Asher awaited her in his suit, a crocus pinned to his lapel. His shining blonde hair fluttered into his face in the gentle breeze. She sighed. He was absolutely gorgeous, and she would savor the look on his face for the rest of her life. John was right. Asher was mesmerized.
“Time to get started,” John whispered, offering his arm.
Louis took her other arm and handed her a bouquet of delicate indigo blooms. She hadn’t known what the flowers for her wedding would be, since spring had just begun, and the colonists of Eden did not grow flowers for show. Of course Asher had thought to use crocuses. They were the earliest flowers to emerge.
Together, the men began to walk Fi down the aisle. At that moment, Rachel began to sing, accompanying the single violin with her beautiful, floating voice. Each step that Fi took closer to Asher made her feel calmer. She couldn’t keep her eyes off of him, or the smile from her face. Grinning from ear to ear might not be demure, she thought, but there was no way to contain her happiness. All day she’d felt almost like she had a fever, but now…now she felt filled by a lovely, deep, warmth. She’d waited so long for this day.
Louis was the first to step away, giving Fi a gentle hug before he joined Lizzie in his seat. John turned to her and kissed her cheek. He took Fi’s hand and placed it gently in Asher’s.
“I know Mike would be proud to call you his son-in-law,” he said, his voice growing thick. “Take good care of her.”
“I will,” Asher promised. Tears brimmed in his deep blue eyes as he turned to face her. “You’re an absolute angel, Fi,” he said, and tears rushed to her own eyes.
Eden’s minister cleared his throat and they both turned to face him as he began the ceremony. Fi had requested that they use the traditional vows, with one exception.
Asher had laughed when she’d said she didn’t think she could vow to obey him. “Only one of us has ever ‘obeyed’ the other,” he’d pointed out, “and it wasn’t you.”
The memory brought a smile to her face as the minister spoke. Like millions of other joyful lovers before them, they repeated the promises to one another…for better or for worse, in sickness and in health… It was so easy, so natural, Fi thought. Her heart had made these exact promises long ago.
When Asher finally leaned in to kiss her, she felt her heart ache with comingled joy and pain. How she wished that her parents could be with her! She just wanted to touch them, to talk to them again…just this once…just today. Asher held her in his arms as the group cheered and clapped quietly. She knew that he felt the same thing about his own parents, wherever they might be.
But as she turned her tearful face to the sky, the beauty of the forest and the force of her love and happiness overcame her. Though she couldn’t touch them, she knew that her parents were there with her. There was entirely too much magic in the air, she thought, gazing up at the dancing sparks of dust. It had to be them.
“Did you like it, Fi? Was it ok?” Asher whispered in her ear.
She touched his face, rewarding him with a soft kiss. “It was everything I could possibly have dreamed, Ash. Thank you,” she murmured, as she sank into him.
“Well, good, because it’s not over yet.” His smile was mysterious. “My surprise, I mean,” he added, though that did not help her confusion. “For now, let’s greet our guests. The rest comes later.”
Her mind raced ahead and she felt her nerves flutter again. The sun was getting lower, and the group could not stay much longer. Taking a few steps forward to greet the Family gathered in the aisle, she felt Asher grab her wrist.
“Good Lord, Fi,” he groaned. “I didn’t even see the back of that dress.” He pulled her back into his arms and placed his hands lightly on her bare back. Tracing her spine with his fingertips, he touched the silver clasp that held the dress together and she shivered.
“You like?” She raised an eyebrow.
He squeezed her and let his hands drift to her lower back. “I ‘like’ too much for a public gathering.”
“Good,” she giggled. “Then let’s get through the part with company as quickly as we can,” she whispered.
Despite this suggestive flirting, Fi enjoyed every minute of the hour-long reception. Everyone danced and laughed as the violinist and Rachel mixed up the classics with their renditions of more popular songs from the old world. When the first few violin notes sounded the start of the “Electric Slide,” everyone burst out laughing and then shushed, remembering that they were still Topside.
Asher danced with Kiara standing on his shoe-tops, while Fi whirled with John first, and then Louis. Sean and Sara melted into each other in a continual dance, uncaring whether they were accompanied by actual music. And Aldy chased a giggling Zoe between the tree roots while Sarge, Lydia, and Aliyah chatted.
At one point, she found herself alone for just a moment and she took it all in with a sigh. It was fantastic, just the way the most special day of your life should be. She hadn’t had so much time with her whole Family since they’d come to Eden. And who knew if she’d ever get them all to herself like this again. When Gary finally let everyone know that they had to go, Fi felt an unexpected wave of sadness.
After all the planning, it had whizzed past like a movie on fast-forward. Now Asher was holding out his hand for her to join him…to take the next step. She turned and looked back one last time and took a deep breath, memorizing the smell of the crocuses and the pine smoke in the air. Then she grasped her new husband’s hand and walked away.
Sweet Nothings
---------- Asher -----------
Gary guided the Jeep over the rough trail, taking care to keep the bumps to a minimum. In the backseat, Fi snuggled against his chest. Though he did not wish to disturb her, Asher craned his neck for a look ahead. As their destination appeared over the hill, he felt his heart begin to beat faster.
They came to a halt before a tiny stone lean-to. Asher was struck once again with the beauty of this place. Built as a shelter for park rangers or wayward hikers, the lean-to was a study in halves. At the point where the roof met the ground, it was carved from a natural rock ledge. Opposite, on the higher end, the roof and supporting wall were constructed of stone. A small chimney poked from the roof, billowing a bluish whirl of smoke.
Beneath the towering pines, the air was cool. Moss was the major feature of the space, crawling over the lean-to and pines in a continuous soft carpet. Birdcalls floated in from a distance, the muffled sound giving one the sense of having stumbled into another world. Asher glanced at Fi, anxious for her reaction. With Gary present, he was sure that she would be reserved, but he watched her eyes. As his new wife took in her honeymoon destination, his heartbeat sped up from a thump to a gallop.
“Ok, you two,” Gary said, hopping out of the front seat. “Welcome.” Fi reached for Gary’s outstretched hand as he helped her out of the Jeep.
“Thanks, Gary, for everything,” Asher said, as he jumped down.
Gary waved him off. “Asher, after everything you’ve done for us,” he stopped and looked at Fi. “Everything you both have done for us, and for Eden,” he corrected himself, “you deserve a little privacy for your honeymoon.”
Asher saw Fi blush and he bit his lip to keep from laughing. Who was he to laugh, he thought? He was just as nervous. Gary pointed to a couple points in the distance and Asher saw small figures wave.
“I have a perimeter set up,” Gary said, “but they’re very far away, as you can see. They won’t bother you. I’ll be back to pick you up in a couple days, in the morning. I wish we could give you more time.”
Asher shook his head. “No, no, Gary. This is enough. Everyone has already taken risks to make this special for us. We really appreciate it.” Fi nodded in agreement.
Asher was surprised that she was so quiet, but perhaps she was simply anxious to be alone. The Jeep started with a growl and turned away, disappearing over the hill. In the distance, their guards melted away behind the trees. They turned to each other in relief. Alone at last.
“Do you like it, Fi?” Asher asked, now desperate for her reaction.
“Ash, it is impossible not to like it. It’s so incredibly beautiful, just like the spot you picked for the wedding.” She turned and put her arms around him.
Her touch sent a shock through him, making him jump. It was like their first moment, he thought, that touch. Though it seemed like he hadn’t gone more than five minutes without touching her since the moment he’d confessed his love, this touch was new. The woman embracing him was now his wife.
Asher reached down to touch her cheek. Her eyes closed and she smiled, leaning into it. As he stroked her face, he marveled. How could this amazing creature possibly be his wife? Fi stood on tiptoe to kiss him. Her lips were soft and sweet.
“Would you like the tour, Mrs. Grey?” he asked. She startled and then smiled, appreciating her new name.
As they walked toward the shelter, he felt his nerves reignite. He stopped at the door, hesitant. “I know you are probably going to say ‘No’ to my next proposal,” he began.
“Let me guess,” she interrupted, “you want to carry me.”
Asher was shocked that she’d guessed his thought, but then again, she knew him very well by now. Yes, but not completely, his mind reminded him, and his heart leapt again. He swallowed and nodded, sure that she would protest.
“Ok,” she said. “I’ll let you carry me.” She burst into laughter at the shock on his face and held out her arms. “Go ahead.”
Feeling both pleased and surprised, Asher swept her up and twirled her around. Fi’s laughter surrounded them as she clung to his neck, and when he stopped, her warm golden eyes locked onto his. He strode forward and pushed open the door to the lean-to with his foot. It was tricky work to carry her across the threshold because the door was so low, but he managed it. The ceiling of the lean-to hovered just inches above his head as he set her down.
She inhaled deeply as she looked around. The flagstone floor was covered with scattered candles, their glow adding to the warmth from the small fireplace in the corner. A double bed nestled beneath the low part of the roof, and beside it stood a full-length mirror. Fi shot Asher a questioning look when she spotted the mirror.
“I wanted you to have another chance to see how incredibly gorgeous you are,” he explained, as he slipped her coat from her shoulders. As she stepped toward the mirror, the back of her dress was revealed once again, and he nearly whimpered. Adrenaline and desire coursed through him, and he had to take deep breaths to maintain his composure. Easy, he told himself, trying to slow his heart. Today is for her.
Fi tilted her head as she stood in front of the mirror. He saw her take a deep breath and exhale, shivering with nerves. Somehow, it was reassuring to know that she was nervous as well. Fi’s eyes found his in the mirror. She reached back and touched the silver clasp holding the strap of her gown.
“Mr. Grey,” her voice wavered. “Would you be so kind as to help me out of my dress?”
He was grateful that it took only two steps to reach her, because his legs seemed to have turned to mush. He nestled behind her, so close that his body skimmed hers in places, each touch sending little shocks zinging through him. Fi dropped her hands with a shy smile as he reached for the clasp.
In a moment, the hooks were undone, and he slid the strap away from her body and set it lightly on the ground. Freed from its bonds, the dress floated away from her unbearably soft skin. With a deep breath, he set his shaking hands where the small sleeves clung to her shoulders by a breath. He met her gaze in the mirror and she nodded. His fingers inched forward and the dress slid from her body into a puddle at her feet. Dear God, he thought as he gaped at her reflection in the mirror. His pulse was throbbing and his head swam.
“Jesus, Fi, you’re so goddamned beautiful.” He might have wished for something more poetic to come to mind, but he was so overcome that his thoughts tumbled out unedited. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and squeezed. She turned to face him on her tiptoes and grabbed the back of his neck, pulling him to her in a rough kiss. Her breathing came hard through her nose, and her free hand pulled at his shirt buttons.
She worked quickly. His shirt fell away, and he felt her hands slide over his bare back as she pressed herself into him. The dizzying warmth of skin on skin and the sweetness of her scent were driving him crazy. Though he was trying to concentrate on taking it slow, her hunger was overwhelming him. He couldn’t slow down.
There was a tug at his waist as she worked with one hand to free his belt. In an effort of sheer will, he pulled away. “Stop!” he whispered and she froze, her eyes wide. “No, no,” he gasped. “I just thought that…for your first time…I thought I should take my time.”
Fi frowned and shook her head as she lunged for him again, kissing him harder. “No,” she insisted, between kisses. “Later. Take time later.”
His resolve melted. “You got it.”
With a happy laugh, she sank onto the bed and pulled him with her.
--------- Fi ----------
Fi awoke to the soft moonlight drifting through the windows. For a moment the unfamiliar room confused her, but Asher’s sleeping form brought the memory rushing back. Settling back into the crook of his arm, she sighed. How could she possibly forget, even for a millisecond? She lay naked, pressed against her new husband, her left leg thrown over his. The candles in the room had burned out, and the fire had lowered, the remaining coals glowing a dull white. Fi let her gaze run over their two bodies, limbs intertwined. Asher’s chest rose and fell with his soft breath.
It seemed silly now that she had ever been nervous. Nothing had hurt, not for more than a second anyhow. And immediately after came the pleasure, rolling through her in waves, turning her to warm honey. For the first time, she’d been able to appreciate the benefits of Asher’s greater life experience.
It was amazing how comfortable she’d felt once desire had melted away her fear. Who knew that at her core, she was a wanton? A wanton…she thought. What a wonderful word for the way that Asher had made her feel. Stroking her fingertips across her own thigh and watching the goose bumps rise, she stifled a giggle. After a few minutes, she realized that she was fully awake and she began to work her way away from Asher, taking care not to disturb him.
She pulled an extra sheet around herself and walked to the windows in the opposite corner of the tiny room. She peered out the window at the inky darkness. The canopy of the towering pines was nearly impenetrable, but as the wind blew, tiny blue shafts of moonlight knifed through here and there. She let the sheet that was wrapped around her slide to the floor.
“You’d better pull that sheet back on if you want me to be able to focus on drawing your bath, Mrs. Grey.” She whirled. Asher was sitting up on one elbow, staring at her with hunger in his eyes.
A bath? Fi wondered, as she reached down and grabbed the sheet. Then she noticed the sizable metal washtub and buckets tucked beside the firewood. Asher rose, pulling a sheet around his hips and tying it as he walked to meet her. His skin looked delicious in the moonlight. When he reached her, he kissed her forehead and she closed her eyes and sighed in happiness.
“Are you really going to draw us a bath?” she asked.
“Of course.” He dragged the washtub in front of the fireplace. “We’re lucky to have a well here,” he pointed to the pump in the corner. “The water is cold of course, but we’ll take care of that.”
He tossed another large log onto the hot coals in the fireplace, sending a shower of sparks into the room. In a moment, new flames licked upward and the glow in the room changed from blues to reds. Asher worked the pump, filling the buckets and placing each one just inside the fire, on top of the coals. It wasn’t long before the tub was half full. Fi placed some hot stones into the bottom with the fireplace tongs, helping to keep the water warm while the second batch of water heated. She hummed to herself as she looked forward to the bath.
When the tub was full, she looked at Asher and was surprise
d that she suddenly felt shy. Asher let out a low wolf whistle. She knew that he loved seeing her be vulnerable, knowing that he was the only one who got to see her that way. Trying to remember the wanton who had taken over her body before, Fi dropped her sheet, pleased to hear Asher suck in his breath.
She held her hand out for assistance, but Asher seemed to have become paralyzed. Just when she thought that she couldn’t bear his gaze any longer, he jumped forward and grabbed her hand, helping her step into the tub. Her eyelids fluttered as the heat soaked into her cold feet and calves. She let out an involuntary moan. It felt absolutely amazing.
“Here,” Asher said, “I almost forgot. I have a gift.”
He reached into a hole in the ledge bordering the window and grabbed something. Fi was delighted to see a natural sponge in his hand. They were rare, but so much softer than rags.
As she took the sponge, she gestured. “Your turn.”
She held out her other hand to help Asher into the tub. He worked the knot on his sheet until it fell away, and her legs shuddered. Asher stepped into the tub and they worked together to find a way they could both sit facing each another. It was no easy task.
Fi sucked in her stomach and tried to look pretty as she maneuvered, which turned out to be a nearly impossible task while folding oneself into a too-small tub with another person. As she shifted to allow Asher more space, she lost her footing. Her limbs flew out and banged into the hard edge of the tub as she landed, generating a miniature tsunami that hit Asher in the face. Shocked, Asher spluttered, and Fi burst out laughing as she pulled her dangling legs and arms into the tub. There was absolutely nothing pretty about that move.
Seeds of War Page 20