Once the toasts concluded, dinner was served—a classic wedding feast with all the traditional fare. As I ate, I noticed Emmett and the other vampires pushing their food around on their plates. They were trying to appear normal, to fit in, but they couldn't stomach the food. It wasn't their source of sustenance.

I set my cutlery down with a soft clang against the plate, catching Emmett's attention. He turned to look at me, and our gazes met. I offered him a small, thin smile, understanding how hard this must be for him and the others. There were no words that could make the situation better, so I simply reached out with my right hand and held his left one in mine. Generating some comfort for him.

"Thank you," Emmett said softly, giving me a knowing look that showed how much he appreciated this small gesture. I smiled at him, giving his hand a gentle squeeze, and never letting go.

I didn't return to my plate, having eaten less than half of it. To be fair, I didn't have much of an appetite. I was content just being here with him, and witnessing my best friend's happiness. With my free hand, I picked up my champagne glass and brought it to my lips, taking a satisfying gulp of the bubbly liquid. It went down smoothly.

For the rest of the dinner, Emmett and I engaged in idle chit-chat, our conversation flowing easily as we waited for the meal to conclude. His focus remained entirely on me, making the time pass more pleasantly. We roped Jasper and Alice into our conversation as well, and they seemed grateful to be included.

Soon enough, dinner concluded and the waitstaff cleared the plates from the tables. I thanked the male staff members who were assisting with the wedding. Guests soon scattered about, mingling once more. The dance floor quickly filled with eager dancers swaying to the music that flooded the air.

Emmett, of course, had pulled me onto the dance floor, drawing me close so that our bodies pressed together as we swayed to the music. Our laughter mingled in the air, creating a shared moment between just the two of us.

"Today has been perfect," I whispered into the air, our gazes still locked. "You've been perfect," I continued, my hands trailing up his tuxedo jacket before wrapping around his neck, fingers intertwining for security.

"You're the one who is perfect, Charlotte," Emmett replied smoothly, his words making my knees buckle for a moment. They were genuine and filled with love. My heart swelled; this moment couldn't be more perfect. "I love you," those three words spilt from his mouth like a child unable to contain the excitement. My expression flashed with shock briefly; I hadn't expected him to say it. After a moment of silence, he rushed to add, "I know it's only been two months, but I haven't felt this way in a long time."

I noticed that we had stopped moving, but my arms remained wrapped around him, and we gazed into each other's eyes filled with love. There was no denying it anymore—I realized I truly loved him.

"I love you too, Emmett," the words came naturally, flowing freely without hesitation or preparation. It felt as natural as breathing air. Unexpectedly, I leaned in towards him, feeling the anticipation build between us. Our lips met in a soft yet passionate kiss, and I felt him respond eagerly. As our mouths moved together, I gently brushed my tongue against the roof of his mouth, igniting a fiery sensation that seemed to radiate from deep within us both. His tongue intertwined with mine, sending electrifying shivers coursing through my body and intensifying the fiery passion between us.

Our fiery kiss ended, and Emmett laughed with joy. With effortless strength, he lifted my small frame off the ground and twirled me around, causing me to squeal with delight as I clung tightly to him. The world spun around us as he held me close, his laughter blending with mine in the joyous moment. It marked a turning point in our relationship.

"You know," I started, Emmett gently guiding me back onto the dance floor, the click of my heels echoing softly. "When I was younger, my Grams and I used to take dancing classes," I reminisced, recalling the years spent learning various dances together.

"Which ones did you learn?" he asked, raising an eyebrow with interest in the dances I had learned.

"There was the cha-cha-cha, paso doble, Viennese waltz," I listed a few of the dances we had been taught. "My favourite was the Argentine tango... There was such passion to it, a real fire," I tried to explain, and he seemed to catch my drift.

Then I saw it—the glint in his eyes, hinting at a mischievous plan. Without warning, Emmett spun me out, making me twirl a few times, ending up inches away from him. I watched as he walked over to the classical band and spoke something to them. They smoothly transitioned into a strain of Argentine tango music. Instantly, I felt my face flush as people began to clear the dance floor. Emmett strode back over to me with a confident smile.

"May I have this tango?" he asked, causing my cheeks to turn an even deeper shade of red, but I was more surprised that he knew how to tango.

All I could do was nod as he extended his hand to me, and I gladly accepted. He led me to the centre of the dance floor, where the tango's passionate intensity and deep connection awaited us. As we reached the centre, the music softened, its tempo evoking the elegance of classical melodies. With a sudden shift, Emmett grabbed my hand and twirled me slowly, his movements deliberate and fluid. He stepped around to the front, his eyes locking onto mine with an intense, unwavering gaze before letting go of my hand and continuing to circle me as if I were prey. He soon moved behind me, his large arms sliding up my arms, his fingertips grazing my skin with an icy chill that made me shiver.

Once his hands reached the tops of my arms, he gripped them firmly yet gently. With one swift move, he spun me around to face him. His hand found my lower back while mine rested on his shoulder, and our other hands clasped together. He led me through the steps, my legs poised and straight, yet moving elegantly and naturally. We extended our arms into the air, moving fluidly as if the steps were ingrained in us, flowing naturally with every motion.

At that moment, we parted, and I was in front of him, my back pressed against his chest, embodying the closeness the tango demanded. His right hand moved to my abdomen as we glided forward through the next steps. After a few intricate moves, his free hand passionately found its way to my chin, gently turning my face toward him for a fleeting moment. Then, with a swift motion, he spun me out, holding my hand firmly, only to spin me back in and catch me in his embrace. In one fluid move, he dipped me gracefully, our movements synchronized perfectly with the rhythm of the tango.

I heard the crowd cheer and clap, but my focus was solely on Emmett, who pulled me back up swiftly and gently. We resumed the pose that the tango required, our movements synchronized and fluid. We swirled on the spot, my leg kicking gracefully between his, my dress flowing with the motion. As we turned, I bent my leg, poised on its tiptoe, while he encircled me. I moved with him, my leg remaining arched and elegant as if spinning on that singular spot, perfectly in tune with the passion of the tango.

We exited the step and moved quickly to the next, transitioning seamlessly. As we stepped, he spun me out, both of us stretching our arms, arching them perfectly in sync. Emmett leaned down and placed a kiss upon my hand—a classic tango flourish that added a touch of storytelling. With a swift recline of my hand, he latched onto my wrist and spun me back into him. We moved in opposite directions, but our movements remained perfectly paced with each other as the tempo of the music quickened, matching the rapidity of our feet.

He grabbed my hand once again and pulled me in close, my body colliding with his chest, my breasts pressing against his firm torso. His fiery expression conveyed that he was fully embodying the passion of the tango. As the tempo increased, so did the intensity of our movements. Emmett's leg brushed against mine in a swift, elegant gancho, his knee lifting my dress slightly as he hooked his leg around mine. I responded with a swift boleo, my leg swinging out gracefully before snapping back into place.

I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, aware of the crowd's eyes on us, but at this moment, it was only me and Emmett. His hand slid from my back to my side, guiding me into a swift corte, our bodies bending and swaying in perfect harmony. The music swelled to a fevered pitch as Emmett executed a series of rapid, precise steps, his feet a blur of motion. I matched him step for step, impressed with myself for keeping up. He pulled me in and lifted me effortlessly, spinning me through the air before setting me back on the ground, our bodies never fully disconnecting.

Emmett spun me out gracefully as the final notes of the tango crescendo, the tempo intensifying as if building to a climactic finale. He swiftly pulled me back into his arms, and I instinctively wrapped mine around him, our bodies moving in sync. He led me back, the tips of my shoes gliding across the floor as he elegantly dragged me along. In a sudden move, he gripped my waist and effortlessly lifted me into the air, granting me a moment of weightlessness, and a single spin in mid-air. It was perfectly timed and synchronized with the final note, as I was embraced by him, he knelt and I extended my legs, my arms wrapping around his back in a seamless embrace. It felt like the perfect culmination of our dance.

The crowd cheered and clapped for us, as my heart raced against my chest, my breathing quick and uneven, as I locked eyes with him. His golden orbs stared back at me, a smirk playing on his lips and his dimples deepening, melting me further with each second. The dance had been exhilarating.

The thunderous applause and cheers from the crowd snapped me back to reality. With a smooth motion, Emmett effortlessly guided us both back to an upright position. I couldn't believe what we had just accomplished; it felt like I had never left those dance lessons behind. We bowed graciously to the crowd before stepping aside, giving other guests a chance to immerse themselves in the dancing.

My breath was still erratic, but as we moved to the side, I turned to him and let out a chuckle. Without hesitation, I jumped into his arms, wrapping mine around his neck, and pulling him into a tight embrace. His strong arms enveloped my waist, lifting me effortlessly off the ground.

"That was," I gasped, catching my breath. "That was amazing!" I exclaimed, leaning my head back to meet his gaze, still caught in our pose. "Where did you learn to..."

"Think you're the only one who took classes," Emmett replied with a grin, effortlessly answering my question. I chuckled before leaning in to kiss him, our lips meeting with deepening passion. He gently lowered me back to the ground, breaking the kiss but leaving me momentarily forgetting all my worries.

Those five minutes were the best five minutes...

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