Chapter 8

As Alex bounced out of the apartment, giddy with excitement and visions of high ratings dancing in her head, Tori and Jade were left standing in their new shared space, both quiet for a moment as the reality of their new arrangement sank in. The apartment was cozy and thoughtfully decorated, clearly designed to encourage intimacy and natural interactions for the cameras—strategically placed in every room but the bathroom and their bedroom.

Jade was the first to break the silence. "So… married life, huh?"

Tori chuckled, brushing her hand through her hair. "Yeah. Married life. With cameras everywhere."

The weight of it all pressed down on them. Not just the cameras, but the journey, the confessions, the feelings that had gone unspoken for so long. Tori's gaze darted around the apartment, then landed on Jade. She looked breathtaking in her red and black lace wedding dress, but there was a nervous energy in her posture, mirrored in Tori's own.

"I… think I'm going to go… unpack," Jade said awkwardly, but instead of heading for her suitcase, she slipped into the bathroom and shut the door behind her.

Tori's shoulders sank, disappointment flickering in her chest. She sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers brushing the hem of her dress. Was this how their first night as a married couple was going to go? Avoidance?

Then Jade's voice floated through the door, soft and tinged with vulnerability. "Tori?"

Tori looked up, her heart skipping a beat. "Yeah?"

"Come closer. Please."

Tori hesitated for only a moment before standing and crossing the room. She leaned against the door, her hand resting lightly on its surface. "I'm here."

There was a pause, and then Jade spoke again, her voice quieter but steadier now. "Just promise me something."

"Anything."

"When we're done talking… you'll let me undress you."

Tori felt heat rush to her face, her lips curving into a smile. "I promise."

"Okay," Jade said, her breath audible through the door. "I just… I figured, since we're used to talking about heavy stuff without seeing each other, maybe this would be easier. At least to start."

Tori rested her forehead against the door, her fingers pressing lightly against the wood. "Yeah. Maybe you're right."

Jade's voice wavered as she continued. "That night, ten years ago… the party. I was drunk. I was scared out of my mind, but being drunk gave me the courage to kiss you. To make out with you. And then… When I woke up the next morning, I panicked. I pretended I didn't remember anything because I didn't know how to handle it. I'm sorry for staying away after that. For pretending I didn't feel anything at all."

Tori's breath hitched. "Jade…"

"No, let me finish," Jade interrupted, her tone more resolute. "I understood why you rejected me the night before you left. I deserved that. I just… I wish I'd been braver. I wish I hadn't let my fear get in the way."

Tori's throat tightened. Her voice was soft when she spoke. "I need to apologize too. I laughed in your face when you confessed because… I thought you were messing with me. Playing with my emotions. I didn't think you could ever actually feel that way about me. I had already decided to shut it all down, to stop feeling anything for you because it hurt too much. So when you said it, all I could think about was protecting myself. I'm sorry for that."

A heavy silence settled between them for a moment before Jade spoke again, her voice thick with regret. "You know… that whole mess would've made for awesome TV."

Tori laughed softly, shaking her head. "You're impossible."

The bathroom door opened slowly, revealing Jade standing there, her eyes red but her smile soft. "But you love me anyway."

Tori didn't hesitate. She pulled Jade into her arms, their lips meeting in a kiss that was as tender as it was passionate. Her hands slid down Jade's bare arms and over her shoulders, snagging the zipper of her dress. She pulled it down slowly, the lace bodice slipping from Jade's body and revealing the stunning lingerie beneath.

Jade stepped out of the dress, her confidence growing as Tori's eyes roamed over her. Jade's hands moved to Tori's shoulders, turning her gently to face away. She began undoing the delicate buttons of Tori's gown, her fingers trembling slightly as she worked her way down the low back of the mermaid-style dress.

When the last button was undone, Tori let the dress fall to the floor, stepping out of it gracefully. She turned back to Jade, her smile soft but her gaze heated.

"I've waited so long for this," Jade whispered, pulling Tori close.

Tori cupped Jade's face, her thumbs brushing over her cheeks. "Me too."

They had been married for only a few hours, but the tension between them was palpable. Tori reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair from Jade's face. "You're so beautiful," she whispered.

Jade blushed and looked down at the floor. "I'm not used to this," she said softly. "I haven't since… you know."

Tori paused. But determined not to make her bride feel inadequate, she took Jade's hand in hers and led her over to the bed. "It's okay," she said. "We can take it slow. I just want to make you feel good."

Jade nodded, still looking shy. Tori leaned in and kissed her, gently at first, but then with more passion. Jade responded, her arms wrapping around Tori's waist.

Tori slowly began to undress Jade from her lingerie, kissing every inch of skin that was revealed. Jade's breathing grew heavier as Tori's hands roamed over her body.

"You're so sexy," Tori murmured.

Jade blushed again but didn't say anything. Tori continued to kiss and touch her, slowly coaxing her out of her shell.

Finally, Jade was completely naked, and Tori stood before her, also naked. They stood there for a moment, taking in the sight of each other.

They lay down together, and Tori began to explore Jade's body with her hands and mouth.. She could feel Jade's nerves, but she knew that she could help her relax. She slowly began to undress Jade, taking her time to kiss and caress every inch of her body. Jade's skin was soft and pale, and Tori couldn't get enough of it. She traced her fingers over Jade's nipples, causing her to gasp with pleasure.

Tori then slowly made her way down to Jade's thighs, gently spreading them apart. She could see the wetness glistening between Jade's legs, and she knew that she was ready for her. Tori leaned in and began to tease Jade's clit with her tongue, causing her to moan with pleasure.

Jade's body began to writhe with pleasure as Tori continued to explore her body. She could feel herself getting closer and closer to the edge, and she knew that she wouldn't be able to hold back much longer.

Tori could feel Jade's body tensing up, and she knew that she was about to cum. She quickened her pace, flicking her tongue faster and faster over Jade's clit. Jade's body shook with pleasure as she finally let go, cumming hard on Tori's tongue.

Tori then slowly made her way back up to Jade's lips, kissing her deeply. Jade could taste herself on Tori's lips, and it only made her want her more.

Tori then gently pushed Jade back onto the bed, climbing on top of her, positioning herself so that their wetness met. She began to grind against Jade, their clits rubbing together in a delicious friction. Jade wrapped her legs around Tori, pulling her in closer as they moved together in a rhythm that was both primal and intimate.

Tori could feel the familiar tension building up inside of her, the sensation of Jade's body against hers only heightening her pleasure. She leaned down to kiss Jade, their tongues dancing together as their hips moved in unison.

Jade's nails dug into Tori's back as she felt herself getting closer and closer to the edge. She could feel the tension in Tori's body as well, and she knew that they were both on the brink.

"Let go," Tori whispered. "I've got you."

With one final thrust, they both came together, their bodies shuddering with pleasure as they reached the peak of their release. Jade let out a moan as she came, her body trembling with pleasure. Tori held her close, kissing her gently as she came down from her orgasm.

They lay there, tangled together in a sweaty heap, their hearts pounding in time with each other's.

Tori gently brushed a strand of hair away from Jade's face, kissing her softly. "I love you," she whispered, and Jade smiled, her eyes shining with happiness.

"I love you too," she replied, pulling Tori in for a deeper kiss. They lay there, wrapped up in each other's arms, their bodies still humming with the afterglow of their lovemaking. It was moments like these that made them realize just how lucky they were to have found each other here at this juncture in their lives.

They had been ready to move on, to other people not having fully let go of each other. But Fate had better ideas and the two of them were grateful for it.

Alex had been monitoring the married apartment's feed with mild curiosity but wasn't surprised when very little activity occurred after Tori and Jade had entered the bedroom the night before. It wasn't until late the next morning that the door finally opened, revealing the two women—disheveled, glowing, and clad in long, oversized T-shirts.

Tori padded barefoot into the kitchen, her hair a wild tangle, and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. Jade followed closely, swiping an apple from the fruit bowl, and wrapped an arm possessively around Tori's waist.

"Good morning, Mrs. Vega," Jade murmured, her lips brushing against Tori's ear.

Tori turned her head slightly, smirking as she twisted the cap off the water bottle. "Morning, Mrs. West. Sleep okay?"

Jade let out a low chuckle, pressing a kiss to Tori's bare shoulder. "I didn't do much sleeping. Not with you in bed."

Tori laughed softly, tilting her head back to give Jade better access as Jade's lips began a slow trail along her neck. "You're insatiable, you know that?"

"Only when it comes to you," Jade whispered, her voice dripping with heat. She turned Tori around, her hands settling on her hips as their lips met in a slow, lingering kiss.

The water bottle slipped from Tori's hand, forgotten, as she leaned into Jade, their bodies pressed together. Jade's hand slid up under the hem of Tori's shirt, her fingertips grazing bare skin. Tori moaned softly into the kiss, her hands tangling in Jade's hair.

Without breaking contact, Tori hoisted herself onto the kitchen island, her legs wrapping around Jade's waist to pull her closer. Jade's hands roamed freely now, sliding along Tori's thighs as their kisses deepened, growing more urgent.

"I'm a little bit hungry." Jade said, stepping back and taking a deep breath.

"Are you cooking?" Tori asked, reaching for an orange in the fruit bowl and handing it to her. Then taking another for herself.

"What's the quickest thing to make?" Jae asked, taking the orange and peeling it.

Tori smirked and peeled her own. Both of them were in dire need of hydration, so they concentrated on regaining the energy they needed to continue their honeymoon.

The kitchen was quiet except for the hum of the fridge and the clink of glasses as Jade poured water into two cups. Tori sat on the kitchen island, her legs swinging lazily while she peeled the orange, "Did you mean to make me fall in love with you all over again, or was that just a bonus?" Tori murmured, popping a slice of orange into her mouth, her eyes sparkling as she watched Jade.

Jade smirked, handing Tori her glass of water. "You make it sound like it was hard work. All I had to do was show up."

Tori leaned forward, her voice dropping into a sultry tone. "Oh, you showed up, alright."

Jade's lips twitched, and she stepped between Tori's knees, placing her hands on Tori's thighs. "You're awfully smug for someone who spent half the night begging."

Tori gasped mock-indignantly, setting the orange down to wrap her arms around Jade's neck. "That's bold talk for someone who couldn't keep her hands to herself for five minutes."

Jade leaned in, their foreheads touching, her breath brushing against Tori's lips. "You didn't want me to."

Tori's response was immediate; she closed the gap, capturing Jade's lips in a kiss again, that started tender but quickly grew heated. Jade's hands slid up Tori's thighs, fingers brushing under the hem of her shirt, and Tori's grip on Jade tightened as she deepened the kiss.

"God, I can't get enough of you," Tori murmured against Jade's mouth, tugging her closer.

Jade groaned, her lips trailing along Tori's jaw. "You're making it really hard to focus on hydrating."

"We don't need no stinkin' hydration," Tori quipped, tilting her head to give Jade more access to her neck. "We need—"

Jade's lips froze mid-kiss, and she pulled back suddenly, her eyes darting to the corner of the room. "Oh, crap. The cameras."

Tori blinked, her face flushed. "The—oh." She turned her head to follow Jade's gaze and spotted the small, blinking light of the camera mounted unobtrusively on the wall. Her cheeks turned a deeper shade of red. "Right. The cameras."

Jade took a step back, running a hand through her messy hair. "I mean, I know Alex said they wouldn't be in the bedroom, but…"

"Kitchen's fair game," Tori finished, her lips quirking into a sheepish smile. "Guess we should, uh, take this elsewhere."

Jade grabbed Tori's hands, helping her down from the island. "I'm starting to think staying hydrated is overrated."

Tori laughed, lacing her fingers with Jade's as they headed back toward their room. "At this rate, Alex is going to need a lot of editing time."

As the door shut behind them, Alex sat in the control room, smirking at the live feed. "They're going to burn through the honeymoon phase before we even leave for Cancun." She took a sip of her coffee, chuckling to herself. "Oh, you two are going to make great television…Or no television at all."