Chapter Eleven-Roses

When Ana and I get back to her back yard, we immediately part ways. I go back to Ray's house and she goes back to my house. I can only imagine the scene my mom and sister will make when they pounce on Ana and bombard her with questions about where she disappeared off to and why.

I don't have a lot of time to myself, because when I step through the doors entering Ray's house, I'm apprehended and then guided back over to my house.

"Did you find Ana?" Elliot asks me.

"Yeah, she was in the old tree house," I whisper to him.

He only nods his head and then turns around, walking back to the house. I turn my attention to other things. I take a deep breath to calm my nerves. I wasn't expecting to be here so fast. I have even less time to feel like I'm thinking about my decision when I see my father and grandfather take seats in the front row.

They still don't believe that this wedding is real, which is only cemented by the snide smile my grandfather sends my way. I gaze impassively at him.

We haven't discussed the terms of how I'll receive my trust fund because I don't want to seem eager to get it, even though I am, but I'm sure he'll tell me what he plans to do soon.

I turn my attention away from them and people watch as more guests start filing in. I can't help but smile when I take in the theme of the wedding. It's roses. The color scheme being rose gold, gray and white. There's pale pink and white roses pinned to the back of each chair with gray sheer ribbons wrapped around the stems and extending to the adjacent chair. Behind me are three narrow garden trellis' covered completely in white, pale pink and artificial gray colored roses all mixed together reaching almost six feet high. There's a white wedding runner nestled in between the two sides of chairs and along both sides are small bouquets of alternating pink and gray roses in mini crystal vases. My mother and sister clearly went all out, but I have to admit the place looks beautiful. I hope this is something Ana dreamed of when she thought of her wedding.

Almost fifteen minutes later, people begin to quiet down as music begins to play and the first and only bridesmaid, Katherine Kavanagh, and my best man—Elliot, of course—makes their grand appearance. Ana met Kate in her first semester at WSUV, and since that first meeting they've been best friends. I don't really understand why. Kate can be a tough pill to swallow at times. But she clearly goes down smoothly for Elliot; I see them making suggestive glances at each other. I frown and look at him over my shoulder when he stands behind me and turn back in time to see Kate give me another weird look. I ignore her. I don't know what her problem is.

I turn my attention towards the back of my house when Here Comes the Bride starts to play and everyone stands up. The French doors swing open and out step Ana and Ray. I can't help but grin when I see her flushed face; I think her blush completes the look. She's beautiful.

My eyes are trained on her the entire time she slowly walks down the aisle; I only turn away from her to shake Ray's hand when he hands her over to me. I take her hand as she stands in front of me, looking up at me with wide eyes. I give her a reassuring smile. She gives me a small smile back.

"You look beautiful, Anastasia," I whisper to her.

She surprises me by blushing a darker shade of red but looks up with a small grin. "So do you."

Reverend Walsh officiates the wedding, and in a blink of an eye it feels like, Ana and I are repeating our vows, sliding our bands onto our fingers, and then I'm finally kissing her, our lips sealing the title of man and wife. My lips are still possessively on hers when I hear cheering and laughter fill my ears. I try to ignore it for as long as possible, wanting to enjoy the feeling of my mouth covering hers, but our families but in.

We're congratulated and kissed and passed from person to person. It's a little overwhelming.

The reception lasts longer than I would have liked but I have to admit I enjoyed myself, especially when toasts were made and Elliot made his best man speech. I got a little choked up when Grandpa Theo made his toast, stating that he knew Ana and I were perfect for each other and saying how proud he was of me. He said the words I always wanted to hear from my father when I told him what I wanted to make of myself.

The night was coming to an end when Elliot got drunk of his ass, my grandparents began to slowly disappear inside—except Papa—and Mia began to lose interest when the party vibe died down.

Ana and I were kissed and congratulated once again by our parents. I wait by my car while Ana and Ray have a few words in private and then we're on our way to spend a week in the wilderness of Oregon.

I'm driving down I-5 when I look over at Ana. She's changed into a body-hugging, sleeveless cream dress with a black bow that circles her slim waist and black pumps. She's let her hair down and the soft curls fall down over her breasts. She hasn't washed her face of makeup either. I find myself taking short glances at her as we continue on with the six hour drive. I notice she's unusually quiet.

"Hey, are you okay?" I ask, reaching over to brush my hands over hers.

She looks at me, gives me a small smile and just nods her head. I frown when she turns back and looks out her window, gazing out at the dark forests lining the freeway.

"Are you sure?"

She doesn't look at me. I hear her sigh. "Yeah, just a little tired, I guess," she breathes.

"Yeah, it was a rather exciting day."

She doesn't say anything. So neither do I. She seemed happy when we left my parents' I don't know what's changed now. And it's not like she can change her mind anymore.

It takes us longer than what I was hoping to get to the Metolius River Resort. We arrive around one in the morning and both Ana and I are exhausted. I hurry and check in and then carry our bags to our cabin. The lights are already on when we enter and I'm met with a burst of warmth and the scent of flowers when I walk further into the cabin.

There are vases of roses scattered around the house, and since the entire cabin is an open floor plan I can see the bedroom and I note with disinterest that the bed is smothered in red rose petals. Ana and I glance at each other and then quickly look away. She clearly noticed the romantic setting of the cabin, too.

I drag our luggage to the bedroom, passing the small living room with a fire place, the kitchen with a chilled bottle of champagne on the counter, and the bathroom attached to the bedroom. The bathroom is the only place here that I think actually has a door.

I'm looking around the bedroom, admiring the large picture windows looking out over the river when Ana comes into the room and clears her throat.

I turn and look at her. "So, um, how are we gonna do this?" she asks, gesturing towards the bed.

I raise a brow and smirk. "I thought married couples were supposed to sleep in the same bed," I remark.

She rolls her eyes. "Yeah, when they can actually stand to be near each other long enough."

I roll my eyes. I see we're back with the snarky attitude. "Well I'm sleeping in the bed. You can sleep wherever you want."

"No," she says, drawing out the o. "I'm sleeping in the bed. You can sleep on the couch."

I glare at her. "I am not sleeping on that couch. I'm too big for it. You're just the right size."

She places her hands on her hips and glares back at me. I see her eyes move back and forth between the bed and me and I know exactly what she's thinking. We both run towards the bed at the same time, our bodies knocking into each other and both of us roughly landing on the bed. Rose petals fly in the air and softly float around us and onto the floor.

She pushes me against my chest trying to push me off the bed while I put my hand against her face and push her head up.

"Ow! Get off of me, Christian!" she whines.

"No. I'm sleeping on this bed. You go somewhere else."

"I'm your wife. I thought husbands were supposed to give their wives whatever they want."

I laugh as I move my hands down to her waist and continue to push her. "Don't try to pull that. And I'm surprised you actually referred to yourself as my wife, I thought you'd be disgusted by the thought."

I begin to tickle her along the ribs to gain leverage and catch her off guard to push her off the bed.

"I never said I wasn't—oh! Don't tickle me," she complains, gasping between her sudden giggles.

I roll us over so she's under me, my thighs straddling her hips as my fingers move across her ribs. I grin as she wriggles and struggles under me, her giggles infectious.

"Christian!" she gasps through laughter. "Stop!"

I continue to torture her.

"I get the bed."

"No!"

"Then I'm not going to stop," I tell her.

She grabs my wrists and tries to pull my hands away but I continue my ministrations.

"I'm going to pee! Stop, Christian, please!"

"I get the bed."

"Okay! Okay!" she relents. "You can have the bed."

I stop tickling her and stare down at her in triumph as she catches her breath. She opens her eyes to glare at me but I beam down at her. A few seconds later, when she's more composed, she looks at me, and then let's her eyes trail down to where I'm sitting on her. She shifts uncomfortably under me, and that's when I realize I'm still sitting atop her. I swing my leg over her and lay back on the bed next to her. Neither of us says anything for a moment.

I try to keep my thoughts on other things rather than how her body felt under me, but I'm failing miserably. Her scent invades my personal space and I close my eyes to savor her unique and undoubtedly arousing aroma. I feel myself grow in desire and I will myself to keep my appendages under control. My body is more than aware of her presence next to me. I can feel her body heat mingling with mine, and my skin prickles and shivers. I try to keep my breathing even and swallow the extra saliva that seems to have magically appeared in my mouth. I shift atop the soft comforter as I keep my gaze away from hers. She moves next to me and her hand brushes against mine. It's as if a bolt of lightning strikes me and lights up my body. I move closer to the edge of the bed, further away from her.

She clears her throat. "Um, I think I'm going to take a shower now."

She doesn't wait for my response as she hops out of the bed, snatches her bag up and then scampers into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. There's rose petals nestled in her hair.

I stare at the door and then turn my head to look up at the wood-paneled ceiling. I sigh loudly already having a feeling this is going to be a very, very long week.

I guess I still have a little love left over from yesterday, so here's a bonus!

Thank you for all the reviews, follows and favorites.

SS&G xoxo

This entire story is in Christian's POV. Once every chapter is posted I'll think about doing outtakes in Ana's POV for specific chapters, if you guys want.