by Ward, Alice
Asher took both of my hands in his and pulled them to his chest. He stared down at me, happy tears welling in his eyes.
“I’ve spent a majority of the last two days searching for the words to say to you in this moment,” he confessed. “I had a long, elegant speech rehearsed, but now that the moment is here, I can’t remember what I’d planned to say. I’m too much in awe of you, Lauren. I didn’t understand what love was until you walked into my life. Your support, your willingness to stand by my side and face the unknown… they are humbling. I love you more than words could ever express. I promise to honor, cherish, and protect you in this life and whatever comes after.”
I felt a single tear roll down my cheek and Asher’s eyes softened. He pulled the turquoise silk handkerchief from his jacket pocket and gently wiped my face. I covered his hand with mine and stared back at him.
“I am so thankful for all the ways you show me how much you appreciate me. But sometimes, you don’t give yourself enough credit,” I told him, my tears flowing again.
“You are the kindest, most generous man I’ve ever known. You push me to be the best version of myself and you’re the first to celebrate when I succeed. I wake up every morning and thank God for bringing you into my life. And I go to bed every night, secure in the knowledge that whatever comes, we’ll face it together. I am honored to stand by your side. And I promise to love, cherish, and protect you in this life and whatever comes after.”
Jackson cleared his throat. “The couple will now exchange rings.”
Dad pulled a white leather box from his jacket pocket and passed it to Asher. He opened it and pulled out a large emerald cut diamond set in a wide white gold band. I held out my left hand and he slipped it onto my finger.
“Lauren, I give you this ring as a symbol of my commitment to you, to us. This is my promise to never stop fighting for the life we deserve. No matter what challenges we face, my devotion to you will endure forever.”
I looked down to the ring, then threw my arms around Asher’s neck and found his lips with mine. I didn’t care that we hadn’t reached the kissing part of the ceremony and no one else on the terrace seemed to either. I kissed Asher with everything I had before finally pulling away and looking to Jackson, grinning even as I felt my cheeks grow hot.
“By all means, keep going if you’d like. We don’t mind waiting,” he teased.
“There will be plenty of time for that later,” Mom scolded, her voice brimming with playful sarcasm.
“We’re good for a few minutes, I think,” I answered with a laugh. Mom slipped Asher’s ring into my hand and I turned to him, knowing I was about to start crying again. I slipped the simple gold band onto his finger, kept my fingers closed around it, and held his hand in mine.
“Asher, the ring on your finger isn’t fancy. It isn’t even new. But it’s the perfect symbol of my commitment to you. This is the ring my great-grandmother put on my great-grandfather’s hand nearly a century ago. It’s seen lifetimes of victories, defeats, happiness, and heartache. And it’s endured, just as we will.”
I pulled my hand away and Asher stroked the band. He looked from it to Dad, then to Mom and me.
“I’m honored to wear a family heirloom,” he said, half choking on the words.
Dad clamped a hand over his shoulder. “We’re honored to have you as a part of the family.”
Dad and Asher embraced and Kennedy turned to Jackson with a smile. “I think we can wrap this up,” she advised.
“I think you’re right. Asher, Lauren.” He signaled for our attention and we faced him, our hands entwined.
“By the powers vested in me by the state of California and the online Church of Secular Humanism, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Asher, you may now kiss your bride.”
I wove my arms around Asher’s neck and he kissed me softly. We parted and he lifted me into his arms.
“I thought we were having dinner out here,” I said as he set off toward the house.
“We are. But first, I’m carrying you over the threshold. Is that okay, Mrs. Reynolds?”
My heart leapt with joy at the sound of my new name. “Yes, Mr. Reynolds. That sounds wonderful.”
CHAPTER 4
“Today was better than I ever imagined possible,” Asher told me, pulling off his dress shirt. “I still can’t believe we were able to pull this off.”
“We have our friends and family to thank for that,” I reminded him, collapsing onto the bed. Despite the trouble and uncertainty we were facing, I’d never felt so content in my life. After the ceremony, we’d spent a magical evening on the terrace eating Claire’s gourmet food and dancing beneath the stars.
Everyone insisted that we do all of the traditional wedding activities; we posed for cheesy pictures, shoved cake in each other’s faces, and toasted our future with an expensive bottle of champagne. I even did the bouquet toss, though in reality I really just looked over my shoulder and chunked my flowers at Claire’s head. She sidestepped and tossed her arms in the air so the bouquet did, in fact, hit her right in the temple. She laughed it off and threw the lilies back at me, insisting that she was happy on her own.
“I know I’ve said this before, but when all of this is over, we’re taking everyone on one hell of a vacation,” Asher said, kicking off his tux pants. He crawled onto the bed beside me in his boxers and undershirt and I curled up in his arms.
“I’m sure none of them will argue about that,” I replied.
“If you want, I’ll also throw you the biggest formal wedding this town has ever seen,” he offered. “I know today probably wasn’t what you pictured when you were a little girl.”
I pulled away slightly and met his eyes. “You’re right. This wasn’t the wedding I always pictured. It was so much better.”
He raised a suspicious eyebrow. “Really?”
I nodded and planted a soft kiss on his cheek. “Really. I just married the man of my dreams. I was surrounded by the people I love, and only the people I love. Everyone who matters to me was on the terrace tonight. It was perfect. You’re perfect. And I have a surprise for you,” I finished with a daring grin.
Asher’s eyes lit up and he smiled back at me. “A surprise? Now I feel bad. I didn’t get you anything.”
I held up my left hand and wiggled my ring finger. “I beg to differ.”
He laughed and rolled his eyes at me. “The ring doesn’t count.”
“Then I guess it’s a good thing we’re not keeping score,” I teased, climbing out of the bed. I retrieved a large gift bag from the closet and set it in front of him on the mattress.
“Now, keep in mind that we don’t have to use everything tonight,” I warned as he plunged a hand into the tissue paper.
Asher’s face wrinkled with confusion, then with an excited smile. “Why Mrs. Reynolds, did you get me a dirty present?” he teased, pulling a pair of padded handcuffs from the bag.
I gave him a daring grin and nodded. “Why yes, Mr. Reynolds, I did.”
He dropped the cuffs on the bed and turned the bag upside down. “What else is in here?” he said, his voice lifted with excitement.
He sifted through the tissue paper, finding flavored lube, nipple clamps, a vibrating cock ring, and a long, narrow dildo.
“I figured we may as well stock up,” I explained, my voice playful yet innocent. “Do you like your present?”
He looked at me, lust burning behind his loving eyes. He nodded and smiled again.
“I like it a lot.”
“I’m glad. Now if you really want to fulfil my ultimate wedding fantasy, you’ll ravish me in this dress,” I dared.
He pushed me onto my back and climbed on top of me. “That is so hot,” he groaned, dropping his mouth to my neck. He rubbed his cock against the bodice of my gown and pushed the skirt to my waist. I’d already taken off my underwear and he pushed two fingers inside me, moving his mouth to my earlobe.
I slipped a hand beneath his boxers and curled it around his erectio
n. “It’s all I’ve been able to think about all day,” I replied, stroking him while he freed my breasts from the top of my dress.
“I’m more than happy to oblige,” he replied.
He rolled off me and stripped out of his boxers before reaching for the cuffs. He pushed my arms above my head, wove the cuffs around a post on the headboard, and then closed them around my wrists. He stroked the undersides of my arms with a light, teasing touch on his way back down to my breasts. He teased the left with his fingers and the right with his tongue. I wiggled beneath him, thrilled by his touch. He pulled away and turned back to the pile of toys on the bed. He pulled everything to the bottom of the mattress, out of my sight. I lay there, unable to move and impatient for his touch.
“Here we go,” he said, positioning himself between my legs. He pushed my skirt up further, covering my face with layers of silk and tulle. A buzzing hum filled the air and I went wet between the legs, anticipating the vibrator. Instead, I felt Asher’s hot, firm tongue lash against my clit. He licked and teased, finally pushing his tongue inside me. I jumped when he touched the vibrating dildo to my clit and then bucked against his face. He pulled the vibrator away and then plunged it deep inside me.
I flattened my skirt against my stomach, desperate for a view of the action. Asher stared down at me in lustful bliss; he found a rhythm, thrusting the dildo inside me then pulling it out, circling my clit, and pushing it back inside. I held his gaze as I felt myself move closer and closer to release.
“I want you,” I begged. “I want you inside me when I come.”
He sensed the urgency of my words and immediately replaced the dildo with his cock. He held the tip of it to my clit as he drove himself in and out of me. I came violently, my body thrashing and my cries filling the room.
Asher tossed the dildo to the floor and grabbed my hips, pumping into me harder as I moved uncontrollably beneath him.
“Oh Ash,” I cried out. “Don’t stop. Oh God, I’m still coming.”
My arms went limp and I felt my eyes roll back in my head. The emotions of the day combined with the sensations of the moment completely overwhelmed me, sending me to a realm of ecstasy I’d never known before. Asher and I were connected, legally, emotionally, physically… and eternally. For the first time, I understood what people meant when they said their lives didn’t start until they married.
“I love you, husband,” I gasped, my body still spasming with pleasure.
“Oh, God,” he groaned and gasped for breath. I felt his cock twitch and he pumped harder, exploding inside me. He took a few quick, labored breaths and collapsed beside me on the bed, resting his head on my breasts.
“You like being called husband,” I teased, kissing him softly on the temple.
He laughed and kissed me back on the mouth. “I really, really do,” he agreed. “And I love, love, love my wife.”
He pulled my lower lip into his mouth, teasing and nibbling it while he gently stroked my back. I felt desire stir within me and I pulled at the handcuffs. Asher reached up and released me from the restraints; I sat up and turned my back to him.
“Will you help me out of this?” I asked.
Asher kissed the base of my neck and ran his tongue down my spine as he lowered my zipper. Once I was free, I crawled out of the gown and tossed it to the floor. Asher turned down the blankets and we burrowed under them together. He was silent for a few minutes, then let out a sigh.
“What’s wrong, baby?” I asked.
“Nothing,” he assured me. “I let my mind wander, that’s all.”
“You’re thinking about the investigation.”
He nodded. “I’m sorry. I know that’s the last thing I should be thinking about on our wedding night.”
“It’s okay,” I insisted, kissing his shoulder. “But as your wife, I feel obligated to find a way to distract you.”
I ran my hand down his firm abs and closed it around his cock. He relaxed against the pillow and let out a long, satisfied breath.
“Wife, I am all yours.”
***
The next week passed in an odd haze of bliss and sheer terror. Asher and I did our best to live in the moment. We spent most of our time outside. Asher didn’t say it, but I knew he wanted to get as much fresh air as possible before he returned to the stale jail. We spent about half our time hiking through the forest. When the light was good, Asher posed for me while I painted. We made love like the newlyweds we were and ninety percent of the time, I felt like any other new bride having a quiet honeymoon at home.
But then I’d spot a guard, or I’d walk into a room and find my husband staring at his face on television. In those moments when I was slapped back down to reality, all I felt was panic.
I hadn’t really expected anything to change after Asher and I got married. But with every day that passed, I really did love him more and more. And the thought of living without him became more difficult to bear.
Attorneys on both sides were working on our cases, but nothing could really happen until both doctors had completed their evaluations of Rachel-Cynthia. In his preliminary reports, Dr. Levantine described her as cooperative. The more time he spent with her without declaring her crazy, the more nervous we all became.
The federal task force’s investigation seemed to be working more in our favor. As more time passed without them uncovering any evidence, I started to let myself believe we were safe. If Rachel wanted to frame Asher for something else, she’d have made sure the evidence was easy to find when it needed to be.
Asher didn’t seem quite so optimistic. He kept a smile on his face and did his best to pretend he was a carefree new husband. But there was a sadness in his eyes and when asked, he freely admitted he was still terrified of what could be ahead of us.
Our friends and family gave us our space, letting us settle in to married life. Claire moved back to the townhouse and Asher posted a guard nearby, just in case. As a thank you for all of her help, he also built a website for her new catering company. She’d booked three jobs since the site went live.
Kennedy stayed in town in case there were any new developments, and Parker kept an eye on the remaining members of the Chavez family from LA. They both kept their distance, calling and emailing with news and paperwork instead of dropping by the house. Jackson stayed in town as well to look at potential build sights for a new resort, which alleviated the guilt I would have felt for leaving Kennedy on her own.
It wasn’t that I didn’t want to spend time with my friends. But Asher and I had no guarantee of how much time we had together, and I didn’t want to share my attention with anyone else, save my parents.
Mom and Dad seemed just as compelled to spend as much quality time with Asher as possible. They gave us three days of privacy after the wedding and then started dropping by for at least two hours every afternoon. They were both impressed with Asher’s estate and happy to indulge his need to be in the sunshine.
Dad and Asher bonded over their shared love of hiking and camping, while Mom fussed over both of us and filled us with food she’d brought from the bed and breakfast. I loved spending time with them and I appreciated their efforts. But mostly, I loved watching Asher slowly warm to the realization that he was finally part of a family.
On our one week wedding anniversary, Kennedy called and announced that she was on her way to the house. She refused to give us any details over the phone and begged us not to turn on the news until she got there. So, of course, Asher flipped on the television the moment he ended the call. A balding field reporter with wild hair and a nineteen eighties wind breaker stood on the steps of the San Jose Federal Courthouse. He appeared to be in the middle of his broadcast.
“Mr. Reynold’s legal team has been notified that these warrants have been issued.”
“Fuck!” Asher exclaimed, tossing the remote to the couch. It hit the back cushion with a muffled thud and bounced down to the rug. Asher paced the floor, his eyes fixed to the television.
“As I
’m sure most viewers are aware, Mr. Reynolds is currently under house arrest after being released on bail in regards to charges in the death of Luis Chavez. I personally spoke with Assistant District Attorney Donaldson, who explained that Mr. Reynolds’ bail will be forfeited. He also said that the Chavez trial will likely take place before this second round of charges is brought before a federal court jury.”
Son of a bitch. This is it. The bubble has finally burst. For the love of God, could you please list the damn charges?
The front door opened and Kennedy burst into the room. Her shoulders sank when she saw us in front of the television.
“I knew I shouldn’t have even mentioned the news. I shouldn’t have even called, for that matter.”
I picked up the remote, hit the power button, and the screen went black.
“We know federal charges have been filed. But we don’t know the specifics,” I told her, my voice as flat as my spirit.
“What has she done now, Kennedy? What am I being charged with?” Asher pressed.
Kennedy collapsed into an armchair and gestured to the sofa. “Sit down,” she directed.
“I can’t,” he countered, still pacing.
“Kennedy, just tell us what’s going on,” I insisted.
She sighed, balanced her briefcase on her lap, and pulled out a thick file. She tossed it on the coffee table and Asher immediately moved for it.
“The task force uncovered evidence in Vermont. They also spoke with a witness, someone named Michelle Moyer. Does that name sound familiar to you?”
Asher nodded. “She was one of the housekeepers at the resort. She didn’t like me very much, but I never knew why.”
“I think I can shed some light on that for you. Mrs. Moyer stated that Rachel confided in her about your so called emotional abuse. Michelle told the investigators that Rachel would describe being mentally tormented and then turn around and make excuses for you.”
“If Asher was such a monster, why didn’t this Michelle woman do something about it?” I demanded.