Seth’s heart jumped as the music changed to the romantic strains of “Beautiful” by Apocalyptica. Jayne had requested it because she appreciated him introducing her to the sensuality of the music composed by that group. It was something special they shared with their guests. The back door of the ranch house opened, and Jayne appeared, clad in a sleek, white wedding gown, on the arm of her father, Robert. Toby wiggled in his arms and held out a hand.
“Mommy.”
The guests nearby chuckled indulgently as he and his son watched her move toward them. Rapture governed the pounding of his heart as each step drew her nearer. Jayne’s radiant face was visible behind the sheer veil, and he felt the warmth in her gaze as she maintained eye contact with him. Walking along the white runner, she looked like an angel. The dress skimmed her curves, and he fought the inner beast to not just ogle her openly with her dad beside her.
Lucy came to stand at Seth’s side and touched his arm as Jayne and her dad approached. He turned to her, and when she patted her hands together, Toby went into her arms. She stayed beside Seth, at Jayne’s request, so Toby could be close to them as they wed each other.
Lucy had settled into her job as a massage therapist at Madeleine’s and was more than happy in her one-bedroom cottage in Divine. She seemed to have taken to life in Divine with relative ease but kept busy. So busy, she’d said there was no time for a social life. She’d made a point of telling him she hadn’t been back to The Dancing Pony since that fateful night in August. Seth wondered at times what was really driving her.
Moving forward to claim Jayne from her father, Seth couldn’t help but stare at her. She was so beautiful, his eyes ached. She’d looked this beautiful on the day he’d met her as he’d lifted her to her feet after tripping her. And as he’d helped her into the pool, clad in that eye-popping bathing suit on July 4th. And when she’d demanded to be shown the drawing he’d made as he fantasized about tattooing her. And as she’d allowed him to tattoo the creamy perfection of her skin. And when she’d emerged from Dr. Hawks’s office with good news. And when she’d danced for him at the nightclub, after calling him from her closet. And when they’d made love for the first time. And when she’d fought for Toby, not wanting to be parted from him. Her vehement cry still echoed in his memory sometimes. “He’s mine!”
“Are you okay?” Her question broke into his reminiscing. She reached out a hand to stroke his cheek as everyone waited for the ceremony to begin.
“You’re mine,” he whispered.
“I am yours. Always.” They turned toward the minister.
* * * *
Jayne was warmed by the desire burning in Seth’s eyes as he led her naked onto the spacious, private balcony of the Parkview Inn’s honeymoon suite. The cool air caressed her skin, which was still a little damp from her bath in the large claw-foot tub in their bathroom. With each step, the tiny bells dangling from her nipple clamps chimed, making her deliciously aware of the pinching sensation radiating from her nipples. When she’d left the tub, he’d been waiting for her with the clamps in hand. She hadn’t even realized that he’d packed them.
Gooseflesh danced across her skin, and her nipples grew even harder until she felt the tightening in her cunt as well. He’d poured her a glass of her favorite wine, the same Moscato d’Asti as the night he’d proposed. He’d brought it to her and told her to take her time as she’d soaked in the tub filled with scented bubbles. She’d heard him moving around the bedroom and opening the French doors leading out to the balcony.
The white Carolina jasmine blooming in the pots on the balcony glowed in the soft moonlight, and the sweet fragrance hung in the air. The mild weather had held on for the wedding, for which she was grateful. This late in the year the humidity and heat had eased during the daytime, and the nights had a touch of crispness to them. He slid his hand down her arm as he drew her to the large chaise, and she wasn’t sure if the goose bumps on her skin were from the temperature or from his warm touch.
She wondered no more what he’d been up to as she realized he’d made up the chaise with a sheet and blankets so that they wouldn’t become chilled while they were out there. For now, however, he’d turned the covers down, out of the way. He’d even brought pillows to rest their heads upon.
The chaise was situated in the center of the balcony, the railings shielded by various plantings and vines. The sky above them glistened with stars and the light of the waning moon. A breeze caressed her back as she lifted a knee to the surface of their outdoor bed and he came close, searing her with his body heat. Her wedding band glinted, reflecting the moonlight as she slid her hands up to his chest, stroking the new addition to the tattoos on his pectorals.