Chapter 12
"Stevie, I don't think you want to be around the consummation do you?" She questioned rhetorically, raising an eyebrow up at her brother with as smirk on her face, her blue eyes sparkling mischievously back at him.
"Oh yeah, I want to be there, with camcorder and everythin'." Steve replied sarcastically with a roll of his eyes.
"Not likely." Mark growled.
Chalice started laughing at her brother and husband, shivering a little at the thought, and raked a hand through her hair after taking the clips out. "We need to figure out something because this place has another ceremony ready to start." She informed her husband and started walking down the aisle by herself, still not able to believe she was a wife now.
Mark followed, scooping her up in to his arms, and smiled down at her. "Don't say a word. I'm carrying you whether you like it or not." He stated, bending down to kiss the top of her nose, carrying her outside of the chapel.
"I'm not arguing." She replied softly and giggled as he kissed the top of her nose, her dress flowing past her feet, and wrapped her arms around his neck. "So, where are we going?" She asked casually.
"Anywhere you want, I don't care." He nuzzled her neck, ignoring Steve's shouts to get a room. "Anywhere special you're wanting to see, darlin'? Anywhere at all, just name it."
"Wherever you want to go, Mark. I don't care." She whispered softly, sighing in contentment when he nuzzled her neck as he carried her out of the chapel, seeing the sun descending on the horizon. A golden glow flowed over her, causing her to shine even more than the pregnancy made her.
"Go somewhere warm, with white beaches and a lot of sand. No offense, Mark, but ya look like a corpse, no pun intended. A tan wouldn't kill ya, ya know." Steve piped in, already loosening his dress shirt after removing his tuxedo jacket.
"Would you stop being mean to my husband?" Chalice chided her brother, placing her hands on her hips even though Mark still held her like a princess, and narrowed her blue eyes at him. "Mark has a tan, I assure you, Stevie. He DOES live in Texas after all, just like you." She pointed out with a cocky smirk.
Mark smirked with her, shaking his head, and stated, "Alright Steve, I'm hauling her off now, you mind?"
"No, get the ragamuffin outta here." Steve joked, waving his hand dismissively. "Ya could always go abroad…" He stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"I'm going to kill you, brother of mine if you don't shut up!" She growled back at him, trying to get out of her husband's arms, but he had her firmly in place. "Come on, Mark!" She whined, struggling against him. "I wanna hit him for what he said!"
Steve started backing away, his blue eyes widening slightly. "Now I didn't mean any of that, Mark. Come on, man…" He opened the door to his truck and got behind the wheel when Mark let Chalice down. "Now Challie!"
Chalice started stalking toward the truck and smirked when her brother peeled out of there like a bat out of Hell, yelling back at her that he'd see her later and he loved her. She smiled, shaking her head gently, and sighed as she wrapped her arms around herself. The sun had set over the horizon and one by one, the stars were slowly starting to pierce the sky above. She couldn't believe she was married. That her and Mark finally did it and couldn't have been happier. She pressed a hand to her stomach and sighed in contentment, not able to wait seven months to see her beautiful boy or girl. Deep down in her heart, Chalice knew it was a boy, but she wouldn't say it. Not until she knew for sure.
Mark walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Come on, darlin'…" He whispered, guiding her to the truck, and lifted her inside before driving out of Houston.
About an hour later, they pulled onto an empty beach that was secluded as Mark put the truck in park. "Wait here…" He gently ordered, smiling at her before getting out of the truck, and went to the back.
"Alright…" She whispered back at him, her eyebrows furrowed together, and leaned back against the seat.
She was still in her wedding dress as she rolled down the window. The sound of water crashing against the shore soothed her and sighed in contentment. She couldn't believe she was married, that she'd actually done it, and felt somehow relived that it was finally over. She pressed a hand to her stomach and closed her eyes, knowing she'd spend the rest of her life making both Mark and her child happy. Giving them all the love she could. Giving it all the love she could. What her parents could never give her and never want to.
Mark shed his clothes and changed into a pair of black jeans and a white long sleeved shirt that he hadn't bothered to button up. He worked quickly, laying out a blanket on the sand before building a fire. He set out the picnic basket he'd made up and a bottle of sparkling cider. Chalice couldn't drink alcohol and he wasn't going to do it either because it wouldn't be fair to her. When everything was set up to his liking, Mark walked back to the truck, opening her door, and just stared at the beautiful goddess before him. His stunning, captivating wife.
Chalice was so deep in thought that she didn't even hear the door open or see her husband standing before her until he reached for her hand. She jolted out of her thoughts, jumping a little, and looked back at him, blinking a little with a small smile. "Hey, are you okay? What's going on?" She quietly murmured and allowed him to pull her out of the truck, still clad in her dress. The moon was starting to come out as the sky was splashed with a mixture of reds, oranges, blues, purples, and pinks, causing her eyes to sparkle almost as much as the embroidery on her dress.
Lifting her up in his strong, massive arms, Mark carried Chalice over to the blanket, gently setting her down. He made sure to keep her dress off of the sand, the firelight reflecting in his luminescent green eyes as he took her in hungrily. "Mine." He growled, leaning over to kiss her lingeringly.
Chalice's breath caught in her throat at the look that came over his emerald green eyes before he kissed her, causing her arms to instantly wrap around his neck, and pressed herself against him. She moaned softly, her entire body tingling at his touch and kisses, and sighed gently. She broke the kiss, running her fingers down his cheek, his face, and nodded as she whispered, "You're mine too, forever."
Mark pulled back, staring at her, reaching out to trace a finger over her bare shoulder, listening as the waves crashed onto the sand behind them. "I love you, darlin'." He whispered, inclining his head towards her.
She smiled back at him, pure love shining in her blue eyes, and nodded. "I know, I love you too, Mark." She breathed back heartfelt, her heart already thudding against her chest from the kiss he'd given her, and couldn't wipe the smile from her face even if her life depended on it. Her wedding ring reflected against the firelight, along with the embroidery of her gown.
Mark smiled, reaching over to pick up the basket, setting it down between them. He opened it and pulled out a single white rose, reaching out to trail it across her lips. "Beautiful…" He breathed, not believing how lucky he was to be married to her.
Chalice's eyes slowly drifted shut, running a hand through her hair, her curly black hair, and enjoyed the sensation of the rose petals against her lips. A soft smile crossed her lips as she leaned against it and slowly opened her eyes, staring into his, and took his hand as she pressed it to her stomach. It was still pretty much flat, but had a small hump to it and whispered, "This is always yours forever too."
"Until he or she turns eighteen maybe." Mark chuckled softly, rubbing her stomach lovingly before pulling her onto his lap, wrapping an arm around her waist. "You're mine forever, and I'm yours." He whispered in her ear, his hot breath against it.
"Agreed." She whispered back to him and leaned against his lips that were against her ear, moaning softly, and melted into his arms instantly. He still lit her on fire with one single touch. One single kiss and looked back at the water on the beach. It was so beautiful, the perfect night, and Chalice never wanted it to end. Then again, she was married to this man now so they could have nights like this for the rest of their lives. No they couldn't because they only had one wedding night and this was it.
Mark rested his head on top of hers, staring out into the water as well. He watched as the waves rolled in, thinking if he died right now, he would be the happiest man on the planet. "What're you thinking, darlin'?" He asked his voice a deep rumble.
"How much I never want this night to end." She murmured back in a soft caress, flowing over his soul, and closed her eyes as she sighed in peaceful contentment. She loved the sounds of the waves crashing softly on the shore and started twirling a strand of hair around her finger as she snuggled further against her husband. "What are you thinking about, dear husband of mine?" She quietly asked.
"The same thing you are, darlin'." He whispered in her ear. "I could stay like this forever with you, Chalice." Mark pulled her down onto the blanket with him, looking up at the stairs, enjoying the warmth of her body against him as well as the heat from the fire.
Chalice smiled as she spooned up against him, her head tucked under his chin, and closed her eyes. Just the feeling of him holding her like this instead of jumping right into consummating their marriage made her believe even more that he truly loved her for more than that. That he loved her heart and soul. Her mind. And not just her body. That overwhelmed her as she caressed his arms while the fire licked at their bodies hungrily, but didn't touch them.
Mark rubbed her stomach gently, smiling before sitting up and leaning over to nuzzle it with his face. "My two babies…" He murmured, kissing her belly before laying back down, turning so he could stare at her. Thinking she was more beautiful then the stars that shined above them. "You hungry, darlin'?" He asked, knowing she hadn't eaten anything since breakfast, suddenly concerned for her. "Shouldn't you eat three meals a day? For both you and the baby's health?"
"I believe I ate enough this morning to last us through the entire night." She giggled softly with her joke and suddenly felt her stomach rumble, causing her to groan as she rolled her eyes. "I guess our son or daughter has spoken for me." She laughed again at the astonished look on Mark's face and smirked, stroking his face with her hand after sitting up a little.
Sitting up, Mark opened the basket again and began sitting out all her favorite dishes as well as dessert. "Good thing I came prepared, hmm?" He smiled, next pulling out paper plates and dinnerware, offering her one. "Best be feeding my child woman, sounds like he or she is starving."
"How did you prepare all of this?" She asked in astonishment, blinking rapidly, and couldn't believe he'd brought all of her favorite dishes and dessert. "I just surprised you with the idea of eloping today!" She exclaimed, raking a hand through her hair as the firelight reflected off of it.
Mark chuckled softly. "I have my ways, darlin'." At the look she shot him, he cleared his throat. "When I went downstairs to change, I got busy. Do you know how long you and Steve were up there?"
"No, he's a damned goofball though! He actually refused to use a grooming comb of yours because he thought you…" She trailed off, clearing her throat loudly, and pointed at his lower extremities. "Brushed down…there…" She trailed off again, blushing furiously, and bit her bottom lip.
Mark snorted, looking like he would keel over from trying not to laugh. "He thought…" He slapped his knee, shaking his head. "I use the damned thing for this." He pointed to his facial fuzz. "What the Hell does he need a comb for anyway? He's barely got any hair. Boy needs to learn how to grow a mustache." He joked, nuzzling her face. "You're blushing, darlin'."
"I know and you don't have to point it out." She chided playfully, blushing even more, and raked a hand through her hair as she leaned against his lips and tongue. "My brother is a moron, I admit that. WE have a moron for a brother and brother-in-law, but at least you got the smarter sibling." She grinned, remembering the night Mark was acting gay toward Steve in their living room.
"Oh you're funny." Mark growled, reaching out to take the dessert away from her. "What was that now, darlin'?" He drawled teasingly, waving the dessert in front of her, just out of reach.
"Fine, take it away from me. I don't need it anyway and I'm sure your son or daughter can survive without it." She lightheartedly replied, crossing her arms in front of her chest, and stuck her nose in the air before grabbing a strawberry and popped in it in her mouth. She sighed and groaned in satisfaction, "Mmm I can ALWAYS survive off of these…"
Mark arched an eyebrow, watching her. Feeling himself rise to the occasion just from watching her eat a strawberry. He set down the dessert and leaned back on his hands, just watching her. Admiring his beautiful wife. His emerald green eyes darkened a little more with each passing second.
Her pink tongue slowly snaked out, licking the juices off of them as she popped a piece of pineapple in her mouth, sighing wistfully. Her hair was pooling down her back and over her shoulders as she moved her feet back and forth, which had the heels on. She then reached over, biting into another strawberry, moaning softly from the back of her throat and out her nose. His nostrils flared, his mouth compressed into one thin line, trying not to jump her. Just wanting to watch her for now, even if she was teasing him mercilessly.
Chalice didn't even realize what she was doing as she picked up a piece of orange, popping it into her mouth, and groaned at the taste as she started eating one after the other. Oranges were a huge craving for her and what boggled her was the fact that before she got pregnant, she hated oranges. Now, she loved them. Mark couldn't resist when he seen a trickle of juice run down her chin. He leaned forward, his hands splayed on the blanket and kissed her chin, his tongue darting out to catch the juice.