Holy Matrimony!

Chapter 1: Early Morning: 35 Hours

Sorry! I meant to post sooner, but I couldn't find the time.

Disclaimer is on my profile page.

Ugh! Light was streaming in the window and directly onto my face. My eyes taking the brunt of the attack. My head is pounding something terrible. That will teach me to drink in such a manner. But it was a night of celebration. It was my bachelorette party. I'm getting married to the love of my life tomorrow. Well, I think he's the love of my life. I've only had these thoughts recently. I never doubted before. Honestly.

I did my best to hide from the sun but the sheets were too thin to do anything but filter the light minutely. Shifting, again, I find yet another lump in the mattress. How can a high end hotel bed be this uncomfortable? My back feels tight like I've been doing manual labor for hours. Grr, my lower half feels even worse. I can hardly move without pain shooting through me.

I'm not American, so I have nothing against the French. But geez, I would've been more comfy on the floor! This is the last time I travel to another country and stay in one of their "five star hotels".

I turned onto my side, keeping the sun to my back, when I felt the sheets being tugged. "Honey, don't," I said to my fiancé. I pulled the covers back over my shoulder and tried to settle in, wincing slightly at the movements. I'll say one thing for the hotel: whatever they wash their linens in is amazing. I need to find out what it is so I can...

Wait! I'm supposed to be alone. Aren't I?

I tried to clear my foggy mind. This has to be a liquor induced hallucination. But I would be content if my groom-to-be was here with me.

He was going to stay with his groomsmen last night so I could have time to myself. Maybe he got lonely. That seems possible. He was never one for aloneness. "Why are you here sweetie?" I relaxed again as I felt him drape his arm over my middle. "What's gotten into you? You're never this touchy, Jamie." his nose brushed the nape of my neck.

"Jamie?" an unfamiliar voice spoke. I finally opened my eyes but the light was too bright in the room to make anything out. His lips pressed into my skin as he moved his hand down my naked flesh. Naked?! True to my words, I was starkers. And from the feel of it, so is he. Is Jamie so drunk that he picked up an accent? I turned slowly to my bedmate, but he was completely covered by the sheet.

Doing my best to keep calm, I pulled at the sheet. But as soon as I saw black spiky hair I was freaking. And seeing the small scar on the forehead was enough for me.

Screaming, I yanked the sheet around me and ended up flying out of bed. I hit the floor with a loud, agonizing thwack. Pain shot through me, bright side: it took the edge off the headache. But that was temporary. Only a few seconds passed before my head throbbed. And the rest of me hurt worse.

As I started to process all that was around me I saw him peer over the side of the bed. His blue eyes looking concerned. "Here, let me help you," he was moving to get off the bed. It sounds like his French accent faded.

"No, no. Stay where you are!" I didn't want to see what was going on with him. Well, what I meant was, I don't want to know what's going on under the sheet. But since its now wrapped around me... And he is as nude as I am, see where I'm going?

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, absolutely." But my plan backfired. He got off the bed anyway and I got the full view. I felt my mouth begin to water. I can totally see why I went to bed with him.

What am I saying?! I'm getting married in less than -what time is it?- thirty five hours.

I wouldn't feel so bad if I was single. And right now I'm far from unmated. I may be single after this!

Okay, Jude breathe, think. Obviously I slept with the man and he didn't murder me during the night. So I'm betting I'm not in much peril. "What happened last night?" I found myself asking as I watched him walk about the room, unabashed by his lack of clothing. I swallowed hard as my eyes stayed glued to his movements.

"You don't remember?" I shook my head, regretting it immediately. "Where do you want me to start?"

"Is it that insane?" he lifted his eyebrows incredulously. "That bad then?" a slight smile graced his lips and I found it hard to stay where I was. "Start from when we met. What is your name?" Why am I wetting my lips?

"Tom." I waited for him to return the question, but it never came.

"Aren't you going to ask what mine is?"

"I already know, Jude." My name never sounded so wonderful until he said it. I tried not to go boneless as I milled over my reactions to him. "So you want to know what happened last night. You should have asked what didn't happen last night. That's a much shorter list." I pulled the sheet more securely around me.

"Does that mean you're a prostitute?" It's a good question, if I went on a rampage of craziness, I could've picked up a gigolo. Did someone slip me something during my party? It would explain so much right now. My lack of memory, my bout of insanity. If that's what happened. Think brain, think!

"Hardly," he laughed as he smiled at me. I've never been so grateful to be on the ground, for I know I would've found my way there very ungracefully. "But I could make a lot of money if I was. You'll be able to attest to that when you remember," he promised. He had yet to cover himself, so foolish of him. I could feel my resistance fading. Pain be damned.

"Something tells me that I don't want to remember anything about that. Or you." I added as an afterthought. "But what happened?" I scooted over to the bed and rested on the side doing my best to look away from the glorious image that was...um, Tim? No, that's not right. Tom? Yeah, Tom. "Where am I?"

"My place," he told me as he walked into the kitchenette. His apartment is tiny. I swear the sitting room in my hotel suite is bigger than his entire place. Reminds me why I never got that studio apartment back home. Wow, I'm starting to sound snobby.

He leaned against the counter, arms crossed over his toned chest. "Well, last night." He got this far off look as he thought over the events. He better be thinking about what happened and not just the odd parts. Wow, that sounded wrong. "You came into the bar I work at."

"You're a...?"

"Bartender," he filled in for me. "Anyway," his accent decided to make an appearance for the moment. "You were, what's a good way to put this?"

"Tipsy?"

"Drunk off your ass," I crossed my arms over my chest and glared up at him. "I'm not going to spare your feelings. You didn't mind hurting me." He rolled his shoulders and twisted his back as if it were injured. "If you're that wild drunk, I can't wait to have you when you're sober."

"Excuse me?" I squeaked. What the hell is he talking about? He wants me again? I should not be feeling happy about this.

"Look at this," he pointed to his neck. "Do you think I did this to myself?" I had been concentrating on his hair, to keep my eyes from wandering, so I wasn't sure what he was referring to. "The bite," sure enough, there was a very large, very purplish mark at the base of his neck. I never knew I was into biting. Maybe the movie the girls made me watch made me want to try it. Though the vampire wasn't remotely sexy.

"How do I know you didn't have that before?" Some whore could've done it right before I lost my mind. Or maybe...it could've happened while I was with him. Please don't tell me that I had a... I don't even want to think it!

"No, there was no one else involved," he had an amused expression as he looked at the range of emotions most likely playing over my face. He rolled his eyes, "every time..."

"What was that?"

"Nothing. So, drunkard, you had a few more drinks, that I so nicely gave you for free."

"I think I gave you more than enough payment." I grumbled as I looked down at my lack of clothing. I couldn't look at his lack of covering if I wanted to stay put. I shouldn't be having this much trouble resisting him!

"That you did," a lustful smile took over his visage.

"Focus!" I shouted at him.

"Where was I?" I growled at him. Does he really want me to say it? "Oh, right." That smile was back but only for a flash of time. "Could you growl at me next time?" My eyes went wide as I realized what he was talking about. "Anyway, you grew progressively more inebriated while you were there." What is this? An after school special? Those were some pretty big words for someone who looks like an underwear model. Not that I'm saying models are idiots. Or maybe I am? I'm not too sure of anything right now.

"The people you were with were as bad off as you. They left you behind."

"They...no... they couldn't... are you sure?"

"Tall, pretty blonde running around with a pink vibrator, singing 'Here comes the bride'? It gave the song a whole new meaning. I'll never look at a bride the same again." He got a lecherous smile as he looked at me.

"There was a singing vibrator?" I purposely misunderstood. For some reason I didn't like that he thought she was pretty. Even though the blonde and I share DNA.

"You know what I meant," he turned and pulled two mugs from the cabinet.

"Well that's not how you worded it," I argued as I watched the muscles in his back work. I didn't want to go lower than the waist area. But it's so tempting!

My chest was heaving as my eyes grew more adventurous.

"I had a rough night," he looked pointedly at me over his shoulder. "You can't blame me for my lack of brain cells." I could smell the heavenly aroma of fresh coffee. If my pelvic area didn't hurt so bad I would've dashed right over there. Oh coffee, my love.

Right now my sister is in a very comfortable hotel, while I'm in hell. And with a devastatingly gorgeous devil. But I'd kill for some room service. But maybe I got something better than French toast. In fact, I'm positive I did. If only I can remember. I want to, even though I told him I didn't.

"So who was she?"

"You were referring to my older sister."

"Is she getting married?"

"No," I wanted to tell him that it was me who was getting married in thirty plus hours. But telling him won't change the past.

"Oh," he didn't ask anything more about that subject. "I left about ten minutes after your group and I saw you sitting on a bench looking disoriented. It starts to get really good after that."

"You took advantage of me?"

"Does it look like I have to take advantage of anyone?" I shook my head and looked towards the floor. "That's what I thought. I took you to get coffee, hoping to sober you up enough so I could take you back to where you're staying."

"You were going to be a gentleman? You didn't plan to bring me here?"

"Yes, I have that nasty habit. I tend to help women in need. Anyway I can," I wanted to simultaneously smack that grin off his face and jump him.

"And you helped me in every possible way, didn't you?"

"Would you like me to remind you?" for a second there I wasn't sure what my answer should be.

"No, I want to know where my clothes are so I can leave," I whined as my head felt like it was about to split open.

"I thought you wanted to know what happened last night... and this morning," he added after a moments hesitation.

"I want to leave. I have... things to do." Why am I hiding the fact that I'm engaged? About to be married?

I forced myself to stand. The room started to spin a bit, sparks of purple and red playing over my vision. As I wavered where I stood, he came to me. Putting a steadying arm around my waist.

"What are you doing? Get your hands off of me!" What am I saying? He's seen and practically touched every part of me already. And I'm sure that's a safe bet.

"But-"

"No!"

"I'm just trying to-" why is he being so persistent? I voiced that, or something to that extent, while still trying to escape from his grasp. "I need to take care of my wife."

Review Please!

This story is based off of two movies. One I haven't seen, well I did see the first five minutes. But I'm taking the basic idea.

Thanks, Eternita14