Married. Wait! What?

by Virginia Nelson

  When the worst of the shudders and hiccupping sobs had finally subsided, Chase lifted my chin and turned my face to his. “Just answer me this, do you have any regrets about anything we did?”

  “That’s the problem! I should, I really, truly should, and I almost want to, since I know I need to, and I know we can’t—”

  Chase called my name, interrupting my very sincere rant.

  “I didn’t ask if you think you should have regrets, I’m asking you yes or no, do you have any regrets?”

  “No. Umph.” Standing up with me still in his arms, Chase walked us back into the bathroom.

  Setting me down on the large counter, he turned on the tap in the sink to wet another washcloth. He wiped the rest of the tears from my face with a gentleness that belied the strength I now knew was in those arms. “Before you say anything, just hear me out.” He set the cloth down, then spread my legs so that he was standing directly in front of me. “When we were younger, I was never one for words; now I’m a lawyer, go figure. So let me validate my case. I have been in love with you since high school, and those feelings have never died down to this day. No woman I have ever been with has even come close to how beautiful, intelligent, generous, or as loyal as you are. Today, yes, it’s still the same day, we only slept for a few hours. Today has been the best day of my entire life.”

  “Mine too,” I admitted.

  “Then for the rest of this trip, let’s continue to bask in it. Enjoy it. I don’t want you to worry about anything in the future, or about anyone else’s feelings besides your own. Plus, you never know, Max may actually be happy if he knew we were together; we’d truly be brothers then.” He said that last with an impish grin.

  “But, we’re actually married now. As in we consummated the marriage.”

  “I know, and if you want a divorce after all is said and done, we’ll cross that bridge once we get to it. I know an excellent lawyer. Until then…” He untied my robe, and allowed one hand to creep up to my breast, while the other explored my already wet folds. He made me gasp when he slid two fingers inside. “Let’s just enjoy, feel, and have fun,” he said.

  He tweaked my nipple as his thumb rubbed my clit in circles. He worked his fingers inside of me faster and faster until I cried out, “Chase, please.”

  Releasing my breast, he pushed the robe down off my shoulder. Bending his head to nibble on my ear and whisper in a voice that had grown both deeper and huskier with intent, “Please what, Mrs. Reynolds?” He thrust those long, thick fingers inside me one final time before pulling them out, only to replace them with the crown of his rock hard erection. He just let it sit there, an unspoken promise. “What is it that you want from your husband?”

  I started to squirm, trying to push myself down further to force what I wanted, needed. He grabbed onto both of my thighs, stopping me, “You, Chase, I want you.”

  Sliding those large hands up to my ass, he pulled me to the very edge while entering me fully and completely, making me damn near scream. “Coming so soon? Maybe I should stop.”

  “Don’t you dare!” To my shock and horror, he actually pulled out. But to my utmost relief it was only to turn me around and bend me over.

  Placing himself at my waiting entrance once again, “Who do you want, Justine?”

  He started creeping into me so slowly I thought I would go mad, so I answered him, “You.”

  “Not good enough. Who am I to you, Justine?”

  When he started pulling out I practically yelled, “My husband!”

  “Well, since I did promise to honor and obey…”

  “Oh, God, Chase!” I did yell it then. He was thrusting into me harder and faster, and in this position he was even deeper than before. I grabbed onto the counter as my legs began to feel like jelly. But I had no worries about falling with the firm grip he had on my ass. Then he brought me so hard that I could feel my own juices flowing around him and down my legs. We both cried out as he gave one hard and deep final thrust before pulling out and spilling his seed up my back. Instead of just stepping back like most guys I had been with, he turned me around and pulled me into him for a kiss that promised so much more without even a word.

  Finally coming up for air, he pulled one my hands to his lips and placed a gentle kiss on it. “Now, how about we get cleaned up and get those nachos and drinks that I promised you? The night is still young, and I am in no way done with you yet.”

  Chase had seemed to not only bust out of the shell he used to cocoon himself in, but had burned that bitch. I had to admit even if only to myself, this new aggressive Chase was embedding himself ever deeper into my heart.

  12

  After a few more rounds of discovering each other, I donned a leather mini, strategically ripped white tank, and short pair of combat boots. Chase put on a pair of jeans that hugged his ass to perfection and a black t-shirt, and we headed down to the lobby. Once we got there we opted to go on foot to look for a bar instead of just going to the one in the hotel. Chase had even texted the driver to ask if he wanted to join us. With no response we assumed he was either sleeping, or just didn’t want to come.

  Walking hand in hand we found one about two or three blocks down. But that one had no pool table, so we walked right back out of it. Luckily this seemed to be the bar district we saw one across the road with a flashing pool table in the big picture window that was like a shining beacon to my grateful eyes. Which was a good thing too, because though Chase had said the night was still young, by the time we’d emerged from the room, it was already after eleven.

  “This is the first time we’ve been to play pool together isn’t it?” I asked Chase as we walked into the bar. The best difference between a bar and a nightclub is the fact that the music is there, but isn’t blaring so loud that you can’t even hear the person next to you without shouting at the top of your lungs. “I think I’ve only ever met up with y’all at either a karaoke bar, or board game night. Or that one Halloween party when you kept staring at my chest in my corset.”

  “You noticed that?”

  “Yes, yes I did.”

  The place wasn’t completely packed, but it did have a nice sized crowd. Lucky for us there was one pool table left open with a small table and chairs adjacent to it, I tugged Chase’s hand once I noticed it. Then he said to me, “I’ll grab us something to drink from the bar, how about you get a couple sticks and I’ll meet you over there.”

  I was over by the sticks trying to choose the best two—you know, two that weren’t broken off at the tip—when someone walked up to the cue rack and leaned back on the wall beside it. “Don’t you look good tonight? Looking for some company?” Some guy mumbled from behind me, he didn’t seem quite drunk yet, but you could tell he was well on his way.

  “Uh, no. I’m grabbing two sticks, not just one.”

  Instead of just letting it go at that, he continued on, “One could be just a back-up, sort of how I could be yours if your date goes south.”

  “My wife doesn’t need a back-up, in any way.” Chase had walked up behind me pulling me closer to him, my back to his front. “She’s bringing our drinks over to the table.” The man threw up his hands in a ‘no offense’ gesture, “Hey, man, didn’t see a ring. Might wanna take care of that.”

  “Oh trust me, she’s being taken care of very well,” was Chase’s response to the question left unasked as we walked over to our table.

  “Mr. Reynolds, I must admit, I like this side of you very much.”

  After about fifteen minutes into our game, Chase said with a huge smile on his face, “You’re not that bad.”

  I stared him down before responding. “You fucking liar.” I laughed at his look of mock outrage. “I know I suck ass, but I just like playing anyway.”

  “Give yourself some credit, you’ve knocked in more balls than I have. Granted, some of those balls were mine, but still.”

  After a few more games, more drinks, and a lot more shit talking, our giant platter of nachos arrived. We were
more than halfway through with them when I asked the question I’d been dying to ask. “Why, if you’ve felt this way all this time, did you wait until now to say anything?”

  “No time ever seemed like the right time, until now.”

  “And it had nothing at all to do with Max?”

  “No. And before you ask me anything else as you try to convince yourself of a million reasons why we shouldn’t be together, I’m going to run away to the men’s room.” Stepping out of his chair he stopped where I sat and bent down. Then he kissed me in a none-too-gentle, demanding and claiming kiss that left my head reeling and my toes curling, before telling me, “While I’m gone, think of a million reasons why we do belong together.”

  Chase’s chair had barely even had the chance to cool down before that same guy from earlier stumbled over, having gone from buzzed to totally drunk. “Now dat he’s gone, how bout chu slide me dem digits?”

  “Dude, I wouldn’t give you the number to nine one-one if you were standing there bleeding.”

  “Chu liddle bitch.” The word had just barely escaped his foul mouth when a fist came from out of nowhere, knocking him out cold on the floor.

  “No one disrespects my wife.” Turning to a stunned and very turned-on me, Chase held out his hand and asked, “You ready? Only court want to be in is where I’m being paid to be there.”

  “More than ready.”

  With that I took his hand and we stepped over the big, dumb brute, stopping for a second to leave a hefty tip on the table as we made our way out the door, and back to the hotel for a long memory making night that did not involve sleep.

  13

  While we were packing the driver had gone to have the tire fixed. By the time we‘d gotten down to the lobby to check out with our bags in tow, he had already made it back. Good thing too, since our eyes were so heavily lidded it looked as though we were sleep walking.

  So while I wish that I could say for the rest of the trip we saw a million different sights, had a magical sexually fueled time in the Jacuzzi, or anything equally exciting, I’d be lying my ass off. We spent almost the entire ride in the limo’s bed, sleeping. But, we were in each other’s arms the entire time.

  I was the first to wake, but I didn’t want to move, didn’t want to interrupt what truly felt like a dream. Not only did I feel warm and safe, but more wanted and loved than any other man had ever made me feel. I was afraid to move, afraid that if I did I would break whatever spell this was and all of it would be over. I wasn’t ready for that to happen, probably never would be. How in the world could I ever imagine that none of this had happened? How would I be able to go back to the way things were before? Pretending that there was nothing ever between us, even though I damn well always knew there was.

  As if sensing that something was wrong, or the direction of my thoughts, Chase woke up. Without saying a word he turned his face towards mine and began kissing me as he undid his pants and slid them down his waist to his knees. Placing my hand on his long, thick, silky smooth erection, he pulled my skirt up to my hips, looking to snatch off a pair of panties that were not there. I could feel a smile tugging at his lips against mine as pulled me atop of him.

  We captured each other’s moans as I glided down on him. Needing him deeper, I broke the kiss, placing my hands on his chest as an anchor. He handled both of my breasts in those large hands of his, making me wish I hadn’t put on a bra either.

  It was slow and gentle at first. Then we both seemed to feel a sense of urgency and I began riding him faster as he pistoned his hips upward, meeting me stroke for stroke. Without breaking stride he sat up, one hand grabbing a fistful of my hair as the other gripped my ass, pushing me down harder on him, embedding himself even deeper inside of me.

  Then he claimed my lips hard, as we both climaxed together until the both of us were spent. Neither of us was willing to break our connection, so he just lay back, taking me with him.

  “Chase—” I don’t know what it was I had been about to say. I wanted to tell him I loved him too, that I didn’t want this to end. That I wanted to remain his wife. But just then the driver came over the intercom announcing that we had reached our destination. We were already in Hershey.

  Reluctantly we disentangled ourselves. I actually felt a sense of loss when he slid out of me.

  Adjusting our clothes, we stepped out of the limo, surprised to see how dark it was outside. When we both went to check our phones, we noticed we had missed several phone calls and texts. We quickly responded that everything was ok, and said lamely that we must have hit some spots with bad reception. That seemed to placate everyone, because all responses came back as ok, c u in the morning, or nite. Except for Danielle, ur a liar, luv u anyway, want details n morning, nite. Btw, get ur own damn rm.

  I texted her back, Mad much?

  No, I just know u better had got u sum. U 2 belong 2gether fathead. Plus, I just hooked up w sum1. Deets n morning. Nite!

  “Well, that’s special, my roomie just kicked me out,” I said to both myself and Chase.

  “How convenient; Donnie just texted he was hooking up with somebody and said the room was all mine.”

  At his raised eyebrow I asked, “You don’t think?”

  “Nah.” He shook his head, then seemed to reconsider his answer for a minute. Then with a thoughtful look he said, “You never know. Stranger things have happened.”

  I was staring at the front entrance of the hotel, unwilling to move. Unwilling for this to end yet. “How about we hit the bar real quick?”

  “Sounds like a plan. Gives me time to talk you into sharing a room with me instead of bothering to get another.” He said this in an all too sly tone and with a wink. Laughing at my expression he continued, “You go on to the bar, I’ll take care of the bags and everything else.”

  Too tired and sated to argue with him all I could manage was an, “Okay.”

  I was on my third chocolate martini (those things go down fast, they taste so damn good though they could use a little more liquor in ’em) when I started wondering what the hell was taking him so damn long. Just then he walked up with a smug look on that handsome face of his. “What are you up to?”

  Chase kneeled down on one knee in front of me. Pulling out his phone he said, “Justine, I’m going to ask you a question. But before I do, watch this video.”

  Then with shaking hands I hit play. He had gone around to everyone’s room, explaining what we had done. He had told everyone that we were married. And my eyes watered up at each and every bleary eyed response.

  First it was Max. “Man, your plan worked, huh? Good move! Knew it would be though; you can’t give her ass enough time to overthink shit, she’ll psychoanalyze anything and everything to death!”

  Then it was Danielle, who actually was with Donnie, go figure. “Bout fucking time. Tell that bitch I’m still kicking her ass for not telling me first.”

  Then it was Mom. She slapped him upside his head. “Boy, you know I wanted to see that girl walk down the aisle, then again you probably would have had to club her over the head if you just asked her like a normal person. My poor girl never was wrapped too tight. Ah well, you were practically a son anyway.” Then she pulled him into a hug.

  Then Pops. “Oh hells no. I mean I’m glad y’all finally stopped beating around the damn bush, but I still wanna walk my baby girl down the aisle. So, long as you promise a second ceremony, we’re good to go.”

  When I put the phone down, I turned to look at Chase who was still down on one knee. Only now he had a ring in hand. A few tears did spill over then as he said, “Justine, I love you more than any man can love a woman. I always have and I forever will. Will you please do me the honor of remaining my wife and not divorcing me?”

  “Yes, I mean no.” He looked as befuddled as I felt. “What I mean is, I won’t divorce you!” The whole damn bar seemed confused at that outburst. But when he went to place the ring on my finger, they all applauded.

  Chase stood, then pulled me
out of my chair and into his arms and kissed me, making the cheers and applause grow even louder.

  Soon as we broke the kiss I told him, “I love you” for the first time, but definitely not the last.

  “Wait, when the hell did you get the ring?”

  Epilogue

  Turned out it was all an elaborate set up, except for the guy at the bar. Oh, Max’s wedding was real and did happen. Finally going off without any more hitches. But Chase had planned on getting me to marry him the entire time. He said he knew that nothing was ever simple with me, and that was one of the many things he loved about me.

  Chase and Max had been in constant contact the entire time. When he went to pick up Max and Chelsea’s wedding rings, he had picked up another wedding set as well. And the dress shop incident? When I got stuck in the damn thing he saw that as another perfect opportunity. His cufflink didn’t accidentally get stuck.

  And as far as the bet with the marriage laws, he had also done his research.

  I should have been mad, and the old me probably would have been. But when you think about it, anyone can get down on one knee and propose. To me, him setting all this up? That was the most romantic thing he could have ever done. I dare him to top that off for our silver anniversary.

  About the Author

  When you become a Mom, you begin to put yourself last, and your combat boots begin to collect dust. Going to your child's PTA meetings in full Gothic, especially industrial, regalia is pretty much frowned upon. Especially by your own children, and your teens would die of a heart attack. But, one should not have to completely stop being themselves, uniqueness is greatness. So all of that darkness is put into words in her books, and designs in her jewelry sold in her Etsy shop, GothicMoms DarkCharms.