[BL] CRAVING HIM: Addicted to His Voice-Chapter 385: The Wedding Reception 3

Then, he looked back at Evric, his husband, his entire universe.

Hand-in-hand, they turned to the crowd and began their walk back down the glass aisle. As the lyrics "I’d climb every mountain and swim every ocean just to be with you" filled the air, the truth of their history, felt absolute.

They had survived the toxicity, the distance, and the doubt. They had survived the storm, and now, they were walking together into the sun.

The applause was deafening, a wall of sound that validated their "together forever." As they passed the rows of chairs, a rain of white rose petals and gold confetti descended upon them, catching in their hair and sticking to their suits. Evric turned to Zayn, his face etched with a level of satisfaction that bordered on reverence.

In the middle of the aisle, Evric stopped. Ignoring the hundreds of eyes on them, he pulled Zayn in and captured his lips in a kiss so deep and emotional that it drew another roar from the crowd.

When they finally pulled apart, Zayn noticed the moisture on Evric’s cheeks. With a soft, lingering smile, Zayn reached up, using his thumb to gently wipe away the tears of the man who had fought so hard to keep him.

The Wedding Portraits: Freezing Time

As the guests began to migrate toward the reception marquee, the photographer beckoned the couple toward a secluded grove of ancient oaks for the formal portraits.

The Grooms Alone

The atmosphere shifted from celebratory to sacred. The photographer gave quiet instructions, but they barely needed them.

They leaned into each other instinctively. There were shots of their foreheads pressed together, eyes closed, just breathing in the fact that they were finally husbands.

They stood hand in hand, their new rings catching the fading sunlight. In these private moments, the world disappeared; it was just Zayn and Evric, two souls finally at peace.

The Families

Next came the legacy shots. Evric’s parents stood with a regal but softened pride, followed by Zayn’s parents, whose faces reflected a humble joy. The siblings, Evans, Chrisly, Nuala, and Liana, joined in, creating a bridge between two very different worlds.

Then came the heart of the session: Liam. The little boy was scooped up into his father’s arms. He sat between Evric and Zayn, his tiny hands patting their lapels, unaware of the history they had made but clearly sensing the love. It was the picture of a complete family, a moment of pure, untainted happiness.

The Inner Circle

Laughter officially replaced the tears when the friends arrived. Nantam, Dean, and Nicki burst into the frame, their energy infectious. Dean made a joke about Evric’s "ugly crying" at the altar, while Nicki teased Zayn about his new billionaire status. The siblings joined back in, and for a few minutes, the "Draeven Estate" was filled with the sound of genuine, rowdy friendship.

The Grand Assembly

Finally, the photographer climbed a ladder for the wide shot. Everyone family, best friends, and the wedding party, gathered around the couple. It was a chaotic, beautiful sea of smiles and expensive silk.

"Everyone look at the happy couple!" the photographer shouted.

As the shutter clicked, Evric squeezed Zayn’s hand tightly, a silent reminder: You’re real. You’re here. You’re mine.

❤️WEDDING RECEPTION❤️ 🎶A Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay🎶

While the crowd moved to the sound of soft strings, Evric pulled Zayn behind the shadow of a blooming white archway, stealing a moment of absolute privacy.

He leaned his forehead against Zayn’s, his hands resting heavily on Zayn’s waist. "I can’t stop looking at the ring on your finger," Evric murmured, his voice thick with a raw, grounding intensity. "You’re really mine now. Officially. Legally. Forever."

Zayn let out a soft, shaky breath, reaching up to adjust Evric’s collar. "I already was, Evric. The world just finally caught up." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Finally, they moved toward the reception.

🎶A Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay🎶

The MC’s voice boomed over the speakers, cutting through the chatter of the arriving guests. "Ladies and gentlemen, it is my distinct honor to present to you, for the very first time... The Husbands, Evric and Zayn Draeven!"

The double doors swung open, and the couple stepped into a sea of gold and white. The roar of the crowd was instantaneous. Guests stood on their chairs, champagne flutes were raised like a forest of crystal, and a fresh rain of gold petals fell from the ceiling. The shift was palpable, they were no longer the "fiancés" struggling for acceptance; they were a powerhouse, a unified front.

The Dance: HUSBAND💍 🎶Say You Won’t Let Go by James Arthur🎶

As the lights dimmed to a warm, amber glow, the world shrank until it was only the two of them on the circular dance floor. The music started, a slow, soulful melody that echoed through the high ceilings.

Evric pulled Zayn flush against him, his hand splayed firm against Zayn’s back. Sensing the slight tremor of nerves still lingering in Zayn’s frame, Evric leaned down, his lips brushing Zayn’s ear. "Breathe, love. I’ve got you. Just look at me."

Zayn rested his head on Evric’s shoulder, closing his eyes. In that moment, the weight of the past years, the running, the fighting, the being strong for everyone else, simply evaporated. He didn’t have to be a survivor anymore. He just had to be a husband.

Evric’s arms tightened around him, pulling him even closer as they swayed. A slow, triumphant smile spread across his face. He leaned down, his breath warm against Zayn’s ear as he whispered, "Mr. Zayn Draeven."

Zayn chuckled softly against his shoulder, the sound vibrating through both of them. "Yes, my husband?"

Evric pulled back just enough, lifting Zayn’s chin so their eyes met. His face flushed with a rare, boyish heat. "I hope you’re ready for tonight," he murmured, his voice dropping into a dark, suggestive register. "I’ve been waiting a long time for this specific night."

Zayn smiled, slowly lifting his head from Evric’s shoulder. He looked at his husband with a playful, daring spark in his eyes. "Yes, Daddy," he replied, the title a soft challenge that made Evric’s gaze instantly darken with possessiveness.

"This night is going to be different," Evric promised, his hand sliding down to the small of Zayn’s back, pressing him firmly against his frame. "It’s going to be extra. I’m going to make sure you remember every second of our first night as husbands."

Zayn didn’t look away. His smile grew more confident, more certain. "Claim my body," he whispered, "just the way you claimed my heart and captured my soul. It’s all yours, my darling husband."

A look of pure adoration crossed Evric’s face. "That’s my husband speaking," he said, his voice thick with emotion. He paused for a heartbeat, his forehead leaning against Zayn’s. "I love you, Zayn. I love you so much it scares me sometimes."

Zayn’s face lit up with a quiet, radiant joy. "I know," he murmured. "Today proved everything. And I love you just as much as you love me."

Evric closed his eyes, pressing a long, lingering kiss to Zayn’s forehead. They continued to dance, lost in their own world of whispered promises and shared breath, while their family and friends watched from the sidelines, witnessing the final, peaceful victory of a love that had once seemed impossible.

The Toasts: Words of Legacy and Love 🎶The Night We Met by Lord Huron🎶

The speeches were kept intimate and powerful. Evric’s father stood first, raising a glass with a steady hand. "I’ve spent my life building a name," he said, looking directly at Zayn. "But my son spent his life finding a heart. Zayn, thank you for making our family entirety."

Zayn’s mother followed, her voice trembling but her smile radiant. "I used to pray for someone to protect my son. Today, I see he didn’t just find a protector; he found his equal."

Finally, Evans stood up. "We’ve seen the storms these two went through. Most people would have drowned, but they built a ship. To the men who proved that love is a choice you make every single day."

"To Evric and Zayn!" Evans shouted, his voice cracking with joy.

"To Evric and Zayn!" the crowd roared back in a unified thunder.

A forest of crystal flutes and silver chalices rose into the air. The sound of hundreds of glasses clinking together, a rhythmic, musical chime, echoed through the grand space.

As the formal dinner began, the tension of the day finally dissolved into soft chaos. The air was filled with the clinking of silver and the low hum of laughter.

Zayn sat at the head table, absentmindedly lifting a small bite of the artisanal appetizer to Evric’s lips as they watched Liam across the room, happily trying to "dance" with Liana. Evric barely tasted it. He was far more interested in watching Zayn laugh with Dean and Nicki, his gaze possessive yet calm.

As the music swelled and the laughter of their friends grew louder, Evric leaned in, his lips brushing Zayn’s ear. "Follow me," he whispered, his hand sliding into Zayn’s and pulling him gently away from the head table.

They slipped through...