Chapter 95

Alexa’s eyes shone as she listened to my recitation of Lamartine, who she had previously told me was one of her favourite chasseurs. I coughed somewhat apologetically and smiled.

“I had to get some French in there for you somehow. But you know I love you. I… have no choice, Alexa. If there is indeed such a thing as being ‘fated’, this is it. And I wouldn’t resist it if it was true.”

I slipped the blue ring-pop onto her finger, still looking into her eyes. “I wed thee now. I devote my heart and soul to you, Alexa. And you are forever mine, come what may.”

Her eyes were shining with tears as I spoke the words she was so desperate to hear. She nodded when I finished and drew a deep breath.

“Alex, I don’t speak Sumerian, you’re better at the ancient languages than I am. But this is the world’s oldest known love poem, from Sumer, because I feel our souls have been bonded as one since before recorded history…”

“Bridegroom, dear to my heart, Goodly is your beauty, honeysweet, Lion, dear to my heart, Goodly is your beauty, honeysweet.

Bridegroom, let me caress you, My precious caress is more savory than honey, In the bedchamber, honey-filled, Let me enjoy your goodly beauty, Lion, let me caress you.

My precious caress is more savory than honey. Bridegroom, you have taken your pleasure of me, Tell my mother, she will give you delicacies, My father, he will give you gifts.

You, because you love me, Give me pray of your caresses, My lord god, my lord protector, My Shu-Sin, who gladdens Enlil’s heart, Give me pray of your caresses.“

She looked into my eyes as she slipped my ring-pop onto my finger, quoting the play Much Ado About Nothing.

“As you are mine, so now am I yours.”

I pulled her close and kissed her deeply, as her husband. It felt so right and any complications were banished from my mind. There was only Alexa, only this moment of universal perfection with her. Short of a comet hitting the city, nothing could intrude upon it.

I led her onto the shore and we looked into one another’s eyes as we pulled the clothes from each other’s bodies. Her skin shone in the moonlight as I laid her down on the emerald grass gently, her golden hair arrayed in a corona or halo around her angelic face. I settled over her and she spread her legs to accommodate me. She smiled lovingly as she looked up at me, her hands resting on her breasts.

“May I?” I asked quietly and she nodded. I felt my cockhead press against her pliant and wet pussylips, sliding it up and down for a moment before kissing her lovingly, her hands on my shoulders.

“With my body,” I whispered to her. “I thee worship…”

I pushed inside her and we both sighed in relief, joined now as husband and wife, bound forever heart, soul and body. With the moon shining down on us, we made love in this sacred cathedral of nature, the babbling brook and the wind through the trees a perfect song to accompany our union. Alexa sighed, panted and whispered in my ear as I pushed back and forth inside her. I kissed her hungrily, devoted to her transcendent pleasure and happiness. I could feel her legs wrap around my waist as we rocked and squirmed against one another.

“Alex!” she hissed as she strained against me, pushing up with her hips…

We groaned in mutual pleasure as we came, with me pumping my essence deep inside her. We kissed feverishly, lost in rapture as we consummated our bond. No matter how many times we’d made love before, this, for whatever reason, was the most intimate and intense moment yet.

It didn’t matter that we weren’t legally married. Between us there was an understanding and troth that needed no words or understanding. It simply was and there was no denying it. Not for us. It was maybe the one thing in our topsy-turvy world that finally made any sense.

I made love to my bride twice more before we admitted that we needed to get home. It was getting late and the excuse of working at the faculty would only hold for so long. Reluctantly, we disentangled and cleaned ourselves off before dressing in our clothes from earlier that day and returned to my car. We said little on the ride back, listening to Sainte-Saens and then Bach.

I pulled into the driveway and we went inside, somewhat confused that the place was dark with no signs of habitation. Alexa found a small note on the table in my mother’s flowing cursive.

“Dear Sid and Nancy,

Kegger for the Physics Department. Unlike you Linguistics nerks, scientists know how to party. Will be back at some point tomorrow after the inevitable hangover wears off.

Alli, make sure he pays attention to you at least once. Tattle if he doesn’t.

Big Sister and Professor Hulk”

Alexa was already undressing as she read the note, clearly inspired to continue our wedding night since the folks were absent. She tossed the missive aside and crushed her naked body to mine, insisting I take her upstairs and ravish her until dawn.

I was the happiest man alive as I carried her over that threshold.

“Since it’s a straight nine-hour drive, we should be able to make it in one day, so long as we take turns driving. We’ll take both vehicles and rotate drivers every four hours.”

While it didn’t exactly suit me to have to rotate Alexa out of my vehicle, there was no denying the logic of this plan. I also reminded myself that there would be little or no time to get up to any mischief with my aunt whilst we drove together, since my parents would inevitably be nearby and the expectation for safety’s sake was that one person would no doubt be napping to stay fresh. Aside from restroom breaks, there was only one food stop planned, a restaurant my father had found and wanted to try. We would simply pack snacks to graze on for the rest of the trip.

Granted, a handy from my aunt wouldn’t hurt. Where there’s a will…

Since my mother and father were involved, the planning for our road trip was all done well ahead of time, just about every detail accounted for. There was little for my aunt and I to do, except wait and make sure we were packed. Occasionally, we’d go out on supply runs, in case mom thought of anything we might need.

“Make sure to take some protection with you, Alex!” my mom called from upstairs at one point. “You never know if you might get lucky!”

I grunted while Alexa snickered from her place on the couch.

“You too, Alli!” came the follow-up call.

“Why would I need condoms?” my aunt protested, calling back. “I like girls! Are you expecting any hot hermaphrodites at this wedding reception?”

“Because even Michael and I are bringing some,” mom explained as she came downstairs and entered the room. “We’re meeting some old friends we had fun with ages ago, it’s good to be prepared.”

“Still so weird to me that you two are swingers,” Alexa sighed. “Can’t wrap my brain around it.”

“Get used to it, honeybunch,” mom said dismissively as she checked the details list on her Blackberry. “Besides, you can’t be a total lesbian. You said you’ve done things with guys back in Europe.”

“Well, yes,” Alexa said uncertainly. “But I was younger and just feeling things out. Since then I’ve developed a decided preference for…”

“Poooooon-tannnnnnng.” I drawled, smirking and finishing the sentence she was reluctant to. Alexa shot me a withering look.

“Alex, be nice to your Aunt Honeybunch,” mom said, rolling your eyes. “If your dad had shot from the left, instead of the right, she’d be braiding your hair and putting makeup on you right now.”

Alexa stifled a giggle and I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. Mom had apparently always wanted a girl.

“Sweetheart, check this out,” dad said, striding into the room to tower over everything and everyone and holding up a small box. “Found the slides of that ski trip from ’81!”

“Noice!” mom said, making a fist.

Alexa looked at me in confusion and mouthed the word ‘Noice?‘, clearly bewildered.

Dad shrugged. “Yeah, but we don’t have a slide projector to play them on.”

“Yet,” mom corrected, turning to look at me, snapping her fingers and pointing. “Rochester, go!”

“Yes, Mister Benny!” I replied, getting up and making sure I had my wallet. “Can I at least take Honeybunch with me so I don’t get bored?”