by Jamie Knight
I turned to face Izzy, turning my back to her parents.
“Izzy, I haven’t even gotten your answer yet,” I said, running her fingertips across the palm of my hand, nervously. “And don’t feel put on the spot as your parents and I wait here in your childhood bedroom.”
I laughed at my attempt to lighten the mood through humor. I saw her scan the room and I started to panic a little bit.
How could I have been so stupid? I had already jumped to conclusions and had even somehow gotten her father’s blessing, but I hadn’t gotten an answer from Izzy, the woman that I wanted to marry.
“Yes,” she says tentatively.
“Are you sure?” I asked, starting to get excited.
She looks at me sheepishly, smiled, and said it again, but a little louder.
“Yes, I will marry you,” she said.
That was all that I needed to hear. I leaned down and scooped her up in my arms, sweeping her up off of her feet. She steadied her arm against the wall as she tried to keep her balance and not fall during our mini celebration in that tiny bedroom. I put her down, her toes gingerly tapping the hardwood floor. She wrapped her arms around my neck, staring up at me with her big, brown eyes.
I could hardly believe that she was going to be mine. I was hit by this wave of urgency, an excitement that I couldn’t contain. I wanted to leave as soon as possible and get on with living our amazing life together.
“I’m going to head out to the car,” I said, walking toward the bedroom door. “Get a bag packed for Vegas and meet me down in ten.”
Everyone scurried around, looking for suitcases and clothes to put into them.
I hadn’t packed a bag, but I didn’t really care about that much.
I was already going with my prize.
I walked down the hall, out the front door, and to my car. Once inside, I blew out a huge breath that I didn’t even realize that I had been holding in. Sitting in the car after everything that had happened felt like a completely different world. And in just moments, I would be sitting next to the person who held the keys to my future.
This definitely had not been the semester that I thought that it would be, I thought, starting up the car and revving up the engine. But it was the one that I had been waiting for my whole life.
Chapter 19
Izzy
I felt like I was in a dream as I took each careful step down the aisle of the plush wedding chapel. The red velvet covering every inch of the floor, ceiling, and walls added to the dreamlike effect. As soon as we opened the white wooden double doors, we were greeted by a fountain with a white figure in the middle, water pouring out of its finger. It was an angel, its wings spanning out far behind it. White track lighting ran along the ceiling, giving the room a celestial glow. Soft harp music lilted through the air, giving the room a romantic feel to prepare for the weddings that happened there at all times of the day and night.
This was not necessarily how I had envisioned my wedding. I thought that it would be at our church, with all of its traditional fixings, surrounded by my entire family. As we walked toward a very nontraditional woman minister with her hair whipped into a bouffant wearing shimmery green eyeshadow, I realized that I definitely didn’t see this coming. She wore black pants and a black, button up shirt with a white collar. She stood at attention, her eyes fixed on me, smiling invitingly as I made my way slowly down the aisle.
Even though it was a far cry from the wedding that I imagined, it was absolutely perfect in my eyes. For one, I walked arm-in-arm with my father down the aisle. He held my arm tightly, beaming proudly in his jet-black suit. He looked so good, it was almost like he pulled the suit out of the closet just for this occasion.
I had to look away a few times when I caught him staring at me, his eyes filled with a mixture of adoration and sadness. My dad had spent so many years protecting me, keeping me focused on school, so that I could have the best possible life. I could see him trying to hide the fear in his eyes, unsure if the man that I had chosen would be good enough to fill the shoes of my protector. Tears filled my eyes, threatening to spill down my cheeks as I thought about my dad and all that we had been through. I blinked a few times so that they wouldn’t fall. I didn’t want to ruin my makeup.
It was such a tender moment, one that I will remember always. I thought back on it as I took each step, glancing over to see my mother’s tears-stained face streaked with black makeup that had long since been ruined by the avalanche of tears that had fallen. My mother’s lips trembled, smiling, a look of true pride and happiness on her face, one that I hadn’t seen in years.
When I had started the semester, I had no idea that any of this was going to happen. I reflected on how quickly things had gone from me being just an eager student in Jace’s classroom to his wife, due to have his child very soon. So, it only made sense that it had felt like a whirl wind since I had left my parents’ house.
On the way to Vegas, we were driving along the road, my parents following behind us and then, Jace slammed on the brakes. I was so startled, and I was almost sure that my dad was going to smash into the back of us. But, luckily, he smashed on the brakes just in time. He threw the car in park and came marching toward the driver’s side door.
“What in the blazes are you doing?” asked my dad, almost shrieking.
Jace stepped out of the car, putting up his hands as he tried to calm my father down.
“I am so sorry,” he said, tenderness filling his voice. “It’s just that…We could drive to Vegas, but I’m ready to get there now and I’m sure that you would like to go and get back home. Why don’t we all just get on a plane? I’ll pay for everyone’s tickets. Follow me to the airport?”
My father looked up at Jace, almost in a daze. I could see my dad’s face through the window, peering back into Jace’s eyes, evaluating him.
I knew the look. It was the same look that I had seen my dad give all of my sister’s boyfriends and fiancés.
Jace stood frozen under my father’s gaze. I held my breath, half expecting a disaster.
But, then, my dad blinked a few times and smiled. His eyes got bright and he waved back toward the car at my mom.
“It’s okay, Marilyn,” he said, clapping Jace on the back so hard I thought that he was going to fall over. “My son-in-law here is going to fly us all out.”
I laughed so hard I was sure that I felt the baby fluttering from all of the motion. I touched my belly affectionately, growing more excited about our amazing future. Hearing my dad embrace Jace as his son-in-law warmed a special place in my heart. I knew that it was a good sign of things to come, being able to surround our baby (and any future babies) with so much love.
Thing seemed to go in fast motion from there. Once we got to the airport, we were whisked away to security and onto a plane that was just about to take off soon after we got on it.
Once the plane landed, we threw our bags into a hotel room and headed to the wedding chapel. Everything from there was just a huge blur of clothes and hair and all of the wedding stuff.
Things paused for a moment when my mother, while doing my makeup, asked me a question that I would have missed had I not been paying more attention.
“Is this what you really want, Isabelle?”
Whenever my mother used my real name, not just my nickname, I knew that she was serious. And I knew I had to be serious, too.
“Yes, it is,” I said, staring her in the eye so that she knew just how serious I was. She looked at me, her eyes piercing my soul in a way that only she ever had been able to, looking for any sign of doubt. When she found none, she leaned over and kissed the tip of my nose.
Walking down the aisle, with my father by my side, and my future husband a few steps away, I scanned my own heart, looking for any signs of doubt.
Was this truly what I wanted?
I took the last step, standing next to Jace.
His eyes penetrated me in another way, one that made me stand up and pay attention and crave him.
His eyes looked on at me like I was a prize. I could literally see the love in his eyes.
I knew at that moment that he was all that I wanted.
The ceremony began, and we exchanged our vows quickly. When it came time to kiss, Jace planted a firm, yet brief kiss on my lips. I was amused because I could feel him holding back out of respect for my dad. But the kiss was nonetheless electric, sealing us as one, as husband and wife.
We left the chapel and headed to an Italian restaurant that was nearby. The room was filled with red roses in glass vases on every table. Wrought iron fixtures held candles, filling the room with a dim, romantic light. Soft piano music wafted in the air, giving it a relaxed feel.
My father toasted us over dinner, drinking a little too much wine himself. We barely ate any of the delicious, pretty food that was brought out to us, but it was nice seeing my parents unwind and even flirt with each other at the table. My father sat and nibbled on my mother’s ear for a good twenty minutes, grumbling things under his breath while she was giggling incessantly.
“We’re going to leave you two love birds be,” announced my father, helping my mother from her chair and throwing an arm her over his shoulder, making her squeal and collapse into a fit of giggles.
We all laughed and a few couples from nearby tables joined in with us in laughing.
It was almost surreal seeing my mother, looking like she was really feeling the effects of the wine. She laughed and smiled more than I had ever seen her do so. It was almost funny how what I thought was going to end tragically turned out to be one of the most simple yet magical times of my life.
Clanging his fork against his wine glass, Jace stood to his feet, his shoulders back and head held high. He looked at me, a warmth behind his eyes that reflected my own joy.
“I would like to take this time to say a few words about Izzy, my wife,” he said, a chorus of “aw”s rippling through the room. “I know that we haven’t known each other for a very long time, but I look forward to spending the rest of my life making you happy. To my new parents, thank you for giving us your blessing. And you have my word that I will do all that I can to love, honor, and protect your precious gem. Thank you for being here during this special time.”
The room erupted with applause as Jace sat back in his chair. I leaned over and kissed him on the check, my lips bristling against the five o’clock shadow that was starting to grow. He reached over and covered my hand with his, squeezing hard. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but I, for one, felt overcome by this feeling that, no matter what life may bring, I was happy to have him by my side. I could only hope that I would prove to be the wife that he would want and need.
“I think that we should be heading back to our room, too, don’t you think so, Mrs. Rivers?”
It was the first time that I had heard him use my new name. I smiled and nodded. He led me away from the table and out onto the sidewalk. We walked hand-in-hand the few blocks to our room.
He had asked for the honeymoon suite, but I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. We walked up to the double doors and stood in front of it, looking at each other like we were about to embark on a new adventure together. He slid the key into the lock and a green light beeped. A click from the door signaled that we could push the door open and step inside.
Jace reached over and lifted me up into his arms. Pushing the door open, he carried me across the threshold.
He was my husband. I was his wife.
And we had stepped into a room with pink satin everywhere. Red heart-shaped pillows lay on top of the giant, heart-shaped bed. The flames from the red candles lining the wall flickered when the door slammed behind us.
Jace stood me in front of the bed, running his hands the length of my sides and down my legs. He lifted my dress over my head, tossing it aside. He watched as my perky nipples stood to attention. I inadvertently put my hands over my body, trying to cover myself. He snatched my hands away, holding each of my wrists at my sides.
“I want to see my wife,” he said. He took a step back, his hand on his chin, observing me. He nodded with satisfaction, licking his lips. He started to unbutton his shirt, his hands shaking as he tried to hurry up and get out of his clothes. His pants quickly followed, falling at his feet in a crumpled pile. He ran his hand along his dick, already hard and ready.
He kissed me, pushing me back against the bed. I kissed him back, crawling backward on the bed on my elbows until I reached the head of the bed. I looked up and noticed a mirror on the ceiling and enjoyed watching his shoulder blades and back as he moved on top of me, his firm round ass clenched. I wrapped my arms around him, closing my eyes as I enjoyed his hot, wet lips on my neck.
His hands felt warm and firm as he kneaded my breasts, sending a surge of excitement between my legs, making me want him even more. I missed him. I missed him inside of me. I had to have him. I writhed beneath him, thirsting for him to take me. But he kept me in suspense, making a trail down my neck to my chest, landing hot, wet kisses on each of them, taking turns going back and forth. He slowed his kisses as he kissed my nipple. The surge of electricity that coursed through me made me put my hand on the back of his head, holding it there. His tongue grazed my nipple, making me arch my back, forcing more of my nipple into his mouth. His eyes rolled into the back of his head as he worked his mouth around my nipple, squeezing them gently.
I was ready for him to be inside of me. He was driving me wild, making me wait for that moment that I had been wanting for months. My pussy throbbed like it had a pulse, growing more hot and wet as I lay there, pinned down by his firm body pressed against mine.
I opened my legs wide, feeling my juices begin to pool inside me as I circled my hips in anticipation of his hard cock in my wet pussy.
He moved further down, pausing to place sweet kisses on my belly, slightly poking out. He moved his mouth even lower, brushing his soft lips against my mound. I shivered from the feeling of his mouth tickling me. I kicked my legs up over his shoulders as he leaned in closer, pushing his lips deep into my pussy, parting the lower lips easily with his tongue. He lapped at my clit with his tongue, sending surges of desire through every cell in my body. I moaned deeply as he darted his finger in and out of my wet pussy, taking his finger to his mouth, sucking it, and putting his mouth back on my pussy like my juices quenched his thirst. He licked my lower lips for a few minutes, my hips rolling and pumping, coating his face in a clear glaze made up of my sweet nectar.
As if he was reading my mind, he ran his hand up and down the shaft of his dick a couple of times before pushing the tip of it into my tight, wet pussy, making me moan with pleasure as he opened me again. I held my breath, bracing myself against every inch that he plunged deep into me. He moaned lightly, his whole-body tensing, as he slowly dug his hard dick into my pussy. He stroked my pussy slowly, peering curiously into my eyes as I tried to hold back screams of joy. He felt so good inside of me.
I could feel my juices oozing out of me and coating his dick, making a smacking noise each time his dick went in and out of me. I humped him back, curving my back, making a steady rocking motion. I could feel the passion building inside of me. His heavy panting told me that it was building inside of him too.
“I love you,” I said, my voice high and shaky.
He pumped harder and faster, grunting trying to contain his excitement.
“I LOVE YOU!” he yelled, fucking me with all of his might, holding onto my hips so hard, I yelped out in pain. But I didn’t want him to stop.
He growled low, flexing his arms as he seemed to work with his whole body to plunge deeper and deeper inside of me. I opened wider, letting him in deeper, slamming my pussy hard against his body.
His body started to seize, and a choked moan escaped from him. I could tell that he was building up for a powerful release.
He came hard, yelling so loudly, I could have sworn that I saw the walls shake. He didn’t try to pull out or anything. I could feel his dick pulsing inside of me, sputtering h
ot liquid into my moist pussy. I squeezed my legs around him, holding onto his muscular arms tightly, basking in the moment, our holy union, finally one as man and wife. He leaned down, grabbing my face hard, a wild look in his eyes as he gazed at me, almost like he was shocked himself by the force of his own powerful orgasm.
Our sex musk filled the air as we lay, side by side, relishing the moment when our lives truly began.
I rolled over on my side and stared at him, smiling in adoration at the man that I was lucky enough to stumble into, quite literally.
My heart swelled as he opened one eye, caught me looking at him, and pulled me in close to him.
“Now, about how you’re going to make up your grade and internship…” he whispered.
I couldn’t believe it. Even on our wedding night when I’m pregnant with his child, he still was in teacher mode. I laughed at how perfectly ironic it was that I would fall for someone who valued academia as much as I did.
“Well, I think that we may have to put that on hold for now,” I said, pulling his arms around me tighter. “I’ve got to take a crash course on being a mom.”
“I’m here for you every step of the way,” he insisted.
I smiled, knowing that he was right.
Epilogue
Jace
“Hello, there, Dr. Rivers,” came a sultry voice from the door of the classroom. I looked up and saw my wife standing there in a beautiful sundress, her hair pulled back to show off her new locket necklace that I had gotten her for our anniversary. I felt like it was such a small token of my appreciation for her, but I noticed that she had been putting it on quite a bit, pulling her hair back like she was proud to show it off to the world.
I smiled and shoved a few papers that I had been shuffling through into the desk drawer. I stood up, watching my son, Noah, skipping across the classroom toward me.
“Hi, papa!” he called out, his squeaky voice piercing the air.