Chapter 21: Viva Las Vegas

Finally wedding plans were finalized and a date was set in October, about two weeks away. JJ had found a wedding dress and Johnny would wear a black suit. They decided to 'elope' to Las Vegas and get married at the Chapel of the Flowers on a Friday, October 19th. They would hold a reception later for their friends to celebrate. Roy, Joanne would also be going to Las Vegas to act as their witnesses. Jenny and Chris were to stay with Joanne's mother while the DeSoto's were out of town. No one knew that marriage was the plan but the two couples. The plan was to drive up caravan style the day before and have a guy's night out for light gambling and drinks Thursday night. The girl's night on the town would be to see Engelbert Humperdinck and then out for a late dinner. The girls would stay at the Flamingo and the guys at the MGM Grand. The wedding would take place Friday afternoon after securing the license that morning. Afterwards, Roy and Joanne would enjoy the rest of the weekend alone at Caesar's Palace and Johnny and JJ would begin their week long honeymoon.

Neither John nor JJ was that interested anyone throwing them a bachelor or bachelorette party, and this plan avoided having to deal with them. Frankly, Johnny was worried about what Chet might pull. He'd been to plenty of bachelor parties and now found they did not hold the appeal they once had. Roy found Johnny's disdain ceaselessly funny and ribbed Johnny about his new found attitude. In the past, Johnny was always game for bachelor parties. He might go on for days about one and Roy had been trapped in the squad listening. During days leading up to the elopement whenever the four were together, Roy delighted in bringing up past times Johnny had been at a bachelor's party; reminding him of how he had raved about each one. He always stopped short of divulging any lurid details. Johnny sputtered and protested, and always blushed furiously. Hastily, Johnny would change the subject as soon as he could each time Roy brought it up. The ladies secretly agreed it was entertaining, but tactfully said nothing.

The wedding was intimate and sweet. It was obvious they were both quite smitten. JJ wore a simple white gown with some crocheted lace trim and carried a bouquet of wildflowers. She'd worn a wreath of flowers in her hair. They exchanged vows, rings and became man and wife. Roy had been surprised by the depth of feeling Johnny had for JJ. Of course, he knew Johnny loved JJ, but at the wedding seeing the devotion had honestly choked him up. The DeSoto's witnessed the ceremony, signed the license and posed with them for some pictures. Joanne had helped JJ change from the wedding gown to another dress, the floral halter dress she'd worn to the banquet. Then saw the newlyweds off as they left in a cab for their honeymoon.

JJ's bags had been transferred to the room before the wedding. She had kept one small suitcase to use at the chapel. Joanne and Roy were taking her wedding dress back to LA. Upon arrival at the hotel, Johnny had checked them in. A bellhop had carried the one bag up to their suite. Johnny thanked him and gave him a tip trying not to show how much he wanted the guy to scram. JJ sat her purse down on the dresser and looked around the hotel room. She closed the drapes. As the bellhop left, Johnny stood at the door and watched him board the elevator. He'd turned to JJ and said, "We need to start this out officially, Janes." He then scooped her up in his arms, carried her out of the room and then carried her over the threshold. "Now it's official," he said with a smile and a quick kiss. She stroked his hair affectionately.

"And here I thought the minister had made it official," she'd teased. Johnny made a face playfully.

"I'll be back in a jif," he said hurrying through the door to the adjoining room in the suite as he loosened his tie. "Monkey suit," he muttered. Following him, JJ saw the two bottles of red wine and one chilled bottle of champagne in a bucket of ice already on the table. He tossed his tie onto the back of the couch along with his suit coat and unfastened the top two buttons of his dress shirt. Johnny removed the foil, loosened the wire and carefully wiggled the cork out with a hollow pop. He poured some into two glasses and held one out for her. She loved champagne and sipped it greedily hoping it would calm her nerves.

Their actual courtship had only lasted a bit less than four months. However they had known each other for over a year. Even so, they had not yet had sex. They had slept together, but just slept. Surprisingly Johnny had been the one who suggested they wait. JJ was raised to be old fashioned. She had been engaged once for about a year in college. Her then fiance had convinced her to have sex before they were wed. He had broken off the engagement three months later, had been cheating on her. JJ had felt used, betrayed, stupid, and some measure of shame. Johnny was the only person, other than the young man who had broken her heart, who knew.

They carried their drinks and the bottle into the bedroom. JJ drained her glass and John followed suit. He poured her a second glass and one for himself. After a few sips, she set hers down on the bedside table. JJ leaned in for a kiss and was unprepared for the passion Johnny returned it with. Her body tightened and she returned his kiss, breaking away from his mouth and trailing kissed down his jaw line to his neck.

"Janey," he breathed. His hands slid around the waist of her halter dress she had changed into, slipping to her bare back. Whimpers drifted from her as she ran her hands up his shirt and loosened the buttons then yanking the shirt out of his pants. "Janes." His hands skimmed over the halter top and rested on either side of her ribs. His thumbs brushed the sides of her breasts. Her head fell back and she moaned her eyes dark. His fingers found the knot behind her neck and he worked it free. He let the top fall away and she sighed as he caressed her breasts. She slipped the shirt off of Johnny one sleeve at a time. JJ's breathing quickened and pressed against him trying to crawl inside his skin. Johnny bent down and kissed down her neck trailing down with his lips until he covered a breast with his mouth.

"John..Johnny..yes.." and her hands roved down to his belt and he felt her finger tips slid just under his waist band below his back and begin to slid around toward the buckle.

He was jolted into reality. They hadn't ever been this far. For all the bravado he projected, Johnny hadn't slept around as much as he'd hinted, less than a handful of women. He also knew JJ had less experience than he. For this side of their relationship he had chosen a very slow pace and now that they were married, he didn't want to rush. She was surprised when he pulled back. "Janes, I got a bit carried away," he apologized.

She was a bit annoyed he'd stopped at first and then she blushed. "Yeah, but it was awfully nice…" Tears slipped down her face. Johnny froze. Tears were bad, but sometimes good.

I want you…so much she thought. She ran her hands down his back and rested them at the top of his slacks. Johnny felt guilty like he had somehow he'd pushed her even though it had just been honest desire. "Aw, don't cry, I'm sorry."

Her face filled with longing, tears still on her cheeks. "I am not crying because I'm upset or sad. It was just so much, so beautiful, right. I love you." JJ fingered through his hair. Waiting for Johnny had been more than difficult; now she didn't have to wait, didn't want to wait.

He hesitated. He desired her and had for months. "We can stop, anytime, you just say stop or slow down or …," he began.

"Okay, but I won't," she answered interrupting him; her hands drifted down to his back pockets, slipped inside them, and she flashed him a coy smile.

His eyebrows jumped up and he smiled seductively. He moved away so she had to pull her hands away. Johnny turned, flipped back he bed covers on the bed, and pulled her back into his arms. Gently, he lowered her back onto her bed, kicking off his shoes, and began the kissing down her neck to her breasts. Pulling a nipple into his mouth he gently sucked and her body thrust up into his. She moaned. "Um, you like that huh?" and he did it again, several times. Johnny began to kiss around one breast while brushing other lightly with his thumb.

"Yes, umm, John.." JJ writhed and ran her hands though his hair, pulling his mouth to her breast until he pulled a nipple into his mouth. "Yes!, that…"

His hands skimmed down and lifted her skirt. He glanced down and smiled in surprise to see instead of panty hose, she wore a black garter belt and thigh high hose. "Sexy," he purred his eyes dark.

"Bought just for you...," she said her face flushed and that prompted a crooked smile from her husband.

She unbuckled his belt and pulled it from his belt loops, dropping it to the floor. JJ could feel him hard under his slacks and cupped him. Johnny pressed against her hand, "Janes," he moaned.

He reached around and unzipped her dress and slid it down until it fell from her legs to the floor. She kicked it away. He kissed her breasts and moved lower down, and her body was alight. She tipped his face up with a question in her eyes as he kissed around the top of her lace underwear. Johnny just smiled. He unclipped her garters and glided one leg and then the other of hose off. Playfully, he slung them away. Hungrily he resumed kissing her belly. His fingers danced around her thighs, around to the inner part and then up to lace. His fingers slipped under the elastic and she gasped in delight.

She'd only slept with one other man, in college, Brad. They'd had sex, and it had been enjoyable, but never like this. Brad had done little of this. He had been straight to the point. Johnny and she hadn't discussed those details.

Her body acted on its own as Johnny touched and stroked with his fingers. He slipped off her panties, garter and began to kiss her thighs, his fingers still working. The sensation drove her over the edge; it was primitive, base and wonderful. When he slid a finger into her, his mouth took over the stroking with new level of pleasure. Her hands strove for the right place, his hair, the bed sheet, the headboard. Stronger and stronger he drove her desire and then slipped in a second finger. Each time he did something new, she was sure it couldn't feel better. And then everything turned white, a wave of pleasure she had never experienced overwhelmed everything. "Johnny, John," her voice raw. She arched into him. It crested almost unbearably amazing and as it waned, it hit again. Waned and again. The next wave was a bit less and again it hit until the wave was just a quiver. Johnny kissed his way back up, his fingers sliding back out. JJ couldn't look at him enough, touch him enough. He grinned mischievously. JJ caressed his mouth with her finger. "That was incredible. I've never…..that never…." her voice trailed off and she gently kissed him.

Johnny frowned. He had planned on teasing her about whether she liked it, but her comment niggled at him. "What do you mean you never, Janes?"

"Before, in college, I liked sex, but I never, never…." She paused. "That never happened."

"Not the adventurous type guy, huh?" Johnny smiled tracing his fingers over her body, thinking she meant oral sex.

JJ blushed and wouldn't meet his gaze. "Well not that either…."

Johnny couldn't hide his shock as he understood her meaning. "You, you never climaxed, ever? Ever? But you were together for several months…really never?"

JJ shook her head. "It felt good, but nothing like that." She felt so foolish and naïve. She couldn't look at Johnny.

Sadness, tenderness spread over his face. "So never? Not once? He didn't, well, see to it?" He had tears in his eyes. He felt angry and dumbfounded; he presumed some things that now he knew he shouldn't have. Johnny stroked her cheek and smoothed her hair. He was pleased to be the first to bring her such pleasure. He gently turned her face to his.

JJ began to explain, "It always seemed he liked it more, but I didn't discuss sex with my girlfriends. He and I never talked about it. I was too shy and it seemed private anyway…. I thought that was the way it was. Thought the scenes I wrote in the trashy novels were, well exaggerated." She paused, thought and then grinned brazenly, "So EVERY time I can look forward to that?"

"Yes ma'am. I take my role as your husband seriously," Johnny tracing her lips with his finger tip, a knowing smile stealing over his face, "And the better news is that was just the appetizer Janey," Johnny's eyes were full of hunger, "More of the same for the main course." His hands began to caress her; he kissed her, and she felt desire flame again.

"Um, I don't know if I can survive more of that…." she said seriously and when Johnny looked up from her shoulder he saw her sly grin. She kissed him on the mouth her tongue licked his lips until he met her tongue with his. The lovers explored each other, the passion building again. JJ unbuttoned his slacks and slid down the zipper. She slid them off his hips along with his boxers stroking his back side and used her feet to work his clothes off. He ripped off his socks. Johnny was partly lying on her. Then she slid her hand around from his back to touch him. He was hard and she tentative brushed her fingers over him.

"It won't break,….. well it might," he chuckled. She wrapped her hand around him loosely and began to stroke him. "Yes, Janey, yes," his words dissolved into moans. His hips moved in rhythm with her hand. While she stroked, JJ rocked her hips until she was positioned directly under him and then rubbed him against her, letting him feel the wetness; not quite letting him enter her. "A tease," he smirked. "Two can play that game Janes."

She completely caught him off guard when she thrust her hips up and he entered her suddenly. "Johnny, yes, John" Her hips took over. She used her legs to pull him completely in. Her legs wrapped around his waist and she gripped him tightly inching them up as far as she could wanting him as far in as she could get. Both moaned, breathing hard. They matched thrusts, each time a bit stronger than the last. Panting they caressed: a cheek, hair, a breast, a back. Kissing, straining toward a common goal. Then their movements became more carnal, less rhythmic, more frenzied until JJ cried out and then a bit later Johnny.

They lay in each others arms, a light sheen of sweat on their skin, breathing beginning to slow, faces flushed and rosy. Johnny reached down again slipping in two fingers and stroking with his thumb. He whispered into her ear lasciviously, "I think you are not quite done, love." He brought her again until she lay only quivering.

"You're gonna kill me," she spoke into his hair and he felt her smile. "I love you John." She pressed as close as she could and it was just short of close enough. She'd never felt such a connection with anyone. Somehow the union of two to one had cemented what she already felt.

"The French call it the little death for good reason, Janes." He smiled softly, his finger tips on her cheek. "My love…," he said burying his face in her hair breathing her scent. Never had he been so complete. The other times were empty and hollow compared to the joining he had just shared with his new wife.

They lay quietly in each others arms, the joy of the moment paramount no longer being two, but just one whole. After a bit, Johnny felt JJ tense and he watched her. She looked concerned for a minute and Johnny understood what she was thinking. "Janes, I'm no innocent, you knew that, but I haven't had that much chance to practice," he admitted to her. "I learned much of this by reading, love. Some I'd never tried until tonight, some doesn't have any appeal. I do read a lot, however," he added with a suggestive smile.

She raised her eyebrows. "So what do you read?"

He snorted, "Not those magazines-well okay maybe once or twice. No, I mean real books written about love-making, sex and pleasure. Read a lot recently actually. I was, well honestly a bit nervous. I do like to be prepared," he smirked and raised one eyebrow suggestively.

JJ regarded this man she'd married and knew, but didn't know. She grinned, "Like to be prepared? My own private Boy Scout, Captain Gage."

The newlyweds spent a couple of days relaxing in Vegas at Caesar's Palace. The plan had been for the couple to drive to Palomar State Park and camp in a secluded area. It was not very crowded in October since it was the end of the camping season there. However, in the end, they just extended their stay at the Palace unwilling to leave their suite of rooms any sooner than the following Saturday. JJ had booked it for the week, just in case weather was uncooperative for camping. She figured they could just cancel the reservations for the following week at Caesar's if the weather cooperated.

Roy and Joanne were a bit concerned that might cramp the newlyweds' style if they ran into them during the weekend in the casino, a show or restaurant, but fortunately it didn't happen. Of course the DeSoto's were unaware of the reason why until they checked out. As they rode the elevator down to the lobby to check out, Roy and Joanne added passengers on the 4th floor. The group of people had a lot of luggage and so the door was held open for quite a while. It was Roy that noticed the three empty bottles of champagne and/or wine sitting outside of a room door along with trays of dishes from five different meals. The bottles were the exact same brands Roy had helped Johnny purchase on their guy's night on Thursday. He gently nudged Joanne and directed her attention to the display briefly explaining the significance. Roy waggled his eyebrows at Joanne and she stifled a laugh as the doors slid shut on the elevator.

Johnny and JJ didn't leave their room at all that weekend and actually only a handful of times during the following week and that was just for brief walks around the strip. The last time was when they checked out. Most of their packed clothes were still clean as they headed to Los Angeles. However, there was one of Johnny's older uniform shirts JJ had chosen for her negligee. It was extremely wrinkled, had several wine stains, a couple of missing buttons, and it definitely needed to be laundered. It had been the perfect honeymoon.