Nikoli started to worry when Lily didn't immediately appear. He knew she'd been scared about freaking out in front of his family, and he hoped if she was having a panic attack, Adam could calm her down. Nik had given him a crash course in how to help her back when they first begrudgingly became friends.

When she and Adam stepped up to the doorway, his entire body relaxed. She was gripping Adam like he was the only thing keeping her from falling off the life raft and into shark-infested waters. The veil she wore kept him from seeing her face clearly, though. He wished he could so he could get a read on her emotions.

Luther slapped him on the back. "Told you not to worry, man."

He'd worry until he had her hand in his.

They started down the aisle, and he held his breath. God, she was beautiful. The dress was amazing, and he'd enjoy stripping her out of it later. Angel promised him he'd love it, and he did.

His chest tightened the closer they came. It wasn't a painful tightening, but more like a pressure. A warm blooming began in his stomach and rose through him, and he understood what it was. It was love and joy all rolled into one big lump in his heart.

Happiness. That was what all that meant. He was happy.

Lily took small steps, concentrating on not falling. She didn't wear heels well, but both Angel and Janet insisted on the four-inch heels now gracing her feet. Adam held her up, though. She needn't have worried. She kept her eyes trained on Nikoli, who wore the biggest smile she'd ever seen.

Adam waited at the bottom of the small raised dais while Nik took her hand and helped her up. Then he sat next to her mother.

But it was Nikoli who held her attention.

His hand was a little sweaty, but she didn't mind. It just meant he was as nervous as she was.

But it was the sheer love shining out of those black eyes of his that gave her the strength to stand here before God, their families, and their friends without falling apart.

"Hi," she whispered.

"Hi back." Nikoli placed a kiss across her knuckles.

"None of that, young man," the priest, Father Stephens, admonished. "Save that for the end."

"Sorry, Father."

Lily smiled at how contrite he looked. Nik might not show it, but he took his religion seriously.

Father Stephens cleared his throat. "We shall begin with the Liturgy of the Word." He went on to read passages from both the New and Old Testament, but Lily paid him no mind. She zoned him out a little, and her only thoughts were of Nikoli.

She remembered the first time he'd touched her. It wasn't that night in his apartment. It was that first day when he'd taken her hand and pulled her away from what she knew, what was comfortable. The sensations his fingers burned into her very being were something she'd remember until the day she died.

He was special. He made her feel things no one had, and it was the beginning of the end for her. Her manwhore had given her back her life, and that was more precious than anything he could ever give her.

She loved him.

Music started, and singing commenced. The hymn. She tried to sing along, but her focus wasn't there. It was on her memories.

He'd been so arrogant that day in the cafeteria, and then when he scrambled after her, demanding dinner, she'd found him charming despite what she knew of him.

And she'd had fun on their first date. Even if Adam showed up and tried to ruin it. Another shock on both fronts.

She smiled as she thought of the look on his face when she'd told everyone they had a bet on his car. Ellie. She thought he might have a stroke then and there.

Father Stephens began his talk on the importance of marriage.

She thought of all the times they'd lain on the couch watching Netflix. Then there were all the crazy places he'd taken her to eat. He was so sweet. Most people didn't know how sweet of a man he could be. He needed to let more people see that side of him. Then they might understand why she loved him so much.

"And now for the vows. Lily and Nikoli have decided to add their own words to the traditional vows. Nikoli, you may begin."

Lily blinked, coming out of her memories at Father Stephens's words. Vows. Yes. She remembered her vows. She hoped.

"Sometimes the most beautiful things are born of the most broken things. Sometimes we're too blind or too scared to recognize it, but sometimes we're brave enough to understand what we've been given, and we hold on tight."

Lily's breath caught at his words. They were beautiful. Janet was going to murder her because she couldn't hold back her tears no matter what.

"When I met you, I had no idea what you were about to do to me. But you showed me I could love someone and that they could love me back just for me. You gave me peace, Lily."

She was a blubbering mess. It was like his words were an arrow with a direct path to her heart.

"And so, I, Nikoli, take you Lily, to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you, Lily, and honor you all the days of my life."

How was she supposed to follow that up?

"And now Lily will speak her vows."

She sniffed.

"I was broken when you found me. I didn't think I'd ever be able to let anyone touch me ever again. I didn't think I was worth being loved because I destroyed the things I loved the most. When you met me, that's who I was."

Nikoli's heart broke when he heard her speak, her tears evident.

"Then you barreled into my life and refused to let me hide from you or myself. You took all the broken and jagged pieces of my soul and put them back together. You showed me what love really was with your kindness and your gentle touch. You gave me back my life, Nikoli Kincaid, and I will love you and only you all the days of my life."

Nikoli blinked back his own tears.

"And so, I, Lily, take you, Nikoli, to be my husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you, Nikoli, and honor you all the days of my life."

"If there is anyone with a reason why these two should not be married, speak now or forever hold your peace."

Nikoli glanced at Adam, as did Luther, Mike, and Janet.

He remained quiet.

Thank fuck, or Nikoli would have hurt him.

"The rings shall now be presented."

Jordan shyly came over and held up his little cushion, and Lily and Nikoli reached down and collected their rings from the strings they'd been tied on so the little boy couldn't accidentally lose them. Or eat them. That had happened to Lily's cousin. Her son had swallowed the rings. Nikoli still had nightmares about that story, so he'd insisted on the strings.

Nik took Lily's hand and slid her ring on. "I love you."

Lily's hand shook as she slid his finger on. "I love you too."

They held their linked hands up, and the priest blessed the rings.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife." Father Stephens smiled. "You can kiss your bride now, Nikoli."

Lily laughed when Nikoli stopped himself from cussing. She'd seen it form on his lips, and he'd bitten it back.

Gently, he pushed her veil back, revealing her tearstained cheeks. He pulled her to him, giving her a moment to adjust to the nearness of him. He always did this, and she would always appreciate it. Taking her face in his hands, he brushed a light kiss over her lips. It was sweet and gentle and there and gone in a heartbeat.

"I'll kiss you the way I want to later tonight," he whispered in her ear, and she shivered at the promise in his words.

Father Stephens led them the Lord's prayer and then another prayer of blessing. Finally, he said, "Peace be with you."

All through the church, the guests echoed the same words as they stood. That was their sign the ceremony was over. It was a vastly shorter version of a full Catholic wedding ceremony, but Lily wasn't Catholic. This was the ceremony she was comfortable with, and it was just as beautiful as the longer version.

The guests went out, followed by the bridal party, and then Nikoli took her hand and led her down the aisle and out the door where the guests waited. Bird seed was thrown as they made their way to the waiting limo that would take them to the hotel where the reception was being held.

Once they were inside, Nikoli turned and kissed her the way he wanted to. His tongue swept into her mouth, and he put every ounce of feeling and emotion he had into that kiss. Lily whimpered and wrapped her arms around him. When he pulled back, the sight of her swollen lips pleased him.

"Hi, Mrs. Kincaid."

"Hi, Mr. Kincaid." She smiled shyly up at him, and he dropped a kiss on her forehead.

"Are you happy, Milaya?"

"More than I could ever tell you."

Nikoli pulled her close and held her tight as they drove to the hotel.

One single thought remained.

The manwhore had finally found his peace.

** If you enjoyed Nik and Lily's story, make sure to check out Kade, Dimitri and Mason's story in the rest of the manwhore series anniversary editions available on Amazon, Apple, and Kobo! **