Chapter Twenty-seven Anton waited impatiently for Nathaniel to return. They were at the church, overseeing the last minute wedding preparations. Or that had been the plan until Anton realized everything was done. So now he was waiting in one of the side rooms until he was summoned to his place in front of the altar. Uncharacteristically nervous, he jumped slightly as Nathaniel opened the door and stepped into the room. "Have they arrived yet?" "Yes, ready to go. I can see why that dress cost so much...she could probably clothe an entire third-world country with all of that fabric." Anton gave him a dirty look. "Does she look nervous?" "Not as much as you do," Nathaniel said, grinning. "The pews are filling, and it looks like everything is ready...all you have to do is wait twenty more minutes for the ceremony to begin." Sighing, Anton sat down. And then stood up once more and paced. Catching Nathaniel's reflected grin in the mirror, he stood still. Sort of. For a minute or so, anyway. "Look, Nathaniel...I wanted to thank you for being here. You had no real obligation, so I'm honored that you agreed." He was quiet for a moment. "Why did you agree?" "Because I meant what I said at my wedding." Nathaniel turned a nearby chair around and sat on it, backwards. "To be honest, I've felt that way for a long time. I just didn't want to admit it though." He leaned forward. "Why did you ask?" "Maybe I was hoping you meant what you said." He rubbed his hands over his face, leaning back against the nearby table. "I can still clearly remember what I felt when they carried you back to the keep that day. I think Father was more worried about the horse. But I knew he was a fool, Nathaniel. I was prepared to do whatever it took to save you, even if it meant setting myself on fire." He could see that his words were effecting his brother profoundly, that Nathaniel wouldn't even meet his gaze anymore. But that didn't make him stop talking. "I know we started out on the wrong foot...but somehow you started to grow on me. For once I knew what it felt like to have a brother. To not be an only child anymore. And I wanted a family as much as you did. I was stupid not to say that to you when I had the chance. But I'm saying it now. I want you in my life, Nathaniel. I won't make the same mistakes again. And I won't let you walk away from me." Nathaniel swallowed, eyes darting around everywhere but at Anton. "I... I can't tell you how much that means to me, Anton." Anton smiled. "Besides, Bryn's and my child will need an uncle." He let out a soft laugh, finally meeting Anton's gaze. "God, I never could've imagined you saying that to me. Not in a million years." He stood up, extending his hand. "I'd be glad to." Anton grinned, taking his hand...but instead of shaking it, he used it to pull his brother forward into an awkward embrace. He patted Nathaniel on the back, surprised by the strength of his grip...even more surprised to feel tears spring to his eyes. He wasn't quite sure how long they stood there like that, but it was longer than he'd been expecting. Nathaniel held on for dear life. He had hoped at most for Anton to at least tolerate him being around. Not for him to be welcomed back into the family. He swallowed again, leaning slightly into his brother's embrace before pulling away a bit shyly. "They'll, um, probably be ready for us in the chapel now." Anton nodded. Both spent a few minutes straightening their and each other's tuxedos. Anton took a deep breath. "Let's go then, brother." Bryn paced nervously, dragging her long train around behind her like twenty- pound weight. If it weren't for the hairspray, she probably would've dragged her fingers through her hair over a dozen times by now. Instead, her hair sat piled atop her head, partially braided, with little ringlet curls spilling out the top like a fountain. It did look pretty, but all of that hairspray itched, and the little combs holding the tiara in place on her head were digging into her scalp. Glancing at Lindy, she chewed on her lip and said, "How much time now?" "About two minutes after the time you last asked." She sighed heavily. It had not been a good idea to stay at Lindy and Nate's home. She hadn't slept for a second, and now she had bags under her eyes. She was more than a little anxious to see Anton, and she was pretty sure she was going to go nuts before the ceremony actually began. "Do I look like an idiot? Because I feel a little like one. I'm dressed up like a princess, with a big belly, too much hairspray, and breasts bigger than Texas." She glanced in the mirror again, her eyebrows knitting together. "Tell me I don't look stupid, please." "You look beautiful, Bryn." Lindy stood up from her chair. "You keep pacing like that and you're going to knot up the train." She guided Bryn over to the chair she had vacated. "Have a seat. They'll be coming to get us in a few minutes." Lindy's no-nonsense attitude settled Bryn somewhat. "Were you this nervous before your wedding?" "Yeah. I was sure Mom was going to smack me if I asked her one more time if my hair was still in place or if Alex had the rings." "Oh my God, the rings!" She looked down at her hand, which still had the large red diamond sitting on her finger. Quickly pulling it off, she handed it over to Lindy. "Can you run and give this to Nate? I can't believe we forgot!" "Sure. I'll be right back." As soon as the door closed behind Lindy, Bryn was at the mirror once more, checking her lipstick for the umpteenth time. When the door opened behind her, she was about to ask what Lindy had forgotten...but it was her father standing there. "Dad." She couldn't quite think of anything to say after that. "Um...how have you been?" "All right." He stood there staring at her for a long time. "Wow. You look amazing." She blushed. "Thank you." He walked over and took a seat in the chair, visibly uncomfortable. "I, uh...I heard you asked your brother to walk you down the aisle." "Yes." She couldn't seem to meet his gaze. "I'm sorry, I just--" "No, it's all right," he said, interrupting. "I understand how close you two are. I just wish I hadn't been so foolish to keep from getting that close to you myself. I was a fool, Sabryn." It had to be the first time he'd called her by the correct name without being prompted. She swallowed heavily, hoping she didn't start crying. She didn't quite trust her waterproof mascara. Her father continued. "I don't know how to explain my behavior as your father, but I do know I was wrong. You deserve to be loved. I don't know if you ever realized it, but that's what your name, Amanda, meant. Fit to be loved. And I'm so happy you've found a man who will treat you like you deserve. I hope he realizes how lucky he is." She walked over to him and reached out to hug him, resting her cheek on his head. She felt his arms hesitantly come around her. "Thanks, Dad," she said, unable to keep from choking up slightly. They stayed that way until they heard a quiet 'ahem.' Both looked up to see John standing in the doorway. "We're ready to start, Bryn." She smiled as her father squeezed her one last time. She took a deep breath and straightened up. A calm descended on her; she was ready. Taking John's offered arm, she smiled. "Then let's go." She gripped her bouquet tightly, hanging on to John's arm just as tenaciously. More than anything, she was afraid of tripping over her own dress and falling flat on her face walking up the aisle. Slightly lesser of her worries was bursting into tears the minute she saw her fiancé's face. She watched quietly as Lindy began her walk up the aisle, looking beautiful in her crimson gown. She couldn't yet see Anton, and supposed that was for the best. She knew she'd see him soon enough. Placing his hand over hers, John smiled at her. "Ready to get this show on the road?" Bryn nodded. "I've been ready for this for a long time." From the other end of the chapel, Anton watched eagerly for Bryn's appearance. Lindy did look beautiful as she made her way down the aisle, but he barely noticed her. His eyes were locked on the entranceway where Bryn was to make her appearance. There was an expectant hush from the audience... And then there she was on her brother's arm. Anton hadn't seen her in the dress before, and couldn't stop the surprised gasp that worked out of his throat. She was absolutely stunning. She swallowed heavily as she met his gaze, a tremulous smile crossing her face even as twin tears dribbled over her cheeks. Holding tight to her brother's arm, she made her way down the aisle without faltering once...quite a feat considering the enormity of her gown. A pale sapphire and gold ring sat on her right hand, no doubt her something blue. Her eyes sparkled as she stepped up to where Anton stood, watching as John shook his hand before handing her over to her groom. He could literally feel her shaking as she took his arm, but she held on tightly. "I missed you," she said softly. "You look so handsome." "I've missed you too, Bryn, and you look absolutely gorgeous, my dear." Anton then turned his attention to the priest, who began the ceremony. "Dearly beloved," the priest intoned, "we are gathered together here in the sight of God to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honorable estate, instituted of God in Paradise, and into which holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. Therefore if any man can show any just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace." Anton held his breath for a moment, his grip minutely tightening on Bryn. He expected if Natasha was going to try to pull anything during the wedding, it would be at this moment. He gave a hushed sigh as the priest continued without interruption. "I require and charge you both, as you will answer at the dreadful day of judgment when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that if either of you know any impediment, why you may not be lawfully joined together in Matrimony, that you confess it." Bryn and Anton smiled at each other, but were both silent. Smiling himself, the priest turned to Anton. "Anton Mikhail Rudenko, will you have this woman to be your wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, keep only unto her, so long as you both shall live?" Anton squeezed Bryn's hand. "I will." Turning to Bryn, the priest continued. "Sabryn Lailah Jaegar, will you have this man to be your wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honor, and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep only unto him, so long as you both shall live?" Blinking tears out of her eyes, she nodded. "I will." The priest then turned his attention to John. "Who gives this Woman to be married to this Man?" "Her parents and I do." John then took his place by Bryn's parents. The priest smiled, then looked to Anton again. Anton's voice was shaking with emotion as he repeated the traditional vow after the priest. "I, Anton, take you Sabryn to my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, for fairer or fouler, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us depart, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereunto I plight you my troth. " Still holding tightly to his grip, Bryn raised his hand and kissed it, smiling at him, before repeating her vows as well. "I, Sabryn, take you Anton to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, for fairer or fouler, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us depart, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereunto I plight you my troth." "At this time, Anton and Sabryn have chosen to express their love with personal vows they've written for each other, and which they would like to share with their guests." The priest gestured to Anton. "You may begin." Anton took a deep breath, looking into Sabryn's eyes. "Bryn, my dear, our relationship hasn't run the smoothest. And yet we've somehow always managed to work our way back to each other, no matter how bad the argument. I knew from the moment I met you that I wanted to marry you. When we were apart for that year, I felt that a part of me had died." He paused for a moment, rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand. "And when I found you, I began to live again. I love you so much, Bryn, that I can't even find the words to describe it. And I will love you for all eternity." He choked on the last words, a single tear trailing down his cheek. She gave him a shaky smile, reaching up to brush the moisture away from his face. Clearing her throat, she said, "I wanted to read to you something I wrote in my journal, about three months after we parted in Santa Cruz." Taking the folded up piece of paper that Lindy handed her, she started to read. "When I left you in California, I thought I could pick up right where I left off with my life. Granted, it wasn't an exciting existence, but it was familiar and I liked it. Now nothing is the same. I've seen beyond my simple walls and the outside world is blindingly bright. You've given me that gift. I wish there was some way I could thank you. I think I can finally admit it, even if it has taken me a few months. I was wrong, Anton. When I walked away from you, I made the biggest mistake of my life. I don't know what it was, or whom, that led me to you, but I do know it was a blessing. And I was foolish to throw it away. I was scared. I thought that if I didn't love you, I couldn't get hurt. But walking away didn't make me stop feeling. If anything, I need you now more than ever. "I don't paint the same anymore. I don't see the world the same. I have more appreciation for my family, and I'm no longer frightened of the night. These are the gifts you've given me, and for them I will love you for the rest of my life. "Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to see you again. I imagine jumping on a plane and flying across the country, just to be by your side. I'd never let you go again. What would've happened if I'd stayed? Would we be married now, like you described? "Today is my birthday and I know it's silly, but I know what I'll wish for when I blow out my candles tonight. Maybe you'll be wishing the same thing, too?" She took a breath and blinked the tears out of her eyes, handing the paper back to Lindy before taking his hand once more. She held on tightly, meeting his gaze. "I think my wish must've come true, Anton, because I'm standing here with you...prouder, stronger, and happier than I've ever been. And you keep giving me these precious gifts every day. I will never stop loving you. I will never stop trying to make you as happy as you've made me. Thank you, for everything." Anton wiped the tears away from his eyes. The priest have them a few minutes to compose themselves before asking Nathaniel for the rings. "Bless these rings, oh merciful Lord," he prayed, "that those who wear them, that give and receive them, may be ever faithful to one another, remain in your peace, and live and grow old together in your love, under their own vine and fig tree, and seeing their children's children. Amen." Again Anton repeated the words that the priest said. "With this Ring I thee wed." Following the medieval tradition, he placed the ring briefly on her thumb. "And with my body I thee honor." He placed the ring for a moment on her index finger. "And with all my worldly goods I thee endow." He placed the ring on her ring finger, where it would remain. "In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." Taking the other ring from the priest, Sabryn copied Anton's movements as she spoke the words. When she finally placed the ring on his third finger, they both squeezed each other's hands. "Let us pray. Oh Eternal God, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, Giver of all spiritual grace, the Author of everlasting life; Send Your blessing upon these Your servants, this man and this woman, so these persons may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, whereof these rings given and received are a token and pledge, and may ever hereafter remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy laws; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. Amen." Placing his hand over theirs, the priest then said, "Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder. For as much as Anton and Sabryn have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and there to have given and pledged their troth each to the other, and have declared the same by the giving and receiving of rings, and by joining of hands; I pronounce therefore that they be Husband and Wife together, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen" Sabryn squeezed his hand hard with nervous and giddy anticipation, more ready to kiss him than she could ever remember. "God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favor look upon you; and so fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace, that you may so live together in this life, that in the world to come you may have life everlasting. Amen." Giving the sign of the cross with his hand, the priest then said, "You may kiss your bride." Anton stepped forward, cupping her face in his hands. "I love you, Sabryn Rudenko," he whispered so only she could hear, before lowering his lips to hers. She stood on her tiptoes, letting out a soft sigh as she captured his lower lip between hers. She slid her hands around his back and up, cupping his shoulders from behind, pulling herself tight against her husband as she kissed him back. Tears rolled freely down her face as she pulled back to look at him, and she let out a giddy laugh. They were really married. She felt like she was in a state of shock. Chuckling softly himself, the priest said, "May I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Anton and Sabryn Rudenko." Turning as the harpist began playing Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, they started down the aisle, with Lindy, Nathaniel and then their guests following them. As they stepped outside, the first of the fireworks went off, reflecting off the San Francisco Bay. Practically towing Anton by the hand, Bryn hurried towards the cliff edge, eager to see the brilliantly colored explosions. They had only a moment or so to themselves, in which she kissed him again...more passionately than before. Shortly after the guests started closing in to congratulate them. Bryn handed her bouquet to Lindy while she greeted her guests, keeping her left hand tangled with Anton's right. Once everyone had said their congratulations, everyone stood in awe of the fireworks. Leaning back against Anton, the curls on top of her head just brushing his chin, she held his hands securely around her. Relishing the warmth of his body. Anton held her tightly. It was like walking through a dream. He kept expecting to wake up to find himself alone in bed like he had so many nights before. His gaze flickered down to Sabryn, who was glowing with happiness. [If this is a dream, I never want to wake up.] He was content to stay like that, also greeting guests until the limousines to take the wedding party arrived. He bent down to whisper in Bryn's ear. "Were you going to do the bouquet toss here or at the reception?" Bryn nodded, and caught Lindy's attention. "All single women gather around," Lindy called out. "Bryn's ready to toss the bouquet." Once all the eligible bachelorettes had gathered around, in front of the limo, Bryn turned so her back was to the crowd. After a few practice swings to tease everyone, she lobbed it high over her back. It fell directly into Michelle's hands. Giggling at the overjoyed expression on the receptionist's face, Bryn reached for Anton's hand as she ducked into the limousine. She had to drag a considerable amount of fabric out of the way before he could climb in himself, but he settled down next to her, gave a wave to the crowd, and closed the door behind him. As the car started to pull out of the drive, Bryn pulled him closer and kissed him deeply. "I have to change my earlier statement, Anton...this is my best day ever. And I have a feeling it's only going to keep getting better." They arrived back at the warehouse about ten minutes ahead of their guests, enough time for Bryn to change into the dress she had originally intended to wear. Lindy was helping her zip it up right now. "Almost there..." Bryn sucked in her gut, exhaling at the same time. "We should have had this altered at the same time as my other dress." "Yeah, too bad we didn't think of that at the time." She finished easing the zipper up, giving a slight sigh of relief. "There, done. And where did you get that lingerie? Anton's eyes are going to pop out of his head when he sees you in it." She laughed, and then winced as she heard the seams in her dress stretch. "I'll be lucky if I don't pop out of this dress. Oh, and the lingerie was a gift from Caroline. John brought it with him when he flew over here...fortunately he didn't know what was in the box at the time. And it sure is a good thing this bustier stretches. I'm starting to feel like I swallowed an entire Christmas ham." Lindy giggled. "Well, this dress doesn't hide it nearly as well as the other one did, but you aren't ham-sized just yet." "Will you help me take my hair down? This hairspray is driving me insane." "Sure." As soon as they'd taken all of the pins out of her hair, unbraided it and brushed out the sticky hairspray remains, her hair was hanging in loose waves as they walked back to the part of the warehouse first floor where the reception was being held. Guests were already arriving. Bryn was about to take a seat amongst a small crowd, when she suddenly froze in mid-motion and whispered urgently to Lindy, "Oh my God, I can't sit down...I'll bust a seam!" Lindy bit back her first reaction, which was to giggle hysterically at her best friend's plight. "Don't you have anything else you can wear?" she whispered back. "No," Bryn hissed at her. "What am I gonna do?" "Hang on a minute." Lindy's eyes swept around the room, trying to figure out what she could do. Spying a bar stool, she grabbed it and dragged it back to Bryn's spot. "Lean against this. I'll see if I can figure out anything else out." Blowing a strand of hair out of her face, Bryn tried to look casual as she leaned against the stool, placing one hand on the seat to keep it from falling over, smiling cheerfully at her guests. She looked up as Anton walked out of the elevator, and felt her heart skip a beat. She'd thought he looked handsome before...that was before he took off his tuxedo coat and tie, unbuttoning the collar of his shirt just enough to show off the neck she loved so much. She bit the corner of her mouth, resisting the urge to grab him as he neared. "That's the dress?" She nodded. "Nice." "It's so tight I can't sit down." Anton managed not to laugh, but he couldn't kill the smile that came to his face. "Are you going to be able to stand all night in those shoes, my dear?" he asked, sliding an arm around her waist. "Doesn't look like I have much of a choice," she said, looking down at the one inch heels she was wearing. "Hopefully my ankles won't swell too much." "Mmmm hmmm," he nodded, looking at the entrance. "Looks like John and your parents just arrived." She let out a soft sigh. "How long do you think we need to stay at our own reception?" He grinned. "Long enough to cut the cake at least. But I don't think anyone will hold it against us if we head out a little early." "Good." She rested her cheek against his shirt. "I'm anxious to spend the night alone with my husband." "And I can't wait to spend the night alone with my wife." He leaned down to place a kiss on her hair. "Your parents are heading this way." "You know, now would be the perfect time to cut the cake," she muttered. Before Anton could respond, Sabryn's mother stopped before them and said, "I see there's something you neglected to mention to us." Following her mother's glance to her stomach, Bryn couldn't help but blush. And she felt like an idiot as she did so. "We didn't find out until after we were engaged, if that's what you're thinking," she said, somewhat defensively. Her mother sighed heavily. "I was merely wondering why John was told and we were not." "I--I didn't plan on telling anyone until tonight. John found out by accident." She glanced at Anton and saw him look away quickly, hiding a grin. "Anyway, I'm due in January." "Well...congratulations." The word was stunted, stumbled over, as if her mother had trouble bringing herself to say it. Still, it was more than Sabryn had been expecting. "Thank you." Reaching out, Bernadette Pruitt offered to shake her new son-in-law's hand. "And congratulations to you too, Anton." Turning slightly so her mother couldn't read her lips, Bryn softly whispered, "My God, the aliens *did* land again." He bit his lips again to keep from laughing. "Nathaniel and I getting along, your mother congratulating you, are you sure these aren't signs of an impending apocalypse?" Now it was Bryn's turn to choke down her laughter. Or at least until her mother made a comment. "Your maid of honor appears to be shirking her duties." Bryn shrugged, poker faced. "She's probably off getting lucky with the best man." Anton shook his head, bemused by the horrified look on Bernadette's face. "They also happen to be married. Technically, Lindy is the matron-of-honor." "Oh...well..." Bernadette cleared her throat. "I think I'll go find myself something to drink." Watching his wife go, Steven shook his head. "I should be angry at the way you bait your mother, Sabryn, but I can't seem to do it." Squeezing her hand briefly, he said, "If you'll excuse us for a moment, I'd like to speak to your husband alone." "All right," Bryn said, a little suspicious. Leading Anton away from where Bryn was leaning, Steven kept his back to his daughter as he spoke. "I decided that I'd like to give the horses to you and Sabryn as a wedding present. I'd kind of like it to be a surprise, at least until the foal is born. I know you don't have property to keep the animals on, so you can keep them at our place or board them somewhere else, whatever you'd like. I just know that she loves those horses, and I think it might be nice to have a family of horses for your own family." "Yes it would. Thank you." Steven nodded. "I should be thanking you. I've never seen my daughter this happy. Not even when she was a little girl. And I know I have you to thank for that. I know you'll take good care of her, and I appreciate that." Patting him on the shoulder, Steven added, "Welcome to the family, son." Anton nodded, trying not to choke up yet again. It had been a long time since anyone had called him 'son.' "Thank you, sir. I can only hope to make her as happy as she has made me." "I think you will." He scratched his chin. "Oh, and call me Steven or Dad, whichever makes you feel more comfortable...just not 'sir'. Makes me feel like an old man." Anton laughed. "All right." Coming up behind them, holding some sort of strawberry drink, limping slightly on her heels, Bryn said, "Anton, I think it's about cake cutting time, don't you?" He could easily get her hint...she was impatient to get the show on the road. "You're right. Let's go." Passing Lindy on the way to the table, Bryn grinned at her slightly disheveled appearance...and Nate's unzipped pants. Gesturing to his crotch, she said, "You two must've been having fun. Might want to check the zipper, though." Nathaniel blushed, turning away to zip up his pants. Lindy shook her head, her cheeks flaming. "Oh, Lindy, do you like daiquiris?" Bryn handed over the glass in her hand. "I asked for a virgin drink, but this one doesn't smell very virgin to me." "Just how does a virgin smell anyway?" Nathaniel joked. Bryn smacked him on the arm. "Very funny." Turning to grab Anton's hand, she started heading for the cake table once more. "C'mon," she said to her husband. "I'm dying to get out of here." "And she says we're too eager," Lindy said. She lifted what was now her drink and sniffed. "Whoa, this definitely has alcohol in it." The scent reminded her of something, but couldn't place it. She wasn't too familiar with the scents of different forms of liquors, so she didn't pay too much attention to it. She took a swallow. "Hmm... awfully sweet too." Slipping an arm around her shoulders, Nate watched as Bryn and Anton prepared to cut the cake. "You know, we should get out of here soon too." She gave him a little frown. "You've never been a best man before, have you?" "No, why?" "Part of our duties are to clean up and see that everything is taken care of after the bride and groom leave. Hate to tell you, but we're going to be the last two to leave." "Aww, crap." Lindy laughed, taking another drink. "Don't worry, I'll make it up to you when we get home. I haven't shown you Bryn's wedding present to us." He raised his eyebrows. "The photo certificate?" "No." She smiled. "You'll see soon enough." She looked back at Bryn and Anton, who were completing their first cut into the cake. "They seem very happy. I'm glad everything went off without a hitch." "Yeah. I was expecting something to go wrong." He didn't voice it, but he had also expected Natasha to try to pull something. But it didn't look like that was going to happen. "What's their schedule again?" Lindy put down the half empty glass. "They spend the night here, then leave for New York tomorrow. Spend a day there and then off to London, I think. I've got the full itinerary in my office." She looked at the happy couple. She could see Bryn say the words 'be nice' before Anton brought the piece of cake up to her mouth. Just as she'd asked, he fed her gently. When it was her turn, Bryn did the same...but she couldn't resist smearing a dollop of frosting across his lower lip and then dragging him closer so she could suck it off. The guests made a raucous noise as they kissed, making Bryn blush as she pulled away. Swallowing the last of the daiquiri, Lindy stood up, tugging Nathaniel along with her, as Anton and Bryn made their way to the dance floor that had been set up in one corner of the warehouse floor. The guests made their way to watch the couple's first dance as husband and wife. Anton took Bryn into his arms as Trisha Yearwood's "You're Where I Belong" began to play. Slowly swaying to the music, Anton couldn't take his eyes off of her face. "Do you have any idea how beautiful you are, Bryn?" he whispered softly. "I think you grow more and more beautiful each day." She couldn't seem to stop smiling. Or blushing. "Thank you." She buried her face against his chest. "You spoil me." Lifting her chin to meet her gaze again, he shook his head. "I just tell you the truth." She pulled herself tighter against him. "I love dancing with you...but I know something I'd like even better. What do you say we sneak out of here when this song is over?" "Bryn, I don't think that we'll be able to 'sneak' anywhere. But I do think people will be understanding if we leave." He stroked a hand down her back, combing his fingers through her hair. "Do you want to talk to anyone before we leave?" She shook her head. "I've talked to just about everyone. And we'll probably see Lindy and Nate before we leave for New York." "In that case, as soon as the song's over, we're outta here." She wasn't quite sure why, but, as they rode the elevator back up to the third floor, Sabryn felt a little nervous. It was crazy, really. She'd made love to Anton more times than she could count...but never as his wife. Anxious to get out of her tight dress, she hurried into the apartment the minute the elevator stopped. As soon as the door closed behind Anton, Bryn reached back behind her and yanked down the zipper on the dress, letting out a sigh of relief when she could finally breathe. "God, that feels so much better." She gave him a shaky smile. "D-Did you want to get something to eat first?" A wicked glint came into Anton's eyes. "Yes, my dear." He picked her up and carried her into the bedroom. Sitting down on the bed, he pulled her crosswise onto his lap before cradling her head in his hands. "Any special requests, my dear?" "Just love me, Anton." She smiled tremulously. "Oh, and you could take this dress off of me." He met her lips, kissing her deeply as he slowly pulled down the thin straps of her dress. Pulling away from her mouth, he indicated for her to stand up so he could remove the dress completely. She watched his face as he tugged on the fabric, his eyes widening at what he revealed. Unlike her usual bra and panties, her strapless bustier was made of white lace, interwoven on the sides with two pink ribbons, which attached to her thigh-high stockings. Due to her pregnancy, she had a bit of a belly and was practically spilling out of the bustier, but Anton didn't seem to mind a bit. Especially when she turned to step out of the dress, revealing the barely-there lacy thong panties. He made a sound she'd never heard before...somewhere between a moan and a choked squeal. Grinning, she kicked the dress out of the way and met his gaze once more. "You like it?" Standing up, he couldn't take his eyes off of her. He reached out with slightly trembling hands to touch her bare shoulders, fingers then sliding down to trace over the lace of the bustier. "Absolutely stunning, Bryn." Hands ending up on her waist, Anton pulled her close for an open mouthed kiss. He nipped at her lower lip, sucking on her tongue when it tried to duel with his. One hand slipped down to rest on her ass, thumb sliding beneath the thin strap of her panties. "Bryn," he whispered when the kiss finally ended. "I have a request." Sabryn's voice was breathless when she answered. "Yes, Anton?" "Undress me." Her hands were shaking as well as she lifted them to pull loose the buttons on his shirt. She leaned forward to kiss his chest, pausing only briefly before continuing to remove his clothes. She tugged free the tails of his shirt, unfastening all of the buttons including those at his wrists. Dropping the shirt to the floor, she drew closer to him and extended her tongue to trace around his right nipple. His hand tightened slightly on her ass, fingers dipping into the cleft as she moved from one nipple to the other. "You smell so good. God, I missed you last night, Anton. I don't think I slept for a second." He kissed her again, massaging her tongue with his own, a contented sound leaving his mouth as she started to unbuckle his belt and unfasten his slacks. She lowered the zipper slowly, her knuckles rubbing against the hardness of his erection deliberately. She bit her lip a bit, not quite able to look at him as she said, "I want to suck your cock, Anton." Anton took a deep breath. Unable to speak, he nodded, and she slipped his trousers and boxers down his legs. He was trembling when she placed her hands on his hips, guiding him to sit on the edge of the bed. He swallowed as Bryn [My wife!] knelt between his legs, gently taking hold of his erection. His hand grabbed the comforter as she softly placed butterfly-light kisses along the vein on the underside of his cock. He gave a soft moan as her fingers caressed his balls as she licked the length of him. And he couldn't help but give a sharp cry as she drew him between her lips. She looked up at him, cocking an eyebrow. "Unusually sensitive today?" "You have no idea," he whispered. Grinning, she ducked her head again and pulled him back into her mouth. She moaned softly at the taste of him, cradling him against her tongue as she leisurely moved her head up and down on him. She didn't deep-throat him, but it hardly mattered. What length of him she couldn't manage, she used her fingers to stimulate. She could feel his hand rest on the back of her head, tangling in her hair, but he didn't add any pressure. She sucked him firmly, one hand on his cock, the other gently caressing his balls, and she knew that aside from tiring she could do this all day. She loved the taste of him, the smell of him. Yet more than anything she loved the idea of having her husband's cock erupt in her mouth. She squirmed a bit in anticipation. And Anton was trying his hardest not to squirm, afraid of what the additional stimulation would do to him. He didn't want this to end anytime soon. His fingers ran over the softness of her hair, combing through it and letting it wrap around his fingers. He gave another moan as she increased her suction, rolling his balls in their sac. "God, Bryn." She pulled her mouth away from his cock, still stroking him with her fist, and looked up at his face. His eyes were slightly dilated, his mouth hanging open as he breathed. She gave him a wide smile, rolling the precum at the tip of his cock with her thumb. "Have I ever told you how much I love the way you smell? It's not just the cologne or soap or shampoo. Your skin smells amazing. And your cock...I never imagined I'd say this to anyone, but your cock smells so deliciously fuckable. I could drown in this scent." She gave him a little grin, still watching his face as she lapped at the head of his cock and inhaled deeply. His knuckles were turning white from his grip on the comforter. He couldn't hold back the loud groan as Bryn's tongue hit the sensitive spot on the head of his cock. "Bryn... please!" When her lips closed around him one more time, her thumb rubbing against his balls, he gave a yell and a single sharp thrust, head arching back as he came hard. "Bryn!" He fell back against the bed, breathing heavily. Breathing a bit heavily herself, Bryn stood up on shaky legs and stepped out of her shoes. Crawling onto the bed, she laid down next to him and rubbed her fingers across his chest. She couldn't seem to stop staring at him. She still didn't feel married. It was too much of a foreign concept to grasp. Still, this man was her husband and she felt her heart flutter at the thought. Moving closer, she rested her head on his chest and moved her hand down to rest on his stomach. "I love you so much, Anton." "I love you too, Bryn." He cradled her head against his chest, fingers twining through her hair. "I have been dreaming of this night so long that I'm having a hard time believing it's really happening." He bent down to kiss the top of her head. They lay like that for a few more minutes before Anton nudged her gently. "Get in the center of the bed, my dear. It's my turn to show you how much I love you." Curious as to what he had in mind, Bryn complied. Anton repositioned himself as well, kneeling between her legs. Slowly he let his hands wander over her torso, exploring soft lace as well as soft skin. "You know, something you said a few minutes ago reminded me of something Lindy once told me." "Huh?" Bryn said, trying to remember what she told him. The distraction of his thumbs moving in slow circles around her nipples made it hard for her to concentrate. Anton continued on in a conversational tone of voice, trying to ignore her soft gasps and the glazed look in her dilated eyes. "She once told me that just the way you get addicted to the taste of certain foods, you can get addicted to the smell of different scents." His hands now wandered down to release the straps holding the bustier to her stockings. But instead of peeling them off, his fingers then moved to the lacy underwear. "And you know what, my dear?" He pulled the thong off of her and then lay between her legs. "She's right." Nose centimeters away from her sex, he inhaled deeply and ran his tongue along her inner thighs. She gasped, opening her legs a little wider, tingling in anticipation. Her entire body shivered as he pressed his mouth to her sex, dipping his tongue inside to tease her clit. Her parted her with his thumbs, gazing at her, touching her lightly with his fingers. Her hands slid down to sift through his hair, as lapped at her, moaning softly, his lips vibrating against her. Arching her back, she lifted her hips, pressing herself more firmly against his mouth. Anton continued to lap at her, his hands caressing her from thighs to waist and back. His hips gave a twitch before he forced them to still. He wrapped his lips around her clit and sucked as he slowly slipped a finger inside of her. "Ahhh...Anton!" She'd known it wouldn't take long for him to make her cum. She'd practically been ready the moment they walked in the room. But as he pushed his finger slowly in and out of her, she wasn't prepared for the intensity of the climax that shook her. Centered low in her groin, the tightness and tingling suddenly burst into waves of pleasure, making her buck her hips against him, her head thrown back, a loud cry escaping her mouth. He continued to lap at her gently as she came down from the high, the little tremors in her thighs ceasing. "Oh God, that felt incredible." He looked up to see her staring back at him. Her hair was tousled from tossing her head around, a flush sparkling along her cheeks, matching the sparkle in her half lidded eyes. Licking his lips, he climbed back up her body to settle on his side beside her. The arm he rested on curled around her head, fingers tracing along the edge of her ear as his other hand moved in small circles on her stomach, fingers catching on the lace. "As beautiful and sexy as this is, my dear, I think it's time you took it off." His eyes never wavered from her as she sat up and removed the bustier. "No, leave the stockings on," he said as her hands went to her legs. Guiding her back down to the bed, Anton resumed stroking her stomach and barely brushing the tip of her ear, giving her a few minutes to recover a bit more. Holding her eyes with his, he scooted down a little further in the bed and took one of her peaked nipples between his lips, nipping lightly. She bit her lip, watching him suck at her. She felt slightly drugged, lazy, but she'd also been waiting for this moment all day. She wanted him inside of her. Wrapping her hand around his jaw, she lifted his head to meet her gaze. "Come up here and kiss me." With a lazy smile of his own, he lifted himself up the length of her once more, settling down on top of her, kissing her mouth. She lifted her thighs to cradle him between her legs, and as she opened her eyes she had to admit those stockings did look pretty sexy rubbing against his ass. With one more slow kiss to his mouth, she met his gaze. "Make love to me, Anton." "Yes, ma'am." Pushing up from her slightly, he guided his cock to her entrance. Slowly he pressed inside of her, pausing to kiss her only when he was fully inside of her. When the kiss broke, he pulled almost all of the way out of her. Again he paused to kiss her deeply. He kept this lazy pace for several minutes, until he had her whimpering, drawing her heels over his ass and the back of his thighs. Only then did he speed up slightly by not pausing to kiss her. Instead he reached down to palm her breast, occasionally, rolling her nipple between his fingers. "Is this what you want, Bryn?" She shuddered beneath him, before nodding and then shaking her head. Pressing her hands against his back, she dug her fingernails in slightly. "Mmm, faster, sugar...please?" "Yes, my dear." He picked up the pace immediately, grinning as she gasped. He then closed his eyes so he could concentrate on the sensation of how she gripped him so tightly, of how hot and slick she was, of making love to his wife. The hand that had been teasing her breast now worked its way between their bodies, thumb rubbing forcefully against her clit in time to his thrusts. Lifting her hips to meet his thrusts, Bryn moaned at the sensations his thumb was creating. She slid one hand up to tangle in his hair, the other went down to grab his ass, pushing him tighter between her legs, fingers playing over the contracting muscles. Burying her face against his shoulder, she squeezed him inside of her in time with his movements. Pulling at him as he withdrew, releasing as he plunged deep within her once more. "Oh Anton, I can't believe you're my husband! I love you so much, and I'm never letting you go again." She giggled. "You might just have to carry me around like this--ooh--for the rest of your life." Anton laughed along with her. "That's going to make going out