"You know, some couples do this thing where they sleep apart the night before the wedding," Emily said, as she grabbed her bag to head out for the rehearsal. "One of them stays in a hotel room."
"Why would they do that?"
"I don't know. Bad luck? To keep up appearances?"
"Yeah, we're not doing that," Paige said with authority.
"I know, right?"
"I do think, though," Paige said, stopping in her tracks, "that we shouldn't sleep together tonight."
"Oh, yeah? You actually thought that you had a shot at getting some of this tonight?" Emily joked.
"No, I'm serious, Em." Emily couldn't stifle her laughter. "What?" Paige asked, a little annoyed.
"Oh, come on, Paige," she responded, her voice deep and loud. "We both know how this is going down tonight."
"Oh really, Emily? Why don't you tell me, then? How is it going down?" Paige was smiling in anticipation of being able to prove her fiancée wrong.
"Well, we're going to go to the rehearsal, and you're going to get all emotional when you see our family and friends and the church. Then, at the dinner, everyone's going to roast us, and you're going to remember how we first met, and think how special the night is, and anticipate how great tomorrow is going to be, and you're going to feel so close to me, and the wine's going to have you feeling a little romantic, and you won't be able to keep your hands and legs off of me under the table, and you'll be all cuddly in the car, and you'll hold me just a little bit tighter when we get to bed, and you'll start kissing that spot on my neck. I mean, it's not as if this doesn't happen every single time that we celebrate something special."
Paige rolled her eyes, a little frightened at how precisely Emily was able to predict the future. "All right, then!" she said, upbeat. "Let's get it over with!" She gave Emily a kiss and held open the door for her.
Things went pretty much the way that Emily had predicted that they would during the rehearsal. Only the final outcome was different. Paige held her so close in bed that night. "I want you so much right now, Emily, but I really want the next time that we sleep together to be after our wedding."
Emily smiled. "We can wait." She rolled over and kissed Paige. "It'll be special. It's sweet."
"Oh, fuck. I really want you, Emily." Paige returned the kiss. "But, yeah. Let's wait." She gave Emily a deep, passionate, lingering kiss. Emily rolled over again. She could feel Paige's body jittering and hear the low, rumbling moan of desire that Paige was trying desperately to quell. Soon, she felt Paige's lips, moist on the back of her neck.
Emily rolled over again. "Are you seriously telling me that you don't you want to make love to me on your last night as a free woman?" she asked seductively as she teased her finger between Paige's breasts and down her torso.
Paige didn't need much convincing. She nodded vigorously. Her legs were quivering on their own. It was as if her whole body were nodding in agreement.
"So, let's get this bachelorette party turnt up!" Emily shrieked.
"Mmm… you going to dance for me, Emily?"
"Yeah? You want a lap dance?" Paige gulped. "Okay. Put this on." She handed Paige a robe. "And close your eyes." Paige sat up and put on the robe. She closed her eyes, still unable to stop her legs from bouncing up and down. She heard a rustling in the closet, and then she heard a drawer open and close. A few moments later, she heard "Toxic" through the Bluetooth speakers and she opened her eyes to see Emily in ripped cut-off jeans and a button-down shirt that was tied off at the waist. Emily mouthed the words as she danced sensually over to Paige, teasing her fingers across Paige's face, over the front of her chest, and through her own hair before she turned her back to Paige and brushed her hips across Paige's lap, her hands sliding down from her own breasts to the pockets of her cut-offs as her hips rocked from side to side.
She turned around again, leaning her face in so that her lips were impossibly close to Paige's as her fingers made circles just grazing the fabric covering Paige's nipples. She put her hand behind Paige's neck and bucked her hips once, then twice before she sat on Paige's lap, still mouthing the lyrics as she ran her index finger down the open space between the collars of Paige's robe. Paige was sitting on her hands to keep herself from grabbing her fiancée and putting a quick end to the slow seduction.
Emily could feel the heat where she was sitting on Paige's lap. She was sure that Paige could feel the wetness at the base of her cut-offs. She fisted both hands into Paige's hair and began kissing her deeply, still rocking her hips to the beat of the music. Soon, Paige's hands appeared, grabbing at the moving target that Emily's ass was creating and hanging on for the ride.
Emily pushed Paige back onto the bed and, seated on her hips, undid the belt on her robe. She lowered her lips onto Paige's neck and placed wet kisses on its perimeter, careful not to leave any marks that might show under whatever garment Paige had chosen for their wedding day. She was caressing Paige's breasts and bucking her hips into Paige's center, and the sounds that Paige was making were fueling Emily's desire.
Paige was trying desperately to get Emily's shorts off of her. Emily finally stood and, with a flourish, dropped them to the ground, right on the beat. She straddled Paige again, but Paige put her arm around her back and flipped her down on the bed, lying on top of her. Emily laughed in anticipation, running her hands through Paige's hair as Paige's head worked its way down her body.
It was on.
Paige and Emily both overslept on the morning of their wedding and were scrambling to get showered before their rides, "Pru and Wu" showed up to drive them to their hair and make-up appointments. Hanna had arranged a separate salon for Emily and her bridesmaids, on opposite sides of town, to minimize the chances that they would see each other before Emily walked down the aisle. Hanna, Spencer, and Aria were already in their chairs. The mood was festive. The girls cheered and toasted with imaginary glasses as Emily walked through the door.
Emily was strangely calm. She was glad that her three best friends were there together with her, on the cusp of her major life event. She threw a fist into the air, threw her head back, and let out a triumphant, "Whoo!"
Nothing had ever felt so right in her life: The woman she loved, the friends she loved, the family she loved, all together for what was to be the perfect day.
Pru was being typical Pru, asking Paige whether or not she was sure that she wanted to go through with this, telling her that she didn't have to get married just because she had gotten Emily "knocked up." It was just what Paige needed to distract her from her nerves. She wasn't nervous about marrying Emily. That was a dream come true. She was nervous about screwing up the ceremony. She never felt nervous before a swim meet, because she practiced so assiduously that it all fell down to muscle memory when the time came to compete.
It seemed ridiculous, by comparison, to expect her to go into the biggest day of her life after only one rehearsal. Not to mention that, as soon as she saw Emily in her gown, she knew that her brain was going to turn to mush.
The chapel was filling up with people. Emily was keeping an eye on things by watching the monitor that was in her preparation room. Her other eye was on the clock. Emily was determined not to have one of those weddings that didn't start on time and ended up making everybody wait.
The second hand seemed as slow as the minute hand should be. She couldn't wait for it to be that time, already.
Finally, the music changed, the runner was spread down the aisle, and Spencer's twin niece and nephew began sprinkling petals down its length. Emily switched off the monitor, wanting to get the full impact of Paige's attire when she saw it in person, rather than seeing it on the small screen first. Emily's foot began tapping with anticipation until she finally heard the knock on the door. She gathered up her train and her courage and went out to make her entrance.
Emily wanted to enjoy every moment. Instead of walking down the aisle like a robot, she looked around at the chapel and at those who were gathered in its pews, nodding and smiling to her family and friends.
And then she saw Paige.
Paige was standing with her attendants, wearing a feminine cut, double-breasted tuxedo in black, with a pale blue shirt and white tie. Emily lost track of the music, the crowd, and her footing. She stumbled a bit on her father's arm as her eyes locked on her fiancée.
Paige had been smiling, but when Emily entered, it switched to gawking. At that moment, Paige couldn't believe her luck. Emily looked like a work of art; a masterpiece that had been sculpted just to wear that wedding dress: A white gown that was form-fitting to the waist and flared out dramatically below it. The top ended at the bust, with a lightly beaded illusion neckline on top. Paige had yet to see how deep the gown plunged beneath the sheer netting in the back.
Emily kissed her father on the cheek, and he handed her off to her bride. Paige took Emily's hand in hers, and they approached the altar. She was amazed at how good it felt, even after all this time together, just to hold Emily's hand. The softness, warmth, and smoothness of Emily's skin was calming. It anchored Paige in all of her nervousness.
The ceremony was intimate and personal. Aria read a poem that she had written for the occasion. Spencer taught herself just enough piano to play a slow version of Bob Marley's "One Love." Hanna and Pru read the story of Paige and Emily's relationship, as told by Dr. Seuss. And Fred and Gloria sang their duet.
When Paige's father and Emily's parents lit the unity candle, Paige looked over toward her mother, who was sitting impassively in the rear of the church. Emily sensed where Paige's eyes were focused, and she furrowed her eyebrows, to ask whether Paige was okay. Paige gave her hand a slight squeeze. Nothing could take away the joy that she felt at that moment.
When Paige heard the words, "Brides, you may now kiss," she thought back to their first kiss, the night when she had inadvertently confessed her feelings for Emily. That first kiss had been simple; A welcome home. This first kiss was also welcome home, but more than that, it was a welcome home to a totally new world. As was true of their first first kiss, for this first kiss, "simple" was sufficient.
Emily was elated that the Christmas snow was still fresh on the ground. She insisted on taking some of their pictures outside, huddling into Paige for warmth between shots. Despite Fred and Gloria's reluctance, the brides wanted them included with the family shots. Paige and Emily refused to take no for an answer.
The impromptu snowball fight between the male and female attendants made for some good candid shots, although it was a dry cleaner's nightmare. Emily might have joined in - and she would definitely have been making snow angels - were it not for her wedding dress.
The reception was a whirlwind of toasts, clinked glasses prompting the newlyweds to kiss, and dances. Their first dance as married women was to OneRepublic's "If I Lose Myself." Paige whispered into Paige's ears throughout. Emily smiled broadly. Occasionally, they kissed. Emily laid her head on Paige's shoulder, completely at peace. Paige smiled down at her, content. First Wayne, then Nick cut in to dance a few turns with their daughters before letting them get back to each other as the dance area filled up around them.
At the end of the evening, they found themselves in the back of a limousine on the way to Philadelphia with the privacy screen up. There was no urgency to their kissing. They were relaxed, taking their time and enjoying each other. They had all the time in the world.
They spent that first night in a small, intimate hotel in Philadelphia. Paige had long envisioned carrying Emily over the threshold, but, when the moment came, it seemed a bit foolish - as if she were carrying her prey, the spoils of war, or some nonsense like that. They walked through the door of their suite as they had begun their walk through married life: Hand in hand. Together. Kissing.
Emily grabbed her overnight bag from the luggage cart and excused herself to the bedroom. Paige tipped the porter and loosened her tie. She sat on the couch like a overwhelmed teenager on prom night. Everything felt new, even her nerves. She noticed her hands shaking when Emily called her into the bedroom to unzip her wedding dress. Emily gave her a kiss as she held those shaky hands. Then, with a giggle, she pushed Paige out of the bedroom and locked the door.
Emily reappeared in a black lace teddy, and Paige rose to her feet, advancing toward her wife in the doorway of the bedroom. She had removed her jacket, but she was still overdressed. Emily soon saw to that. This was one of Paige's favorite things: Emily undressing her like a historian opening a newly discovered and rare manuscript: Slowly, delightedly, with eyes full of anticipation. With the last buttons on the front of Paige's shirt undone, Emily unbuttoned the sleeves and pulled the shirt's tail out of Paige's slacks, pushing the garment off of Paige's shoulders and letting it drop to the floor. Paige was wearing a sheer bra, a shade or two paler than her shirt, and, through it, Emily could see the outline of something different on Paige's nipple. Her eyebrows furrowed as she pushed the cups out of the way to reveal, instead of the cupid's heart charm, a barbell nipple ring, with small anchor dangling from a small chain that was secured to each end. Emily smiled up at Paige. "I thought that I should have something to surprise you," Paige explained. Emily grinned and, cupping Paige's breast around the jewelry, she tiptoed up for a long, passionate kiss. "You anchor me, Emily," Paige told her, when their lips parted. Emily nodded with understanding and put her free hand behind Paige's neck, drawing her back in for another kiss. She freed Paige's hair from the brooch that it had been gathered in. Paige swished her head lightly, allowing her hair to descend in curtains around the two of them.
Emily moved her right hand down from Paige's breast, setting about undoing the clip on Paige's slacks. Once she had created some space there, she began caressing Paige's stomach and sides, occasionally allowing her hand to slip inside Paige's underwear. She reveled in the reverberations as Paige moaned into her mouth. Paige couldn't help leaning further and further into the kiss, almost tipping Emily over until Emily, releasing Paige's slacks and letting them drop to the floor, eased Paige over to the bed. The bed was plush, and Emily let out a shriek in surprise as they sank down into it, side by side. Paige sat up slightly, pulling Emily on top of her and renewing the kiss. She lay down, taking Emily with her, her hands roaming in circles over Emily's back. Emily pulled away slightly and Paige opened her eyes to find Emily looking down at her as a painter might look at his newly completed masterpiece. Emily's eyes were full of fire and pure desire. Emily stood up just long enough to drop her teddy to the floor next to Paige's slacks.
Looking up at her, Paige understood for the first time what true love was. She and Emily were one. Till the end of time, they would walk together, laugh together, cry together, be together. She was overcome with emotion. She pulled Emily in tight, as if she could make their bodies one, in the same way that their souls were one. Emily dropped back to her spot atop Paige, smiling giddily. "We're fucking MARRIED!"
Emily placed slow, wet kisses in a line down Paige's torso, nibbling at the flesh as she went. Paige raised her hips when she felt Emily tug at her panties, sitting up and parting her legs with her hand atop Emily's head as it bobbed back and forth. Paige was leaning back on her other arm. Her head was back and she was biting her lips as the occasional unintelligible noise escaped her throat. Emily's hair was tickling her thighs, and her hands were grazing her nipples, electrifying them. Paige didn't know how much more stimulation she could handle. She was surprised when Emily managed to get one, then two fingers inside her, her mouth moving to suck and lick her clit.
It didn't take long.
Emily held her wife's shuddering body , lightly caressing her sides until her breathing evened out. Paige lay there, still. Emily looked up at her, puzzled, and saw that her eyes were closed and her nostrils were flaring slightly with each breath. Damn, I'm good! she chuckled to herself. She slid next to Paige and smoothed the hair away from her face, depositing a tender kiss on her forehead. As she did, Paige let out a yell, grabbing her surprised bride around the back and rolling over on top of her, laughing hysterically. Emily's heart was beating out of her chest as she smacked Paige's shoulder repeatedly. "Not cool!" she chided, trying to keep the grin off of her face.
"I told you that I had some surprises in store for you, Emily!"
"Well," Emily said, her smile stretched wide, "that had better be the last one!"
"I'm sorry," Paige said, taking both of Emily's hands and pulling them over her head as she kissed from her ear down her jawline. "Let me make it up to you." As the kisses and gentle bites continued, Emily found herself squirming beneath the weight of Paige's body, parting her legs and squeezing them around Paige's thigh.
Paige kept one hand around Emily's hands, securing them behind her head. With the other, she gently stroked Emily's earlobe, moving her lips in its place as her hand slid down to caress Emily's neck. Paige began whispering in Emily's ear, telling her how perfect she looked in her wedding gown, but that it didn't compare with the sight of her emerging from the bathroom in her lacy teddy; saying how much she loved the feel of Emily's skin against hers, and that the brush of Emily's hair inside her thighs drove her mad with desire. Her words, in turn, were driving Emily mad, and the light grazing of her lips on Emily's ear was sending chills down the back of Emily's neck. Just when she thought, If she doesn't kiss me right now, I'm going to explode, Paige captured her earlobe between her lips and licked lightly. The tickling sensation made Emily twist her neck, and, when she did, Paige gave her the kiss that she had longed for, her body still moving in time with Emily's undulations underneath her. Paige smoothed her hands down Emily's sides, and Emily's hands, now released from behind her head, roamed all over Paige's body, grabbing and pinching her flesh from the back of her shoulders to the top of her thighs. Her hands finally landed firmly on Paige's ass, and she pushed Paige's thrusts deeper into her. Paige lowered her body a little, moving the kissed down her neck, ending at her breasts, as she found Emily's clit with one hand. Emily's nails dug into Paige's ass, sparking something inside Paige that shot her into a higher gear. She was gasping. Emily was moaning. Emily's head flipped from side to side on the bed as her orgasm exploded. Their bodies continued spasming into one another even after the fireworks ended. Emily let out a high-pitched yelp with each aftershock that washed over her.
They crumpled into each other, sweaty and exhausted.
Somewhere in the night, Emily woke up and had the presence of mind to find her phone to set an alarm for the morning. She was sure that they wouldn't need it - their flight was in the early afternoon - but she didn't want to risk a rushed, grumpy Paige in the morning. "Happy wife, happy life," she thought, the realization that she had a wife thrilling her anew.