A Fitting Afterparty

Warning: Love Scene

The refurbished barn on the farm estate glowed with an inviting warmth as the guests arrived for the reception. Fairy lights twinkled overhead, casting a soft light on the exposed beams and weathered wood walls. Round tables adorned with creamy linens and lush greenery centrepieces awaited the merrymakers who were enjoying the bar before dinner got underway. The air hummed with anticipation and the promise of a joyous celebration.

Ryan stepped up the podium and took a deep breath. As emcee for this event, he had to make sure it turned into a party! "Alright everyone, let's grab those drinks and find your seats, we're getting ready to welcome in our wedding party. I hear Jason and Kelsi finally stopped making out long enough to get their photos done so we'll get them in here and we can eat." He ran off a few other housekeeping rules and directions from the hall before getting to the one he was eager to share. "Finally, please don't clink your glasses for a kiss from the bride and groom, we have another way to do that. If you would like a kiss from the bride and groom, you need to get up here and show them how it's done and they will do their best to copy you. So we'll see how many of you are brave enough to give them a lesson!"

He pointed to the DJ who started the music for the introductions. "Alright let's make some noise for the wedding party. First please welcome your groomsmen and bridesmaids, the performers of that lovely duet, Troy and Gabriella!" Troy and Gabriella made their way in with some cool and confident dance moves that brought applause from the guests. "Keep that applause going Chad and Taylor!" Chad strutted in with Taylor on his arm, stopping to spin her wildly in the middle of the dance floor before they made their way to their seats. "And let's have a Texas sized welcome for Luke and Alisha!" Luke and Alisha made their way in, taming up the crowd with their southern style energy. "Finally, welcome best man and brother of the groom Andrew Cross with dearest friend of the bride and maid of honour Martha Cox!" Martha and Andrew busted a move all the way to their seats, bringing a roaring applause from the guests. Ryan allowed a moment of pause for the anticipation of the final pair. "And now, get on your feet people," he said dramatically as the guests all stood at their tables, "join me in welcoming the man and woman of the hour, the newly minted Mr. and Mrs., Jason and Kelsi Cross!"

They appeared on opposite sides of the heavy barn doors and locked hands when they met in the middle to make their own dancing entrance through the applause of their friends and family. Jason spun Kelsi around on the dance floor, more comfortably now as he'd changed from the sleek dress shoes into his usual skate sneakers, and leaned her back with a deep open mouthed kiss. He couldn't care less that everyone was watching. It was their big day, and the crowd would just have to put up with it.

The first few bites of her dinner went down so good as Kelsi found herself starving after the long ordeal of greeting all their guests and having their photos taken. Jason had been all over her, to the point where she almost wished they had somewhere to sneak away for a few minutes. He had laughed uncontrollably when she whispered the idea in his ear during one of the photos, drawing what the photographer called a picture perfect moment between them.

Jason sat down to his place beside her, dropping an ice cold beer down in front of each of them.

"Thanks, baby," she said in between bites.

He leaned in and kissed her cheek. "How's the food? You're plowing through that like like you haven't eaten in a week," he chuckled as he settled into his first few bites. "Okay, I get it now, that's really good."

"At this point, I'd eat it even if it sucked, but this is excellent. I was so nervous this morning I barely ate breakfast."

"Me too, but I also didn't want to pass out when I was supposed to be promising the rest of my life to you," he said as he casually sipped his beer.

Kelsi sipped her own and looked back at him. "How come anything related to forever with us has always rolled so easily off your back? Like it's no big deal," she asked.

"Not that it's not a big deal, because it is," he replied putting an arm around her shoulder, "it's just that it doesn't get to me, it doesn't worry me because it's with you."

Kelsi leaned on his shoulder and looked out across the room full of their friends and family mingling and enjoying their wedding. Their wedding, it was so surreal to her as she snuggled her head on the shoulder of the man who had been her friend, her lover, and now her husband.

Kelsi's parents stepped to the podium and her dad took the mic, shocking Kelsi that he was going to speak in front of all these people.

"Hi everyone, for those of you who don't know me, I'm Steven, Kelsi's dad, the guy who usually has grease under his fingernails and doesn't make big speeches so I'll keep this short." He took in a deep breath and continued.

"Since she was a little girl, Kelsi's been my copilot. We'd tinker in the garage, she'd bring in her little keyboard and play it till her fingers hurt. She always had the craziest ideas, like sticking stickers all over one of my bench stools or figuring out how we could install a piano in the back of the GTO. I also have to share, for Jason's sake, there was one time she convinced me to paint the living room purple when she was eight. Let's just say, you might want to hold onto the veto power when it comes to decor, Jason." The crowd laughed as Kelsi shook her head and Jason shrugged like he thought a purple living room might be fun.

"Jokes aside, Kelsi's grown into an amazing, strong woman. She's got a passion for life, especially music as you all know, that puts even my love of cars to shame. She loves hard and has found a man who loves her back just as hard. Many of you might not know that about a year ago we almost lost Kelsi." A hush fell over the room and Steven drew in a hard breath. "My girl almost got taken out by an unknown allergy, but this selfless and loving young man did what every father hopes for in a future husband. Jason, you may make my daughter laugh, you might challenge her, but most importantly, you take good care of her. You put everything on the line for her that day and that's more than a father can ask for. Remember, K, if you ever need a hand, if there's something your knight in shining armour can't fix, your old man is just a phone call away. So let's raise a glass, to my daughter and son-in-law!"

Kelsi jumped out of her seat and met her parents at the podium with Jason following along behind her. Steven wrapped her in a huge hug before turning to shake Jason's hand and pull him into an equally warm embrace. They all turned back to their seats, but Lina went back to the mic.

"Hey, Steven," she said in a sing song tone that made him turn on a dime to face her, "how about you and I give the bride and groom one of those kissing lessons?" Applause and wolf whistles filled the air as she handed the mic back to Ryan and made her way to meet him in the middle of the dance floor.

"Alright!" Ryan said, "Looks like mom and dad are going to be the first to play our little game!" Kelsi brought her hands to her face and covered her eyes while Jason broke into a hearty laugh beside her. "Hey hey, pay attention, Kelsi! Looks like your mamma's gonna show you how it's done!"

Steven closed the rest of the distance between them and caught her waist to land a eager open mouthed kiss on her lips. When she wrapped her arms around his neck, he dropped her into a sweeping dip before pulling her back up and whispering in her ear. "Maybe the bride and groom won't be the only ones getting lucky tonight." Lina laughed heartily as Ryan urged Jason and Kelsi out to the floor where Jason threw Kelsi back with an identical dip and laid a heavy kiss on her lips.

"Okay, Jason, easy!" Ryan laughed into the mic as the guests cheered at the display, "better save your energy for your next lessons."

"Friends and family, it's an honour to get to give the best man's speech here at the wedding of my little brother, Jason, who many of you know as the piccolo rompiscatole or the little pain in the ass," Andrew began and Jason shook his head at the nickname as a ripple of laughter went through the crowd. "I've known Jason, well, his whole life and we've shared countless adventures, from building forts in the backyard to getting into all kinds of trouble. Remember that time we broke into the school? Or when we accidentally flooded the basement trying to build a homemade water slide? Yeah, we weren't always the brightest pair, but we sure had a hell of a lot of fun. I may have been the boxing champ, but he's the guy I could always count on to not back down from a fight, always by my side. Jason, it's been awesome to have you as my sidekick, but now it's time for you to be Kelsi's sidekick. We all know she's got you wrapped around her finger, bro, so don't even deny it." Kelsi laughed and snuggled close to Jason's shoulder, the idea had a nice ring to it. "I think of that first Christmas when Jason brought Kelsi around and how quickly she melded into our family. We all knew you were there to stay, Kelsi. You've brought out the best in Jason. He told me so many times how you encouraged him, always made his day, and how you made those ten hour shifts feel like a walk in the park with you walking beside him. You guys are going to have a wonderful life together, keep walking hand in hand and there's nowhere you wont be able to go." Jason took hold of Kelsi's hand and gave her a tender kiss on her cheek. "Oh and before I go, I have a message on behalf of the Wildcats basketball team for Kelsi: 'Apologies we couldn't all be there today, good luck with Jason. We found him to be useless in most positions, but wishing you all the best for tonight'." The room erupted in laughter, making the newlyweds turn a bold shade of red at the inference. "With that, let's raise a glass to the happy couple, Jason and Kelsi!"

Jason stepped up to the mic, it was his turn to make his toast to his bride. After his mother and father's heartfelt speech and Martha's touching maid of honour speech, all eyes turned to him as he ran a nervous hand through his hair.

"First, I want to thank all of you for being here to celebrate our special day. It means the world to Kelsi and me." A warm smile spread across Kelsi's face as she looked on lovingly at him. Jason continued, "I'm a lucky man to toast this beautiful woman who I get to call my bride today." He paused to still his nerves, taking a long look down the head table and straight into her eyes. "Kels, I told you a while ago that you're everything I was looking for, and there you were, right in front of me the whole time. From the way you smile, how your hand fits in mine, and your passion for anything you put your mind to, I love you for all of it." He looked back over to the crowd. "So please raise a glass to my awesome bride, Mrs. Kelsi Cross."

A ripple of applause and clinking of cheers filled the room as Kelsi blushed at the attention, but Jason continued to her surprise. "You know, I was pretty amazed with the iron grip she kept on all the planning to make this day happen, she trusted me enough to leave one little detail entirely to me: our honeymoon. I've had so many people ask me where we're going, and I've managed to keep the secret until now. These sharp looking groomsmen don't even know." He paused, allowing the suspense to build as a surprised murmur made its way through the crowd. Then, with a inquiring smile, he looked straight at her, "Kels, haven't you always wanted to go to New Orleans?"

A collective 'aww' rippled through the crowd as Kelsi's eyes widened in astonishment. She covered her mouth with her hands, her face flushed with excitement. She jumped up from her chair and ran to meet him at the podium. Throwing her arms around his neck, she nearly knocked him over.

"I'll take that as a yes," he laughed, reaching in his back pocket to pull out a folded map that he'd wrapped with a green ribbon. He handed it to her as tears welled up in her eyes. "I love you, sweetheart, here's your map to our first adventure." The room erupted in cheers and applause as Kelsi pulled him down into a passionate kiss.

As the laughter and applause cleared, Ryan stepped back to the mic with them. His voice, rich with warmth, filled the barn. "Let's now give another warm round of applause to our newlyweds, it's time for their first dance." The first notes of the song filled the air while Jason and Kelsi made their way out to the centre of the dance floor. With a practiced ease, he pulled her into a classic dance position, his arm finding a comfortable place around her back as he intertwined his other fingers with hers. Kelsi draped her hand over his shoulder, their bodies close but not yet intimate. The soft glow of the fairy lights cast a romantic ambiance, illuminating their every move. They moved in perfect time, their steps a graceful dance of connection. Jason's grip tightened around Kelsi's waist as he pulled her closer.

"I keep wondering when I'm going to wake up," she murmured softly. "Like any minute now I'm going to wake up and you wont be beside me."

"I know how you feel," he replied softly, "it does feel like a dream."

"Except, you know, without the weird plot twists," she said with a giggle. A playful glint appeared in Jason's eyes as he spun her out, her dress twirling along with her. Kelsi laughed, her eyes sparkling with joy. She let him raise her arm and spin her around again, easily winding her back into his arms.

"How's that for a plot twist?" he chuckled softly.

Kelsi smiled back at him and gave him a gentle squeeze on his bicep. "You damn charmer," she whispered. "And I can't believe you remembered about New Orleans. Thank you, J."

"Of course, Kels. Aren't you glad you trusted me?"

Their soft laughter filled the air between them, a sweet melody in the romantic ambiance. For a moment, they were just two old friends, sharing a secret joke. Then, their eyes met, and the playful banter faded, replaced by a tender gaze. As the music swelled, they found a deeper connection, their bodies moving as one. Their foreheads touched, their eyes closed in a shared moment of peace as Jason drew their extended hands close to his chest. In this intimate embrace, they felt a profound sense of belonging, a realization that they were truly together forever.

"Kels, I love you so much, baby," Jason whispered, his voice filled with sincerity.

Kelsi smiled, her heart full. "I love you too, J" she replied. As the final notes of the song faded, Jason gently leaned Kelsi back, their foreheads still touching. In a moment of pure, unfiltered emotion, he dipped her and kissed her softly, lingering long enough for a few hoots and hollers to fill the room.

Ryan's voice broke through the noise. "And now, for all of you lovebirds out there, let's share in the love tonight! Another slow song is about to come on. Grab your partners and join us on the dance floor." Romance hung heavy in the air as couples filled the floor. Kelsi and Jason watched as their parents, each love story etched into the smiles on their faces, swayed to the music. The sight filled them with a warmth and a hope for their own future. Their eyes found their friends, Chad and Taylor moving close together, Troy twirling Gabriella with effortless grace. A wave of nostalgia washed over them as they remembered countless days spent together in high school, forging friendships that had stood the test of time. Luke and Alisha swirled by, reminding them of their newfound friendships that would stay with them on this next chapter of their lives too. When the slow song ended, Troy leaned into the microphone.

"Alright, everyone, Gabs and I are gonna spice things up a bit!" He grinned at Gabriella, who returned his playful smile. Without hesitation, Troy scooped Gabriella into his arms, hoisting her in a bridal carry as her surprised laughter filled the room. He leaned down and gave her a passionate kiss, setting the bar high. Jason grabbed Kelsi and mirrored Troy's move, lifting her into his arms and giving her a playful, yet loving kiss. The crowd erupted in cheers as the DJ dropped a high-energy beat.

"Let's get this party started!" Ryan called out. The dance floor became a whirlwind of energy and celebration. Jason and Kelsi, surrounded by their closest friends, felt a surge of happiness. Troy and Gabriella moved with a synchronicity born of years of friendship and young love. Zeke and Sharpay, their infectious enthusiasm lighting up the room, danced wildly along with Luke, Alisha, Martha and Dan. Andrew spied that Jenny had passed Lillian off to Aunt Josie and pulled her onto the dance floor for a wild dance all their own. Even the tornado twins managed to convince Nonna Pia to bust a few moves on the edge of the dance floor.

As the night wore on, Troy, always the instigator, looped his arms around Jason and Chad's shoulders. "Let's hit the bar, boys!" he shouted over the music. The group nodded in agreement, their bodies craving a momentary respite. Jason and Kelsi followed the crowd, their hands still linked. As they approached the bar, Chad ordered a round of tequila shots, passing one to everyone. Kelsi took the glass, a small rebellion against the sobriety she had planned to maintain. The allure of a shared moment with their closest friends was too tempting to resist.

Chad raised his glass and his voice. "What team?!"

The group cheered and responded to his call. "Wildcats!"

"What team?!"

"Wildcats!"

"What team?!"

"Wildcats!"

"Wildcats! To Jason and Kelsi!" he cheered before tossing his shot back with all the Wildcats gathered around.

Jason looped an arm around Kelsi's waist as he handed her a second shot. "Care to out-shot me again, Mrs. Cross?" he asked with a wink.

She tossed it back quickly, the fiery liquid burning its way down her throat. A playful grimace crossed her face. "Not if you really want to make a Mrs. out of me tonight," she replied as he tossed his own back, coughing sharply at the burn and her comment. The shots provided a brief jolt of energy for all to return to the dance floor, but Jason and Kelsi silently agreed to be mindful, each desiring a clear head as they longed for their wedding night.

The music raged on into the night, echoing to the rafters of the barn, laughter and pure celebration filling the air. Kelsi stood near the double barn doors, her eyes scanning the room with happiness.

Jason found her there, his gaze warm and inviting. "It's getting late, babe," he murmured, his voice barely audible over the music.

"Yeah, maybe we should say our goodbyes soon," she replied, receiving a suggestive kiss on her cheek from him.

Jason slipped his hand into hers, his fingers hot with the desire that was growing by the moment. "Or we could just get out of here," he replied, his voice potent with intimacy. He pulled her slightly closer, their bodies just touching.

A blush crept up Kelsi's cheeks as she met his gaze, feeling the warmth of his breath on her face. "You want to Irish exit from our own wedding?" she giggled. The room seemed to fade away as their eyes locked. It was as if the world had narrowed down to just the two of them.

Jason leaned in closer, his voice became rousingly serious. "The Mach 1 is gassed up and waiting for us."Kelsi's heart raced. She felt a mix of excitement and anticipation. Jason's next words sent a shiver down her spine. "I'd like to take you home, Kels, to our room, our bed." His voice was husky with need, making her knees feel weak and her lace underwear start to dampen. He dipped his head and whispered, "Come on, baby, let's go."

Kelsi nearly came apart at his words, her eyes filling with a mixture of fire and longing. She nodded desperately, her smile radiant as he gently pulled her into a tender kiss. As they slipped away unnoticed, they left behind a room filled with the echoes of a wonderful evening and headed for the special conclusion that they were eager to find.

When Jason shut off the engine of the Mach 1 in their driveway, the world fell into a blur for both of them. Somehow the door was unlocked, shoes fell off, and they made their way up the stairs and into their bedroom. The whimsey of their amazing wedding drifted into memory at the desperate kisses they lavished on each other. Jason followed Kelsi's steps to the edge of their bed, letting his lips wander until they were sucking viciously on her neck.

"I want you bad, Mrs. Cross," he murmured, gripping her hips in anticipation.

Kelsi leaned into his embrace and ran her fingers tenderly through his hair. "You'll have to give me a few minutes to get this hairdo undone, babe, I think there's a million pins in there," she giggled.

He chuckled softly and let her go. "Okay, I can wait, do you need anything?"

"Some water would be great."

He retreated from the room and she hurried into the bathroom to free her hair from the mess of pinned curls the girls had styled for her that morning. As she plucked pin after pin and her soft brown locks fell to her shoulders, Jason returned with a bottle of water and stood in the doorway. He eyed her from head to toe, leaning casually on the doorframe with his arms crossed in obvious impatience.

"Thought you said you could wait?" she teased, looking down at the crotch of his dress pants that was already showing signs of his desire.

"As good as you look in it, Kels, I'm dying to get you out of that dress," Jason said as he stepped behind her and slipped the zipper down her back.

Kelsi shook her hair out and spun around when he had it almost open, stopping him from going any further. "Not here," she laughed, pushing him out of the bathroom and back into their room, "and you better take something off first. I've only got one thing, you're more dressed up than me."

Jason chuckled back at her and slipped the buttons of his vest open as she loosened his tie, shrugging it off with one swift motion. "You happy now?" he said as he started working through the buttons on his shirt.

She smiled playfully, pulling his belt off before looking up at him with a dreamy gaze. "I'm so happy, J," she said, slipping her hands under his shirt to let it slip off his arms and join his belt and vest on the floor. The feel of his toned arms and strong chest under her fingertips nearly turned her savage, but she had to wait, had to savour this moment.

"Me too, Kels." He cupped her face in his hands and pulled her close, smiling and shaking his head in disbelief, "look at you, you're finally my wife." She smiled brightly as he leaned in for a deep kiss, wrapping his arms around her back where her dress sat undone. Letting go of her lips, he pulled the sleeves down over her arms and gazed at the white lacy set she'd hidden underneath. He grinned in excitement as the loose gossamer skirts fell easily to the floor while she unfastened the button on his pants and slipped them quickly off his hips.

"Ready to make some love to your wife?" She asked with a seductive smile.

Jason bent and lifted her up onto his hips to lay her down on their bed. He hovered over her, taking in her beautiful face all over again, and ran his fingers through her wild curls. "I've been ready since you said yes," he replied with a long kiss on her cheek.

Kelsi's breath quickened as his kisses went from soft and gentle on her cheek, to passionate and desperate, making a trail down her neck. His hands made their own paths around her back to the clasp of her bra that came open with a satisfying pop and made her flinch and giggle.

Jason laughed with her as he sat up on his knees and pulled her bra off then went directly to her panties. He wasted little time pulling them gently over her hips and removing his boxers, the eagerness to feel her was barrelling over his desire to draw this moment out. He pulled her legs around his waist, bending over her to discover her breaths had become ragged and shallow, anxiously waiting for what they had been looking forward to for so long.

"You ready for me, hun?" he said softly.

"Find out for yourself," she whispered in his ear.

His fingers made a quick pass over her folds, finding them slick with desire. Her body wasn't just ready for him, it was begging for him. He nudged forward and pressed his bare tip into her, probing for the place he knew so well. He gasped as he pushed forward and filled her right to his hilt, eliciting a deep moan from both of their throats.

"Oh Kels, baby," he said as his body began to shudder at the intense feelings of her wrapped snuggly around him, "I feel you, damn, you're perfect." He began a slow passionate rhythm, keeping himself at bay was his only goal, wanting to enjoy this feeling for as long as possible tonight.

"J, you feel incredible," she gasped as he surged deep inside her. This felt so different, every inch of him rubbing gently along her contracting muscles was so intense she could feel her body winding tightly for him already. "Come on, baby, fuck your wife."

Jason released a soft growl as a sly grin snuck its way across his lips. He brought up the force, but not the speed, slamming a little deeper and harder with each stroke. "Oh I will, don't you worry," he moaned as he began to pick up the pace, feeling her tightening as her orgasm built up. He thrust his hips forward, passionately surging into her until her back was arching wildly and her hips were lifting off the bed in frantic motions of pleasure. He felt her rippling over him and thrust even quicker to bring her over the edge.

"Jason!" she yelled as she climaxed heavily over him. "Wow, that was amazing."

He could hardly respond as he took in the feeling of her muscles contracting against his sensitive tip, the wetness of her orgasm sliding freely over him was almost enough to send him over the edge too, but he managed to breathe through it and pull himself back.

"You're telling me," he said as he rolled to pull her on top of him, "your turn, Kels, fuck your husband."

She grinned and began to slowly circle her hips over his, pushing deeper until she felt his tip plunging into her depths. Her head fell forward, unable to stay upright as the intense sensations shook her to her core. When she bent over him to kiss his gasping lips, she felt him hit just the right spot and it made her moan from her depths.

"Oh right there, J," she gasped as she jerked her hips in short bursts to rub repeatedly over that tantalizing place, "right there, I love it."

Jason grasped the back of her head and pulled her within an inch of his lips. "You feel so good, Kels. Damn, woman..." He closed that last inch between them with a vicious kiss, pulling her lips onto his with power that made her hips fly into a frantic assault. She shoved hard, dropping down over his full length until her body finally caved and came apart, sending another torrent of pleasure washing over his twitching cock.

"Have you got one more in you, Kels?" Jason asked as he rolled her fast onto her back. "No, don't answer that." He grabbed her wrist and pinned her to the mattress, bracing himself for the final rush to the end, "I know you do, you always do." He thrust hard, harder than he ever had, bringing deep and emotional groans from her throat.

Kelsi grasped his neck with her free hand, pulling him down into a frantic kiss as another orgasm bloomed deep in her womb.

"Kels, I—," he gasped as his body tensed from head to toe, "fuck, I'm coming, baby. Let go with me!"

She moaned in the ecstasy of her own release as he finally erupted inside her. Their mutual climax shook them both to the depths of their souls, feeling every inch of their bodies connecting as they had been meant to be. Jason collapsed with a deep groan that gave way to a laugh from Kelsi as he crushed her with the weight of his muscled chest.

"Oh wow," Jason shuddered as his climax held on longer than he expected, sending his muscles into savage shakes at the extended release, "even with all our practice… that was just… something else."

Kelsi placed some tender kisses down over his neck and shoulders, running her fingers though his dark hair. It had felt different. The feeling of him making love to her without hindrance, without inhibitions, totally free and complete was an emotional whirlwind. For a moment she thought she would cry, it was so beautiful.

"That was definitely the best we've ever had, Mr. Cross," Kelsi sighed.

Jason gave her a lovesick smile, caressing her face and planting small kisses wherever he could. "Wow, Mrs. Cross," he said, pausing as he took her in by the dim light from the bedside lamp, "you're just glowing."