A wedding is an event, but marriage is a life.

-Myles Munroe

"Have I told you how beautiful you looked today?"

"No.." I peered at him from beneath my lashes.

"Well then, you looked absolutely beautiful today."

Suppressing a smile, I arched my eyebrows. "Just today?"

"No, you look beautiful everyday but today...the most."

My cheeks warmed up at his compliment. Even though I wore heels, I tipped high and wrapped my arms around his neck, to get closer to him. My chest flattened on his hard chest, his firm hands glided over my back and we were just a breath apart.

"Is that so?" I glanced at his lips with hooded eyes before meeting his smouldering ones. "Have I told you how handsome you looked today?"

He shook his head. The beginning of a smile evident on his lips. Thus I couldn't resist pressing mine on those lips, swallowing his smile. It had been this way for a week now. Me finding every opportunity to touch him, feel him, taste him. I honestly didn't care anymore of what he thought of my advances.

As I came up for air, I breathlessly whispered. "That's how handsome you look."

These last few days, my body had a mind of its own whenever he came in my sight. It was like I was a moth and he was my flame. The attraction, the urgency was not just from me. I could feel the same from him whenever he would partake in my advances. There were so much unextinguished fire between us that only one thing would help us.

Maybe if we just did it and get it out of our system, perhaps then we could be apart from each other for long because now it was literally torture whenever we were not together.

Warm lips caressed my bare shoulder, tugging me out of my torturous thoughts. "Penny for your thoughts, Mrs. Sanders?"

The new surname gives me so much feels that I felt like I was floating in the air.

Our eyes met and tension lit up through our gaze. His grey streaks searched my face, confirming what he thought I was thinking and I didn't try to hide anything. Let him know. Let him feel. I couldn't pass every second of everyday longing for his touch, his love over my body. I had no idea when I became like this but I knew, it's only him who did this to me.

It was only Tyler, my husband who made me feel like an sex addict and I wasn't ashamed about it, at all.

"Tonight." He promised with his husky voice. His grip on my waist tightened, pulling my hips to his, making me feel his own urgency. "I swear tonight, Claire."

I swallowed, feeling my throat go dry all of a sudden. I wouldn't stop him. I would let him show his urgency however he wanted.

A clearing of throat broke our bubble of desire. I turned to the intruder and it was Chloe, in her lime coloured bridesmaids dress, grinning like a lunatic. My sister had a fetish for neon colours for as long as I could remember. No wonder, Chloe was so bold and outspoken. She definitely dressed the part.

"You both really can't keep your hands off each other, can you?"

"Please, hands?" A manly, brash voice said from behind her, before revealing himself and smirked. "Try mouths."

"Neil, please not here too." I hissed, blushing like a tomato and fighting myself from scampering away to hide under a table.

"Exactly, not here too guys." He barked out a laugh, not caring how many elite family members of the society were eyeing us, with their nose turned high up in the air.

"You do know you both will get your own private time, right?" Brandon, my brother-in-law joined my torment duo, with a teasing grin of his own.

"Honey, you know how newlyweds are." Chloe winked, cozying up in her husband's arms. "After all, we were the same." As if sensing the retort in my mouth, she raised a finger in the air. "Although....not this much. They were practically doing it on the floor rather than dancing."

"Chloe!"

My embarrassment doubled when I felt Tyler wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me to his front. "Excuse me, nosy people but she is my wife and I have every right to kiss my wife wherever I want. PDA be damned."

Mortified. That was how I felt.

"And that's ladies and gentlemen, is how you shut up bunch of haters." Neil made a shooting sign with his hands then came up and hugged Tyler from side. "Don't worry, boss. I'm with you both."

Tyler replied him by using a elbow.

"Mommy!"

A little girl in white dress called before slamming onto me, stopping Neil from retorting whatever wicked comeback he had in his mouth. I learned down to her level, smoothing out the creases on her pretty mini wedding dress. This little girl with tiara full of flowers on her head was my little bride.

Today wasn't only mine and Tyler's wedding. It was mine to Tyler and Lydia. When I married her dear daddy, she was standing and smiling right by his side. It wasn't only me and Tyler who walked down the aisle after being married by the priest and signing the marriage certificates. Lydia was right between us when we walked down the aisle to start our newly married life.

"Grandma said, I can stay with her and grandpa tonight. Can I mommy? Can I please?" Lydia exclaimed, jumping on her little feet.

My forehead creased at her words and I stood up straight, looking at Helen who followed Lydia to us. "I thought perhaps she could stay with us tonight and let you both have some privacy."

"Why? There's no---"

Tyler tightened his hold on me, making me swallow my own denial. "Thank you, mom."

As I said before, mortified.

"You both want to go now or you want to dance more ....?" Chloe trailed off, biting her lips from laughing out loud.

I should stop her from meeting Neil. She's becoming more and more like him.

And, speak of the devil and he shall open his mouth. "Maybe they want to do that at home."

"Yes." Tyler didn't miss a beat as he answered with a straight face. He turned to his mom. "We should leave. It's late already. Lydia must be tired."

"Yeah, sure. Use the little girl as an excuse." Neil said, under his breath.

Thankfully, it didn't reach Helen's ear. "Yes, Lydia, say goodbye to them."

I hugged and kissed her goodbye, promising to have her home whenever she wanted. Tyler verbally said goodbye but upon my gesture, he stiffly hugged her then hesitantly kissed her back when Lydia kissed him. They were already getting so close together and it wasn't just me who noticed this.

I advanced to Helen who rubbed away moisture from her eyes and hugged her. She wobbly smiled as she whispered in my ear, in gratitude. "Thank you. Thank you so much for coming into their life. You are really an angel."

Angel? That's a bit far-fetched. I'm no angel.

I wanted to say something like how her son was the one who came into my life and swept me off my feet but I clammed my mouth, in fear of many curious questions about our first meeting. Instead, I answered something else, nonetheless truth.

"They're the best thing that ever happened to me."

It seemed like my answer was something gold because her face lit up like a Christmas tree and she couldn't have hugged me tighter.

After a whole fifteen minutes of hugs, kisses and best wishes from family and friends, Tyler literally swept me off my feet and practically ran out the door before anyone could stop us for a best wish chat.

Mortified couldn't even describe me after the hundreds of laugh we left behind us.

A black limousine, draped in white fabric and flowers stood outside on the wide porch of New York's one of the finest victorian mansion, where the wedding was held. Never in my wildest dream had I thought, my wedding would be a fairytale wedding.

Tyler's mom, Helen and my mom, Caroline became my two fairy godmothers. They turned an old victorian mansion to a dream come true wedding venue. Of course, with the helps of a whole wedding planner team. At first, I wanted something small as I never liked been in the spotlight but then I realised who my fiancé was. So I gave the reins to the two mother hens and they gave me a wedding of a lifetime.

The actual wedding was held on the large backyard with a view of the beach down the hill from where the mansion was. Then they complimented the reception inside the giant ballroom. The decorations, the foods, the bands and everything were spot on. I couldn't have asked for more.

"Finally, I have you alone."

Tyler nudged his face toward my neck, caressing my skin. I pulled back and traced a finger over his sharp jawline, earning a small groan from him.

"You have me alone for the whole night." I whispered, breathlessly.

A devilish grin appeared on his handsome face and I squealed as he dropped me on the leather seat of the car, and swiftly pressed his chest over mine, caging me with his arms on both side of my head.

"You have no idea how happy that makes me."

When I felt a slight poking on my thigh, I bit my lip from snickering. "I think I have." I glanced down at his expanding front then his face and I couldn't help myself from giggling.

"Well, it's your fault for teasing me every day of last week." He gritted out as he pressed his hips to mine, emitting a gasp from me at the sheer size of his reaction to my whole week of teasing.

Hearing my gasp, his dark eyes flickered to my lips. Soon, he pulled my bottom lip between his teeth, biting it, sucking it till it swelled.

"Tyler...." My breathy whisper was ignored as he gave my neck his undivided attention and his right hand skimmed down, pressing over my heaving breasts. I pushed at his shoulder to meet his eyes. When he reluctantly met my eyes, I gestured to the speaker beside the intercom from where we could hear the driver's voice.

"Sir, we've reached."

Tyler cleared his throat then pressed a button on the intercom. "We'll be out in a minute." Then he straightened up, pulling me along with him. He took several long breaths before opening his eyes. "You make me lose control, Claire. You make me reckless."

The wall around him, demolished. Finally, he was letting me in, letting me see his true self. The serious looking man I saw on that fateful day at the diner was gone, replaced by a more laid-back, relaxed version of him. The dark shadows that had engulfed him for years to torment, were finally lifted.

After the fiasco that had me and Lydia in tears, Tyler was suddenly a changed man. It was like he was free, like he had became couple of years younger- smiling and laughing with no resistance.

"Don't worry. You make me feel the same." Lifting myself over his legs, I cupped his face and placed a lingering kiss on his mouth but before we could lose ourselves in the fiery fog of passion, I opened the door and sprinted out with my dress held high. The white shiny veil trailing behind me with the sound of my laugh and his forceful footsteps.

"You tease!" I heard him shout in amusement. "Claire, Wait. Don't cross, wait!"

I stopped at the foot of the stairs. Continuous giggles escaping my mouth but that soon stopped when he reached me and bend to pick me up without huffing for a breath.

"Why? I can walk, you know!"

The corner of his eyes crinkled as a tender expression hovered over his face. "Can't forget the tradition." He winked as he pushed the main door with his shoulder and crossed over the threshold with me in his arms.

The house was basked in silence. The two separated archways on each side led to darkness. Only the lavish chandler on the ceiling kept the darkness away from swallowing the foyer.

"Where is everyone?" I asked in a hushed voice.

"Day off." Was the small reply I got as he climbed up the stairs.

Two lights from the wall lamps in the hallway greeted us. We were alone. Completely alone in the whole house and I knew why. The thrill of having the whole place to us spread all over my body, anticipation of what would happen when we enter his bedroom--our bedroom, was torturing me.

When the door opened, Tyler placed me on my feet. The room was darkened as well. I felt him move away from me and soon light flooded the whole room.

I still couldn't get over the beauty of this room. Even though the walls and furnitures were coated in dark, it didn't repulse me. The whole sight of the room screamed rich, manly and sensual like the man residing in it.

While Tyler started pressing several buttons activating the shutters over the wide windows, I walked to the full length mirror beside the side table.

Once again, I was mesmerised by the dress that was wrapped around me. It was slim, silk clothing that went with my personality. Simple, not too extravagant and definitely nothing bold. The bare shoulders...well seeing how Tyler couldn't stop kissing my neck, shoulders whole day; I'd say, it did its work.

The swift scent of cologne drifted to me as I felt a strong presence behind me. Suddenly, nerves started creeping on me. I shouldn't be nervous. I wanted this. I wanted him, all of him.

Firm fingers graced my neck as the necklace loosened, I clutched it before placing it on the side table. Keeping eye contact in the mirror, I hastily got rid of my earnings. When no more accessories were left on me, I felt his hand on my hair.

One by one, the clips dropped on the floor as my brown locks tumbled behind me but he wasn't done. His hands smoothed out the knots and massaged the scalp. I felt relief wash over me as the tension left behind by the tight clips started disappearing.

Unknowingly, a sigh escaped me and before I could even blink, Tyler twirled me and kissed me square on the mouth. My hand gripped his shoulders as he gave me a knee weakling kiss that lit fire inside me.

His large hand found the zipper on my back and soon the dress loosened, followed by the drop of it around our feet. His hold came away from me as I stepped away from the pile my wedding dress made then I was left standing in only my lingerie and stockings. The white, lacy fittings that I especially bought for him and by the look of pure desire on his face, he definitely appreciated what he saw.

"I didn't know you were hiding this under the dress..." He swallowed as he swapped his eyes over me once again. His fist clenching as if he was holding himself back from pulling me. "If I had known, we would have been here three hours ago."

I licked my lips, trying to even the speeding blood rush I was experiencing at his open inspection. "Well, now we are here." I said slowly, stepping closer and sliding my hands under his tuxedo jacket. "And you're far too dressed. I don't like it."

"Me neither."

Frantically, I helped him out of his jacket and shirt. His strong shoulders, muscles flexing as he shrugged off the offending garments. He stood straight, unashamed in just his briefs, basking himself in utter glory. My eyes took him in as if I was dying in thirst and he was my only chance at a sip of water. Suddenly, I had this strange urge to lick his pronounced ups and downs, stoked over his chest.

Do whatever you want. After all he is your husband now.

Exactly. My husband. God, I couldn't get enough of that word. It felt so surreal. I placed my palms over his bare chest, feeling him up as he hissed at my touch, shutting those mesmerising eyes that had me hypnotised whenever they laid upon me.

A pale, faded line under his arm distracted me from my exploration. At first glance, I realised it was a scar about four to five inch long. How come I never noticed it before?

Probably because you weren't exploring him so thoroughly before.

Probably. It looked like it had seen many years but the faded line didn't decipher that it must had been quite painful. My heart twisted at the agony he might have felt, my fingers ran over it gently.

"What happened?"

His eyes snapped open, momentarily distort but soon, focused at what I was looking. At once, I felt him stiffened.

Noticing the quick change in his stance, I realised I had ventured into a taboo topic and reopened an old wound.

"It's nothing." He gritted out after a long, bitter silence.

I palmed his cheek, urging him to confide in me because he promised. "Tyler, I don't want to start our marriage together by staying in the dark." When he yet again, opened his mouth to protest, I added. "You promised."

Abruptly, he closed his mouth and eyes, and touched his forehead to mine. After a pause, he whispered. "It's a scar."

I rolled my eyes and stated the obvious. "I know it's a scar."

"Keep quiet, woman. Let me start however I want." The upward tilt of his mouth showed how 'serious' he was. "You already ruined the moment when you know how much I ache for you."

He brushed his lower body on my front to make me feel the source of his aching and I regretted, ever opening the old wound.

Should've opened a different thing. Thing which would've sooth us both.

"It was a month prior to Laura's death." He went on, hissing out his late wife's name as if it was a curse. "Blake came to the house, to meet me."

"Blake?"

Hearing my question, there came a faraway look in his eyes and his voice went softer. "Blake had been my friend throughout my childhood. We grew up together, we went to school together, we matured into uni together. We were inseparable. We were like brothers. Brothers, Claire and I never had any brother!"

It clearly showed how he treasured his friendship, how he still speaks about his childhood friend with the same volume of longing in his voice. Tyler was an only child and for him to have a friend who was like a brother to him made a big difference.

But if Tyler speaks so fondly about his friend then where is he now?

"But then Laura came into my life and turned my life upside down."

The way a small smile graced his face made me falter. I wasn't sure whether my heart could take this part of the story. Hearing about his memories with Laura would make me wish I was the first woman in my husband's life but then I wouldn't have a precious daughter to dote upon. I guess everything really happens for a reason.

"Even though a girl came into my life, Blake and I didn't get distanced. In fact, Blake, I and Laura became inseparable." He chuckled, reminiscing those days. "After we graduated, Laura and I married but Blake was still a constant presence in our life." Then his voice went lower as a dark look passed over his face. "Then that night happened."

I swallowed, guessing it was the night Laura died and an ominous feeling washed over me. My hands hovered over his arms, confusion wrecking havoc in me, whether I should let him continue and be engulfed into the darkness of the past or stop him and save him the pain of speaking of it as well as letting me wonder about the thing that changed him so much for the rest of my life.