Epilogue

 

A beautiful day in May

 

 

She wanted a summer wedding. He wanted a fall wedding, so in the spirit of compromise, they agreed to a late spring ceremony in the mountains at a private old English manor. The temperature was in the high sixties – perfect as far as they were concerned.

It was a small ceremony. Reid was Trevor’s best man while Priscilla, who’d gotten back on good terms with Elsie over the past few months, was her maid of honor. Elsie’s parents made the trip from Boston to see their daughter tie the knot. Trevor had been encouraging her to reach out to her parents and few months of calling them every week had paid off. The Evans were even talking about moving to Charlotte so they could be closer to Elsie and their new son-in-law.

“It turned out nice man,” Reid commented. “Not bad for a man who said marriage was off the table.”

“What can I say, she’s something special,” Trevor said looking at Elsie in a beautiful lace-sleeved wedding gown that fit her body perfectly.

“And you chose a shy girl,” Reid said. “So, first, you said no to marriage, then you said you didn’t like shy women. Now, you’re married to a shy woman. Is that how love works?”

Trevor grinned. “You know how they say God knows what you need more than you know what you need?”

“Yeah.”

“She’s what I needed.”

Elsie caught Trevor’s glance and smiled at him. She was busy talking to Lana who’d reconciled with Dexter. Turns out he just needed a reminder of what he had and how important she was to him to straighten up his act. Lana stayed with Trevor for two months and she’d moved back home at the beginning of April after Dexter nearly begged her and made promises that he would never step out on her again. So far, he’d been true to that promise.

“I’m happy for you, Elsie,” Priscilla said, hugging Elsie again. Even she had gotten her act together after Elsie laid down the law and put her in her place.

“Thank you, Priscilla.”

“I guess I did something right, huh?” Priscilla asked.

Elsie smiled, glancing over at Trevor. Goodness, he was handsome in his black tux – the striking sheen of his green eyes captivating her from across the way. “I should’ve known you were going to try to take credit for this.”

“Of course. I have a big hole to dig myself out of with you.”

“Well, this is definitely a start.”

Billie walked over to Trevor and said, “Congrats, man. The ceremony was beautiful. Extremely beautiful.”

“Thank you, Billie.”

“I tell you, Trev…if I’d known what my lil’ sneaky wife was up to with that whole job offer deal—”

“It’s water under the bridge,” Trevor said, cutting him off. He wasn’t even sure why Billie was bringing it up again. They’d already discussed it. Billie ended up offering him the job, anyway to which Trevor declined. He didn’t want anything to taint his marriage.

“Would you take the job if I offered it to you as a wedding gift?” Billie asked.

“No. Elsie is my wedding gift. Excuse me,” Trevor said. He began walking over to Elsie when Dexter stepped up to him and said, “Hey, son.”

Trevor looked at him. “Hi.”

“It was a beautiful ceremony. Your mom couldn’t stop crying. I’m so proud of you.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re a better man than me. You always have been,” Dexter found the need to say. “I wish you nothing but the best. You’ve certainly scored a beautiful, sweet bride.”

“And you’ve been married to one for years, Dad. It shouldn’t take for her to leave you for you to realize that. Now, that she’s given you a second chance, be good to my mother. Okay?”

“I will.”

Trevor continued walking to Elsie. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “I desperately need some alone time with you.”

“I need some alone time with you, too.”

“Then what do you say we get out of here?” he said, taking a kiss.

“I say, let’s go.”

 

* * *

 

“Should I bother asking you where you’re taking me?” ‘Elsie asked, while Trevor held her left hand with his right as he drove.

“No. You know I’m not telling you,” he said, rubbing the ring on her finger.

“I can’t believe we’re married,” Elsie said. “It feels like a dream. Every day we’ve spent together since we met has felt like a dream.”

“It has been that way for me, too, Ellie.”

She smiled when she glanced over and caught his dimpled smile. “Now, tell me where you’re taking me.”

“I’m taking you somewhere you’ve been before but this time, when we get there, angel, I’m actually going to take you.”

Elsie chewed on her lip. For the last few months, they’d taken the time to get to know each other fully. They’d refrained from making love. Trevor was tempted many times, but he’d kiss his way through it and think about how special this night would be, and now, it was here.

“It looks like we’re going to your parent’s house.”

“Stop guessing,” he said.

A soft smile touched her face and Trevor could feel the nervous energy flowing through her hand.

When he made the turn onto his parent’s street, Elsie said, “Really Trevor? We’re spending our honeymoon at your parent’s house?”

“No, Ellie,” he said. “Let’s just say I’m glad you changed out of your wedding gown because we’re going for a hike.” He parked in his parent’s driveway and took his backpack from the backseat, then he walked around the car to open the door for his bride.”

“We’re going hiking in the dark?”

“Yes. We have flashlights.”

“What are flashlights supposed to do when Bigfoot comes running out?”

Trevor laughed then said, “Ellie.” He wrapped his arms around her. “I will protect you with my life. Do you trust me?”

“Yes.”

“Besides,” he said, still tickled. “I have two guns. One is in my backpack and the other is in my pants. Both are locked and loaded, but the only one I plan on firing is the one in my pants.”

Elsie giggled. “You are something else. Why are you comparing your junk to a gun?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.” He took her hand after giving her a flashlight, they began the hike in the woods. This time, there was no snow on the ground but springtime in the mountains was still a little chilly which was fine by Trevor because things were sure to heat up once they arrived at the shed.

“We’re spending the night in the shed?” Elsie asked excitedly. That shed had memories. She still got goosebumps thinking about the time they roasted marshmallows and kissed there.

As he’d done the previous time, Trevor unlocked the padlock and when he opened the door, Elsie’s jaw dropped.

“Wow,” was all she could say as she looked around. Was this the same place? It was decorated beautifully with white pillar candles, string lights blanketing the arches of the ceiling and a twin-sized mattress with covers and pillows. There was a small radio already playing soft music. A picnic basket was beside the makeshift bed along with a bucket of champagne.

“What do you think?” Trevor asked her.

Elsie looked at him in shock. “You did this?”

“With the help of my mother. Yes. I told her I wanted to make this place extra special for you and she nailed it.” He closed the door and locked it from the inside. No one would be disturbing them, this time. He lowered his backpack to the floor and said, ‘‘I figured I could’ve reserved a fancy hotel somewhere, but then I thought about how much fun it would be to finish what we started here back in January—you remember, right—when you nearly stripped me naked.”

She laughed. “Your memory isn’t serving you correctly. You were definitely the aggressor. Now, look at this place. It’s beautiful, Trevor.”

“But not as beautiful as you, Elsie Myerson.” Trevor wrapped his arms around her and squeezed, proud that she was his. Then he looked at her. Her makeup had been done beautifully and her lips were still a shade of red. He reflected back to the moment he saw her walking toward him in her gown. What an amazing sight to behold – a moment he’d never forget.

He smiled.

So did she. “You’re nervous,” she told him.

“I am,” he admitted. “I want tonight to be perfect.”

“It’s already perfect. Now, with that being said, I don’t know how well we’re going to fit on a twin-size mattress.”

Trevor ran his fingers through her hair when he said, “The way I see it is, since one of us will be on top of the other all night, a twin is perfect.” He captured her lips in an instant while unzipping her dress moving it around her shoulders so it fell to the floor. He couldn’t hold out any longer. He had to have her now.

He devoured her mouth, kissed her fully, taking everything she had to give. He felt her tremble when he unhooked her bra with the flick of his thumb.

“Are you cold?” he asked.

“No,’’ she said softly.

“You’re shaking.”

“Looks like I’m the nervous one now.”

“Don’t be,” he said, loosening his pants and shirt. He lowered her to the mattress then when she was comfortable, he undressed completely before joining his nakedness with hers.

Elsie swallowed hard, her anxiety growing when she saw him – her first time ever seeing him completely nude.

“You okay?” he asked when he saw her frowning.

“Yes. I was just—um—”

“I won’t hurt you,” he said, lowering himself on top of her. ‘‘I don’t know how to hurt you,” he told her, feeling their body heat merge together the same time his mouth merged with hers and consumed her moans. And he kissed her with everything he had. Caressing her tongue with his tongue. He licked a trail down her neck to her collarbone – destination – her breasts where he feasted and acquainted himself with the softness of her. And his hands went for an exploration of their own, settling at the very heat of her.

He stroked her there and made her body jerk while moans erupted from her throat. The feeling was a foreign one and while she tried to get used to it, she looked at him as he expertly made love to her. He looked serious like he was intent on delivering her pleasure and driving her over the edge at the same time.

The frequency of her moans told him she was close to ecstasy so he crawled up to kiss her lips, sucking them into his mouth, really getting a good serving before he then just stared down at her, holding the glorious look from her beautiful eyes when he said, “You’re ready for me.”

“Is that a question?” she asked, feeling the tip of him flirting with her wetness.

“No. It was a statement,” he said, inching forward and watching her face, studying her reaction as he did so.

“Don’t close your eyes,” he said. “I would hate for you to think this is a dream.”

She smiled just barely, then gasped loudly when he pushed his way inside, connecting their bodies in a snag, sensuous fit.

He closed his eyes, something he told her not to do, but the pleasure was so great, so intense, he didn’t have much choice in the matter. After he attempted to contain himself, he looked at her again. “I love you, Ellie,” he said, interlacing her hands with his.

“I love you, Trevor.”

He smiled before lowering his head again, kissing her with a ferocious hunger while moving and twisting his body, incited by the feel of her loosening up and getting into it, opening her legs wider and wrapping them around him. Her hands tightened to his, moans grew increasingly louder and it was only when he felt her need to scream that he released her mouth.

Almost immediately after, she slammed her eyes closed and belted out a scream that shattered sound waves as her whole body shuddered while she completely came undone. And Trevor, induced by her pleasure, hurled into mind-blowing ecstasy that was so great, his body disintegrated into a million bits and pieces before he crash-landed on top of her.

Breathing heavily, he still found enough control to kiss her neck and whisper an ‘I love you’ in her ear as he tried to get a handle of his breathing after coming down from the high of having made love to his wife for the first time.

Elsie laid there, still in amazement that she could feel this way, that he was her husband and would be hers for the rest of her days.

“Was it everything you dreamed it would be?” Trevor asked, then cracked a smile.

“Yes, and so much more,” she said, breathlessly.

“We haven’t gotten to the so much more part, yet,” he said. With their bodies still locked together, hearts still melted together, skin still fused together, he said, “We’ll take a break, sip some champagne, eat some snacks, and then we’ll do it all over again. And again, and again, and again, until you stop asking me if this is real and start begging for mercy.”

Elsie smiled. “Is that right?”

“Yes, my sweet, beautiful wife.” He kissed her lips then said, “I love you, girl.”

“I love you, too, Trevor. Always,” she said, her heart full. Satisfied. Complete.