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"Enough, enough," he laughed. "Let me enjoy today, Baby, before I have to worry about going out and getting a job to pay for something like that." He hugged her close and kissed her cheek. "You're not trying to tell me something here, are you?"
"Relax, Dad," she assured him. "I plan to have a career first." She kissed him back and said, "I'm going to go see how the bride and her bridesmaid are doing."
"Speaking of that, I'd better check on the groom," Paul said dryly, flicking a glance at the tall young man pacing nervously in a far corner of the yard.
Todd stood watching Peter and laughing at him. "What's the matter, Peter? You getting cold feet?"
Peter's face was pale and his eyes were fever bright. "What if she's changed her mind? What if she's realized what a loose cannon I really am? What if..."
Todd snorted. "I've told you before, Pete, this girl doesn't scare easy. The mere fact she agreed to marry you shows that."
Peter ran a nervous hand through his hair. "I guess it's just that I'm so happy, I'm scared something is going to go wrong."
"You deserve some happiness, Partner." Mary Margaret walked up and put a steadying hand on his arm. "You've always given so much to so many other people. We're all here to celebrate today with you, so just relax and enjoy it."
Kermit smiled wickedly. "That part will come after the ceremony, Sweet Cakes."
Peter's face turned fire engine red at the teasing, and they laughed at his discomfiture.
Carolyn came out to corral Todd and hand Katie Ann over to him. "Places, everybody. We're ready to start."
Peter gulped and strode up the makeshift aisle where his father stood, tall and serene in ceremonial tunic, a golden sash tied at his waist. Identical hazel eyes met, and Peter grabbed his father in a spontaneous bear hug. "I never dreamed I would ever be this happy, Dad," Peter whispered fiercely.
They released one another, and Caine gently caressed Peter's check with his palm. "Nor did I, my son."
Peter turned and fidgeted nervously as he gazed out over this special gathering of friends and family. His face grew thoughtful as he realized how right this all was. {This is perfect. Kacie and I aren't into anything fancy. Being here at home, with just the family and the gang from work, this is right for us.} He noted that Dr. McClanahan was in attendance, as well as a few nurses from the hospital.
The patio door slid open, and Paul and Annie walked out together. As Peter watched them, a lump formed in his throat and he felt the sting of moisture behind his eyes. {They've been my mom and dad for so many years. They've been through so much with me.} When they reached him, he stepped forward and impulsively pulled both close for a hug and a kiss before Paul guided Annie to her place as Kacie's matron of honor.
Caine motioned everyone to their feet, and all eyes turned to the house again as Kacie and Mike O'Brien stood poised momentarily on the deck. O'Brien proudly looked the part of the father-of-the-bride in his black tuxedo, and Kacie wore her mother's wedding gown, a classic A-line with an empire waist and sweetheart neckline. Her hair was done up in a loose French braid, with flowers interwoven in the tresses and tendrils curling to frame her face.
Peter thought his heart would explode with joy as he watched the one he loved most in the world coming near. Kacie looked at him with so much unadulterated love in her eyes it took his breath away. {My wife. She wants to be my wife.} His gaze shifted to O'Brien, who was staring back at him with an appraising eye.
When the pair reached Peter, O'Brien gave Kacie a kiss on the cheek and placed her hand in Peter's. Before he took his spot in the audience, he leaned over and growled into Peter's ear, "I give you my blessing, me lad, but if you hurt my little girl again, I will shoot you." He patted Peter's back and turned away to sit down.
Peter's face reddened, and when Kacie raised an inquisitive eyebrow at him, he smiled reassuringly at her. {If I ever hurt her like that again, you won't have to. I'll do it myself.}
Caine smiled benevolently at the couple before him and raised his eyes to the crowd. "We come here in joy and love, as do Peter and Kacie." He looked searchingly at the couple and asked, "Do you both come freely, without reservation, to give your lives to each other?"
They looked at one another and smiled before answering with voices strong and sure, "We do."
Turning to face his bride, Peter held both her hands in his. "I, Peter, take you, Katherine, to be my lawfully wedded wife. I promise to love you, honor you, cherish you, listen to you, and talk with you, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, until death parts us."
Kacie gripped Peter's hands so tightly he nearly winced. "I, Katherine, take you, Peter, to be my lawfully wedded husband. I promise to love you, honor you, cherish you, listen to you, and talk with you, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, until death parts us."
Caine nodded approvingly and looked at Paul. "The rings?"
Paul fished the two bands out of his breast pocket and gave them to Caine, who in turn gave Kacie's band to Peter.
Peter slid the wedding band onto Kacie's finger. "Kacie, accept this ring as a token of my love and a pledge of my faithfulness. Forsaking all others, with this ring, I thee wed."
Kacie accepted Peter's ring from Caine, and her hand trembled as she tried to slip it onto Peter's finger. She struggled with it until he assisted her shaking hands. She smiled her thanks at him. "Peter, accept this ring as a token of my love and a pledge of my faithfulness to you. Forsaking all others, with this ring, I thee wed."
Peter held Kacie's hands nestled against his chest, his eyes full of love and tears as he spoke to her. "Katherine Christine, you have been my friend, my confidante, my encourager, my rock. Today you become my wife, my lover, my life. I love you with all my heart." His voice trailed off to a throaty whisper by the time he finished speaking and kissed her fingers.
There wasn't a dry eye left at the gathering as Kacie gazed into Peter's eyes and recited, in a voice that cracked and broke frequently. "Peter, entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee. For whither thou goest, I will go, and where thou lodgest I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God, my God. I love you with all my heart."
Caine reached out his hands and placed first one palm on Peter's head and then the other on Kacie's. "In this life, you have walked many paths. Until now, there have been one set of steps. Marriage will not guarantee an easier path, but you need never walk alone. Bear with one another's faults; comfort one another's sorrows. Share your pains as you share your joys. Pleasure each other, as you treasure each other. The two have become one." He removed his hands from their heads and bowed to them, fist in palm. Standing upright once again, he smiled and looked from one to the other as they watched him expectantly.
He cleared his throat and leaned toward them, announcing in a stage whisper, "You may now kiss."
They laughed self-consciously and slid their arms around one another, their kiss going on until the Ancient said with a delighted cackle, "Ah, bloody marvelous!" The bride and groom started to giggle, and hugged one another before turning to face the group.
Caine's voice rang triumphantly. "I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Peter Caine."
Spontaneous applause and whistles broke out, and Lo Si repeated himself. "Bloody marvelous!"
Kacie smiled at him in contentment. "Today was perfect, wasn't it?"
"Are you sure you're not sorry you didn't have a big, fancy wedding?"
"Peter, the wedding isn't the important part; the marriage is. I would have married you at city hall in front of a justice of the peace or even at some drive-thru chapel."
He laughed and kissed her fingers. "I wish you could sit closer to me, Mrs. Caine."
"I don't," she informed him saucily. "I want to make sure we get to our honeymoon cabin in one piece."
He looked at her, puzzlement showing on his face, and she continued. "I want to be with you so much I ache all over."
Peter cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Hon, I think we better talk about something else for a while. We're still an hour away."
Her eyes danced wickedly and she murmured, "Whatever you say, Sweetheart. You're the driver." She stared ahead down the road and laughed in remembrance. "I loved the look on your father's face when Mary Margaret caught my bouquet."
Peter chuckled. "I know. Makes me wonder what he was thinking."
"He's so sweet. I'd like to see him with someone special in his life, wouldn't you?"
"Listen to her; married for less than six hours and she's already trying to pair people off." He thought for a moment and commented, "You know, the idea of my father being with any other woman than my mother used to bother me, but now, I don't know. Maybe it would be nice for him." He laughed and shook his head. "But no way in hell would I ever be able to call Skalany 'mom'."
"Listen to him," she teased. "Married for less than six hours and he's already being more tolerant."
They chatted on as the miles rolled by. "My Uncle Mike liked you," Kacie stated emphatically. "I could tell."
"Did you notice how well he got along with Paul and Annie? It almost seemed like they knew one another."
"I saw that, too," she agreed. "But I don't know when or where they would've ever met before." She started to laugh. "Did you see the way Paul kept trying to show Kelly how nice a small wedding was? I don't think he was getting anywhere, though."
Peter snorted. "If I know Kelly, when the time comes, we're going to be talking society page, tuxedos, and limousines."
The sun was beginning to set when they pulled up in front of the cabin.
"Well, we're here," Peter announced unnecessarily.
Kacie released her seat belt and agreed, "Yup, We sure are." She leaned over toward him, laid a hand on his chest, and started to nuzzle his neck. "Now what?"
He pressed the release button to his seat belt and slid a hand low on her hip as he nibbled at her ear lobe. "How about we go inside, for starters?"
"How about this, for starters?" She offered her lips to him, and he drank deeply of their sweetness. Sliding closer to him, she held his head with both hands, her fingers caressing the back of his neck, her thumbs rubbing the sensitive hollows behind his ear lobes. Opening her mouth, she invited him to explore her warmth with his tongue.
Turning her head, she allowed her lips to wander a path along his jaw until she nipped at his ear lobe, using her tongue to pull it into her mouth, where she nibbled on it with her teeth. Her breath tickled in his ear as she whispered suggestively, "How long are you going to make me wait for you?"
He lolled his head back as she continued her nibbling, and groaned at the exquisite torture. "About as long as it takes to get inside the cabin and out of our clothes."
Peter awoke, blinking his eyes sleepily against the first rays of light that shone in the window. It took him a second to remember where he was, but the feel of soft flesh against his made him look down and smile at the sleeping form in his arms.
He caught his breath. {My wife. Who would have dreamed, after all those nights she sent me home to cold showers, last night could have been what it was.} He sighed in sated contentment. {My wife. Someone who loves me in spite of myself. How the hell did I get so lucky?} He watched her sleep, dark eyelashes curling against her cheek. The swelling curves of her breasts were almost, but not quite, revealed by the sheets that had tangled during the night. He resisted the urge to unveil the soft flesh and lose himself in her, instead pulling her closer and tugging the blankets up higher.
Stirring in her sleep, she slid a leg over one of his, the simple movement creating new feelings of desire as her thigh touched his half-aroused sex. He debated on whether or not to waken her, but she saved him the trouble of having to decide by opening her eyes and smiling.
"Morning." Her voice was still thick with sleep.
"Good morning, Mrs. Caine," he responded huskily. "How are you feeling?"
The smile broadened. "Wonderful." She snuggled closer and then spoke with laughter in her voice. "You feel...awake." She lightly stroked her fingers over the muscles in his chest and kissed the throbbing pulse in his neck.
He closed his eyes and enjoyed the feel of her in his arms. "Sure am. Some parts are more awake than others."
Her wandering fingers stroked lower and lower. "So I noticed. Mmm," she sighed contentedly. "Never in my wildest fantasies did I have any idea that making love with my husband would be so wonderful."
"You took me places I never knew existed, Sweetheart." Peter kissed her forehead and abruptly blurted out, "Are you disappointed, because I had...before...I mean..." He stopped in embarrassment.
"Peter, the decision on when to have sex is an individual choice. I'm glad that I waited, because...well...that was my wedding gift to you. I was able to give myself to you totally, completely, and with no regrets." She ran gentle fingers across his collarbone. "Your life before you met me is a closed book, as far as I'm concerned."
"It makes my wedding gift to you look pretty poor in comparison." He lowered his eyes in shame. "You sure didn't get a prize in me."
"Hey!"
Her voice was sharp and he looked up at her, startled.
Kacie's eyes sparked angrily. "Nobody talks about my husband like that. Not even my husband. Where do you get off saying your gift to me was poor? I know how much your mother's locket means to you. It's the second most valuable piece of jewelry I have. The first is this." She clenched her fist and waved her wedding and engagement rings in front of his face. "You've given me your name, you've given me a family, and who knows? Maybe you've already given me a baby! I think I came out smelling like a rose in this little transaction, thank you very much!"
His eyes darkened. "But what about...?"
"What about what? The fact that you were at one time intimate with other women? I'll admit I don't like to think about it, but the important thing here is that there is no one but me now." She glared at him. "So do we have all that nonsense settled? Because I am suddenly feeling very, very unloved."
A slow smile twitched at the corner of Peter's mouth. "You are, are you? What do you want me to do about it?"
She pulled herself closer to him with her leg. Her hand continued its downward path, and he quivered at her touch. "Anything and everything you like. I'm a pretty quick learner, I think."
"Amen to that, Sister."
"I am having anything but sisterly thoughts toward you, dear husband." She kissed him again, her tongue demanding entrance into his mouth and dancing with his. "Ummm. I am going to show you what a real woman, totally in love with her husband, can do to keep him happy." Her hand found its destination and lingered there interestingly.
Peter gasped and reflexively thrust his hips into her gentle massage. He captured her lips with his, devouring them hungrily as he growled, "Woman, you are insatiable."
She moved her mouth from his long enough to remark, "Just remember you're the one who gave me the appetite."
"I love you."
"I'm beginning to think you're more talk than action."
Turning over and sliding between her thighs, he growled, "You are going to regret those words."
Her arms and legs wrapped around his body, and she moaned as his hands and lips and body heated her flesh. "I doubt that. I real-ll-y doubt that."