The Wild, Wild Anybody's Guess: Aloha!

by Jayha Leigh

  “I thought I told you to keep her away from video games!”

  “No, you said to keep Madden out of her reach. Big difference, Duke grad,” Atlanta yelled back.

  Shaking his head in disgust, he hefted Aloha over his shoulder, completely unconcerned that she was going for a high score, and that she still had the controller in her hand. Yelling for the organist to start the wedding march, he marched down the makeshift aisle with Aloha over his shoulder, still holding the controller and yelling at him for interrupting her game. “You better hope that my game is saved!”

  The rest of the Posse assembled at the front left of the church and Atlanta ran down the aisle with Aloha’s bouquet. The organist played beautifully, but no one paid any attention to the music when there was such an interesting spectacle taking place complete with sound.

  “Put me down before someone sees my ass, you idiot!”

  Ianikut considered her dress and put her down. Never fully releasing her, he repositioned her before resuming his march down the aisle.

  Indy closed her eyes and emitted a long-suffering sigh. “This is one of the reasons why I make my living as a writer instead of a pastor,” she mumbled. Turning to Aloha and Ianikut, she asked,” Are you two sure that you want to go through with this wedding?”

  “Yes,” both Aloha and Ianikut answered.

  “Indy, can you hurry this ceremony along? Had she bothered to look past her anger, she would’ve realized that Indy was fast becoming angry. “Indy, can you hurry up?” Aloha repeated as she stomped her foot and tapped the controller against her thigh.

  Ianikut recognized that Indy was fast losing patience with Aloha, and so was he. Offering an apology for interrupting, he bent and kissed Aloha into silence.

  Grabbing his hair, and inadvertently loosing a few strands from its tidy queue, Aloha remarked, “It’s a good thing that you can kiss like that, or I would’ve kicked you to the curb eons ago.”

  Indy interrupted their argument, by clearing her throat. “Again, I ask you. Are you sure you want to be married?”

  “Yeah!” Aloha answered.

  “Absolutely,” Ianikut declared.

  “Why?” Indy asked.

  “What do you mean why?” Aloha and Ianikut asked simultaneously.

  “You cannot be serious. Ianikut had to fetch you, Aloha. Then, you two argued all the way down the aisle.” Turning to Ianikut, she finished. “Then, there’s the fact that you had to literally drag your bride to the altar. You have the nerve to wonder why I’m asking if you’re sure you want to go through with this marriage. I want to hear a decent reason why you two want to get married or you can find someone else to officiate this lunacy. Holy Matrimony is not a game, and I won’t be party to either of you making a mockery of it. Do I make myself clear?”

  She paused, awaiting their agreement. “Now answer my question! Why do you want to marry each other?”

  Aloha was properly chastised. “Because I love him enough to fight the whole world to keep him.”

  “And I love her enough to give up the whole world to have her,” Ianikut confessed.

  “Is love a good enough answer, Indy?” Aloha asked.

  “Love’s the only answer.” Indy sighed. “Love is what will hold you together when there isn’t any more money to make the misery you wallow in easier to live with. Love is what will hold you together when beauty fades. Love is what conceals flaws and covers a multitude of shortcomings. As it is written in Corinthians, love is the only thing that will never fail for it trumps even faith and hope and is the very best of us.

  “As Rev. Dr. King remarked, it’s love that can drive out hate. As James Baldwin says, it is ‘love that takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without, yet know we cannot live within.’ As Halle Berry’s character alluded to in Boomerang, love is what should bring you home every night. It is love that will have you standing on the precipice of hell to save someone from themselves.”

  Indy preached as verified by the choruses of “Amens” and “tell-its” and the call-and-response of the congregation. She poured her heart into the words or perhaps it was the words being poured out of her heart. Indy didn’t remember the rest of the ceremony ‑‑ only that it was brief. She came to herself when she uttered the words, “What God has brought together, let no man tear asunder.” That was her favorite part. Always was, and she suspected it always would be. It was Steele and Atlanta’s favorite part too…and now Ianikut and Aloha’s.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Although they remained fully dressed, Aloha and Ianikut’s wedding photos showed two people enraptured with each other. Recalling the ribbing that they took about their wedding pictures, Steele directed his youngest brother to take pictures of this moment. Though it might not be sporting of him, he wasn’t going to let this go. In fact, he planned to introduce it into conversation as much as possible.

  It was a veritable laugh fest. Ianikut had to practically wrestle Aloha to the ground and pry the controller out of her hands. When he finally wrested the controller from her hands and flung it across the lawn, Aloha retaliated by snatching the tie from Ianikut’s hair and throwing it across the lawn. Of course, an argument ensued and of course, the rest of the Posse had to get their two cents in. The vampire snatched Aloha to him and once again, kissed her into silence, which did nothing to quiet down the rest of the Posse who was riled up on Aloha’s behalf. The argument finally ended when Aloha’s grandmother threatened to take a switch to the lot of them.

  While the rest of the guests were herded to the reception, those doing the herding knew better than to try to separate Aloha from Ianikut. From the death grip he had on her, they knew that the only way to accomplish such a feat would result in a massive amount of bloodshed. Ianikut hadn’t let go of his bride, since he had fetched her and dragged her down the aisle.

  Aloha’s grandmother took one look at Ianikut, and everything hard within her melted. She remembered when her husband used to look at her like that. Regardless of how she felt about white men, in that moment, she knew that she couldn’t hope for a better man for her granddaughter. “Ianikut?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he answered respectfully, although he was practically frothing at the mouth to get his bride alone.

  “I’ll make sure that everyone stays clear of the sitting room for the next fifteen minutes.”

  “Thank you, ma’am.”

  “Call me ‘grandmother,’” she said, walking out in a whirl of whooshing skirts and dignity.

  Ianikut walked to the sitting room with an armful of bride. He figured he might as well do something with the beautiful and somewhat angry bundle in his lap. Ianikut didn’t plan to let her go until they were safely ensconced in their bedroom. Groaning, he continued kissing her to shush what he knew were cusswords. She was still mad but he couldn’t bring himself to give a damn about anything except having her under him. Had he been smart, he would’ve made his escape as soon as they shared their first kiss as husband and wife. Although it was tempting, he knew that this was the only opportunity he’d have to participate in the wedding rituals, so he tamped down his raging hard-on and took advantage of his fifteen minutes. Though he wanted to caress her silky skin, he decided to keep his hands safely on the outside of her dress knowing that once he ventured under that dress, it was over. Not only would her beautiful dress be destroyed, her intricate hairstyle would be mussed, and her grandmother’s sitting room would be leveled. He felt so needy that he felt concern for the whole region of the southeastern United States.

  When he heard a soft knock, he sighed and reluctantly put his bride off of his lap. Perhaps, if he hadn’t been so desperate to have her, he would’ve taken a moment to glance in the mirror. Had he bothered with a mirror, he might’ve called for a brush to tame his hair and a tissue to wipe away the traces of Aloha’s lipstick.

  Regardless of being somewhat bedraggled, Ianikut still managed to look as if he was getting ready to do a photo shoot as Mr. January through December. The men in a
ttendance chuckled at Ianikut’s bedraggled state. The women, on the other hand, offered up mmm-hmm-ms.

  Ianikut didn’t have much patience for the reception. He’d already held his desire in abeyance throughout the wedding, throughout the photo taking, and the make-out session with his bride. Grabbing her hand, he practically set a world record in his haste to expedite the traditional reception activities. Tamping down his desire, he marched straight to the lavish multi-tiered cake and was going to cut a piece without taking the time to appreciate its magnificence. He remembered just in time that the bride and groom were supposed to cut the cake together. Considering how dangerous his angel was with sharp objects, he guided her hand as they cut the first piece.

  Breaking off a piece, he forewent the fork and instead hand-fed the piece to his angel. Damn, she was beautiful. He might’ve been able to hold onto his desire a little longer, if he’d kept his eyes off of her mouth. She truly enjoyed sweets and when he placed the bit of cake in her mouth, she closed her eyes and shuddered as she savored the confection. He followed the movement of her mouth, but when he caught a glimpse of the tip of her tongue licking the frosting off of her lips, he lost it.

  Ianikut hadn’t realized that he’d still held the plate until he felt her take it from him. She tried to offer him a piece, but he couldn’t be bothered with the sweet when he could get his cake straight from the source. Grabbing a fistful of her braids, he proceeded to lick the frosting from her lips before plundering her mouth. She tasted so damn good and he wasn’t sure if it was the cake that enhanced her taste, or if her naturally sweet taste enhanced the flavor of the cake. He vowed that the only way he’d eat cake from this moment on was from her lips.

  Aloha still tried to catch her breath from Ianikut’s record-breaking sprint across the floor. Before she had time to think, he had fed her a piece of wedding cake that was so delicious, it elicited an involuntary shudder from her. She wanted Ianikut to taste it ‑‑ not just because it was a reception tradition ‑‑ but because it was so good. Taking the plate from his hands, she was surprised when he refused the forkful of cake that she proffered. And she was even more surprised when he set it aside, crushed her to him and kissed her breathless. If he hadn’t been holding her up, she would’ve fallen to the floor because her legs had completely given out.

  “Ianikut,” she’d moaned. “Please,” she’d begged as she laid her head against his massive chest.

  “Angel, if you want a first dance we have to do it now else I cannot promise you that we’ll both be dressed much longer.”

  “You’ll have to carry me there because I’m mush after that kiss,” she admitted.

  Aloha wanted to smack him after he flashed her that ‘I’m the motherfucking man’ smirk. Fine, she might have to concede that point, but dammit, she was the motherfucking woman. She waited until he carried her to the center of the floor before letting him in on a little something special.

  “Ianikut,” she purred. “The only thing that I’m wearing under this gown is me.”

  Aloha took one look at his face and knew he was close to the edge. His eyes were pitch black, his face was stark white, and his body was tight with unleashed desire. She was glad that she wasn’t the only one affected by his cake-feeding routine.

  Ianikut thought that she meant that she was braless, which he kind of suspected, since her dress was strapless. He didn’t know that she was also sans panties until she’d dropped that bit of data. Quickly turning her around, he realized that the length of the veil concealed the fact that the back of her dress was comprised of an intricate matrix of ribbons that crossed her back at various intervals. Groaning, he broke out in a cold sweat. Gritting his teeth, he tried his best to finish the dance, but with a hard cock, and his fangs threatening to shoot out, he’d done what he’d longed to do. He backed her against the nearest wall and had his way with her mouth. Grinding his cock into her, he kissed her until he’d run out of breath. When he released her lips, he didn’t have the strength to walk another step. He drew in a deep breath, pulled her against him, closed his eyes and prayed for the strength to make it through the next few minutes.

  Silana answered his prayers. She directed the rest of the Posse to see to Aloha, while she virtually frog-marched him to a sitting room. Pushing him into a chair she ordered him to stay put. She returned a few minutes later with a glass of cold water and an admonition to get himself together, which was tempered by the wicked gleam in her eye and her rich laughter.

  It was good advice so he took it. He’d been mere seconds away from taking his angel to the floor and having his way with her uncaring of their audience or the fact that his fangs had fully descended. Luckily, they had remained hidden by Aloha’s lips. When he felt his fangs retract and his cock soften sufficiently to allow him to walk, he went in search of his bride. He was determined to allow her time to enjoy their reception, regardless of how difficult it was for him. After all, this was the only reception either of them would ever have.

  If Aloha had been able to form words, she might’ve protested the Posse’s actions. Aloha didn’t recall asking for anyone’s help. After taking a glimpse of herself she quickly changed her mind. She had a dazed look in her eyes, her lips were swollen and she was breathing so hard that her chest heaved. Damn, that man could kiss his fine ass off.

  Aloha might not have asked for help but it was obvious that someone had needed to interfere. She didn’t have any strength to do anything but take the seat that Jack had gently sat her in. Taking a sip of cool water she tried her best to follow the conversation around her. Someone handed her a baby who smiled up at her, before snuggling his adorable self against her bosom.

  It didn’t matter where his angel was, if she was in a room, his eyes searched until they spotted her. Conversely, if she wasn’t in the room, there was no reason for him to be there. Ianikut spotted her amongst a group of women. All of his good intentions were shot to hell when his gaze locked onto her. And although they’d only been at the reception for about half an hour, it had felt like ten hours. He was close to the end of his rope when he felt the berserker approach. Slipping him a set of keys, Steele directed him to his car. “Do not interpret this as a sign of friendship. I still don’t trust vampires. Try not to bring it back full of dings,” he teased before walking off.

  That was the moment that Steele rose in Ianikut’s opinion. Perhaps, he wouldn’t have to kill the berserker after all.

  Aloha chatted with some of her grandmother’s friends, when suddenly she felt Ianikut’s presence behind her. Turning to ask what he wanted, she noted the look in his eyes that managed to be both tender and fierce at the same time. Ianikut gently embraced her, tipped her head back and placed a feather light kiss on her lips. Before she could utter a protest, Ianikut offered his apologies and before she could inquire what he apologized for the baby she held was gently extricated from her arms, and she was hoisted in Ianikut’s strong arms.

  “Mine,” Ianikut growled.

  “Ianikut!” “He’s just a baby,” she huffed in disbelief.

  “He’s old enough to get his first beat down over a woman,” Ianikut tossed back before returning it to his mother.

  Moments later, Ianikut settled her in the passenger seat of Steele’s Mercedes and headed home. She’d officially been Mrs. Aloha Carrington-Aleksandrovich for thirty-three minutes, had already cussed Ianikut out twice and was on the cusp of cussing him out yet again. However, she held her tongue. A big part of her heart threw confetti over Ianikut’s desire for her, but a small part of her was livid. The livid part was going to cuss him out after the diva fucked him senseless. What had possessed her to marry a barbarian? She didn’t appreciate him warning off every male in the vicinity. And when she said every male, she meant every male.

  Casting Ianikut yet another disgruntled look, she folded her hands together lest she be tempted to brain him with something.

  “I love you, angel,” he whispered.

  “You’re a total cretin,” Aloha an
swered.

  “I’m also a jealous ass, angel moya, but I love you.”

  “Do you know how much ribbing I’m going to take over your little wild out?”

  “I didn’t do anything wrong. I followed standard wedding protocol.”

  “Are you serious? Whose standard wedding protocol includes threatening babies and ravishing your woman in public?”

  “Mine,” he said.

  “What about the toast…or the cake…or the garter removal?” She sputtered.

  “I thought that I’d made it clear that I wouldn’t hike your dress up, so that other men could ogle your thighs. Speaking of which, there is entirely too much of you exposed in that,” he paused, “dress.”

  “Ianikut, if I walked out wearing a nun’s habit, you’d proclaim that too much of my person was exposed, so get over it.”

  “I’m jealous over you, angel. Get accustomed to that because I don’t envision much changing on that front. You cannot go about tempting men like you do,” he answered.

  “Ianikut, I’m wearing my wedding dress. I don’t think a wedding dress is an invitation for other men to look or touch,” she spat.

  “There’s hardly anything to that wedding dress, angel,” he said through a clenched jaw.

  “Stop clenching your jaw like that.”

  “My jaw has been clenched, since I discovered what you weren’t wearing under that dress.”

  Aloha knew that she looked beautiful in her gown. She felt decadent when she’d shimmied into it. It felt like a silken caress everywhere it touched her skin. When her grandmother placed the tiara on her head, she’d felt like a queen…as if she was made to walk by Ianikut’s side. The dress was simple in form, but the intricacy was in the details. Strands of hand-knotted pearls stretched across the backless gown. Tiny straps held the gown up and the bodice dipped enticingly without revealing the fact that she wore no bra underneath.