We're almost at the end of this story and the sequel is already in the works. Thanks so much for supporting this story, I loved the idea and I'm glad I got to bring it to life. I get excited about these things and taking on requests have been the best thing I've ever done. I rarely do that with any other fandom but I just had to because I was curious myself about it. Thanks so much again!
"This dress is stunning," Mary breathes out, turning side to side in front of the mirrors as Lola and Greer show off their own dresses with Paisley, Kenna's younger sister. It's knee-length, lilac in colour and sparkly with an A-line skirt. "I feel like a princess!"
"Good!" Kenna says happily, her mother nodding her approval. "I want my girls to feel good. This day is our day. Our men won't be able to take their hands or eyes off of us!"
Lola snorts. "So kind of you to think about us!" She replies.
Greer checks her backside with a pout. "God, I feel like a whale in this."
"Greer, you look beautiful," Kenna's mother chides. "Stop thinking about getting a butt job and focus on the assets you do have which are amazing, by the way."
"What she said," Mary says to Greer, squeezing her hand comfortingly. "Hey, I thought Bash and Francis's sisters were going to be bridesmaids too?"
Kenna nods, checking her phone quickly. "Claude had to do some music stuff and Leeza and Margot will make next week's dress fittings instead. I'm doing the best I can with the measurements they sent me."
"I can't believe you're styling our dresses," her sister says in disbelief. "Most brides will let other people do the work."
"I'm not like most brides," Kenna says cheekily. "You guys will need riding boots, I'm already looking online at Ralph Lauren for those. I want to surprise Bash by having our wedding on his family's estate. I've spoken to Henry and Catherine and they were elated at the prospect, plus, I want to bring his horses into the theme and the reception will be at their barn with rustic, industrial decorations and it will be in early August and-"
"I'm jealous," Mary says, coming down to hug Kenna tightly as she doesn't want Kenna to start freaking out with how much she wants to do for this wedding. "I'm so happy for you!"
Kenna's eyes water as the other women join in on the hug. "I just want it to be the best day of his life."
"Most brides want the day for them," Lola says in awe. "You want it for him."
"I want to put in the work," Kenna continues, wiping her cheeks. "I want to pour my love and heart into everything for Bash because I'm only going to get married the one time and it's to him for the rest of our lives... Can you guys help me, please?"
"It would be an honour to help you," Greer tells her. "Right ladies?"
Mary nods, beaming. "Right."
...
With a lot of time on her hands before she and Kenna start filming for SoH, Mary helps Kenna design invites and the like, suggesting options as her Maid of Honour, a position she tearfully accepted with squeals of excitement and she even makes calls to confirm things for Kenna.
"Okay, so that is two-hundred and fifty thousand lilacs of the colours... pink, lilac, blue and white confirmed?" Mary asks the person on the phone, biting the tip of her pen lid. "Yep. And you're based in Paris to confirm?" She sighs in relief. "Wonderful. Thanks so much, you're a blessing!" If you prove to be wonderful, we'll recommend you. Perhaps request your services again for ourselves.
She hangs up and ticks off flowers on Kenna's bridal journal full of templates, fabric cuttings and other things placed and stuck on meticulously with Kenna's flourish of handwriting pulling it all together. It's a scrapbook really and it's like gold to Kenna so Mary makes sure she ties the book up so nothing of importance falls out.
"You look so sexy planning a wedding."
"Don't remind me," Mary mutters lightly, feeling Francis' hands on her shoulders. "It's not even my wedding and Kenna will kill me if Bash gets a look at this book!"
Francis peeks over her shoulder. "That is a lot of detail."
"She didn't tell Bash that she didn't hire a wedding planner which he wanted to reduce the stress on both of them," Mary explains. "She wants it to be her hard work and she knows him best, after you, of course."
Francis chuckles. "Turn around."
She finally turns to look at him and a smile grows on her face as she eyes him up and down. "What's to say you're naked if I take off your apron?"
"I was baking muffins and cookies to give Kenna as a bribe to incorporate something Bash wants in their wedding as he thinks she's got a hold over their 'wedding planner' but I figured I should get something out of it myself," he replies, his fingers grazing over the ties.
Mary bites her lip, looking at his piercing blue eyes. "May I?"
"Nope," he says, pulling her up and lifting her onto the counter island, his lips running a hot trail over her jawline and eventually her neck and collarbone.
He sucks and nips at her skin and she sighs, her fingers gripping into his locks as he continues to go lower.
"I'm glad you're wearing a dress," he tells her, his fingers hooking onto the sides of her underwear. "Makes for easy access."
She laughs and plants a long kiss on his lips, nibbling his bottom lip before he takes a dive and sticks his tongue into her mouth, emitting a moan from her. God, he loves that sound.
"Mmh," she hums, pulling away. "Take it off, please."
"No fair, you've got all of that still-"
Mary pulls her dress up and over her head, flinging it over Aspen's dog cage without knowing, making the dog yelp at being awoken and she laughs a little, mouthing an apology before Francis continues to kiss her chest.
She's still got her underwear on and she sneaks her fingers down to the ties of the apron but he stops her, tutting with a smirk. "Francis..."
"Impatient. I thought you wanted excitement?" He asks coyly. "Oh, how other people's sex lives are better than ours but you're goddamn impatient in the first place!"
Mary laughs and he lays her down on the large counter space, hopping onto it himself as he meets her lips for a languid kiss.
She's going to enjoy this, he promises in his head, his fingers slipping behind her back as she arches it a little for him to undo her bra and chuck it elsewhere. Anywhere but here, he doesn't want any restrictions before he attacks her breasts.
"Oh, God!" She breathes out.
It's hot and sexy and they've never had sex in a kitchen before but theirs is suddenly really attractive right now.
She rolls them over, nuzzling her nose against his before biting his neck lightly and grinning when he laughs under her touch. She's massaging his hips, something that comforts both him and her for some reason. It's as if their touch assures them that they're real and present and never going to leave.
"I think you've earned it," he finally says after more teasing, leading her fingers to the ties of his apron where she quickly undoes it with excitement. "Calm down, excited puppy!"
Mary slaps his chest lightly with a snort before yanking the apron off. "Ooh, so you are naked underneath."
"God, shut up and just have your way with me already," Francis teases her.
Mary blushes. "You want me to take the lead?"
"Mary," he breathes out, sitting up with his elbows. "I'll always want you to take the lead."
And that's enough for her to crash her lips on his, wedding planning and baking muffins and cookies forgotten alike.