by Mari Carr
Walking back to the bedroom, they crawled beneath the sheets and cuddled. It seemed neither of them was in a hurry to rush the evening and for the first time since they’d eloped, Riley felt like she was on a real honeymoon. Lying in his arms and making plans for the future, Riley knew she’d been blessed in this marriage she didn’t even know she wanted. Hell, she still couldn’t even remember the wedding part. As soon as they got home, she was going to have to sit down and watch the DVD he’d bought.
“You know, this might sound silly, but there’s a part of me that sort of thinks my mom set this marriage up.”
“Your mom?” Aaron asked.
Sunday Collins had passed away from cancer when Riley was only ten years old, but her memories of her mother were solid in her mind. She recalled helping her in the restaurant kitchen, listening and watching as her mother shared all her secret recipes and tricks of the trade with her. Riley knew from a very young age that she wanted to be just like her mother when she grew up, knew she wanted to create masterpieces with food.
“She told me once she could see inside your heart.”
Aaron looked down at her. “You never told me that.”
Riley shrugged. She tried to discreetly brush away a tear, but Aaron grasped her wrist, pulled her hand away. “Let it fall.”
She looked at him, confused.
“You always stop the tears; always find a way to twist everything into a joke. Don’t do that this time.”
She blinked rapidly. He was right. Humor had always been her life preserver. Well, humor and Aaron.
She decided it was time to tell him the one thing she’d never told anyone.
“A few days before she died, my mom called me into her room. She was in a lot of pain at the time, but she didn’t want to take the drugs because they left her too out of it. She knew her time was limited and she was trying very hard to say all the things she wanted to say. I think she was trying to help me—help all of us—put our lives in some sort of order. There she was—seven kids between the ages of nine and eighteen—and she was dying.”
“That sounds like your mom. She was an amazing woman.”
Riley smiled. “She was the best.”
“You’re a lot like her.”
Riley shook her head at his words but he disregarded her dismissal.
“You are. You have her talent for cooking. You make magic in the kitchen. I think you both use food to show your love for your family and friends. You have her strength of will and you have her love for life. She’d be proud of the woman you’ve become, Riley.”
Every word he spoke felt like a gift and Riley held on to each of them tightly. “I hope so. The day she called me in, she said, ‘Hold on to Aaron. He’s your true friend and he loves you. I know he’ll keep you safe for me.’”
Aaron reared back, shock evident in his features. “How could she have known that? We were ten.”
Riley shook her head. “I don’t know. I just know she was right. You’ve never left my side, never failed to be there for me when I needed you. I love you so much.”
He kissed her as she gave in to the tears and, for several long moments, held her tightly, kissing, wiping the tears away until there weren’t any more.
“Aaron,” she whispered. “Will you make love to me?”
He tightened his grip around her shoulders briefly before turning and rising over her. She opened her legs and welcomed him in. As he slowly thrust inside her, she felt the rightness of it.
They came together, not in a flurry of passion and heat but with the same comforting, peaceful style they’d shared through years of friendship. Aaron kissed her as he gently rocked inside her. Their eyes met and held, neither of them willing to drop the connection. She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. She wanted to hold on to him with everything she had, everything that she was.
“You’re so soft,” Aaron whispered as he stroked the skin at her waist.
She smiled, moving her hands to his shoulders, squeezing the firm muscles she found there. “And you’re so hard.”
He rubbed his nose against hers and pushed into her deeper. “Are you complaining?”
“Hell no. Hard is good.” She thrust her hips upward to meet his next return and both of them gasped at the pleasure the movement produced. “Hard is really good.”
He kissed her for several moments. When he pulled away, she reached up to cup his cheek, his beloved face hovering just above hers. “I was the world’s biggest fool not to see what was standing right in front of me all this time. You’ve always been with me, watching over me, taking care of me. I honestly don’t know what I’ve done to deserve you, Aaron. Hell, I’m not sure I do deserve you, but I swear I have no intention of ever taking you for granted again.”
Aaron kissed her forehead and moved inside once more, before holding still within her. “You act like this is a one-sided deal. Riley, I can’t imagine my life without you. You make me a better person.”
She giggled, but he thrust inside once more, quickly turning her chuckle to a moan.
“I’m being serious,” he said.
She leaned up and nipped his chin lightly. “Sugar, no one’s ever accused me of making them a better person. In high school, I was voted ‘Person Most Likely to Share a Jail Cell’, remember?”
He laughed, the action rocking him even deeper and she gasped. She’d never had a full-blown conversation in the midst of sex, but with Aaron, it seemed so natural…and hot.
He ran his hand through her hair. “I remember,” he said. “But I’m standing by what I said, you’ve made my life better. Look at me, Riley. I’m not exactly the world’s most spontaneous person.”
She raised her eyebrows, her grin showing she agreed with his assessment.
“If not for you, I’d never have bought my motorcycle.”
She tightened her legs around his waist and pushed her hips toward him. “Mmm, have I told you lately how hot I think that bike is?”
He met her push with a quick, hard thrust of his own. “You’ve told me. Daily. You’re still not driving it.”
She stuck out her tongue. He bent forward and sucked it into his mouth, kissing her once more. She’d never been a huge fan of kissing, but Aaron was damn good at it.
He pulled back after several moments and she could see he wasn’t finished. “You were the one who convinced me to get my tattoo.”
Her hand instinctively went to his right shoulder blade, fingering the tiny Celtic knot she knew was there. Interwoven with the knot was the name of Aaron’s twin sister, Alise, who died in childbirth.
She stroked it gently and he moved into her once more. She’d asked him to make love to her, but this felt like so much more. While his body took hers, his words claimed her heart, her mind, her soul. He was inside every part of her, deeper than anyone had ever been and she felt like the most cherished person on earth.
“I’m not even sure I would have gone into the Police Academy if not for you. You make me laugh every day, Riley. I could have the shittiest day in history and you would still find a way to make everything okay. So enough of this I don’t deserve you garbage.”
Obviously he was finished trying to convince her with words. Before she could respond, he started moving, slowly at first, but soon his thrusts grew harder, faster, deeper. She dug her fingers into his shoulders, simply to find something to anchor her to this place, this time, this man.
Her climax hit her hard and fast, then lingered. “I love you,” she yelled as she came. It felt like Aaron absorbed her trembling with his own body as he took each pleasurable shiver and enhanced it.
“One more,” he demanded, the husky timber of his voice setting her off again.
“God, yes!” He drove her to the peak once more and they dove over the cliff together.
Lying on their backs, they were quiet for several moments, both of them obviously lost in thought. The silence was broken by Aaron’s stomach growling loudly.
“Guess ma
n cannot live on sex alone,” she teased.
“God knows I’ve tried these past couple of days.”
“Are you sure you don’t wanna try the all-you-can-eat again? I’ll give you yellow.”
He groaned. “I don’t think I’m ever doing one of those buffet bars again.”
She laughed. “Never say never. Room service?”
He turned to face her and nodded. “Yep. I’ll call.” Moving forward, he placed a brief kiss on her lips.
“I love you, Aaron Dung,” she said.
Aaron chuckled. “I love you too, Metal Mouth.”
Epilogue
“Okay. Quiet down everybody.” Sean waited while his family settled into their seats. “That was Riley on the phone. They’ve just landed at BWI, so if we’ve timed it right, she and Aaron should be here right about the time the wedding DVD ends. Then we can do this wedding reception thing in style.”
A loud cheer accompanied his announcement. Aaron and Riley stayed in Vegas only a week after their initial elopement, and Sean still marveled that somehow that had been enough time for his sisters and sisters-in-law to throw together an impromptu reception. They’d closed the pub and restaurant for the day, decorated the place with white bells, balloons and lots of flowers, rearranged the chairs so they were organized in rows in front of the big-screen TV in the corner. Sean grinned. The flat screen generally broadcast sporting events. This was the first time it had ever been used to show a wedding.
When Sean told Riley what they were organizing, she’d overnighted the wedding DVD and asked him to show it to everyone just prior to the reception. She insisted it would make up for the fact she’d gotten married without the family being present.
He pushed play and then opened the letter Riley had attached. “Riley sent a letter with the video,” he explained. “She figures you’ll have a lot of questions while you watch. The answers are all in here.” He picked up the karaoke microphone and added in a deep, sportscaster-like voice. “I’m Sean Collins, your wedding announcer.”
They all laughed. Sean looked around the room, pleased to see that everyone had arrived for the party. He loved the times when the whole family got together. Pop was front and center and beaming from ear to ear. As was becoming a family tradition, there was an empty seat with a white rose on it to mark their mother Sunday’s spot.
Keira, Will and their daughter Caitlyn were sitting in the front row with Pop. Keira had just found out last week the baby she was carrying was a boy. Teagan and Sky had flown in from LA late last night and were sharing the second row with Tris and Lane, who were each holding one of their twin sons on their laps. Lily, Justin and Killian were in the third row with Ewan and Natalie, while Chad, Sean’s best friend, was sitting next to Sean’s girlfriend Lauren in the back row. Both of them were grinning at him and giving him the thumbs-up.
“Who are all those people?” Keira asked as the wedding procession started. “Is that Jo and Trev?”
Sean picked up Riley’s letter. “Here. Let me read what she wrote. She says this is her second wedding to Aaron. She wanted us to see the DVD of the ceremony she actually remembers.”
Pop crossed himself and muttered, “Lord preserve me,” as the rest of the family laughed.
“That sounds like our Riley,” Tris shouted.
Sean continued reading. “Apparently this was a triple wedding, and just before Aaron and Riley renewed their vows they stood up for Trev and Jo, who renewed theirs also.”
“Is that Wayne Newton?” Pop asked excitedly. “She got Wayne Newton to attend her wedding?”
Sean shook her head. “No, Riley knew you’d think that, Pop, so she’s written here in all caps THAT’S NOT WAYNE. It’s a taxi driver by the name of Johnny Sparks. The third wedding was this Johnny guy marrying some stripper named Bella.”
Sean turned and looked at the video. He’d watched it last night so he’d be able to explain who was who to the rest of them. He pointed to the screen. “The blonde woman is the stripper.”
“Well, does the taxi driver at least sing?” Pop asked. “I wouldn’t mind hearing Danke Schoen.”
“Nope. Riley says he’s tone deaf.”
Teagan and Sky burst into laughter at that announcement. “I’ll sing Danke Schoen for you later, Pat,” Sky promised.
“Who’s the woman with the purple hair?” Killian asked.
Sean grinned widely. “That’s our new kitchen assistant and part-time waitress, Bubbles, the ex-hooker.”
Pop leaned closer, trying to get a better look at the woman Riley had talked him into letting work at the restaurant until she got her feet under her. “She looks nice enough. Don’t know what the deal is with all that hair.”
“Oh Pop,” Keira said with a giggle. “I still can’t believe you agreed to let her work here.”
Pop shrugged. “I dare any of you to say no to Riley once she’s made her mind up about something. Besides, she needed to pick her own assistant. God willing she won’t fly off the handle and fire her. Ewan’s been pulling his hair out trying to find someone to work with her in that kitchen.”
“Here, here,” Ewan chimed in.
“You know your sister. That girl talked my ear off for nearly half an hour on the phone the other night. In the end, it was just easier to agree.”
Riley walked down the aisle in blue jeans and a white T-shirt that said Viva Las Vegas, fitting considering they’d gone back to the Elvis Chapel to renew their vows. Aaron was dressed in jeans as well, but his T-shirt said What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas. The irony of that wasn’t lost on Sean as he read Riley’s extremely detailed letter regarding their adventures in the neon city.
Bubbles stood beside Riley as maid of honor and Trev was Aaron’s best man. Ewan chuckled when he saw that. “Bet Aaron was thrilled to have Trevor Blankenship as his best man.”
Tris grinned. “Guess Trev was a better choice than that Wayne Newton character. Why’s Trev so red?”
Sean consulted the letter. “The mob left him in the desert to die without sunscreen.”
“Well, that sucks,” Tris joked.
Justin leaned forward, squinting at the TV. “Does Aaron have a black eye?”
Sean nodded, loving his role as announcer. He’d always admired his sister’s skill for storytelling and it was fun to assume that role in her absence. He had the entire family eating out of his hand, anxious for all the gory details. “Yep, that’s a black eye the groom is sporting. He had a run-in with the back of Jo’s head during a food fight at the all-you-can-eat.”
Natalie looked at Ewan. “You know, I’ve been to Vegas at least a dozen times and never had any of that shit happen to me.”
Ewan shrugged and grinned. “Just another day in my sister’s life.”
Aaron and Riley said their vows. From the corner of his eye, Sean saw Pop try to discreetly wipe away a tear. When Aaron kissed the bride, Elvis, the minister, started crooning Teddy Bear and everyone in the bar applauded. Even with the unusual cast of characters, Sean couldn’t help thinking that his sister’s wedding had been perfect.
“Is it safe to come in?” Riley asked from the doorway.
Pop led the parade of hugs as the family congratulated Aaron and Riley and they, in turn, introduced Bubbles. The evening passed quickly as they ate and drank and danced until the wee hours of morning. Sky sang a montage of Wayne Newton songs in honor of the newlyweds and Riley kept everyone entertained with stories of her Vegas adventure. Trevor and Johanna showed up shortly after they cut the cake and joined the dancing.
The highlight of the party was when Sean carried out the groom’s cake Riley had specifically told him to order. Everyone laughed at the cake, which was shaped like two enormous boobs. They all cheered when Aaron bent down to suck the cherry nipple off the top of one.
As the evening began to wear down, Sean sat with his back against the bar, watching as the couples slow-danced. His best friend Chad sat down next to him on one of the barstools. “Another awesome Collins event. Hard to
believe the wild-child sister is married.”
Sean nodded. “I know. But I have to admit, Aaron is the perfect husband for her.”
“He must love the hell out of her to sign on for a lifetime of Riley’s quirkiness.”
He laughed. “They’re gonna be great together,” he said as he watched Aaron holding Riley close on the dance floor. It was clear they only had eyes for each other and Sean wasn’t sure he’d ever seen his sister look happier.
“You know, this may go down in history as Riley’s greatest Saturday Night Special ever.
The End
About the Author
Some people fall apart on their 30th birthday, others on their 40th. For Mari Carr, 34 was the year that took her down. After she spent the day crying and saying, “I haven’t done anything I thought I would,” her husband finally asked what was left undone. Her answer was simple—she hadn’t written a book or decorated her house. “So do it,” he said.
Five years later, the house is sparkling with fresh paint and new furniture and her computer is jammed full of stories—novels, novellas, short stories and dead-ends. The lesson: It’s never too late to achieve a goal or two!
High school librarian and English teacher by day and mother of two busy teenagers, Mari Carr finds time for writing by squeezing it into the hours between 3 a.m. and daybreak when her family is asleep and the house is quiet.
With the publication of her first book, her latest goal—publishing before 40—has been achieved with a couple of years to spare. Phew!
Mari welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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