Chapter 29: Happily Ever…
The late afternoon sun spread jewel-toned lights through the stained-glass windows in the two hundred year old sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church of Bayport. Frank, who was supported by a dark cane tucked inconspicuously by his side, smiled as he stood by his younger brother. Jeremiah Clarke's "Trumpet Voluntary in D Major" began to play and the rest of the wedding party filed down to the pulpit. Joe's eyes widened in delight with a grin that reached from ear to ear as the church doors opened and his bride came into view. Vanessa was radiant in her long, chapel train gown as she was escorted down the narrow aisle by her mother, Andrea.
Looking around Frank could see his and Joe's lifelong friends standing proudly for Joe. Chet and Biff looked horribly uncomfortable in their black tuxedos, Tony carried himself like he was born to wear one, otherwise, his friends cleaned up very well. Phil looked dead sexy. He had used a little gel to tame his curls and was freshly shaven. Frank forced his attention back to the pastor and the ceremony before him.
"…Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things..."*
The sanctuary was packed with family and friends of the bride and groom. Fenton held Laura as tears of joy leaked down her sweet face. A whole row was filled with the Hooper boys and their spouses or dates, including Buddy and his husband Sherman. Even Aunt Gertrude's dashing, silver haired bridge partner was in attendance.
"In as much as you, Joseph Brian, and you Vanessa Ann, have consented together in the union of matrimony and have pledged your faith each to the other in the presence of God and this company, by the authority vested in me and the state of New York, and in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife! Joseph, you may kiss your wife."
Joe carefully lifted the sheer veil and kissed Vanessa soundly, wrapping his arms around her and nearly going for a dip. Rev. Gibbons and the congregation chuckled until Joe and Vanessa finally stood straight, silly grins and flushes of embarrassment evident on their faces.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I now present Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hardy!" The organist began the recessional and Joe and Vanessa walked back up the aisle, hand in hand, toward their new life together.
…..
The early summer night was refreshingly cool, but the tuxedo jacket was still a bit too warm for the weather out in the banquet hall's garden terrace. Frank shucked the jacket off and draped it across the back of his chair. His brace was starting to get a little warm under his dress pants, but he didn't know how he would have gotten through the ceremony without it. Maybe he ought to go inside the venue's men's room and take it off, it's not like he was going to do much dancing tonight. He started to lift his bad leg onto a chair next to him when Phil caught him.
"Oh no you don't, I want to get a slow dance in before you get too comfortable."
"Just one then I'm taking this wretched thing off for the rest of the night." Frank left his cane resting against the table as Phil led him to the outdoor dance floor.
"Would you like to lead?" Phil asked as he faced his boyfriend and pulled him close. Frank nodded, but he knew Phil only asked to make him feel better. He leaned against Phil, resting his head on the dark haired boy's shoulder and felt the gentle vibrations of Phil's humming to the tune the D.J. had playing.
Frank wished time could just freeze, here and now; safe in the arms of his lover, without a care in the world. The heady smell of summer blossoms wafted through the breeze, the sounds of hearty laughter and merry making were all around them. This was a night all about love, of happily ever after, and new beginnings. If only things could stay this way forever…
"We've got trouble." Biff said quietly as he and Buddy brushed passed Phil and Frank. They followed his gaze to the rooftop of an adjacent building where they saw a familiar silhouette against the moonlight.
"Crap! No Biff, wait!" But Biff was already making his way to the alley next to the back garden.
"Frank stay here." Phil urged.
"No fucking way!" Frank hobbled to their table and grabbed his cane to help him keep up with the small group in pursuit. He was out of breath by the time he caught up to them in the alley. The scene resembled that of a dog barking at a cat up in a tree.
"What do you think you're doing here? I thought you didn't feed on the innocent?" Biff bellowed to the figure above.
"I don't, I'm simply here on patrol."
"Patrol my ass!"
"Some other time, Cutie. I'm here watching out for them." She pointed down to Phil and Frank. "Good evening gentlemen. I must finally admit, you do make a cute couple."
"Why are you stalking them? You promised us you'd stay out of our territory."
"Actually, I promised your grandfather, Mr. Hooper, not you pups. Incidentally, I'm sorry to hear of his passing, he was a noble adversary."
"Why you…" Biff growled.
"And I am not stalking your friends, young slayer. I am making sure a certain vampire keeps his distance."
"What are you talking about? What is she talking about?" Biff turned to his friends.
"Eric's still out there, he didn't die in the mansion explosion and fire." Phil said quietly.
"Anything else you're not telling me?" Biff looked hurt. Phil and Frank looked to each other.
"Because I helped save her and her vampire child, she's owes me her life, it's some sort of vampire code, thing..."
"Oh for the love of…" Biff threw his hands in the air. Amy hopped down from her perch and sauntered over to the group.
"What kind of shit are you trying to pull blood sucker?" Buddy demanded as he charged forward.
"Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?" She side-stepped as Buddy lunged, he missed her entirely and stumbled to the pavement. "I would not even be here this evening if you were not so close to the border of your protection."
"Border of protection? What have you two gotten into now?" Biff was not happy, Frank and Phil figured he wouldn't be. That was why they had kept Amy and Ezekiel's pact of protection secret thus far.
"She ah… she had a witch enchant our house and the area around it." Phil explained, Amy raised an eyebrow at him, he had left a few details out, but he gave her a meaningful look and she caught on quickly.
"You're dealing with witches?" Biff's reddened face paled suddenly.
"Well, the good kind, right Amy?" Frank amended.
"There aren't any good witches, just like there aren't any good vampires!" Biff argued.
"Just as there are no good werewolves, no good slayers, or no good humans?" Amy countered. "There is good and bad in everything. It all depends on your point of view."
The vampire was in Biff's face now, but she did not bare her teeth. Biff's face flushed again and his heart started to pound as he looked straight into her obsidian black eyes.
"Don't try any of your vampire voodoo on me lady." But Amy balked.
"I'm not doing a thing! If I were you would be on your knees licking my Jimmy Choo's this very moment." she hissed. Biff blinked and stepped back as Amy directed her attention to Frank and Phil.
"Your brother will be missing you shortly. I suggest you enjoy the rest of your evening while I resume my watch. Good night gentlemen." With a running start she leapt back onto her rooftop, leaving the four men alone in the alley.
"Damn Biff, if I didn't know better I'd say she liked you." Biff shoved his cousin and stomped back to the reception.
…..
"Where have you guys been? It's just about time for the garter and bouquet toss." Chet asked as Biff and the others made it back to the reception. Biff didn't answer him, but flopped down onto a chair at their table and took a long drink of water.
"We had an unexpected guest. That vampire that Papa let live has been playing guardian angel over Frank and Phil." supplied Buddy as he joined Biff at the table. Chet choked on his drink in surprise.
"Do what?" He sat down to recover and looked to Phil and Frank for answers as they reached the table as well.
"Look, I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but this is exactly how I thought you would react."
"No shit Cohen! How can you accept help from one of them?" Biff was getting hot under the collar again.
"She's Eric's mother, creator, whatever. She's gotten to know him better than any of us ever did, even me. And she knows how an unstable vampire like Eric thinks." Frank tried to explain as he sat down heavily on the chair next to his friend. "She and the kid Ezekiel were kind to me when I was Eric's captive. Even when Eric had a… a fight with Magnus and left me alone among them, they looked after me and protected me from the others. She's sorry for having helped Eric kidnap me. She asked me to forgive her someday."
"Will you?" Biff asked as he put his glass of ice water down on the table.
"I don't know."
…..
Frank was hot and sticky from the humidity as a low pressure system moved into the area later in the night. The cool air from the house's central air unit was a welcome relief as he and Phil entered their home.
"Oy, thank G-d this is a rental, I'd hate to have to worry about getting this thing dry cleaned as much as I sweated in it this evening." Phil groused as he tossed his jacket onto a chair by their bed. Frank watched as Phil loosened his tie and turned to face him.
Some of his dark curls had come lose from the gel's hold and a sheen of sweat glistened on his neck and collar bone. Frank swallowed dryly as he let his eyes feast on the way Phil's dress shirt clung to him. He was still a little buzzed from that last glass of champagne, but he didn't think it was the alcohol contributing to the feeling stirring low in his body now.
"Frank? You okay Babe?" Phil stepped closer and tugged on Frank's tie playfully.
"Have I told you lately how damn sexy you are?"
"Well, not in the last five minutes." He smiled.
Frank tossed his cane onto the chair as well and pulled Phil to him, their mouths crashing together in a messy clack of teeth and a war of exploring tongues. Phil nipped at Frank's bottom lip, teasing it then swiping it with his tongue.
He felt Frank begin to sway so he edged him carefully to the bed. Frank felt the mattress behind his calves and began to stiffly lower himself down. Phil held on to him until he was settled and then started to work the brunette's belt loose. It took a little more maneuvering, but he finally rid Frank of his dress pants and began undoing his lover's leg brace. Once freed of the device Frank grabbed Phil by the collar of his shirt and pulled him down onto him and flexed his hip just enough to brush against Phil's hardness.
"Fuck! Ah Frank, you feel so damn good." Phil praised as he attacked Frank's neck with his lips. Frank's head swam with excitement and desire as Phil blazed a trail of hot kisses down his neck and to his chest.
"Phil…I want you…I need you to…fuck me, please!" Frank rasped as he rutted against Phil again and again. Phil pulled away for a moment and kissed Frank sweetly on the lips.
"I'm not going to fuck you Frank." Frank whined but Phil pressed another kiss to his mouth.
"I'll make love to you." He smiled and traced the outline of Frank's jaw.
"How do you want to do this tonight?"
"I want you, inside me."
"Are you sure? I don't mind…"
"Yes! I'm ready Phil. I want you to take back what belongs to you. I want to feel you inside me. Claim me, mark me, make me yours again."
"Baby, no. You're already mine, and I'm yours, forever."
"Phillip, I need this! Please!" Phil buried his face in the crook of Frank's neck to collect his thoughts.
"Okay, but I don't want to hurt your leg." He stood up from the bed and stripped off his shirt and pants quickly. Phil helped Frank out of what was left of his clothes and joined him back on the bed.
"Get on your side baby." Frank turned and Phil sidled up behind him, reaching around and stroking Frank's reddened cock. Frank felt around behind him and dug his fingers into Phil's hip, pushing him closer. Phil's shaft brushed between the crevice of Frank's ass and the brunette shivered.
"Your ass feels so good, so firm. I wanna put my face down there and lick you out." Frank moaned at Phil's dirty words. Phil removed his hand from around Frank's now leaking cock and brushed his center with the gentlest of touches.
"Ah!" He shivered again, but instead of shying away, Frank arched his back and pressed against the exploring fingers. He didn't know how he missed seeing Phil get out the lube, but he heard the soft click of the cap opening. Then cool, wet fingers were pressing against his hole again.
Frank remembered to breathe out as Phil made his first intrusion. It was like their first time all over again, but at least he had an idea of what to expect. Phil pressed kisses to the back of his neck, occasionally nipping at the skin of his shoulder as he pumped and worked his finger, then fingers, in and out of Frank.
"You just love my fingers in your ass, don't you Baby?"
"Uh, yeah… but your cock… I want your cock." Encouraged by Frank's babbling and begging, and sure that Frank was thoroughly prepared, Phil removed his fingers and lined himself up to enter Frank for the first time in over six months. As his head was swallowed up by the tight muscles, he listened to Frank's breathing, the sharp intakes and the satisfied releases until he was finally buried to the hilt.
Frank lifted his good leg to allow them both a little more leverage, Phil cupped his hand under his knee to lend some support and he thrust forward experimentally.
"Fuck, Phil! So good. Ah!" Frank's broken cry echoed off the walls, and soon the only sounds in the bedroom were the moans and grunts of the lovers, the slapping of skin on skin, and the creaking of the box springs. Phil slowed his movements and shifted the position of his hips. Frank jerked, then shuddered as wave after wave of pleasure came from Phil's dick touching that precious bundle of nerves.
"Ph… soon…I'm com…" Frank tried in vain to catch his breath to communicate to Phil what was about to happen.
"It's okay, c'mon…I'm right…there…"
The brunette yelled out as his orgasm slammed into him. Phil shuddered and stilled as Frank clenched around him, and rode the pleasure into oblivion.
…..
"Shit!" Phil's eyes snapped open when he heard the sharp curse. He raised his head just enough to see a light coming from the bathroom.
"Frank?"
"It's okay, just dropped the washcloth on the floor." By now Phil as standing in the doorway of the bathroom, he watched a naked Frank hobble about the room and turn on the shower.
"Why didn't you wake me up?"
"You just looked so peaceful." Frank smiled as he reached in and tested the water. "Wanna join me?"
"Always."
Author's Note:
One more chap to go!
*Though I speak with the …. – I Corinthians 13, KJV Bible
