by Anthology
I already arranged to pick her up before the rehearsal to make sure we arrive and leave together. Also, it makes it extremely awkward for her to bring a date to our wedding when she’s riding with me. When I pull up to her house, a moment of doubt hits me. What if she annuls our marriage? Do they allow that after the marriage has been consummated? I hope not. I plan to consummate a lot tonight. And tomorrow night after Scott and Deanna’s wedding. And every night after that.
She opens the door within seconds of the doorbell ringing, and she completely steals my breath right out of my chest. In the wedding gown—I mean, formal evening gown—I urged her to get, she is absolutely stunning. For several seconds, all I can do is stare at her with my mouth agape, eyes wide open, and not breathing at all. I’m surprised I haven’t passed out by now.
“Justin, are you okay?” Her sweet voice, so concerned for me, pulls me from my thoughts. And solidifies my plan.
“Fine. I just can’t stop staring at you. I’ve never seen anyone more beautiful, Lily.”
Her blush starts at her neck and crawls up her face, giving her an angelic glow.
Yep, she’ll be Mrs. Justin Ramsey tonight. No doubt about it.
With her hand wrapped snugly in mine, I lead her to my car and help her in. Everything is lining up for a perfect ending.
Lily is wearing her wedding dress.
The marriage license in the envelope in my back seat.
We are standing in for the bride and groom at the rehearsal tonight.
Our rings are in my pocket.
She’ll think it’s all part of the fun, right down to the moment when she signs the marriage certificate.
Then we’ll have our rehearsal dinner, a few drinks and dances, and I’ll convince her to spend the night with me.
What could go wrong now?
We enter the banquet hall with her hand wrapped around my arm. I’m in my tux, she’s in her formal gown, and we look damn good together. We’re turning heads left and right.
“Was I supposed to wear my tux tonight? I thought that was only tomorrow for the ceremony.” One of the other groomsmen stops me to ask, panic in his expression.
“I just got mine, so I needed to make sure it fits right before I wear it several hours tomorrow.” I hope my explanation is good enough to pass.
“I wish I’d thought of that,” he remarks. Two other groomsmen pass us in their tuxes, and I suddenly feel better about my excuse. “Looks like I’m the odd man out tonight.”
We move into the sanctuary, and I’m amazed at how well everything is decorated. Flowers are everywhere, the aroma fills the air with the most pleasant scent. It’s perfect, even if it wasn’t on my list. I’m glad everything is already in place for Lily—for our wedding.
“Let’s get this rehearsal over with so we can eat.” Deanna corrals everyone into place. “Lily and Justin will stand in for us so we don’t jinx ourselves for tomorrow, but we’ll still go through all the motions as if Scott and I are actually exchanging vows tonight. I’m hungry, so get it right the first time.”
We practice the wedding march and the timing. Who stands where. Who does what. Who moves first. Finally, we’re at the best part—the exchanging of vows. Deanna and Scott sit in the front pew while Lily and I take their places in front of the minister.
“Oh, I’d better give this to you now.” I pull the marriage license out of my jacket pocket and give it to the pastor.
He looks it over and glances between Lily and me. “So, the two of you want to do this now?” He has a slightly confused tone, which is understandable. Lily doesn’t seem to pick up on it, and it occurs to me she’s been more distracted than usual this week. Her eyes are glued to me, and I take that as a sign to proceed.
“Absolutely.” I want to tell him to hurry before someone fucks it all up.
He goes through all the usual vows, not giving us the opportunity to recite our own. I’m secretly glad because I have no idea what Lily would even say. My lungs refuse to function when he reaches the part where he asks if she takes me for her lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, till death shall us part.
She looks up at me dreamily and replies, “I do.” I slide her ring on her finger.
Then he pronounces us husband and wife and says I can kiss my bride. So I do. In front of God, the pastor, and the entire wedding party who’re there for someone else’s wedding. Everyone claps and whistles, reminding me to keep it PG-13, so I break off our wedding kiss but keep hold of her hand.
We turn to face the congregation, and the pastor introduces us as Mr. and Mrs. Justin Ramsey. She didn’t notice when I slipped the ring on my finger during the vows and neither did the pastor. Maybe it was the impromptu ceremony I threw on him in the middle of another couple’s rehearsal. Maybe it was divine intervention. I prefer to think of it as fate telling me I’ve done the right thing. But she does notice her ring and is quick to chastise me over it.
“I can’t believe you put Deanna’s ring on my finger. Are you trying to get us both killed? She’d be furious if she knew I was wearing her wedding band the night before her wedding. Don’t you know that’s bad luck?” Her voice is low and controlled, but she leaves no doubt she isn’t happy with me.
“You two wait for me in the hallway just outside the doors. I need you to sign some papers for the ceremony. It’s best if we get it taken care of tonight,” the pastor instructs us.
“Okay. No problem,” Lily replies sweetly.
Five minutes later, we’ve signed our marriage certificate, and it’s ready to be filed with the state. She’s now my wife.
Lily is my wife. Finally.
We move to the banquet room, and Deanna makes a beeline for us. “Congratulations, you two.” Her tone concerns me. She knows.
“Why, thank you,” Lily laughs and hugs her friend. “Listen, I jumped on Justin for putting your ring on my finger. I’m so sorry. I’ll get it off with some hand soap right now.”
“That’s not my ring, sweetheart. But it looks good on you. You should keep it on. Mind if I steal your new husband for a minute?”
“Not at all. Have at him.”
Deanna and I move away from the tables, and the wait staff begins bringing out the food. She glances around, making sure everyone is settled before turning on me.
“I know what you did. You tell her, or I will. I know you love her, but so do I. Tricking her was a really shitty thing to do, Justin.”
“I’m desperate. I love her, Deanna. I don’t want to lose her.”
“Then you should’ve trusted her to make the right choice to marry you on her own. Taking that away from her isn’t the way to show her how much you love her. She’ll be pissed when she finds out. The longer you wait, the worse it’ll be. And don’t think I’m going down with you. Fix this, or I will.”
“You’re right. She’ll hate me when I tell her, won’t she?”
“Can you blame her if she does? What if Shannon had tricked you the way you just did Lily?”
With that, she walks away and leaves me standing here alone, completely unsure of my actions. Again. Then Deanna’s cousin approaches my new wife, obviously interested, openly flirting, and my mind is made up again. Just like that, I’ve condoned my deceit again.
His hands are on the back of my assigned seat as I approach. He’s leaned over chatting her up—probably trying to look down the front of her dress. I should punch him in the fucking nose and give him two black eyes.
“Excuse me.” My voice booms beside him, and he jumps, startled by my presence. “This is my seat. Beside my wife.”
“Oh, sorry. Let me get out of your way.” His tone is cordial and makes me feel like a jerk. “Lily, if you don’t mind, can we pick this back up later? Kellie and I really appreciate your help with Dina’s learning disabilities.”
“Absolutely, Mike. Just let me know which day is best for Kellie and you.” Lily cuts her eyes at me suspiciously as I slide into my seat. “What was that about? He�
�s the father of one of my students.”
Lily teaches at our elementary school—of course he’s a parent and knows her. And I just made an ass of myself in front of everyone at our table.
“I’m hungry. He was blocking my chair.”
She laughs and shakes her head at me. “Sure sounded like you were jealous to me.”
Somehow, I make it through dinner without another embarrassing incident. The conclusion of the meal is marked by Deanna and Scott taking the stage to make an announcement.
“We’re not having the traditional bachelor and bachelorette parties tonight. Instead, we’re having one big party together—right here. You’re all invited to stay. We’ve hired a DJ, there’s an open bar, and we’ve reserved a block of hotel rooms so no one has to drive. This is our gift to you for all you’ve done to help us with our wedding.” Deanna beams as she hands the microphone to Scott.
“As my beautiful fiancée said, thank you for all your help and support. Everyone have fun and feel free to call a few more friends to join us if you’d like. The more, the merrier.”
With that, the lights dim, the music starts, and the bartender yells, “The bar is now open!”
Lily glances around the room in awe before her gaze meets mine. “Did you know about this?”
“Nope. I had no clue. Do you not want to stay?”
“Well, I kind of have to since I’m the maid of honor. We should make the most of it since we’re stuck here.” She stops talking abruptly when a thought occurs to her. “Unless you planned to leave? I can get another ride home later.”
“You’re stuck with me, Lily. You’d better get used to it. Let’s go grab a drink.”
“I don’t think I want anything, but I’ll walk with you.”
We stand in line for drinks and chitchat with our friends and neighbors. Various statements and questions are casually thrown out about when we’ll get married, when I’ll settle down with one woman, and how we don’t have much longer to have kids before our biological clocks run out of time for good or we’ll be too old to enjoy them.
Good talks.
In the first hour, I’ve thrown back three shots, and Lily still hasn’t had a first one. How am I supposed to tell her we’re married when she’s sober? This won’t go over well for me. Scott comes over to where we’re socializing—because I haven’t let Lily out of my sight—and cups me on the shoulder with his manly greeting.
“How are the happy newlyweds doing? Y’all having fun?”
Lily laughs heartily while I quickly raise my beer bottle to my lips. My only reply is to lift my eyebrows and nod. Lily replies for us both. “The newlyweds are doing fine. Though, one of us appears to be getting drunk on our wedding night. I’m not sure how I feel about that.”
Scott pins me with a pointed stare. “Oh, I don’t know, Lily. Probably just nerves. You should probably have a drink or two yourself.”
“I’m trying to be the designated driver tonight. No one warned me about the after party, so I didn’t bring any clothes to change into. There’s something I have to do early tomorrow morning before the wedding activities start.”
“Something for my beautiful wife-to-be? Something I need to know about?” Scott pries.
“Absolutely nothing you need to know about,” she emphasizes with a cunning smile.
“Fine, fine. Keep your secrets. Just keep this one close to you all night. I don’t want to be responsible for anything he does.”
“I always get stuck babysitting the problem children after school.” Her retort makes them both laugh at my expense. Whatever. As long as she stays with me, I don’t even care.
Hour two passes. We’ve danced to several songs—fast and slow. I’ve held her in my arms, had her sweet perfume put me further under her spell, and more than once almost spilled my guts like a little teenage girl eager to gossip. Three more shots of liquid courage followed by a longneck bottle of beer seem to help my jitters.
The party is in full swing now, and more people have shown up. Layne, my best friend’s wife, walks over with an overnight bag and hands it to Lily. “I heard you were at a bachelor/bachelorette party with no clothes. Thought you could use some help.”
“Scott has a big mouth.” She takes the bag from Layne and hugs her. “Thank you. You’re too good to me.”
“Do you want a drink now?” I ask Lily and pray she says yes.
“No, thanks. I’m good.”
Shit.
Now, what?
Layne and Lily chat while I grab several Jell-O shots off a passing waiter’s tray. One after the other, I squeeze the liquor-soaked gelatin down my throat and chase it with a liquid shot. Now my head is spinning, I can’t feel my feet, and everything’s becoming blurry.
Except Lily. She’s the only person I can see perfectly.
Layne says goodnight and leaves us. I turn to Lily and extend my hand. “Come dance with me.”
“Maybe just one. I’m tired and may go rest in my room. Deanna said she has the room keys ready.”
“You’re my wife, so we have to share a room.”
“You’re safer to room with than most of the people here,” she concedes. “One dance, then we go to the room.”
“Deal.” I lead her to the dance floor and wrap my arms around her waist. It doesn’t matter what song is playing—it wouldn’t change how I hold her close to me. “I’ve missed you, Lily. Every night for the last month since you left my house and refused to come back.”
She looks up at me, her big, beautiful eyes sparkling in the dance floor lighting. “I’ve missed you too, Justin.”
“We don’t have to keep missing each other, you know. I’ll take you back if you ask real nice and perform sexual favors for me.” She knows I’m teasing—partly. She doesn’t have to ask nicely.
“You are such a charmer. It’s amazing I’m able to resist you at all.”
“I know. That’s so true. You should stop trying to resist me at all. Give in to Justin—you know you want to.”
“The song is over, and so is our dance.”
“I’ll grab your bag if you want to get the key from Deanna.”
She agrees and we separate momentarily. I can think of nothing but getting her alone to tell her she’s legally my wife. I’m legally her husband. We’re legally married.
And I want it to stay that way.
7
STEP 6: CONSUMMATE THE MARRIAGE
Inside our hotel room, I drop her small overnight bag on the dresser, lost in thoughts of how to break the news to her. My original plan was to consummate the marriage first, in hopes the court would side with me when I contest the annulment she’s guaranteed to pursue. If she’s sober and willing, doesn’t that mean she loves me too?
I need another drink. My buzz is starting to wear off. I know Lily. I’ll need it to get through the rest of the night after I confess. I pull out the two beers I swiped and pop the top on number one. My buzz returns full force after I chug it within seconds.
Lily gives me an odd look. “Do you need to be drunk to spend the night with me, Justin?”
“No. I need to be drunk to stand being away from you. It’s been pure hell,” I admit truthfully. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to have you back.”
“Either being away from me or being drunk has made you much sweeter than you were before. I’m not sure which.”
“Being away from you has done all kinds of things to me. You’d be surprised.”
My next words were meant to be a full confession of what I’ve done. I was going to tell her right then and there.
But then she kisses me.
Her lips brush against mine before I realize she moved. One kiss is all it takes, and she owns me—body, mind, and heart. Her soft tongue sweeps across my lips, so lightly but so very enticing. It’s been too long since I’ve tasted her, and my resolve can only hold out for so long.
It seems the length of my resolve matches the time it takes for Lily to crush her breasts against me and run her hands
through my hair. So…not long. It takes less time for me to take control and deepen our kiss. With my hand entwined in her hair, I tilt her head slightly and thrust my tongue into her mouth. The velvety feel of hers sliding against mine is exquisite. Her taste is so addictive—I could feast on her all night and never get enough.
The tux I’ve worn all night just became even more uncomfortable. Lily helps me out of it—mindful to lay it out neatly since I’ll wear it for the wedding tomorrow. She always thinks of everyone else first, in everything she does. While she undresses me, I’m more than happy to relieve her of her wedding dress.
“You’re the most beautiful lady I’ve ever seen, Lily. Every inch of you is perfection.” My hands wander over her bare skin, worshiping her in ways I’d never taken enough time to do before. I vow to myself to love her the way she deserves, the way I should’ve loved her before I lost her.
She melts into my touch as my hands move down her body. My fingers slip under her silky panties and find her wet core. Exploring her body is heaven, and her cries of pleasure fuel my desire even more. Her small hand wraps around my cock, stroking me, her silky-smooth skin gliding across the hardened length of my shaft.
I push her backward until she feels the bed behind her. She sits and begins to slide back, but I stop her with my hands on her knees. Kneeling in front of her, I slide her panties off and widen her legs to give myself full access to her. My tongue swipes across her slit, eliciting a carnal plea from deep inside her.
“Oh, my God, Justin. Don’t stop.”
I have no intentions of stopping. Till death do us part. With renewed fervor, I dive in—my tongue laps up all the evidence of her desire. The feel of her body shuddering and shaking under my touch nearly has me undone. How did I not realize how perfect she’s always been?
Climbing up her body, I purposely slide against her, skin-to-skin, leaving a red-hot trail of feverish flesh in my wake. Her fingers grip my back, and her nails cut into my skin as I sink into her. Her body clenches around my cock, gripping me tighter than her fingers had just moments ago.