by Alice Ward
I pulled away slightly and met his eyes. “You’re right. This wasn’t the wedding I always pictured. It was so much better.”
He raised a suspicious eyebrow. “Really?”
I nodded and planted a soft kiss on his cheek. “Really. I just married the man of my dreams. I was surrounded by the people I love, and only the people I love. Everyone who matters to me was on the terrace tonight. It was perfect. You’re perfect. And I have a surprise for you,” I finished with a daring grin.
Asher’s eyes lit up and he smiled back at me. “A surprise? Now I feel bad. I didn’t get you anything.”
I held up my left hand and wiggled my ring finger. “I beg to differ.”
He laughed and rolled his eyes at me. “The ring doesn’t count.”
“Then I guess it’s a good thing we’re not keeping score,” I teased, climbing out of the bed. I retrieved a large gift bag from the closet and set it in front of him on the mattress.
“Now, keep in mind that we don’t have to use everything tonight,” I warned as he plunged a hand into the tissue paper.
Asher’s face wrinkled with confusion, then with an excited smile. “Why Mrs. Reynolds, did you get me a dirty present?” he teased, pulling a pair of padded handcuffs from the bag.
I gave him a daring grin and nodded. “Why yes, Mr. Reynolds, I did.”
He dropped the cuffs on the bed and turned the bag upside down. “What else is in here?” he said, his voice lifted with excitement.
He sifted through the tissue paper, finding flavored lube, nipple clamps, a vibrating cock ring, and a long, narrow dildo.
“I figured we may as well stock up,” I explained, my voice playful yet innocent. “Do you like your present?”
He looked at me, lust burning behind his loving eyes. He nodded and smiled again.
“I like it a lot.”
“I’m glad. Now if you really want to fulfil my ultimate wedding fantasy, you’ll ravish me in this dress,” I dared.
He pushed me onto my back and climbed on top of me. “That is so hot,” he groaned, dropping his mouth to my neck. He rubbed his cock against the bodice of my gown and pushed the skirt to my waist. I’d already taken off my underwear and he pushed two fingers inside me, moving his mouth to my earlobe.
I slipped a hand beneath his boxers and curled it around his erection. “It’s all I’ve been able to think about all day,” I replied, stroking him while he freed my breasts from the top of my dress.
“I’m more than happy to oblige,” he replied.
He rolled off me and stripped out of his boxers before reaching for the cuffs. He pushed my arms above my head, wove the cuffs around a post on the headboard, and then closed them around my wrists. He stroked the undersides of my arms with a light, teasing touch on his way back down to my breasts. He teased the left with his fingers and the right with his tongue. I wiggled beneath him, thrilled by his touch. He pulled away and turned back to the pile of toys on the bed. He pulled everything to the bottom of the mattress, out of my sight. I lay there, unable to move and impatient for his touch.
“Here we go,” he said, positioning himself between my legs. He pushed my skirt up further, covering my face with layers of silk and tulle. A buzzing hum filled the air and I went wet between the legs, anticipating the vibrator. Instead, I felt Asher’s hot, firm tongue lash against my clit. He licked and teased, finally pushing his tongue inside me. I jumped when he touched the vibrating dildo to my clit and then bucked against his face. He pulled the vibrator away and then plunged it deep inside me.
I flattened my skirt against my stomach, desperate for a view of the action. Asher stared down at me in lustful bliss; he found a rhythm, thrusting the dildo inside me then pulling it out, circling my clit, and pushing it back inside. I held his gaze as I felt myself move closer and closer to release.
“I want you,” I begged. “I want you inside me when I come.”
He sensed the urgency of my words and immediately replaced the dildo with his cock. He held the tip of it to my clit as he drove himself in and out of me. I came violently, my body thrashing and my cries filling the room.
Asher tossed the dildo to the floor and grabbed my hips, pumping into me harder as I moved uncontrollably beneath him.
“Oh Ash,” I cried out. “Don’t stop. Oh God, I’m still coming.”
My arms went limp and I felt my eyes roll back in my head. The emotions of the day combined with the sensations of the moment completely overwhelmed me, sending me to a realm of ecstasy I’d never known before. Asher and I were connected, legally, emotionally, physically… and eternally. For the first time, I understood what people meant when they said their lives didn’t start until they married.
“I love you, husband,” I gasped, my body still spasming with pleasure.
“Oh, God,” he groaned and gasped for breath. I felt his cock twitch and he pumped harder, exploding inside me. He took a few quick, labored breaths and collapsed beside me on the bed, resting his head on my breasts.
“You like being called husband,” I teased, kissing him softly on the temple.
He laughed and kissed me back on the mouth. “I really, really do,” he agreed. “And I love, love, love my wife.”
He pulled my lower lip into his mouth, teasing and nibbling it while he gently stroked my back. I felt desire stir within me and I pulled at the handcuffs. Asher reached up and released me from the restraints; I sat up and turned my back to him.
“Will you help me out of this?” I asked.
Asher kissed the base of my neck and ran his tongue down my spine as he lowered my zipper. Once I was free, I crawled out of the gown and tossed it to the floor. Asher turned down the blankets and we burrowed under them together. He was silent for a few minutes, then let out a sigh.
“What’s wrong, baby?” I asked.
“Nothing,” he assured me. “I let my mind wander, that’s all.”
“You’re thinking about the investigation.”
He nodded. “I’m sorry. I know that’s the last thing I should be thinking about on our wedding night.”
“It’s okay,” I insisted, kissing his shoulder. “But as your wife, I feel obligated to find a way to distract you.”
I ran my hand down his firm abs and closed it around his cock. He relaxed against the pillow and let out a long, satisfied breath.
“Wife, I am all yours.”
***
The next week passed in an odd haze of bliss and sheer terror. Asher and I did our best to live in the moment. We spent most of our time outside. Asher didn’t say it, but I knew he wanted to get as much fresh air as possible before he returned to the stale jail. We spent about half our time hiking through the forest. When the light was good, Asher posed for me while I painted. We made love like the newlyweds we were and ninety percent of the time, I felt like any other new bride having a quiet honeymoon at home.
But then I’d spot a guard, or I’d walk into a room and find my husband staring at his face on television. In those moments when I was slapped back down to reality, all I felt was panic.
I hadn’t really expected anything to change after Asher and I got married. But with every day that passed, I really did love him more and more. And the thought of living without him became more difficult to bear.
Attorneys on both sides were working on our cases, but nothing could really happen until both doctors had completed their evaluations of Rachel-Cynthia. In his preliminary reports, Dr. Levantine described her as cooperative. The more time he spent with her without declaring her crazy, the more nervous we all became.
The federal task force’s investigation seemed to be working more in our favor. As more time passed without them uncovering any evidence, I started to let myself believe we were safe. If Rachel wanted to frame Asher for something else, she’d have made sure the evidence was easy to find when it needed to be.
Asher didn’t seem quite so optimistic. He kept a smile on his face and did his best to pretend he was a carefree n
ew husband. But there was a sadness in his eyes and when asked, he freely admitted he was still terrified of what could be ahead of us.
Our friends and family gave us our space, letting us settle in to married life. Claire moved back to the townhouse and Asher posted a guard nearby, just in case. As a thank you for all of her help, he also built a website for her new catering company. She’d booked three jobs since the site went live.
Kennedy stayed in town in case there were any new developments, and Parker kept an eye on the remaining members of the Chavez family from LA. They both kept their distance, calling and emailing with news and paperwork instead of dropping by the house. Jackson stayed in town as well to look at potential build sights for a new resort, which alleviated the guilt I would have felt for leaving Kennedy on her own.
It wasn’t that I didn’t want to spend time with my friends. But Asher and I had no guarantee of how much time we had together, and I didn’t want to share my attention with anyone else, save my parents.
Mom and Dad seemed just as compelled to spend as much quality time with Asher as possible. They gave us three days of privacy after the wedding and then started dropping by for at least two hours every afternoon. They were both impressed with Asher’s estate and happy to indulge his need to be in the sunshine.
Dad and Asher bonded over their shared love of hiking and camping, while Mom fussed over both of us and filled us with food she’d brought from the bed and breakfast. I loved spending time with them and I appreciated their efforts. But mostly, I loved watching Asher slowly warm to the realization that he was finally part of a family.
On our one week wedding anniversary, Kennedy called and announced that she was on her way to the house. She refused to give us any details over the phone and begged us not to turn on the news until she got there. So, of course, Asher flipped on the television the moment he ended the call. A balding field reporter with wild hair and a nineteen eighties wind breaker stood on the steps of the San Jose Federal Courthouse. He appeared to be in the middle of his broadcast.
“Mr. Reynold’s legal team has been notified that these warrants have been issued.”
“Fuck!” Asher exclaimed, tossing the remote to the couch. It hit the back cushion with a muffled thud and bounced down to the rug. Asher paced the floor, his eyes fixed to the television.
“As I’m sure most viewers are aware, Mr. Reynolds is currently under house arrest after being released on bail in regards to charges in the death of Luis Chavez. I personally spoke with Assistant District Attorney Donaldson, who explained that Mr. Reynolds’ bail will be forfeited. He also said that the Chavez trial will likely take place before this second round of charges is brought before a federal court jury.”
Son of a bitch. This is it. The bubble has finally burst. For the love of God, could you please list the damn charges?
The front door opened and Kennedy burst into the room. Her shoulders sank when she saw us in front of the television.
“I knew I shouldn’t have even mentioned the news. I shouldn’t have even called, for that matter.”
I picked up the remote, hit the power button, and the screen went black.
“We know federal charges have been filed. But we don’t know the specifics,” I told her, my voice as flat as my spirit.
“What has she done now, Kennedy? What am I being charged with?” Asher pressed.
Kennedy collapsed into an armchair and gestured to the sofa. “Sit down,” she directed.
“I can’t,” he countered, still pacing.
“Kennedy, just tell us what’s going on,” I insisted.
She sighed, balanced her briefcase on her lap, and pulled out a thick file. She tossed it on the coffee table and Asher immediately moved for it.
“The task force uncovered evidence in Vermont. They also spoke with a witness, someone named Michelle Moyer. Does that name sound familiar to you?”
Asher nodded. “She was one of the housekeepers at the resort. She didn’t like me very much, but I never knew why.”
“I think I can shed some light on that for you. Mrs. Moyer stated that Rachel confided in her about your so called emotional abuse. Michelle told the investigators that Rachel would describe being mentally tormented and then turn around and make excuses for you.”
“If Asher was such a monster, why didn’t this Michelle woman do something about it?” I demanded.
“Because Rachel begged her not to. In her statement, she insisted she would have done something if Asher hadn’t left for college.”
“Aside from her statement, what did they find?” Asher asked.
Kennedy took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Something we’re going to have a hard time explaining away,” she warned.
“Do you happen to remember making a video with Rachel and two other men?” Kennedy asked, her brows raised.
What the fuck is she talking about?
The color drained from Asher’s face and he finally sat down beside me.
“That’s what this is about? I remember making the movie, Kennedy. But the details are fuzzy. Those other guys were college kids in town on summer vacation. Rachel and I got drunk with them one night and they convinced us to trip acid with them. Someone mentioned The Blaire Witch Project and the next thing I knew, we were in the woods with a camera. It was a crime against cinema for sure, but I can’t imagine how I could be charged for anything because of it.”
Kennedy sighed again and checked the time on her phone. “Did you ever watch the finished product?”
Asher shook his head. “I woke up the next morning in our apartment and I hadn’t thought about it since. What don’t I know about it?”
“At one point, you and one of the men disappear into the woods and Rachel stays behind with the second man. She tells the guy the same sort of stuff the investigators heard from Michelle yesterday.”
“So? That doesn’t make it true,” I pointed out.
“It gets worse. About twenty minutes later, the guy confronts Asher about her accusations on camera. It’s clear that you’re inebriated and the guy was a little vague with his accusations. I think you probably thought he was talking about what happened with Miguel. But you agreed that you’d fucked up… and more than once, you referred to yourself as a monster.”
“Shit,” Asher exhaled the word and dropped his head to his hands. I sat beside him in numb disbelief.
“I’m still not finished,” Kennedy warned. “In addition to the charges stemming from the so called kidnapping, you’re being charged with money laundering, racketeering, and drug trafficking.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” I replied without thinking.
Asher sat up straight, his face twisted with pain. “You’re kidding me.”
Kennedy shook her head. “I really wish I was. The task force tracked down a storage unit upstate that’s been leased to EnvisionTech for the last six years. They pulled a warrant for it late last night and found all sorts of incriminating files. After reviewing the evidence, the feds don’t believe you ever stopped working with the Chavez family.”
“That doesn’t make any sense,” I argued. “He spent a decade hiding from those people.”
“I know that, Lauren. I’m just trying to explain what we’re up against.”
“I killed Miguel,” he reminded her. “I never denied that. The family would have killed me. They’d never have gone into business with me.”
“Crime families have been known to forgive a lot more for a lot less of a return,” Kennedy explained. “Based on the files, it looks like you’ve made the family tens of millions of dollars. You could have killed the Don and still been kept around for that kind of cash. Several members of the family are facing the same charges you are,” she added.
“She’s putting everyone behind bars with one fell swoop,” I realized out loud.
“That’s what it looks like,” Kennedy agreed. “Which brings me to my final piece of bad news. Both doctors have issued their opinions with the
court. And they’ve both declared Cynthia Goins mentally sound.”
I knew the news was the final nail in our coffin. Rachel was so good at being psychotic, she’d convinced one of the country’s leading mental health experts that she was completely sane. She was tearing our lives down around us and we were defenseless against her.
“How much time do I have?” Asher asked.
Kennedy checked her phone again and stared up at him with a frown. “We need to leave in twenty minutes. If we’re not at the courthouse by noon, they’re going to come here and take you into custody. Your arraignment has already been scheduled for this afternoon.”
I stood up; I felt like I had to do something or I’d have a breakdown. “You haven’t had breakfast. I’ll make you something to eat.”
Asher took my hand and pulled me back to the sofa. “I’m not hungry, baby. Kennedy, I’d like to spend the few minutes I have left alone with my wife. Will that be okay?”
She nodded. “Of course. I completely understand. I’ll be outside.”
“Thank you. I’ll join you in fifteen minutes.”
Kennedy rose and hugged each of us before leaving. “I’m trying to get permission for you to attend the arraignment, Lauren. I’ll keep you posted.”
I nodded, too upset to form words. She seemed to understand and left without further comment. The moment we were alone, I fell into Asher’s arms.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” I confessed. “I know that sounds stupid. We’ve been bracing ourselves for it for weeks. But now that it’s real… it’s just so much. I can’t do this. I can’t lose you.”
“Shh,” he whispered into my ear. “I know this is overwhelming. You’re in shock, baby. But no matter what happens, you’re never going to lose me.”
He dropped his hand to my wedding ring and turned it in his fingers. “No matter what happens, I will find a way back to you, remember? I promised to never quit fighting for us. We won’t be apart for long.”
I pushed myself off his chest and wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. I took a few deep breaths to calm myself and then took Asher’s hand.
“You’re right. This is just another bump in the road. I’m sorry, you’re the one who’s about to turn himself in on federal charges and I’m sitting here falling apart. Is there anything you want, anything at all I can do for you before you have to go?” I asked, lifting the last phase with a hint of suggestion. I dropped my eyes to his waistband and he gave me a sad grin.
