Chapter 20

Say You Won't Let Go

They both awoke when the alarm on Sariel's phone went off, piercing the quiet solitude of their room. She softly rolled out from beneath Elliott and slid out of bed. Her dark red hair was tousled and sticking out in places. She brushed the long locks from her face and smiled brightly when her engagement ring sparkled in the light.

She turned her head towards the door when she heard Elliott's soft footsteps. His seafoam green eyes were shrouded in his hair. He smiled warmly at Sariel as he leaned against the doorframe.

"Good morning, Beautiful." Elliott purred.

"Good morning, Handsome." Sariel replied.

Elliott moved to behind Sariel and loosely looped his arms around her slender waist. He pulled her against him and pressed a gentle kiss to her temple. He smiled when she snuggled closer to him.

"What would you like to do today, beloved?" Elliott whispered.

"Mm, take a shower, get dressed, maybe head to the Café for breakfast?" Sariel purred.

Elliott loosed her from his embrace and turned towards the shower. He quickly started the stream of hot water and beckoned Sariel to join him. He pulled her into the warm water and delicately washed her body. He smiled when her eyes closed as he massaged soap onto her skin. He exuded nothing but love and peace as he washed and conditioned her hair for her.

"You spoil me, tiger." Sariel stated.

"You're worth spoiling, angel." Elliott countered.

Sariel returned Elliott's kind gesture and spent minutes worshipping his body with her hands as she ran her soap-covered fingers across his body. As she grazed her fingers over his ribs he gasped at the touch. She rinsed her hands and stretched on her tiptoes to lather shampoo into Elliott's long honey red, coppery hair. She delicately worked conditioner into his long tresses and worked the tangles free.

They both rinsed off and Sariel shut the water off. Her porcelain skin was flushed soft pink from the heat of the water. She stepped out of the shower stall and pulled one of the plush, thick, white towels around her slender frame. She tugged her comb through her thick hair and wrung the water from it. She quickly tamed it into a ballerina bun and cinched a pale green ribbon into a bow around it.

She quickly dressed in a silver tank top, jeans, and her leather boots. She slipped on a set of small silver hoop earrings and smiled at Elliott when he donned his small golden hoop in his left ear. He pulled on a pair of darker green dress slacks, a white dress shirt, and matching tie. He perched on the edge of their shared bed as he laced his dress shoes.

"I'm meeting my publisher for lunch at eleven. Perhaps you can go shopping with Lilly, Audrey, or your Mom while I'm detained." Elliott called out softly.

"Ooh! Maybe we can look at wedding dresses!" Sariel squealed happily.

"Indeed, darling. Are you ready to go?" Elliott asked as he stood.

"Mhm. Let me grab my phone." Sariel answered.

She grabbed the slender device and slipped it into her jeans pocket. She tugged her leather jacket on and slipped her gloves on her hands. She slipped her purse over her shoulder and made her way towards the door. She turned her gaze towards Elliott and smiled when he pulled his trench coat on and joined her.

They descended to the parking garage and made their way to Sariel's truck. They quickly made their way towards Lilly's Café and Sariel smiled brightly as fresh snow fell in the city. She expertly navigated the snowy streets and safely made the trek to the cafe. She frowned when it looked like no one was inside.

"That's weird. Lilly would have said something if she was closing down for the week." Sariel pouted.

"I'm certain nothing's amiss, my love." Elliott stated reassuringly.

They climbed out of the truck and Sariel quickly took Elliott's hand in hers. Her heartbeat quickened slightly when she glanced at her left hand. Butterflies fluttered about in her stomach as she thought about the fact she was getting married in six days.

As they walked past one of the large windows, Sariel swore she saw movement inside. The lights were dark which was abnormal for a Tuesday morning at eight. As she rounded the corner to the door, she gently pushed it open.

"Lilly? Red? Y'all here?" Sariel called out.

Elliott shut the door behind them and locked it, startling Sariel. She whirled on him and cast her stormy gray gaze towards his eyes. The love and reassurance radiating from him calmed her slightly.

"Congratulations!" Was screamed at them from the back of the Café.

Lilly, Audrey, Chris, Leon, Lia, Evynne, and Peter were all crowded in the back of the restaurant smiling brightly towards Sariel and Elliott. Evynne and Lilly ran to Sariel's side and pulled her into a suffocating embrace. They laughed when she feebly struggled to free herself from their grip.

"Ohmygod, who told you guys?!" Sariel whined.

"I believe it was Thing One." Elliott cooed softly.

"Leon Michael!" Sariel yelled.

"I love you, Ri-ri!" Leon taunted.

"Lemme see the ring!" Lilly squealed.

"Let me go first, woman!" Sariel barked.

They released Sariel and Lilly beamed at her best friend. Evynne kissed her on the cheek and pulled Elliott into a warm embrace. Sariel tugged the gloves from her hands and slipped her coat off, casually tossing it onto one of the booths near her.

She held her left hand out in front of her and smiled softly when Lilly squealed at it. She was nearly crushed under the weight of everyone clamoring to see the ring. The large smile on her face made the moment worth it.

"When's the wedding?" Chris teased.

"Monday." Sariel and Elliott answered.

"Monday. Hah, you're joking, right?" Chris replied.

"Nope. Monday at 5:00." Sariel answered.

"Then we have some serious planning to do!" Evynne exclaimed.

"Breakfast first? Please?" Sariel whimpered.

"Of course. Elliott called before your shower this morning. I have a cake ready, fresh coffee, and tons of pastries. Let's get you fed and caffeinated." Lilly stated sweetly.

The extended family crowded around several of the tables that had been shoved together. Lilly and Audrey quickly served everyone coffee, juice, and breakfast. They contently ate and conversed lightly about the upcoming wedding. Hours flew by as Sariel and Elliott made plans, and Elliott departed for his lunch meeting.

"Dress shopping. Let's go!" Lilly announced.

"I trust we don't need the boys for shopping. We'll go to The Galleria." Evynne responded.

"The Galleria, Mom? That's about as extravagant as they come." Sariel bemoaned.

"Yes, and my only child is getting married. She deserves extravagance." Evynne counted.

"I'll take the boys to Sarita's." Peter stated.

"We'll take Lia with us. We'll grab Elliott after his meeting and get him squared away. Congratulations, Sariel. I'm happy for you." Leon softly spoke.

The next hour flew past as Sariel, Evynne, Lilly, and Audrey made it to The Galleria. The complimentary champagne they'd enjoyed brightened everyone's spirits. The boutique employee originally helping them had earned the ire of all four women. Her replacement was a soft-spoken, kind man named Justin.

He expertly listened to Sariel as she described the type of dress she wanted and dashed off to bring in a few choices. Sariel was grateful the private room she was secluded from the rest of the store. A soft knocking interrupted the conversation as Justin brought in three garment bags. He briefly explained the designs of each dress and hung them in the private changing room.

Sariel slipped into the room and unveiled the first dress. Her mouth fell agape as she stared at the bright white and silver detailed gown. Designed with elegance in mind, the satin A-line wedding dress with cap sleeves featured a chiffon split front overlay and silver metallic embroidery. She stripped to her underwear and pulled the cool satin dress on.

Her heart fluttered when exited the changing room and everyone fell silent. She caught her reflection and her hands flew to her mouth in shock. Tears welled up in her eyes.

"This one." Came the collective echo of voices.

Sariel nodded happily and smiled radiantly. Justin returned with a short veil that had an attached silver and pearl comb. He affixed it to the bun in Sariel's hair and beamed at her.

"Definitely this one, Lia." Evynne called out.

Sariel darted into the changing room and slipped the dress off, treating it with near reverence. She pulled the veil from her hair and laid it with the garment bag. She donned her clothing and moved back to the larger gallery room.

"Justin, we'll take the dress and veil. I saw some lingerie I'd like too, oh, and I'd like to look at the jewelry and shoes." Sariel blushed slightly.

"Of course. Which lingerie? I'll have it all gathered together. I'll bring you a few jewelry choices to look at while you're browsing the shoes." Justin spoke.

"The Lara set, with the back seam stockings." Sariel blushed furiously.

"An excellent choice. What color?" Justin replied.

"Do you have it in green?" Sariel blushed again.

"We do. I'll gather it for you. Would you like to accompany me to the shoes?" Justin asked.

"Yeah, sure." Sariel smiled brightly.

The young man led Sariel towards the expansive shoe display. It took her a few moments, but she settled on a pair of silver strappy heels. She frowned at the jewelry selections when she fondly ran her fingers over her lotus pendant.

The next few days blurred together as Sariel and Elliott picked their cake, his tuxedo, their flowers, and all the rest of the details. Lilly and Audrey would be driving down for the wedding and bunking with Leon and Chris. Robin had added a library to the farmhouse to house all of Elliott's books and his writing desk. Leon and Chris had moved all of his belongings from the cabin into the farmhouse.

Saturday night, Leon, Chris, Peter, Leah, and Willy had a small bachelor party for Elliott. Lilly, Audrey, Evynne, Emily, Haley, and Abigail dragged Sariel to the bathhouse for drinks and her party. Sunday Leon and Chris dragged Elliott to their house for the evening. When they caught him texting Sariel they stole his phone and threw it in their gun safe.

Monday morning arrived and so far, no one had been murdered by either Elliott or Sariel. Lilly and Audrey spent their morning keeping Sariel relaxed and pampered. She slept in until close to ten and curled up on the couch watching Beauty and the Beast.

At one she took a shower and dressed in a t-shirt and shorts as she, Lilly, Audrey, and Evynne made their way to Emily's house. They darted inside and were whisked upstairs to Haley's room. The short blonde woman immediately set to work with Audrey and started getting everyone prepared.

Emily snuck in a small birthday cake for Sariel as she was tortured ritualistically. Lilly put the finishing touches on Sariel's hair and makeup. She took a step back from her friend and smiled at her softly. Tears were forming in her eyes as she struggled to find the words she wanted to say.

"Oh geez, Lilly. If you're crying I must look horrible!" Sariel teased.

"No, Sariel, quite the opposite. I'm so happy for you. I've loved you like a sister since the day we met. You've been through so much and have always been my best friend. Elliott's a lucky man, Rinn." Lilly cried softly as she spoke.

"Oh, Lilly. I love you too. You're always going to be my best friend, that'll never change. Thank you, for everything." Sariel replied softly.

Sariel stood and looked at herself in the mirror. Her long red hair was curled into loose curls, and her makeup perfectly suited her. The pale pink polish on her nails complemented her skin nicely. Her dress fit perfectly. The lace cap sleeves led to a sweetheart neckline. The dress was covered with a lace overlay, and the silvery metallic embroidery on the dress provided the perfect contrast to the bright white color of the gown.

"I… look amazing. Thank you so much, Lilly. I love you all so much!" Sariel stammered.

"It's time, Rinn." Lilly stated gently.

Lilly went down the stairs first and smiled as Haley kept capturing photos of everything. The memories being made here would be fond things to look back on. Tears were in her eyes when Sariel appeared at the top of the stairs.

Evynne gasped at her daughter. As Sariel descended, Haley took a few photos of her, then various photos of she, Lilly, Audrey, and Evynne together. Her favorite so far was the picture she got of Sariel looking completely happy. Lilly hugged her gently and handed her the bouquet she'd placed in the fridge. The lilies, white roses, moonflowers, and single white lotus flower complemented each other perfectly.

"Oh Lilly, it's perfect! A little bit of a reminder of all the people I love. Thank you." Sariel spoke softly.

She could hear the soft sounds of music fluttering through the air of the town square. She and Lilly marched outside. Her heels clicked softly on the paved road. As they rounded the corner, Sariel saw the walkway leading to the town square was lined with luminaries. The soft candlelight cast a warm glow on the cobblestone path.

Lilly kissed her friend's cheek and ran up ahead of her to take her place at the back of the seating area. Sariel quickly caught up and smiled brightly when her father took her right arm in his left and kissed her softly on her cheek. He hugged her gently.

Haley flittered about taking photographs of all the guests. She was honored Sariel had asked her to be their photographer. She worked tirelessly, making sure she captured everything.

Sariel saw Elliott standing beneath a flower arch. He was wearing a deep charcoal gray tuxedo and a pale green tie that matched his eye color. He looked devilishly handsome as he waited for Sariel to make her appearance.

"You look beautiful, baby. Elliott is very lucky. Mom and I are so proud of you, sweetheart. Are you ready?" Peter whispered.

Sariel nodded at her father. On cue, the music shifted to a much lighter song and Lilly started walking towards the flower arch Elliott, Leah and Mayor Lewis stood under. She took her place to the left of the arch and turned towards Sariel. Everyone stood as Sariel and Peter walked past.

The soft candlelight reflected in Elliott's eyes made them sparkle brilliantly. His breath caught in his throat when he saw Sariel walk down the aisle towards him. Though his skill with words was unmatched, he struggled to find the words to describe just how beautiful Sariel looked.

Peter hugged Sariel gently. He brushed a few strands of her hair from her face and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. He squeezed her shoulders lightly as he broke their embrace.

"Thank you, daddy. I love you." Sariel whispered.

"I love you too, princess. Congratulations." Peter replied tearfully.

Sariel took her place across from Elliott and stared into his eyes. In this single moment, time seemed to stand still. Her heart and soul soared through clouds of love and happiness. She had never felt more desired, loved, wanted and respected than she did in this single, perfect moment.

"When Sariel first arrived in Pelican Town, no one knew if she'd fit in with our community… But from this day forward, Sariel is going to be as much a part of this town as any of us!" Lewis called out.

He cleared his throat and continued addressing the residents of Pelican Town. Tears were pulling at the corners of his eyes. He always loved performing weddings.

"It is my great honor on this day, January 1st, to unite Sariel Shade and Elliott McCoy in the bonds of marriage. Do you have vows you'd like to exchange?" Lewis asked the couple.

They both nodded in response. Sariel handed her bouquet to Lilly and smiled when Elliott took her hands in his. He lovingly stroked the back of her hands with his thumbs. He cleared his throat and focused on his beloved.

"Sariel, you are my best friend. I promise to laugh with you, cry with you, and grow with you. I will love you when we are together and when we are apart. I promise to support your dreams and to respect our differences and to love you and to stand by your side and sleep in your arms. To be joy to your heart and food for your soul. To learn with you and encourage you, even as time and life change us both. I promise to laugh with you in good times and struggle alongside you in bad times. I promise to respect you and cherish you as an individual, a partner, and an equal, knowing that we do not complete, but complement each other. I choose you to be no other than yourself. Loving what I know of you, trusting what things I will discover. There is little to say that you haven't already heard, and little to give that is not already freely given. I am yours and I am devoted to you in every way. I pledge to you my love, for as long as I live. What I possess in this world, I give to you. I will keep you and hold you, comfort and tend you, protect you and shelter you, for all the days of my life. I marry you with no hesitation or doubt, and my commitment to you is absolute." Elliott spoke confidently with tears in his eyes.

"Elliott, I promise to always be your biggest fan and your partner in crime. As a family, we will create a home filled with learning, laughter, and compassion. I vow not just to grow old together, but to grow together. I vow to love you, encourage you, trust you, and respect you. I promise to work with you to foster and cherish a relationship of equality knowing that together we will build a life far better than either of us could imagine alone. I will love you faithfully through the difficult and the easy. I love you unconditionally and without hesitation. Today, I choose you to be my husband. I accept you as you are, and I offer myself in return. I will care for you, stand beside you, and share with you all of life's adversities and all of its joys from this day forward, and all the days of my life. As I have given you my hand to hold, so I give you my life to keep. From the day I first met you, I knew I wanted to spend more time with you. You welcomed me into your life and your heart freely. You've been my support and lifeline when it felt like I couldn't go on anymore. When everything seemed hopeless, you gave me unending love, courage, and strength. You are my better half, my lover, my rock, my best friend, and my soul mate. I love you with everything I am, and everything I could ever hope to be. I marry you with no hesitation or doubt, and my commitment to you is absolute." Tears flowed down Sariel's face as she spoke her vows.

Tears and sniffles rippled through the crowd of their friends. Lilly and Leah handed the rings they were holding to Sariel and Elliott. Sariel lovingly turned the thick silver band over in her fingers.

"Elliott, do you take Sariel to be your wife? Through good times and bad, through sickness and health, until death do you part?" Lewis asked.

"I do." Elliott answered as he slipped Sariel's wedding band on her ring finger.

The gorgeous emerald green band cradled her engagement ring. The two rings locked together to form her wedding band. Elliott wiped a few tears from his cheeks when he saw the completed band on Sariel's hand.

"Sariel, do you take Elliott to be your husband? Through good times and bad, through sickness and health, until death do you part?" Lewis asked again.

"I do." Sariel answered as she placed Elliott's wedding ring on his hand.

The brilliantly shiny tungsten band gleamed in the candlelight. The sturdy ring was the exact shade of Sariel's stormy eyes. She smiled brightly at Elliott and held his hands in hers.

"As the Mayor of Pelican Town, and regional bearer of the matrimonial seal, I know pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride!" Lewis exclaimed.

Elliott wasted no time in lifting Sariel's veil and sweeping her into his arms and kissing her passionately. He smiled against her lips when she wrapped her arms around him and tightened their embrace. The cheers and excitement from their friends warmed their hearts as they broke their kiss.

"May I proudly present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Elliott and Sariel McCoy!" Lewis exclaimed.

Elliott threaded his fingers through Sariel's. The newlyweds turned to face the gathering of their friends and families with smiles on their faces. They smiled brightly as they made their way down the aisle. Their friends blew an extraordinary amount of bubbles over the two.

Elliott spun Sariel into his arms and lifted her easily. He captured her mouth in a passionate kiss and spun her around in a small circle. When he lowered her to the ground he was smiling against her kisses.

"I love you, Mrs. McCoy." Elliott whispered lovingly.

"I love you, too, Mr. McCoy." Sariel replied sweetly.

The duo climbed into Sariel's waiting truck and made the rather short drive back to the farmhouse, where the reception was being held. As Elliott turned the corner to the road the farmhouse sat on, he and Sariel gasped at how everything had been decorated.

Glass jars filled with fairy lights illuminated a large field. Several expansive tables had been set up with food and drinks. A large pile of presents was stacked carefully near the front porch. Sariel beamed as she took in the scope of everything.

Elliott parked the truck beside the house and quickly hopped out and made his way to Sariel's door. As he swung it open he pulled Sariel into his arms and kissed her gently. He cupped her face in his left hand and stroked her back softly.

"Happy birthday, my love." Elliott whispered softly.

"Ellie… thank you so much!" Sariel answered tearfully.

"I have a present to give you later." Elliott smirked.

"What could possibly top what you've already given me?" Sariel asked happily.

"Let's get this party started! Congratulations you two!" Leon proclaimed loudly.

Sariel stepped away from Elliott and saw everyone had mostly caught up to them. Gus positioned himself near the food tables. He watched with a critical eye as people started getting plates of food. He handed Sariel and Elliott a plate and directed them to the head table.

They both sat down and were quickly joined by Leah, Lilly, Audrey, Leon, Chris, and Willy. Sariel giggled furiously when Leon stuck a crown on her head that read 'Happy Birthday'. The light-heartedness of the gesture made her happy.

As everyone took their seats, Leon grabbed his wine glass and clinked a fork to it, drawing everyone's attention to him. He stood in his seat and cast a loving gaze towards his surrogate sister. He waited for everyone to quiet down before beginning to speak.

"My name's Leon Winchester. I've known Sariel for nine long years. For all of them, I've been proud to call her my little sister. Elliott, from all of us that are Sariel's family, both by blood and by choice, thank you for giving my sister the best birthday present in the world. Welcome to the family." Leon stated proudly.

Sariel blushed furiously and was glad the darkness concealed her reddened cheeks. She felt Elliott slip his hand to hers and squeeze it gently. She returned the gesture and smiled towards Leon.

Chris stood and scooped Sariel into his arms. He carried her to the center of the clearing and gently sat her down. He motioned for Elliott to join him as he bounded to the porch. He returned with Leon and Audrey. Lilly discreetly made her way to the small stage and slid behind Abigail's drum set. Chris looped Leon's guitar strap around his broad shoulders and smiled brightly as Audrey followed with her own guitar.

Sariel giggled when she realized her closest friends were getting ready to serenade her. She melted into Elliott's embrace as he wrapped his warm arms around her softly. She laid her head on his chest and closed her eyes.

As their friends began slowly playing the notes of Lonestar's Amazed, Elliott swayed gently in place as he cradled Sariel to him. He threaded his fingers with hers and gently moved in time to the music. He smiled at the truth to the song's lyrics and how perfectly it fit he and Sariel.

As the song ended, Elliott dipped Sariel low to the ground and kissed her passionately. He slid his left hand to her lower back and held her tightly against him as he brought her upright. The wind gently blew around them and Elliott smiled when he caught the notes of Sariel's perfume on the breeze.

The shared dances moved quickly as Sariel and Peter danced, followed by Evynne and Elliott. Leon bounded off the stage and pulled Sariel into his embrace as he danced with her, while Lilly danced with Elliott. Finally, Chris led Sariel through a dance, while Elliott and Audrey danced.

When the dances finished, Gus started serving everyone food. They ate happily while Leon got up and encouraged everyone to sing Happy Birthday to Sariel. He could tell in the pale light of the candles she was blushing furiously.

Sariel took a deep breath and walked to the clearing in front of the table, where they'd danced previously. She shuddered slightly when everyone focused on her. She cleared her thoughts and her throat softly.

"Hi everyone. As Leon has so graciously mentioned, today is my birthday. It is also the one year anniversary of me moving here. Today's also special as it marks the year of my life that I've been in a relationship with Elliott. I can't imagine how differently my life would have been had I not moved here, nor met him. I have a special wedding present for him, and I'd like to share it with all of you." Sariel's voice echoed slightly.

She crossed to the stage and looped Leon's guitar around her shoulder. She lowered the microphone to her height and turned towards Elliott. She closed her eyes and began slowly strumming notes from the instrument.

As she sang the words of the song she'd written for Elliott, she smiled brightly at him. She poured her heart and soul into the song willing it to express her love for him in a way she couldn't. As she finished the song she gasped when Elliott bounded to the stage and pulled her into his arms.

"Rinn, that was beautiful!" Elliott exclaimed.

"There's actually more to the gift. I made you an album of songs." Sariel admitted sheepishly.

"She isn't kidding, Elliott! We helped!" Leon added.

Elliott kissed her passionately and wrapped her in his arms. He swore his heart couldn't feel any more full than it did in this present moment. He kissed her neck and nipped at the skin below her ear slightly.

As music filled the air, he led her from the stage and danced with her, enjoying having his wife close to him. He shivered at the thought of Sariel no longer being just his girlfriend, but his wife. He cradled her head to his chest when she nestled against him.

As the evening waned, Elliott and Sariel bade their farewells to everyone. The made their way inside the farmhouse and they smiled brightly when they saw the interior had been decorated with pictures of the happy couple. They fondly cast their gazes over the memories their friends had preserved for them.

Sariel swallowed the lump in her throat and threaded her fingers through Elliott's as she led him to their bedroom. She gently freed the veil from her hair and laid it on the dresser. She turned in place and kissed him softly.

She backed away from him and dimmed the lights as she entered the bathroom. She gently undid the zipper of her wedding gown and slid the satin garment from her shoulders. She was wearing a matching set of emerald green lacy lingerie. The lace top had straps crossing from the cup of the bra to the opposite shoulder, that connected with the bra straps. Thin lace scarcely covered her abdomen and back. The matching lace panties connected to the stockings she wore.

She ran a brush through her hair, softening the curls of her hair. She pulled the dark green silk robe she'd purchased onto her slender frame and shivered against the chilled fabric. She made her way out of the bathroom and cast a sultry gaze towards Elliott.

"Hi, Handsome." Sariel purred.

"Hi, Beautiful." Elliott replied.

Sariel smiled mischievously and sauntered to Elliott. He was perched on the edge of their bed watching her intently. His breath hitched in his throat when he saw Sariel was still wearing her silver heels.

He grabbed Sariel's slender waist and crushed her body to his as he kissed her. He stood and cast off his jacket and tie. Sariel laid on the bed and beckoned Elliott to join her.

He growled and kicked his dress shoes off as he laid next to her. His hands sought purchase under the silk of her robe as he pulled the ties loose. He brushed the flowing fabric off of her and swore under his breath when he saw the lingerie she was wearing.

"Rinn." Elliott choked out, a mixture of lust, desire, and desperation heavy in his voice.

"Yes, Ellie?" Sariel quipped.

"You look earth-shatteringly beautiful." Elliott answered.

"I think you're wearing far too much clothing, Mr. McCoy." Sariel teased.

"What would Mrs. McCoy like to do about that?" Elliott taunted.

Sariel flipped Elliott to his back and pulled his dress shirt and undershirt from his belt in a single movement. She hastily unbuttoned his shirt and tugged the fabric off of him. She unclasped his belt and freed the leather strip from his pants. The pleasured cry from his lips as she unbuttoned his pants and slid the zipper down with her teeth thrilled her.

Elliott nearly tore his pants from his body and flipped Sariel to her back. He unhooked the clasps on Sariel's lingerie and flung the garments off of her like they were personally offending him. He kissed her deeply and speared his fingers into her hair as he thrust his hips forward and sank into her. He swallowed her cry as he sunk completely into her warmth.

He growled when she wrapped her legs around his waist and locked her ankles together, preventing him from moving. As he pounded into her she arched her back and cried his name repeatedly as she climaxed. He slipped his hand under her back and gently flipped them over. He ran his hands along her sides as she rode him. She bounced up and down as she slowly rocked back and forth.

She screamed his name and a series of expletives as she climaxed a second time. She collapsed against him as his own climax crested. The two lovers were breathless and panting from their lovemaking.

"That was amazing." Sariel panted.

"You're amazing, darling." Elliott countered.

"I love you, Elliott McCoy." Sariel whispered.

"I love you, Sariel McCoy." Elliott replied.

The two laid together, basking in the afterglow of their respective climaxes for well over an hour. Eventually, Sariel removed her high heels and the stockings she wore. She pulled the green lace panties back on and slipped on an emerald green silk nightgown.

Elliott climbed out of bed and handed Sariel a leather-bound book. He brightened the lights in the room slightly and pulled her onto the bed with him. He wrapped his arms around her lovingly.

"It's a book of poetry I wrote for you, expressing how I feel about you." Elliott admitted.

Sariel flipped through the pages and tears fell down her cheeks as she read the words he often struggled to say. She clutched the book to her heart and kissed him gently. She lovingly twisted a lock of his hair around with her fingers.

"Elliott?" Sariel asked quietly.

"Yes, Sariel?" Elliott replied sweetly.

"You know how we haven't used condoms, because I have an IUD, right?" Sariel quietly inferred.

"Mhm." Elliott answered.

"I had the IUD removed last month. My OB/GYN says it can take a few months before we can get pregnant, though." Sariel admitted.

"That's wonderful news, my beloved. I can't wait to have children with you." Elliott gleefully stated.

Sariel rolled to her side and pressed her cheek to Elliott's shoulder as the two snuggled in bed. Elliott slowly stroked her back and pulled the blankets up around them. He pressed a kissed to Sariel's forehead and smiled at her.

"The valley finally looks like home now, doesn't it?" Elliott purred.

"The valley is home, now. I have everything I could ask for here." Sariel cooed.

"Sariel, I'm so proud of all your hard work. I'm very lucky to have you." Elliott whispered.

"I felt like I had no direction in life before I met you. Now I have exactly what I want." Sariel replied.

She snuggled closer to Elliott and felt herself be pulled into the peaceful slumber that tugged at the back of her thoughts. Her heart was full and she was perfectly happy. The warmth and love she felt for Elliott were returned in multitudes. She couldn't wait to see what adventures life has in store for them as husband and wife.