Chapter 24 - Nova
I get to love you - Ruelle
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After a quick hug from Charlie and Mila, I take hold of Pop's arm and we motion to leave the barn. Soft music rings out from speakers I can't see, and little Henry is clearly getting distracted by the beauty all around us.
I’m speechless.
It's almost ethereal the way everything glows and moves in the breeze. It's a space that you see brought to life in the movies, except this is reality, my reality.
Guiding me forward, I can see all of the most important people in the world to me. My friends, my family, and waiting down the end of a makeshift aisle is a man I've only ever dreamed of. He is kind, caring, protective and annoying all wrapped in one extra large package.
Since my feelings for Ace changed all those years ago so did how my body responds to him. I never understood how things were meant to feel when you were intimate with someone. My only sexual encounters had been filled with violence and control. I did a lot of internet scouring and found several toys that help scratch that itch when it creeps up on me, but Ace gives me butterflies. Ones I never thought I would experience after everything that happened. I know I'm safe with him, my body knows. Looking at him now though, standing in a navy suit, his sandy brown hair perfectly styled as he waits for me. I feel my breath hitch and my arousal stir all at the same time.
I want him and he wants me. And I can't control the smile on my face as I walk toward him.
Helping me to the top of the footstool, I have to control the urge to climb him like a tree. Wrap my legs around his waist, surrounded in perfect safety. But when he confesses his love for me, that's when I truly understand what this could be for us. I needed to hear those words, to know that when I asked to be his wife, he understood that I was right there with him.
Listening to Pop talk through the formalities of the ceremony, Ace moves his hand to his pocket, retrieving a small black velvet bag, passing me his ring before we repeat our vows. I'm so caught up in everything, I barely register when Pop puts the paperwork he was reading from down on the ground, clearing his throat to get our attention as he retrieves something from his pocket.
“I know this is a little unorthodox, but to be fair this whole thing has been. Before I announce your new marriage I want to offer something to you.”
Holding his hand out, he opens it, the gold of Martha's engagement ring shining in the light. Gasping at the sight, I stumble a little at the top of the footstool, blown away by the gesture my Pop is offering. Ace steadies me, lifting me down effortlessly so there is no risk of toppling over and I look into the eyes of the only man I ever wanted to call dad.
“I still have your Ma’s wedding ring close to my heart, and it will stay there until I join her up there,”
he says, gesturing to the sky above us. “But I would like to ... we would like to give you her ring to wear. If you want to, that is.”
He suddenly looks a little nervous, like I would reject this special thing he’s bestowing.
“You are the daughter we never had, baby girl. The child we were never blessed with despite how much we wanted it. Every day we struggled was worth it because we got to love you like you deserved. Like you were our own. Your Ma’s ring is a symbol of the love we shared. A love I see between you two that has grown and changed over the years. One your Ma saw straight away but took me a little longer to catch up. So if you would do us the honour of wearing it alongside the ring that Ace gave you, it would make an old man feel really happy.”
I’m fairly sure there’s snot coming out of my nose as Ace leans over and tries to wipe my tears with a silky hanky.
“Do you think she's watching?”
I whisper.
This is everything I’ve ever wanted, a real family, a man to love me, surrounded by people who just accept me for the person I am and not what someone deems. Only one person is missing today.
“I know she is, baby girl. She's right here with me,”
he says, patting his chest with unshed tears filling his eyes.
“Of course, I’ll wear it. Are you sure? I don’t want to take anything of hers from you.”
I sob the words, trying not to let the weight of my emotions sway any hesitation he might have been feeling over giving me this. It’s a gift that I will never find the words to express how much it means to me.
“I’m sure angel. You go ahead and put that on, I got it resized along with Aces so it should be a perfect fit.”
Ace gently takes the ring from the palm of Pop's hand, sliding it down my finger until it’s nestled perfectly against the one he placed there earlier.
“Your family is always with you wherever you go,”
he says, the look of pure devotion on his face, the tears finally spilling over.
“And with that, I now pronounce you husband and wife. As much as it pains me to say this, Ace you may now kiss your bride ... respectfully. I have my shotgun in the car if you overstep.”
“Pop, you can’t say that,”
I say laughing, moving to give him a quick hug and a kiss on his cheek.
The semi-loud chanting of kiss, kiss, kiss rings out from our friends and I take hold of Ace’s hand, hoping he understands the signal that I’m trying to give him without saying a word.
Swiftly, his head turns to me, tilting slightly like he’s trying to determine what I mean. In less than a second he’s got me standing back on the footstool, eye level with him. Gently he takes my face in his hands and I close my eyes for just a second to smile at the little girl who was so excited and nervous to get her first kiss all those years ago. We’re finally getting it. We met the man of our dreams and he's perfect.
“Are you sure, love? I don’t want you to feel any pressure.”
He is so serious, always pushing my needs above his own, it’s hard to not force my lips against his.
I want this, desperately.
I want it for the woman I’ve become. For the man that I love who stands before me, but I also want it for the naive little girl who trusted too hard and was locked away. Never again will I be forced to do something I don't want, I need to let him know exactly what I do want. He will never push me for this part of myself, so I need to show him I'm ready.
Taking a deep breath, I look at him. Straight in the eyes so there is no room for doubt. “Ace, I would very much like for my husband to kiss me now.”
I watch his eyes light up, all the while knowing that this is my first kiss. The first kiss I have freely given someone. His face moves closer, searching for any sign that I don't want this, but it never comes. His lips press against mine, soft and tender. We both linger in the sensation before I feel his hands tighten around my waist. Moving up my back and pulling me closer. My fingers run through his hair, and his tongue grazes my lips. The next time I feel it pass, my mouth opens to let his tongue in. A gentle dance we make where the world falls away and I melt into his embrace.
Lifting me from the footstool, his arms wrap around my thighs without breaking the kiss, moving us partially out of view and pressing me against the back of the arch we were married under. Our breaths are heavy, both panting as we finally pull apart. A kiss of a thousand lives lived before, ignited by the simple touch of his lips.
“I love you, Nova, with all my heart. If it's okay can we stay here for a minute? I get the feeling Seth's gone for his shotgun and I’d rather not have to run away from him with my cock as hard as a fucking rock right now.”
Wiggling a little in his arms, I suddenly feel the unmistakable hardness of Ace.
“I thought it was your belt buckle,”
I gasp. My lack of experience rearing its head, causing me to blush.
“Did I ... did I do that?”
I say smiling, looking down to where my dress is bunched between us. Should I like that I can get him hard? Because I do.
“Oh darlin', trust me when I say that's some grade A beef you’re pressed against.”
He lets out a low grunt, a flicker of desire in his gaze. “And it would be awfully kind if you would stop wiggling against it.”
Gently lowering me to the ground, I watch, fascinated as he readjusts himself. The sheer size of his length barely fits against his now tight pants.
“Can you say something unsexy to help this thing go down?”
he asks, the slight grumble in his voice evident as he looks over his shoulder to our friends standing back near the barn, giving us some privacy.
“Um, well, we're going to see my parents tomorrow. That's enough to kill my lady boner.”
An involuntary shudder rolls down him and he pats his cock in satisfaction, mumbling good boy as he does another readjustment.
“Please tell me you didn't just praise your junk?”
I smile, rolling my eyes at his theatrics.
“What?”
he laughs, “he did what he was told.”
Shaking my head, laughing, I'm glad we can still talk like this. That we can still be us.
Taking my hand, we walk toward the cheers of our loved ones.
A perfect moment that will never be tarnished.
My first true love.
My first true kiss.
My Ace.