Chapter 17

We cut the beautiful wedding cake with the male and female super heros on top that Lula and Connie had found. We didn't make a mess of each other, but Ranger did dot icing on my nose and chin and kissed it off.

The patio doors were open and the jazz band played through dinner. Tables and chairs had been set up outside and a champagne fountain was flowing. Tank stopped the band and got everyone's attention to make a toast.

"Carlos and Stephanie it is about damn time. You two are the most exasperating, stubborn, ornery couple that ever loved each other and refused to accept it. You both drove your friends crazy. Now that you've finally come to your senses, we all want to wish you many happy years together. Cheers!"

Lula ran up and grabbed the microphone, "I second that shit and I want to add that if anybody here needs help nailing down their man or woman I'm available. I got the book and I got Gordy and we got the plan. I helped my girl win the Batman war and I can help you too. Gordy, we need to put that in your phone book ad and we need one of them web pages too. Something like 'How to capture your mate'; call Lula and Gordy…" Gordon walked up and snatched the microphone from her and announced that the bride and groom would have their first dance together.

Ranger grinned at me and took me in his arms. "So you had a battle plan to get your man?" I turned red.

"Damn Lula, yeah."

"So that's why The Art of War book was in your car and the reason for the vows Gordon prepared."

"Yep."

"When did you hatch that plan?"

"The day after the deal."

He raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"I knew I wanted you then but I knew you wouldn't be an easy catch. The battle was hard as hell and you made me retreat a couple of times."

"Babe, I'm glad you didn't give up on me and I'm happy I got a second chance. I loved you and I almost lost you. I'm going to spend a good deal of time making it up to you, starting tonight." That got another blush.

"Carlos, I love you. You're really my husband now."

"Yes, and you're my wife and I adore you amante." He kissed me as Gordon announced the father and daughter dance.

All the traditional dances had taken place and everyone had come to the dance floor. I spied Gordy and Connie getting a little close and winked at him and gave him a thumbs up when he looked my way. He rolled his eyes at me.

After about an hour, Tank announced it was time to throw the bouquet and garter. The girls all lined up and I turned and pitched backwards. There was a scuffle and a growl and a loud cry of pain and up stood my Grandma Mazur with her hair standing up and her dress twisted with my bouquet. Lula had her hands on her hips. She looked a little disheveled and crazy eyed herself. "Your Granny pinched me with them damn boney fingers to make me let go. That was mine!" I turned and looked at my mother who was supposed to be keeping an eye on her. Well this was going to be interesting now.

As it turned out Bobby, Tank, and Marco got some revenge on Lester, who had been giving them shit all day about being groped by Grandma. Ranger took the garter off my leg taking some extra time with his hand under my dress and then kissing my foot before putting my shoe back on. The guys lined up with grim faces and when Ranger launched that garter, it landed right on one of Lester's medals and dangled there. He couldn't even shake it off.

Tank was the first to grab a chair and sit Grandma down in it so Lester could run that garter up her little chicken leg. She hiked her dress all the way up almost to her…well I didn't want to think about the view that poor Lester had there down on his knees and she winked at him. The guys' snickers started before he even touched her. He glared at them and gulped and then grabbed her foot and closed his eyes and launched that garter up her to her knee fast and when he went to let go, she grabbed his hand and yanked it and the garter up higher. He snatched his hand back like it had been burned.

By then the guys were all out bent over holding their stomachs and hooting. Lester stood up and huffed over to me and Carlos spouting a string of what I know were Spanish curse words and growled, "I may be scarred! Somebody forgot to remind your loco la abuelita to wear her pantaloons (bloomers) on your wedding day! I think I'm going blind! I may not ever get that picture out of my head and my girlfriend is going to break up with me because I will probably never be able to get an erection again!" And that just made us laugh even harder. Behind me, my mother gasped in horror.

That night when my husband and I retired to our suite, he slowly removed the beautiful wedding dress that he had bought for me as he kissed and licked my lips and my neck and my collarbone. He sat down on the bed and pulled me into his lap.

"Stephanie, you've been holding back from me and yourself for months. You're my wife now and I love you. You can let go. If Greg really loved you, he would want you to go on and be happy. That's what I would want if anything ever happened to me. You still haven't let yourself feel like you did before and you need to let the guilt go for good. You loved him, you were faithful, and you grieved and honored his passing. Please let it go for you and us and our future. I want to make love to my wife and I want all of you. I want mind, body, and soul with me tonight."

I looked in his beautiful eyes and I saw the love there and I remembered the words of the ceremony about forgiveness and good times and bad. It was time to let go and be happy. I shouldn't feel guilt in loving the man that was my true soulmate. We had a bond and a connection from the first time that we had met and when we had made love, the bond had been sealed. We were just too stubborn to recognize that it was done; that our future had been written.

I kissed him and pulled his tie off and his jacket and then slowly unbuttoned his shirt. As I worked, he peppered light kisses on my face and neck again. I stood up when I got to his pants. I looked at him and said, "From tonight on, I'm yours and you're the only man that I will ever love like this. I want orgasms and please make it multiples because I'm behind maybe a hundred or more." He gave me a wolf grin. "My pleasure Mrs. Manoso. That happens to be my specialty and my new job." He put his soft lips to mine and began to unhook my corset.

At breakfast the next morning, Lula came over to me and hugged me. "Well girl, that guy that wrote that war book sure was a genius. You sure did win the war and you finally got your man."

"Lula, I got my man and more than I ever dreamed. Hooah!"

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