To Love & To Cherish (To Have or To Hold Book 3)

CHAPTER 3

　　First up was George, our best man, and we all laughed along as he recalled tales of them in times gone by, and it was nice to hear some stories of Jace’s youth. I still didn’t know much about his full history, so it was lovely to hear how carefree he once was.

　　After the speeches, we all sat and ate a delicious meal, and looking around the room, everyone was happy and relaxed. This was exactly how I had wanted my big day to pan out, and I couldn’t wait to share the rest of my life with Jace.

　　With a quartet playing and everyone happily sat chatting together and enjoying the atmosphere, it was a perfect afternoon, and I couldn’t have been happier. Sat with my new husband and drinking champagne, with only our nearest and dearest around us, there was nowhere else in the world that I wanted to be.

　　As the day moved along, Jace led me over to a makeshift dancefloor, dotted with fairy lights and muslin backdrops, where we had our first dance to “All of Me” by John Legend, and the lyrics perfectly encompassed how we felt about each other. We’d already faced so much, and it was only the beginning of our journey.

　　Holding me in his arms as he lightly sang the song to me, I was lost in my own world of being utterly and hopelessly in love with him. I had no idea that he knew all the words to this song, and even in that way, I knew that we were perfectly matched. It was one of my favourite songs, and it was one of those that transported me into Jace’s arms whenever I’d heard it, and I knew I wanted it to be our song for the first dance.

　　As the song ended and we held each other for a moment longer, I had definitely made the right decision in marrying this perfectly imperfect man. He was my world, had my heart, and I never wanted to be without him. This was exactly how a wedding day should be, and I knew I would treasure the memory of it forever.

　　With waiters and waitresses handing out drinks, the party officially started, and with only the most important people around us, we danced the night away in celebration of our union. At one point, Jace took Jacob in his arms, and as we both danced with my precious nephew, I hoped this memory would replace the one that he had of the last disaster that had occurred. Luckily he hadn’t been scarred for life by his deranged aunt, dragging him along with my dress, and as we danced and I held his little hand in mine, all was well with the world again.

　　After dancing for a vast portion of the night, I took a moment to catch my breath, and stood at the side-lines to look on at everyone dancing. Even Drew was behaving himself, and as he laughed and talked with Jace, it was nice that they were getting along for the duration of the day. I wanted nothing and nobody to be spoiling this happy moment.

　　“You couldn’t pull the wool over our eyes,” Cassandra slurred, coming over to me after one too many glasses of champagne.

　　“What do you mean?” I asked, with Fiona stopping dancing and coming to join us.

　　“We knew that there was more to your relationship than just being work colleagues,” Fiona commented, and then hiccupped at the end.

　　“I think the cat is officially out of the bag.” I chuckled.

　　“We were surprised that it all happened so quickly,” Cassandra pitched in.

　　“Well, when you know, you know.” I smiled, looking at my mum and dad dancing together.

　　“For all of George’s faults, I do know what you mean,” Cassandra replied, as we looked at George who was cracking jokes along with the other men.

　　“Hopefully all will now be settled,” I remarked, looking off into the distance.

　　“Why, what’s the gossip?” Fiona chuckled, sipping her glass of champers.

　　“Oh, nothing,” I replied, lightly shaking my head to bring me back to the present and remember the company we were in.

　　“Sweetheart,” my mum began, coming over to us, “it’s been a thoroughly lovely day.”

　　“I’m glad it all worked out in the end.” I smiled.

　　“It’s been perfect.” She smiled back at me. “Your father is forever making a prat out of himself on the dancefloor at weddings. I can’t take him anywhere…”

　　As my mum spoke to me, my eyes flicked over to Jace, who had been approached by one of the security staff. Jace, placing his champagne flute down on a nearby table, followed the security man out of the marquee, and watching him with my eyeline, the concern swept over me. So much for everything being settled.

　　“Would you excuse me for a moment?” I politely remarked, placing my own drink down and leaving the ladies standing together.

　　Leaving our group of guests, I left the marquee and noticed Jace stood further along the garden, listening and looking deep in thought about something the security guy was telling him.

　　Approaching them both, Jace muttered something to the security guard, and then turned to me as the man left us both alone.

　　“Is everything okay?” I asked, with the distant sound of music playing out in the background.

　　“Yes. Everything is fine,” Jace replied, looking shifty.

　　“Don’t lie to me,” I urged, taking his hand in mine. “You have to start letting me in on things.”

　　“It’s nothing for you to concern yourself over,” he spoke, unconvincingly.

　　Letting out a sigh, I rolled my eyes. “You can’t keep everything from me. Jace, I’m your wife now, and you have to learn to share things with me. Remember what we said this morning about weathering storms together?”

　　Jace locked eyes with me, and I could tell that I was managing to break through. For once in his life, he was going to have to learn to open up, because the concern I was feeling at not knowing what was going on, was possibly worse than knowing the truth.

　　“Right, just relax for today. This is our wedding day, Becca, and I want you to be able to enjoy it. We can talk another time, and I will tell you what you need to know. Okay?” he asked.

　　Deep inside I could feel the frustration of still not getting an answer from him, chipping away at my patience. I thought that when we were married he would tell me more, but even now, in the first ebb of married life, he was keeping secrets. Whether it was for my benefit or not, I didn’t care; I just wanted to know what was going on.

　　“I want to know what’s going on, and you’d better tell me everything when today is through,” I answered, trying to reach a compromise.

　　“We’re going on our honeymoon tomorrow. Can you let me take charge of this? It’s really nothing for you to worry over. I want us to enjoy this time, and anything else can wait.”

　　Hmm, I wasn’t so sure, but trusting in my now-husband, for the sake of enjoying the night, I decided to let it go. I was one-too-many champagnes down the line myself, and with our guests still enjoying themselves, it wasn’t worth becoming stressed out and spoiling the night. After this morning, and nearly ruining the whole day, it was the least I could do.

　　“Okay.” I smiled.

　　“Good. Right, Mrs. Morgan, we better get back to our guests before I have you all to myself,” he rasped, pulling me in closer to him.

　　With a fizzle of excitement filling my belly, we brought each other into a passionate kiss, and I could have taken him there and then. Jace Morgan, my husband, was the most luscious man I’d ever met, and I couldn’t wait to be alone with him tonight.

　　Getting back to our guests, the night drew on, and after more drinking, dancing, and laughter, it was time for our guests to leave.

　　Seeing them all to the door, I hugged my parents tight and they told me to have a safe and wonderful honeymoon. Even though we were only to be away for two weeks, I was still going to miss them both.

　　Next I said goodbye to my sister and nephew, and as Jacob sagged in Kelly’s arms, I stroked his hair and gave him a light kiss on his forehead. I was so pleased that everyone I cherished had been a part of this day, and I couldn’t wait to get the photos from the photographer.

　　When the last of the guests had drunkenly departed, we were left alone in the house, with only the bustle of the staff clearing away outside, to be heard.

　　“Did you enjoy today, Mrs. Morgan?” Jace smiled, pulling me into him as we stood in the hallway.

　　“I did. And how about you, Mr. Morgan?” I asked, placing my hands on his lapels and looking up at him.

　　“Hmm, it was okay.” He chuckled, holding me close.

　　Kissing me in a way that no other man ever could, the heat of the moment filled my body, and as he reached down and lifted me into his arms, I gave myself over to him and let the whole world faze out for a while.

　　Getting to the bedroom, Jace placed me down on the bed, and taking off his jacket, I watched as the milky moonlight caressed his fabulous physique. No matter what, this beautiful man was all mine, and I already couldn’t get enough of him.

　　Standing up from the bed, with my hands eager to touch him, I unbuttoned his waistcoat and removed it from his body, as he soaked me in with his gaze. Gripping hold of his shirt, I whirled him around and gently nudged him back onto the bed. Perched on the edge of the bed and watching me, I unzipped my dress and let the cascade of white silk fall to the floor.

　　Becoming more turned on with every movement from me, the lust filled his irises. Stepping out of my dress and wearing my white stockings, suspenders, and heels, I straddled him on the bed and gripped his hair in my hands.

　　“Tell me how much you want me,” I whispered into his ear, trailing my tongue along his earlobe.

　　“I want you more than anything,” he lightly growled, leaning back and gripping the bedspread.

　　Laying featherlight kisses down his neck, I unbuttoned his shirt and tore it from his body. Hearing his groans as I grazed my fingernails down his torso to his waist, I tugged on his belt, undoing it and tossing it to the side. Unzipping his fly and letting him break free, my lips moved further down his body until I reached his most intimate part.

　　With his head dropped back, I moved my mouth around him, and in a rhythmic motion, letting my lips and tongue work their magic. Holding my head in place with his hand, I slid my mouth up and down him, as he gasped and groaned with every movement.

　　Feeling him at the point of explosion, I raised myself up, and straddling him once more, moved my panties to the side to let him enter me. Furiously gripping my hips and thrusting himself, I flung my head back to feel every inch of him.

　　Calling out in pleasure, he lifted me up in his arms, and still as one, carried me into the ensuite. With one of his hands distractedly turning the shower on, he pressed me up against the cool marble of the bathroom wall, and holding me with his hands, continued to gyrate himself in and out of me.

　　Gripping his back and wanting more of him, he swiftly moved me into the shower, as the water crashed down upon us. Pulling out of me and placing me down, he moved his hands over my body as the water drenched his hair and droplets fell down his face. With my legs spread and standing in the shower, he cupped my intimate region with his mouth, and I gasped in pure ecstasy.

　　With the water spilling down on us and the feeling of Jace’s tongue washing over me, the heat built inside my body until I couldn’t take much more. Trying to grip the marble of the wall, he raised himself back up, and hooked his hips under mine to move himself in and out to become one again.

　　Between the steam of the shower and our hot breath, the plumes of steam filled the air as we gripped onto each other and the feelings of pleasure radiated through us. Like lightning bolts filling my blood stream, I cried out through the pulsations of euphoria that radiated through my body. Letting himself reach his release, he thrust into me for the last time, while letting out a low groan.

　　Embracing me as the water caressed our bodies, he kissed me tenderly as I fought to catch my breath. With my knees like jelly, Jace held me up with his arm, as I realised that I was still in my underwear and heels. Looking on at Jace, who was still in his trousers, we both chuckled at being half dressed and soaked through.

　　Helping each other out of our remaining clothing, the items were tossed to the side as we soaped each other up and showered off together. Giggling and laying tender kisses on each other, this was definitely the hottest shower I’d ever had, and as the bubbles washed down the drain, Jace pulled me back into him and it was time for round two.

　　If this was only the wedding night, then I couldn’t wait for the honeymoon.