Chapter 2: Another Penthouse Suite

Several hours later, John carried Zoe into the honeymoon suite, and shut the door with his leg. He smiled at her. "Zoe, you did wonderful job, planning that" he murmurs. "It seems like everything went off without a hitch," he said as he settled her on her feet.

Zoe smiled back, wrapping her arms around his waist. "It did go well didn't it?" She kissed him softly. "Thank Christ it is over," she exclaimed as she proceeded to carefully take her shoes off and put it in the shoe box she had had sent to the honeymoon suite among other things. She bustled towards the dresser right in front of the mirror so she could take her jewelry off and set them in the appropriate boxes for shipment later on. "Hand me that bag over there, would you?"

When the bag didn't appear in her outstretched hand, she looked behind her and saw John giving her a funny look. "John?"

John blinked and started as he realized he was staring at Zoe. "What? Sorry," he replied a bit awkwardly as he fetched the bag she had indicated and handed it to her.

Zoe, her arms bent as she took her earrings off, stood with her standard regal stance. Even with her shoes kicked off, the top of her head barely clearing his shoulders, she looked perfect; to him at least.

John became aware that he couldn't take his eyes off of her and was smiling like an idiot. He couldn't have schooled his features to an unreadable mask if his life depended upon it. Zoe's brown eyes swept the room through the mirror she was facing and found John with the idiotic smile of his face.

She smiled at him and shook her head. "What is the matter with you John, you're giving me the creeps staring at me like that," she said with a twinkle of mischief in her eyes.

That was when it dawned on him. The sentiment that hit him in that instant was as recognizable to him as his own skin. His heart palpitated in his chest, plunging into a faultless Geronimo past his quivering stomach to shatter somewhere in the neighborhood of his ankles. The sight of Zoe in a wedding dress and all the trimmings somehow short-circuited his brain.

John smiled back at her. "Just looking at you," he says softly. "I'm allowed right?" he asked as he came up behind her and kissed the top of her head through the veil. "Thank you," he whispered.

"For what?" She turned around to face him and ran a hand down his cheek, Zoe leaned her head to the side, a curious look on her face.

"For everything you did today," he murmured against her ear. "The ceremony, the dress, the flowers, the caterers, all in two months time . . ." he trailed off.

With an upward quirk of her lip she replied, "It's not like you gave me a choice, it was this or the justice of the peace and the family wouldn't have been happy." She turned away from him to face the mirror again and showed him her back. "Buttons, please," was all she said.

Something Old; Something New

"Something old," John said as he placed his hands gently on her shoulders, their eyes meeting in the mirror. He smiled a small smile and slowly and effortlessly unclasped the pearl necklace at her throat. As he laid it in on the dresser, his other hand pushed her veil away from the back of her neck and ran his lips and tongue along the side of her neck, taking in her own unique scent.

"Something new," he whispered close to her ear. The fluttering in her stomach that had begun as soon as she had seen him in his tux up at the altar and hadn't really abated throughout the hours, flickered excitedly as he painstakingly undid the buttons of her dress. Their eyes never wavered from each other as each button was released.

He smiled with a devilish glint in his eye as he slipped his hands inside the fabric of her dress and felt her bare skin. His hands stroked her and tantalized the responsive skin of her back in a most delectable way, then drew a soft trail up either side of her spine, up, then down, then back up again to rest on her shoulders. Gently, he slid the fabric down so she could slip each arm out of the dress. Bending to help slide the dress further down her body, he left a wet trail of kisses on her back. He grinned mischievously as he found himself at eye level with her ivory silk panties and the flawlessly curved tight assets enclosed within. Unable to quash his impulses, he gave a teasing pinch that brought forth a fascinating bark of shock from her before she stepped one foot, then the other, out of the dress.

"Quit, or I may have to find a way to get back at you," she teased as she took the dress and walked it over to the closet to hang in up.

"I'm so scared," he replied huskily in mock fright, but smiled approvingly as he took in the sight of her.

"What?" she replied irritably when she saw his smile.

"I like the look . . . " he trailed off, prompting her to take a look at the mirror.

"How cliché is this? I must look ridiculous standing in my underwear and veil, only thing missing is plastic stripper shoes. Am I fulfilling any of your secret fantasies," she commented playfully.

"Ah, all of them?" he replied in a low voice as he moved forward and reached for her.

"Whoa there cowboy," she said shaking her head as she planted a firm hand on his chest. "Seems as though there's an inequality of nakedness here," she proclaimed motioning towards his still tux clad torso. Zoe watched intently as John held her stare and unceremoniously shrugged his jacket off, then his shirt and tie.

"We even?" he asked amusedly.

"It's a start," she purred as she reached out to trace her index finger along the contours of his chest.

Something Borrowed, Something Blue

John laughed as he pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her. They just stood there for a few minutes, savoring their bare skin against each other.

John leaned his head down, brushing their lips together. His hand moved up to her hair, and began to deftly remove the pins that held it up. Keeping his lips gentle against hers, she felt his hands move up towards the pins holding her veil in place and in an instant, her hair was completely free. He tenderly ran his fingers through her soft brown tresses, now free and flowing unencumbered around her face. "Don't ever cut your hair." He sighed and touched his forehead gently against hers before tacking on, "it's beautiful."

Her hands came up to cup his cheeks. She pressed her lips harder against his, demanding more. John's free hand ran down her back, then up to her shoulders and back again, moving his lips to the corners of her mouth, then back to the center. Her mouth opened against his and she ran her tongue over his lower lip lightly. John deepened the kiss and thrust his own tongue against hers. She ran her tongue over the inside of his mouth, her hands roaming up and down his arms, to his waist and back up his sides.

John lifted her arm as his mouth kissed down the side of her jaw to her neck, licking at the pulse there and sliding his lips back up and behind her ear and whispered, "Something borrowed, something blue." His nimble fingers unclasp Grandma's bracelet and laid it on the dresser next to the pearls, then kissed the pulse at her wrist.

Zoe moved her hands back down to his waist, fingers tracing the edge of his trousers. John moved his mouth to her collar bone, sucking gently then moving in between her breasts, nibbling on her skin and bringing his other hand up to unclasp her strapless bra.

To have and to hold from this day forward

Their breaths hitched as he pulled her closely to him, crushing her to his body and continued to kiss her; kisses that spoke of both gentleness and raw need. His lips were soft, his tongue demanding as it tangled erotically with hers. He ran his hands over her lower back then fluttered his fingers over her ribs.

Zoe felt the heat of his touch all over her body. Her hands ran up his back switching between gentle strokes with her fingertips and dragging her nails lightly across the skin. His hand on her back traced over her spine, up her shoulders to the back of her neck. It joined the other hand, tangling itself in her hair, holding her to him. "You feel incredible," he mumbled, shutting his eyes, and she could feel his growing need pressed between them.

"You, ah, don't feel so bad yourself," she said, her own need rapidly increasing, the ache so deep within her she wasn't sure she could wait much longer.

"To have and to hold. . . " John whispered holding her eyes with his as he quickly picked her up and moved her towards the bed, gently laying her down. Looking down on her, he smiled. She was bare from the waist up, her hair in disarray, she looked amazing.

As he joined her on the bed, she kissed him, moving her mouth down his throat to his collarbone, sucking lightly. Her fingers stroked down his side, running just under the waistband of trousers. She moved her lips and tongue back to his throat, and down the other side. John sucked in a breath as he trailed his fingertips in the lightest of touches over her skin just along the waistband of her panties. His other hand blazing a trail up her back and tangling it in her hair, kneading her scalp gently.

Staring at his blue eyes, she held them and said, ". . . from this day forward." She then continued to kiss him more, devouring his neck, his collarbone and his shoulders. She traipsed down his chest, taking one of his nipples into her mouth, sucking on it gently, flicking her tongue over it. Zoe smiled, releasing it as she kissed her way across his chest to the other, took it in and give it the same treatment.

Moving her hands down his back and hips, she ran one foot up his calf taking his pant leg with it, tickling him with her toes, gripping his hips gently. She softly nipped his nipple with her teeth then licked with her tongue in long, soft strokes to soothe it. John sucked in a sharp breath when her teeth touched him, followed by a deep groan when her tongue immediately soothed the nip. Circling thumbs in rhythmically against her neck, he palmed the back of her head rubbing gently, cradling her head against him. He threw his head back and closed his eyes, savoring the attention she was lavishing on his chest.

For better or for worse; for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health

"For better or for worse," he whispered as he gently turned her onto her back. Wearing only a pair of panties, she adjusted her legs to fall on either side of his hips, running her toes to the backs of his knees; she ran her hands over his abdomen, tracing patterns on his skin. John moved his hands from her hair, running them down her over her breasts and down her sides. She sighed and smiled, closing her eyes and arching her back in anticipation.

John leaned forward and was fully absorbed in the rise and fall of her chest with every breath she drew and slowly lowered his head to place a sweet, chaste kiss on each nipple before resting his head against her to listen to her beating heart. She ran her hands through his hair. "For richer, for poorer," she claimed, smiling as he lifted his head to look at her. He leaned down once more, moving down between her breasts, then brushing his lips over her stomach. Zoe tangled her fingers in John's hair once more as she shut her eyes for a moment. Her other hand ran down his neck, down his arm and up his back.

John flicked his tongue out, licking the skin of her belly. Soft whimpers came from deep in Zoe's throat as John continued his assault. Trailing his mouth to her breasts once more, he grazed his teeth over her nipples lightly, then licking over it with his tongue. Zoe's back arched slightly into him.

John smiled at her again. "In sickness and in health," he murmured softly, kissing her lips gently, then trailed his mouth down her throat, sucking at the hollow, then moving his mouth to her collar bone, running his tongue over the tops of her breasts.

Deciding that enough was enough, for it seemed as if the damned foreplay was lasting weeks instead of minutes, Zoe ran her hands down his sides to the waist band of his pants, slipped her fingers under the material against his skin to the front and unbuttoned them making enough room for her to slide her hand inside and cup him.

John let out a gasp and a small chuckle and ran his hands down to hers, covering them. He looks at her. "Not yet," he told her softly. "Stop that." He removed her hands from his pants and placed them on his shoulders. He leaned his head back down and paid attention to her breasts once more.

Laughing coyly, she ran hands back down his sides and back around his back. She slid them under his pants and cupped his cheeks. John sighed. "Hey," he grumbled, retaliating by moving his mouth over one of her nipples, taking it inside, sucking and laving it with his tongue. Zoe let out a loud moan as she arched her back against his mouth. John ran his hand up her side to cup her other breast, moving his hand so her nipple grazed the center of his palm. He continued to suck on her other nipple, his teeth gently grazing it, rubbing it between them, his tongue moving over it.

As Zoe's breathing became shallow and labored, she desperately moved her hands from his backside to his hips and quickly pushed his trousers and underwear down. "Take them off John," she demanded.

John released her nipple from his mouth and moved his head down to her stomach, still trailing his mouth over her skin. He leisurely divested himself of his trousers and underwear. She placed a hand over one of his and guided it down her body to an area begging for attention.

To love and to cherish

He sucked in his breath as he felt her warmth and readiness through silk. Pushing himself up and sitting back on his heels beside her, John slipped his fingers into the waistband of her panties and tugged. She raised her hips to help him as he took her underwear none too gently down and off her body, tossing them aside to join her bra on the floor. Again, he took another excruciating long minute to just look at her, his blue eyes glittering with desire as they roamed every inch of her bare skin.

Locking his eyes on hers, he slid his hand up the inside of her leg then increased the distance between it and the other. Keeping his eyes on hers, he slowly slid his hand towards her heat and gently flicked his thumb over her. Zoe shut her eyes for a brief second, then brought her hand to cup his cheek, and smiled at him. Keeping her eyes open and focused on John, she kissed him.

He pulled back then whispered in her ear, "To love and cherish." He moved his thumb over her, rubbing her softly. As he continued to keep his eyes on hers, he leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her stomach. He lowered a finger while still keeping the pressure on her, as his thumb continued in slow measured swirls. John moved his head down again and placed a kiss against her stomach he swirled his tongue around then inside her belly button while his fingers continued their ministrations.

He kissed her hip, then the top of her thigh, resting his chin against her leg and watching her face. Rapture and delight flooded Zoe's face as John rubbed his cheek against her inner thigh gently, his hand still moving over her, and inside her. He placed soft, slow kisses along the skin of her inner thigh, moving his head and kissing the other. He replaced his thumb with his mouth and placed the softest of kisses against her, his eyes quickly moving up to hers. She returned his stare with nothing but love and need on her face, in her eyes. She reached a hand down, and ran her fingertips lightly over his forehead and his hair. He dipped his head again wrapping his lips around her, loving her with tongue swirling it in slow lazy circles.

Zoe gasped sharply, her limbs trembling in anticipation. Her head rolled back as she felt her body tense and her release begin. She dropped her hand onto his head again, tangling her fingers in his hair and holding him to her; her release came almost out of nowhere and all she could do was gasp and call his name. John continued to love her, lifting her hips for a better angle, prolonging her release to almost unbearable heights.

As her body finally relaxed beneath him, John placed a series of soft kisses along her thighs, her hips, her stomach slowly moving up her body.

From this day forward, until death do us part.

He brushed his lips across her cheek to her ear, settling his hand over her stomach. "From this day forward," he whispered with strong emotion. Though he had thoroughly enjoyed her body, tantalizing her and escalating her want for him, his body wouldn't hold out for much longer. His want and his need were quickly overpowering his senses.

His eyes boring into hers, he cautiously, purposely, slid one arm under her knee and adjusted her legs to prepare her for him. Not breaking eye contact for even an instant, he entered her with one even stroke. She was warm and ready and rather tight, but her body soon accepted him, welcomed him and encouraged him to go deeper.

She gasped, her head falling back, her brows furrowing with tension.

"Shh, until death do us part," he calmed her as he tilted down and placed a gentle kiss on the spot right between her eyebrows, while moving her leg further up his body. This change in position was enough to make her whimper as she felt him inside her.

Raising himself up on his arms, he braced himself then began an unhurried, steady rhythm, overwhelming, unyielding as it amplified. Zoe became an utterly powerless, rambling, moaning and whimpering mess as she clutched frantically at his back. As he increased his tempo, John was a mess himself and was reduced to primal groans and snarls as he felt the pressure build.

It was as if all the power obtainable in the world harnessed itself at one precise instant in time and space, at one remarkable point of contact, where their bodies became one. Everything else appeared to fade away. He held her eyes, which were filled with awe and amazement as he experienced an unimaginable sensation, like repeated micro bursts inside her body. He heard her release a deep harsh cry ripped from deep within her, a primordial place, and thought it was the most amazing sound he'd ever heard. Then, as he detonated in release, his mind went blank and he trembled so fiercely it sent him toppling down on her, his body pinning hers into the bed.

Gradually, his senses returned. He felt the warmth of her arms wrapped around him and the erratic staccato of her heart pulsating against his, and then a stunning resonance and a pleasing rumbling beneath him. She was laughing softly and raised his head to look at her.

"What got into you?" she managed between gasping chortles.

"Today," he replied, smiling as he leaned in to kiss her sweetly before rolling them over to their sides give her relief from his weight.

As they lay facing each other, she cupped his cheek, "I always thought weddings made women horny and not tough guys like you," she laughed.

He laughed in return grabbing her hand and kissing her palm. "I can't be moved by the sight of you in a wedding gown?"

At first stupefied by his comment, she laughed heartily. "You know that wasn't . . . You are so full of it."

John woke the instant the shower was turned off in the bathroom. He stretched and yawned as he gradually joined the land of the living. He opened his eyes as he felt the bed dip. Looking up he saw Zoe wrapped in a towel, curled up by him with a coffee cup in her outstretched hand.

"Good morning, sunshine," she said a small almost secretive smile graced her lips.

"That it is," he replied with a sigh, sitting up and taking the coffee cup from her and taking a sip.

"Sophia called," she informed him.

"Did they get to the Keys okay?"

"Yes, they did. And, she had a lot more to say . . ."

He quirked a brow as he felt the sheet being tugged down. "Such as?"

She leaned over and started to lay soft kisses against the back of his ear. "She wanted to thank me for planning her wedding . . . " Her lips continued along his collarbone to his shoulder and down his chest.

John cleared his throat before he replied, "As I told you last night, the wedding was spectacular." By that point, she had kissed and licked her way to his stomach and he couldn't concentrate much since she was quite distracting.

"She also wanted to thank you for talking her into marrying Jason even though they hadn't known each other long," she said with a smile as she continued due south, taking a minute to take the coffee cup from him and lay it on the side table. She gently urged to his back once more, and positioned herself in just the right spot.

"And for being best man, and for us playing decoy so that they could slip away without anyone noticing," she said with a teasing look in her eye as she whipped the towel off and tossed it to the floor.

"It was the right thing to do," he said closing his eyes and momentarily ceasing her progress by tangling his fingers in her hair. "And, frankly, it was a no-brainer." He nearly swallowed his tongue when she locked on to her target. He tried to cease her ministrations once more, "Zoe, we ah, have a lot to do today . . . "

"Like what?" She raised her head slightly and cast him an inquisitive look, then bent down to her prize once more, John moaned a little and ran his hand through her hair once more. "You mean like getting Sophia's dress to the cleaners so that it can get ready to be stored?"

As she started to add the use of her hands to her lips and tongue, he interrupted her once more, "That among other th-th-ings," he said swallowing.

Zoe moved her mouth more, her tongue stroking. John let out another groan, his other hand moving to her hair as all ten of his fingers massaged her scalp in small circles. "It's taken care of John. The cleaners have both the tux and the dress, both grandmother's have their jewelry back in their hot little hands. Oh, and Jason's grandmother, who still insists on everyone calling her 'Grandma' wants you to stop by her house later. I think she has a crush on you by the way," she smiled coyly.

She lowered her mouth again and using a combination of her hands, her lips, and her tongue, she proceeded to make him lose his mind.

The End