Kiss the Bride
Chapter 1: Practice Makes Perfect
Disclaimer: Same old, same old. I own nothing… and so on and so forth. I didn't create the characters… and so on and so forth. Jess is my willing man-slave… and so on and so forth. Blah-blah!
Shifting a few boxes out of the way, Jess wrapped his fingers around the leather handle of the suitcase and began to pull it down from the top shelf of the closet. As it neared the edge – its weight now half-resting on the shelf and half on his arms – it abruptly stopped. Struggling to maintain the awkward hold, Jess peered to the side and immediately saw that one of the suitcase's wheels was caught in the loop of an errant purse strap. With a sigh, he yanked on it harder and jiggled it back and forth, trying to loosen it from its trap. It wouldn't budge. Growing frustrated, he pulled one more time. It still didn't move. Giving in, he tried to push it back onto the shelf. It stayed rooted in place. The suitcase was stuck in midair, only his arms supporting it from falling.
The phone rang.
He cursed quietly, his limbs locked in place. It rang again.
"Rory!" he called, trying to keep the irritation out of his voice.
"Got it!"
A second later, the phone stopped mid-ring as she picked it up.
Jess took a deep breath and refocused his attention on the suitcase. Refusing to let the damn thing get the better of him, he tightened his fingers around the handle and pulled as hard as he could.
One pull.
Two pulls.
Three pulls.
Without warning, the suitcase shot off the shelf, throwing him slightly off-balance and knocking the purse to the floor with a plop.
Simultaneously relieved and annoyed, he swung the suitcase into the hallway, then stooped to retrieve the purse, flinging it carelessly back up onto the shelf. Mission at last accomplished, he shut the door, grabbed the suitcase, and headed back towards the bedroom.
As soon as he walked through the door, something round and white sailed through the air and hit him on the forehead. Rory giggled.
Jess looked down at the rolled-up pair of socks that now lay on the carpet then turned his eyes to Rory. She shrugged, her eyes twinkling.
"Nice," he stated sarcastically as he walked into the room and set the suitcase on the floor beside her.
She pouted playfully. "Sorry."
"First, that suitcase nearly kills me," he said, pointing at it accusatorily, "and then you try to maim me."
Rory glanced at the suitcase. "It apologizes too."
He flopped onto the bed and narrowed his eyes at the socks and then at her. "You're all conspiring to take me out already, aren't you?"
Rory grinned at him but didn't respond. Instead, she went back to folding the laundry.
He nodded knowingly. "Just as I suspected."
Glancing up, Rory batted her eyelashes at him in clear exaggeration.
"That isn't gonna work," Jess warned.
She smiled. "What isn't?"
"That! You could've knocked me unconscious, you know!"
"Poor baby," she cooed.
"Two inches lower, and I'd have a black eye."
"It could've been worse," she offered.
"Really?"
"Yep," she nodded seriously. "It could've been a swan."
"Oh, sure, mock my pain. I knew I'd regret telling you that."
Rory met his eyes. "Come here."
"Why? Planning to strangle me with my own shirt sleeves?"
"Come here," she repeated, crooking her finger at him.
"You're crazy! No way!"
She sighed. "You're very grumpy, you know that?"
"It's your fault!" he reminded her.
"Grumpy, grumpy," she teased, pushing the suitcase and laundry basket out of her way. Path cleared, she crawled across the floor towards him. When she reached his bent legs, she rested her hands gently on his legs and guided his knees apart until there was enough room for her to ease herself between them. Now face to face, she leaned up and placed a soft kiss on his forehead. Then, looking him straight in the eye, her face serious, she whispered, "I'm very sorry the vicious socks hurled themselves at you."
He couldn't help but smirk. "I can't believe I'm marrying you tomorrow," he half-joked.
Rory smiled back. "Me either. You must be crazy."
"I think we both are."
"You might be right," Rory quietly agreed before leaning forward and placing a light kiss on his lips. As she pulled away, he opened his eyes to look at her. "Still grumpy?" she teased.
"I was never grumpy."
"Yes, you were," she disagreed.
He slowly shook his head. "Nope, never was," he repeated, finding her lips again.
As they kissed, he trailed his fingers up her bare arms, sending ticklish shivers across her skin. When she felt him trying to guide her even closer, she smiled against his mouth and pulled away. "I have to pack."
He sighed and moved to lean back on his palms. Fighting the temptation his new position offered, Rory looked away and scooted back over to the laundry and luggage. He watched as she folded the clothes and placed them carefully into the suitcase. As she packed, she crossed items off from a list on the floor, making sure all of their things were included. After a few minutes, everything was neatly stowed away. She eyed the list, frowned, and glanced around the room.
"I need those socks," she said, turning her eyes to Jess.
"So?"
She made a half-hearted attempt to stretch towards them. "Can't… reach."
"Huh. Guess you shouldn't have thrown them at me then."
"Jess," she whined.
"Rory," he mocked.
She looked back down at her list, clearly agitated that every item wasn't in the suitcase.
He chuckled and stood up. "You're so Type A," he teased, grabbing the socks from the floor.
He handed them to her, and she took them gratefully. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
She grinned and packed them away, then zipped up the suitcase. Pushing it to the side, she grabbed a different list off the bedside table and started scanning down it.
Jess smirked and snatched it from her hands.
"Hey," Rory complained, trying to grab it back. He held it out of her reach.
"Laundry," he read. "Check. Pack. Check. Liz. Liz?" he asked, looking at her.
"Oh, that was the phone call. She and TJ made it safe and sound."
Jess said nothing, his eyes turning back to the list.
"Oh, and Paris is on her way to get Jimmy, Sasha, and Lily at the airport," Rory added.
Jess smirked.
"I can't believe I let you convince me that was a good idea," Rory said, trying to hide her amusement. "They're gonna drive each other crazy."
"Better them than us."
"Paris is gonna kill me."
"Jimmy is gonna kill me."
Rory grinned. "We'll be dead together."
Jess trailed his eyes over her face. "Works for me."
"Me too," she agreed.
He looked at the list again. "Well, assuming they make it back from the airport alive, that makes Jimmy a check." He moved to the next item. "Your family?"
"Dad and Gigi are staying at the Dragonfly. So are my grandma and grandpa."
Jess paused, reality setting in. He sighed. "This screams disaster."
"No, it doesn't," Rory promised.
"Yeah, it does. Let's elope. There's still time."
Rory smiled. "It'll be fine."
"I hear Vegas is beautiful this time of year."
"It'll be fine," she repeated.
"Liz and Jimmy—"
"Will be on their best behavior," Rory finished.
"Your mom and dad—"
"Know better."
"Richard and Emily—"
"Have grown to love you."
"Marianos and Gilmores in the same room."
"It'll be fine."
"It's against God's will."
"It'll be fine."
Jess ran a hand through his hair and sighed.
"Since when do you worry?" Rory teased.
He looked at her. "Well, you really want this all to work."
"Are you still planning to be there?" she asked.
He took a deep breath. "So far."
"Then it'll be fine."
He nodded, still not quite convinced, and looked at the list. A slow smile spread across his face. "What's this?"
"What's what?"
"Kiss?" he asked, pointing at the item.
Rory blushed.
"You put kiss on the checklist?" he teased. "Afraid you'd forget?"
"No," Rory said weakly.
"We're not even married yet, and my sex appeal is already fading."
Rory blushed even more. "Trust me, it's not."
He met her eyes and smirked. "Good to know," he answered seriously. Then, deciding to let her off the hook, he looked back down at the list. "Well, we kissed a few minutes ago, and it's only on here once, so I guess that's a check."
Rory fixed her eyes on the carpet. "It's not for today."
Now he was confused. "Okay—" he hedged, watching her shift uncomfortably.
"It's just – I'm just – I don't know how to kiss you!" she blurted, her cheeks turning red.
Jess smirked. "You don't? 'Cuz you did just fine a min—"
"No, I mean, tomorrow," Rory interrupted. "I don't know how to kiss you tomorrow."
"What?"
"At the altar," Rory explained. "We'll be up there in front of all of those people, and the kiss is the climactic moment. It means we're really married. It's important and special and intimate and really embarrassing."
"Embarrassing?"
"Yes! Everyone is staring and waiting! It's too much pressure. How do people know how to kiss in that moment?"
Jess shrugged. "They just do, I guess."
"What if I forget how?"
He laughed. "Rory, you're not going to forget how."
"Fine," she dismissed. "Never mind. It's stupid."
"Rory…"
"Cross it off."
Shoving the list into his pocket, he walked towards her and reached out his hand. She glanced at it but didn't move.
"Come on. Stand up," he prodded, wiggling his fingers.
Reluctantly, she put her hand in his and let him pull her to her feet. He placed his hands on her waist and guided her into position until she was standing directly in front of him.
She stared at her feet.
"Try to look happier," he teased. "We're about to get married."
She glanced up at him.
"The minister," he said, gesturing at empty air. Then, motioning towards the open space behind them, he continued, "Family and friends. Look around. This is the real deal."
Her lips curled up a little.
"The big moment," he teased. "Don't choke."
"I hate you."
He smirked but ignored her statement. "Here it comes… I now pronounce you husband and wife," he stated in an overly deep, very formal voice. When Rory just stood there, he whispered, "Go for it."
She smiled and, taking a quick step forward, placed a brief peck on his lips.
"Oh, so we're going the chaste route," Jess teased.
Rory threw her hands into the air. "See! I'm gonna mess it up!" she cried, turning to move away from him.
"No, no, you're fine," he assured her, guiding her back into position. "Here, try again. Husband, wife, yadda, yadda."
This time, Rory moved forward and kissed him a little longer. She stepped back.
"See, better," Jess assured her.
Rory frowned. "This is so dumb."
He reached out and pulled her a little closer. "How 'bout I just take the lead? That's how it's supposed to go, right?"
Feigning disinterest, Rory shrugged.
Without any prelude, Jess placed his hand on her cheek and kissed her. And suddenly it was easy. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to enjoy the feel of him, the familiar taste of him. Her stomach fluttered. After a couple moments, he pulled away, and she lazily opened her eyes and met his. Seeing a familiar, smoky glint in their blue depths, he immediately kissed her again, his free arm wrapping around her waist and pulling her fully against him. She let her hand rest against his hip. He deepened the kiss.
Lost in him, she inched her hand up under the hem of his shirt, her fingers fluttering against his warm, bare skin. He moaned and tangled his tongue with hers, the back of her tank top bunching in his clenched fist. Aimless, her hands brushed against the elastic of his boxers then onto his abdomen again. He smiled and let his lips drift to her neck, placing small kisses along the soft skin he found there.
She sighed and, suddenly frustrated, gripped the bottom of his shirt and yanked it up over his chest. He moved away from her just long enough for it to slide over his head, then joined his lips to hers again. Hands against bare skin, legs bumping as they shuffled blindly backwards, they sank onto the bed.
- - -
Rory grinned and trailed kisses along the angle of his jaw, following its line until she reached his earlobe. She bit it gently.
Shifting to his side, Jess wrapped his arms around her, following the rise and fall of her spine with his fingers.
"I love you," she whispered, so close that her breath tickled the tiny hairs above his ear.
He smiled and kissed her shoulder. "We might want to tone that kiss down tomorrow," he mumbled.
She laughed in agreement.
His lips dipped into the space behind her ear, brushing faintly across the hidden skin. "I love you too," he whispered.
She leaned back against her pillow, and he pulled away to look at her, his chin propped on his hand. She absently rotated her engagement ring on her finger. "We're getting married tomorrow."
"I know."
"Are you scared?" she asked, her voice serious.
He fell back against his pillow. "Terrified."
She nodded. "Me too."
He sighed, well aware that her happiness would now rest almost entirely in his hands. Feeling her eyes on him, he turned to look at her. She smiled at him, and he realized immediately that he'd die trying to live up to what she deserved. It was all he could do.
"We'd better get ready for the rehearsal dinner," she reminded him.
He nodded, and she moved to get up. Grabbing a robe, she pulled it on and walked around the bed towards the bathroom. As she passed his side of the bed, he reached out for her, his hand wrapping gently around her wrist. "Rory."
She looked down at him, and he pulled her towards the bed until she was sitting. Her eyes met his, searching his face. Propping himself on one arm, he pushed up towards her. Understanding, she met him halfway. After a long moment, they separated, lips tingling.
Smiling, Rory brushed a stray curl from his forehead. "Promise we'll do it just like that."
He promised.