“You are simply an empty vessel moving through the world, taking up space.
“You cannot be relied upon, trust cannot be built upon your shore, and faith cannot be invested in your achievements or goals.
“My promise to you requires that I protect you and keep you safe from all things.
“It means fighting for you and beside you for what is right.
“It means building resources for your future.
“And it means protecting you from harm caused by me.
“It also means being a man you can respect so that you can join me under my shield.
“I pledge my life to you this day. In service to your dreams, in devotion to your causes, in support of your power and independence, and in joy for the experiences we have ahead.
“I ask you to accept me and my faults, knowing that all the days of my life, I will work to earn the right to call such a magnificent woman, my wife.”
The final few words cause my voice to crack, but I don’t care. All that matters is that she heard them.
“Jude, will you share your vows with Lex?”
She nods and hands her bouquet to Lily before opening the slip of paper tucked in the small satin gloves that stop just short of her wrists.
“Lex, my love. In such a short time, you have brought me joy and freedom and a sense of purpose and confidence in the world that I did not know I would ever be able to find. You have shown me what it means to be a woman. Dependent only on herself and her ideas and her imagination to find her joy.
“I have now within me a life growing. But not just one. Two.
“I have the one that we created together, that will bring us joys and sorrows and confusion, laughter and pains. For the first time in my life, I know what it means to be a human. It means having the freedom to choose. To have a thought and enjoy it for what it is but also have the choice to make it into something else. To pursue a dream or a goal simply for the pleasure of it.
“I’m alive. You have saved my life. Literally and figuratively. I wake up every day wanting to be me now when before all I could want was to not exist. I had no idea that someone like you and this beautiful family could exist and welcome me into it. You, all of you, have shown me such love. You have made me feel worthy of having such an experience. I want nothing more than to reflect back to all of you some small measure of what you have given me. If I do that before the end of my days, I will have succeeded at living.
“I am yours, from this day forward. Thank you for having a space in your life for me. I always hope to be worthy of it.”
She wasn’t able to completely say her vows without breaking several times to wipe away tears, and I’m certain there is not a dry eye in the house after she read them.
I pull her close for a small embrace, feeling so incredibly tender toward her and so proud.
“That’s enough hanky-panky, kids, get on with the rings, there’s a wedding pie waiting!” It’s Pops, ever the comedic sidekick causing us all to break into laughter.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” I say, “it’s always all about the pie.” More laughter ensues.
“We have rings?” The officiant asks.
Seb and Rem both step forward, holding a ring.
The officiant receives the rings and then holds them high overhead.
“Let these rings symbolize the faith each of these individuals hold in themselves and each other. May they represent their union. And may they signify the seal that is placed around their hearts, binding them together forever.”
He hands one to each of us, and again, I go first.
“With this ring, I thee wed.”
Then Jude.
“With this ring, I thee wed.”
“Let no man or woman put asunder what occurred in front of this beloved fort. I now pronounce you, husband and independent wife!” We all chuckle merrily, knowing just how true that proclamation meant, and how good it was for Jude to hear. “You may now kiss the bride!”
I step forward and cup Jude’s face with my palms tenderly and place my lips on hers, where they forge the first coupling of our union. Me, loving into her, and her loving into me.
After a long few moments where the world slips away, and it is only Jude and I and all the life created within and between us, we begin hearing chants of Pie! Pie! Pie!
They have no shame. I shake my head, laughing.
I tuck Jude’s arm through mine and lead her up the aisle to the house as we hear clapping, hoots, and collecting smiles and pats on the back.
We go inside, accept the hugs and well wishes, eat some wedding pie, and then, when the coast seems clear, I spirit Jude away for a few minutes of her time all for myself. The office is empty, and I know they won’t look for us in here.
“How is my bride?” I pull her to me and nuzzle her neck.
“She’s pregnant and hungry.” She laughs. “Feed me, husband!”
“Oh, I’ll feed you all right.” My tone is low and suggestive as I reach for the zipper of my suit trousers.
Her eyes go round since that is something we have yet to do.
“You wouldn’t!”
“Oh, honey, I so would.” I grin as I pull her hand toward my crotch for a quick rub. “I had to save something for the wedding night, didn’t I?” I laugh.
“Mmhh, I have been thinking about it,” she admits, her cheeks turning crimson. “I just don’t know how to do it, so…”
“We’ll go slow,” the words come out husky and raw, my cock already throbbing just thinking about her lips wrapped around my length. “Come on, baby.” I grab her hand and pull her to the couch.
I sit down, expecting her to sit down next to me, but instead, she falls to her knees. Her hands go to my slacks, and she eagerly starts to unbutton them. I open my mouth to tell her she doesn’t have to do this if she doesn’t want to, but the pure excitement in her eyes and the impatient way she is trying to open my pants stops me dead in my tracks. She wants this, bad, probably as badly as I do.
Helping her with the buttons, I unzip and shove the fabric down to my thighs, freeing my throbbing cock. Her pink tongue darts out of her bottom lip, and she looks as if she can’t wait to have a taste. Soon, baby, soon.
I clench my hands into tight fists and rest them against the couch cushion. I want to touch her so badly, but I also want to give her a chance to explore, to taste. When her hand circles my length, a groan slips past my lips, rattling through my chest, and shaking me to the core.
Leaning forward, that wet, warm mouth of hers opens, and she sucks the head of my cock between her plump lips. My eyes roll to the back of my head, and I swear I’ve died and gone to heaven.
“Fuck!” I hiss through my teeth. Needing to see this, I force my hooded eyes open, and I stare down at my beautiful wife, who has my cock between her pink lips. “You look so fucking perfect like that. You were made for me,” I tell her, cradling her cheek. I watch with bated breath as she takes more and more of my length into her mouth.
She starts to move, bobbing her head up and down, taking me deeper and faster into her mouth, making my balls ache, and the air in my lungs still with each stroke of her tongue. When I hit the back of her throat, she gags and pulls back, her eyes watering.
“So good, baby girl, so fucking good,” I say, encouraging her, staring deeply into her eyes. Pleasure builds at the base of my spine, and she pulls back, sucking just the tip, her cheeks hollow out as she does.