"Well, you better come out here now because the Rowdy boys, they're ready to throw down, so we better get the business out of the way so the party can begin," Red tells his sons.
I chuckle, having only met the Rowdy cousins a few times: Cash, on that first day I met Lemon's brothers. The rest of the Rowdy crew are all different levels of rambunctious. And if I feel overwhelmed with the fact I have five new brothers-in-law, it hasn’t even sunk in that the Rowdy family is now my family by marriage.
"Thanks, Red, for everything you have done for me and Lemon, to make today special." Red gives me a hug. "Son," he says, "I'm happy as hell to have you in the family. Now you better treat my girl right. I need her in my business."
"I don't think she's going anywhere, sir."
"You got to stop calling me sir. You hear?" Red says with a grin. "Now, you ready for this?"
We walk out on the back porch. On the lawn next door is a beautiful archway for us to say our vows under, flowers everywhere. White chairs are lined up in rows. Lemon's entire family is here: grandma, grandpa, aunts and uncles, cousins, brothers, sister, sisters-in-law, everyone. Half of Home, really.
I take my place next to the pastor. "Thank you again for being here, especially on a holiday."
"My whole family's here," Pastor Andy says. "Wouldn't miss the Rough family 4th of July party. It's a tradition."
I grin, realizing how lucky I am to be marrying a Rough. This family, it plays for keeps, and Lemon, she's my forever.
When she walks down the aisle, I catch my breath. Maybe that's corny to say, but I do. She is a vision in white, flowers in her hair, a smile on her face that is wide and her eyes bright blue. I shake my head in awe, thankful and grateful and wondering how the fuck I got so lucky.
The ceremony happens quickly. I say what I'm supposed to, but really I'm just aching to kiss my bride. When Pastor Andy tells me it's time, I lift her chin with the hook of my finger and I draw Lemon's lips to mine. I kiss her softly. Then more deeply as the whole damn family begins to hoot and holler just like Lemon warned they would. The Rowdy boys, probably the loudest of all.
I take her hand in mine as we're announced as husband and wife, and then we walk down the aisle. But really it feels like we're floating. That's how happy we both are.
We head straight to my bedroom loft in my lake house and I lock the door.
We had this planned. We told everyone we just needed a little bit of time to ourselves after we said I do.
God knows there's going to be a roaring party for the rest of the day and night.
Alone in the space where we first made love, I draw my wife to me. Her dress is loose and lovely, a sundress really. She slips off her sandals. "I know everybody's going to be waiting for us to cut the cake and have a dance and all that. But..."
"But what, baby?" I ask, drawing my wife to me, unable to stop myself from kissing every inch of her neck, aching for so much more.
"But I don't exactly want to go do all of that just yet."
"Well, we're not going to. We told everybody we needed a little bit of time alone."
"I want more thantime," she says. "I want you." She presses her hand to my cock and it throbs in my khakis.
"Really?" I ask. “Now?”
She smiles. "We should consummate this marriage, shouldn't we? It’s only right."
"Well, I wouldn't want to do anything wrong," I say with a grin, lifting up the hem of her dress. "Fuck, baby," I say, "You're not wearing panties?"
She shakes your head. "No, I wanted to be ready for you." She unbuttons my pants, and I push them down, drawing my girl,my wife,to the bed. "I want you so bad."
"You have me," she says. "Forever."
"Should we go out in the rowboat later for old time's sake?" I ask. "The lake's still, no rough waters today."
She laces her fingers with mine. Her eyes search my soul as my cock enters her slowly with a need and desire that she understands entirely.
"Let's hope there'll be no rough waters in our future. And if there are, you and I, Anchor, we can get through anything together."
I fill her up and I hold her, knowing she is mine. Our bodies move as one, our hearts beat in time. Lemon Rough is more than my wife; she's my home.
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