled her slowly, and her face flushed.
She watched as his mouth parted. His eyes widened slightly. He appeared as if he was taking in the sight of her, devouring her with his heavy-lidded gaze. He looked as if he didn't want to look at anything else now that he saw her, glowing in her dress, and Shao Lin's flush deepened.
The person officiating the wedding then began the ceremony, disrupting their moment.
But Long Yat-sen's gaze never tore away from her, and she wondered what this meant to him. She wanted nothing more than to peer into his mind, his body, and his soul. She was practically asking him to bear himself to her with her eyes, mid-ceremony.
They listened to the words of the marriage officiant; they exchanged their vows. The rings were golden bands with something engraved inside, but she could not see what it was.
Shao Lin had nearly forgotten that she had to kiss Long Yat-sen to officiate their marriage. Her heart jumped at the reminder. He took a few steps closer to narrow the space between them. He placed a hand on her hip, the other beneath the nape of her neck, baring her before him. He tilted her face up, and she looked at him—opening and inviting, lips apart. He looked at her so ardently and so preciously.
He dipped his head forward, and then she closed her eyes, parting her lips before him. She felt his breath first and then the slight brush of his mouth against hers. It was soft. It was gentle.
Long Yat-sen brought her closer against him, deepening the kiss, moving his mouth over hers. It only lasted a moment before he parted from her.
It was then official. They were now husband and wife. Mr. and Mrs. Long.
When Shao Lin felt him step away, she did not want to face the crowd, fearing they would see the expression written all over he face.
She wanted more.
Their gazes met then, and she could see it written on his face, too, that he was overcome with the same desire as her.
To think a simple kiss nearly compelled her to ask him to take her away, to skip the recessional, to skip the celebration and to go home with him, begging him for more than just a kiss.
Shao Lin had many simple kisses before, but nothing like this.
She composed herself, not understanding the intense desire she felt for Long Yat-sen. It wasn't something she ever felt before. His expression had changed when he faced the crowd, giving her an arm. She took it as they walked back down the aisle with their friends and family clapping and cheering.
Long Xia and Long Yat-sen's best man had followed them along with everyone else.
After making their exit, heading to the reception, Long Yat-sen tugged Shao Lin to the side, away from peering eyes.
He kissed her then, hard, his mouth crashing and moving over hers. Shao Lin met him with equal ferocity, equal eagerness, her hands roaming over his suit, feeling pure muscle beneath. She was unbuttoning his jacket, digging to feel more of him.
Her face was flushed, her lips plump when Long Yat-sen broke the kiss suddenly and said, "You look so beautiful."
Her flush deepened, breathing hard as they tried to calm their bodies, not saying another word. Long Yat-sen then straightened and took her arm in his, leading her back to meet everyone else since they could not linger for much longer, not with their desire so raw and intense, not with their arousal hanging in the air. Being alone and close together gave them ideas they could not do now, with many waiting for them.
