Gemma

The sun has just dipped behind the mountains when Morgane and I open the patio doors, allowing golden light to spill into the Lake House and the musky scent of lake water to fill our nostrils. It's dark enough that the lights strewn in the willow trees glimmer. In the distance, water laps against the pebbled shore. Beautiful bouquets of baby's breath and lavender line the stamped concrete of the patio, stretching out to the shore of Okanagan Lake. The ceremony lasted exactly the right amount of time; dusk is my favourite time of the day. It's when all the colours are bold and alluring, emphasizing their natural beauty. And the Okanagan doesn't fall short.

"It's beautiful," I breathe. "Morgane, thank you so much for putting this together."

She smiles at me; her lips are painted a nude pink and her lashes sparkle with glitter. "My planning skills are flawless, aren't they?" she teases.

I roll my eyes. "Well... I don't know about flawless..."

Morgane punches my bicep. "Admit it, Gemma. This wedding was flawless because of me and Penelope." She side-glances me. "I'm very fond of Penelope. She's been a great addition to our group. If she weren't so hung up on Cassian, I would ask her out on a date."

I chuckle, despite the pang of sadness that vibrates through my heart when I glance over my shoulder. Penelope and Cassian are standing next to the bar, grabbing drinks to celebrate the wedding. As usual, they're goading each other; he's dangling a glass of champagne over her head while she tries to grab it. I wish Cassian could see the way Penelope looks at him. The chemistry between them is anything but platonic.

"Goddamn you, Cassian!" Penelope exclaims. She brings her heel down on Cassian's polished dress shoe. "Give me my champagne!"

Cassian shrieks in pain, dropping the crystal flute of champagne and cursing like a sailor. It shatters across the hardwood, looking like millions of tiny diamonds."What the fuck, Pen? You didn't need to impale me with your heel!"

Penelope levels her glare with Cassian, setting her lips into a firm line. "Consider this a lesson—you never, ever stand between a woman and her champagne. You need to clean up your mess, by the way."

Cassian leans up against a barstool and reaches for his foot, rubbing the dent in his shoe. "Noted," he groans.

A wicked smile curls Penelope's lip as she fills another crystal flute with the bubbly drink. Amused, I turn back to Morgane. "Don't forget Hanna," I reply. A crease forms between my eyebrows. "And Parker and Reid. My parents helped out, too. Everyone here basically—"

Morgane clamps her hand over my mouth. She's lucky I decided to wear a lip stain instead of lipstick for tonight's party or else I would smack her. It's not morally up to code to waste the finer things in life. Like lipstick—it's too expensive to waste. Morgane shushes me. "Shut up, Gemma. Let me have my moment."

I push her hand away. "Fine."

We take the next few seconds to admire the view and bask in the magic of today. I glance down at the stunning rings on my left finger. My wedding band is settled beneath my sparkly engagement ring. On the inside where no one can see, our wedding date is engraved in Roman numerals. For some reason, it makes the significance of my wedding band even more important. I smile as I run my fingers over the two rings. I don't care what life throws at me. As long as I'm with Jake, everything's going to be okay.

"God," Jake mutters as he plants himself next to me. He passes me a gin smash and then takes a sip of his own drink. He's still wearing his dress pants and shoes, but he's removed the suit jacket, leaving him in his white dress shirt and tie. Two buttons are undone and the sleeves are rolled up to his elbows. "Cassian is such a child. If he breaks anything else, we're going to have to tie his hands behind his back."

Morgane snorts and walks over to us, plucking Jake's drink from his hand. She takes a long sip of his beer before she thrusts it back at him. Jake almost drops it. "Why bother? He'll worm his way out of it somehow. Cassian's dull as a sack of hammers, but he can charm the pants off of anyone—even the straightest man in the world."

Jake stares at his half-empty bottle of Corona, shaking his head. I bite my bottom lip, refusing to laugh. Despite how happy we are to be married, what we need now is some relaxation. Weddings are filled with various types of emotions, including stress. And I know Jake was stressed about screwing up his lines or tripping when he walked down the aisle. I was stressed about similar things as well. Suffice to say, we both need a drink to unwind before party-mode kicks in.

"Anyway," Morgane continues. "I'm going to make sure Cassian's cleaned up all the glass so no one slices their foot open when we're all piss-drunk later tonight."

I raise my drink. "Cheers to that."

Morgane struts away, barking orders at Cassian and Nolan, who are both kneeling on the floor with a mini broom and a dustpan. Penelope lingers at the corner of the bar, watching them as she sips her bubbly champagne. She catches my eye and smiles at me. I give her a small wave before turning back to Jake and the view. He wraps an arm around my waist and tugs me close. I rest my head on his shoulder. "That was perfect," I murmur. "Don't you think?"

"Gemma," he laughs. "The vineyard could have caught on fire and it still would've been perfect. So long as we signed that marriage certificate. Do you agree, Mrs. Swift?"

Blush creeps into my cheeks. "I, um... Yes," I stutter.

He chuckles at my sudden wave of nervousness. Jake likes it when I get this way because he thinks it's cute. He'll usually tease me about it for a few minutes, which is why I'm concerned when his face stays neutral. "Jake?" I press. "What's bothering you?"

He glances down at the drink in his hand and sighs. "Gemma, there's something I want to discuss with you. It's about—"

"There they are! The bride and groom!"

I only have seconds to spare before my mom has her arms thrown around me in a bone-crushing hug. "Congrats, my baby girl!" Mom squeals, spinning us around in a circle. I have to balance my drink with one hand so it doesn't spill.

Behind Mom, Dad is shaking hands with Jake and exchanging congratulatory words. My husband looks a little nervous, but I know it will fade away. After Jake explained what actually happened in high school, things evened out. Although they weren't happy with Jake's actions, they were more concerned with apologizing to me and making sure I knew how sorry they were for not believing me when I said I didn't sleep with the football team. Ever since Jake and I broke the news about us dating to my parents, things have been good between the four of us. We've all agreed that the past is in the past and all that matters is where we take our lives from here on.

"Thanks, Mom," I smile, hugging her back. "I'm glad you and Dad were able to make it."

Mom steps back and squeezes my shoulders. "We wouldn't have missed it for the world, Gemma." She glances at Jake and Dad, who are laughing at a joke we didn't hear. "He's a wonderful young man."

I trace my bottom lip with my perfect manicure as I gaze at my husband. Defining Jake as "wonderful" doesn't do his character justice. Although he made some brutal mistakes when he was a teenager, he owned up and tried to fix them. Hearing a man admit he was wrong is a very rare occasion, and I'm thankful I'm now married to a man who isn't afraid to admit his mistakes. I respect Jake as much as I love him. "He is," I nod in agreement.

Mom squeezes my shoulders again. "You two looked absolutely stunning with the mountains and lake in the background. I can't wait until Hanna processes those pictures!"

"Do you know where Hanna is?" I frown. "I haven't seen her since dinner."

"Oh, that sweet child is locked away in her bedroom. She wants to send out an order for the photos before she joins the party," Mom smiles. "She's an angel, that one."

Although I would prefer for Hanna to be out here enjoying the party, I decide to give her some space. Photography is her passion and if she wants to complete her photos first, then so be it. I make a mental note to tell Jake about the extra work his sister is putting in. It's going to be hard to make Hanna accept the money we have put aside for her, but we'll figure something out. "My sister-in-law is a sweetheart," I agree. "Though, I don't think I'd call her a child anymore, Mom. She's twenty now."

Mom shakes her head. "Where does the time go?"

"Beats me," I shrug, remembering back to when Jake and I were kids. Those memories come back as if I experienced them yesterday.

Taking my hand, Mom tugs me towards the bar area where the rest of our guests are hanging out. I glance over my shoulder at Jake, curious to know what he wanted to discuss. When he makes eye contact with me, he shakes his head and mouths I'll tell you later.

I give him a thumbs-up as Mom announces my presence to Cassian, Morgane, Penelope, Nolan, Parker, and Reid. A round of applause erupts amongst my friends and family, causing another wave of blush to heat my cheeks. I couldn't have asked for a better group to celebrate my wedding with.

"Let the festivities begin!" Mom exclaims, raising her glass.

I clink mine against hers, knowing damn well this party is going to last late into the night.

*  *  *

Yawning, and feeling a little buzzed, I flop down on the bed next to Jake. It's almost two-in-the-morning and everyone's finally gone to bed. After we all had a round of Jell-O shots, the night quickly turned into a gong show. A super fun and memorable gong show, but a gong show nonetheless. Mom and Dad left early for their hotel because they couldn't keep up with our young spunk; Hanna and Parker got tired of Cassian and Penelope's immature drunk behaviour; Nolan ended falling asleep outside with nothing but a pillow and blanket because he drank too much; and Morgane passed out from too much wine on the couch. I don't know how they can do it, but Cassian and Penelope hardly suffered from their drinking. If Jake and I hadn't of convinced them to go to bed, they'd still be knocking back the tequila like candy.

"That was fun," Jake says. "Now I remember why I prefer to be sober during these types of parties. It's fun to watch everyone make fools of themselves."

"I have to agree," I snort. "Penelope and Cassian aren't going to feel good tomorrow, though. Poor suckers."

Jake makes a gagging noise. "I don't know how they can pound back the alcohol like that. If I go over three beers, I'm done for the night. I'm a fucking lightweight."

I roll over, the fabric of my wedding dress sprawling across the cotton sheets, and position myself on top of Jake. Smiling down at him, I run my fingers along his jawbone. Goose bumps rise on his skin as my fingertips slide along his stubble. "You're my lightweight," I murmur, pressing a light kiss to his lips. "And I love you for that."

His fingers wrap around my wrists as he forcefully shifts beneath me. It isn't hard to tell, despite the fabric we're still clothed in, that he's hard. I push my hips against his, creating the friction I've been craving all night. He closes his eyes and chokes on a groan. "What was it you wanted to talk to me about earlier?" I ask. "Before my mother so kindly pulled me away from you."

Jake's blue eyes pierce through mine; there's so much emotion I could get lost in them. He reaches up and twirls a strand of my hair around his finger. "I promised you I'd think about having a kid," he begins, causing my heart to do a flip. "I've thought about it, but before I give you an answer, there are some issues I need to discuss."  He pauses and takes a deep breath. "I'm scared of standing there and being nothing but helpless through the... the birthing process. I hate that you have to go through all that pain and suffering, Gem."

"Jake," I say, caressing his cheek. "As long as you're there to hold my hand, you're not helpless."

"I know," he smiles. "And I'll try to tell myself that when the time comes. But are you—"

"You... You want to have a baby?" I interrupt. I can't believe this. I thought I was going to have to fight with Jake for years before he agreed. But here we are, lying in bed and talking about our future as a family.

"Yes," he replies. "I'm ready, Gemma. Just say the word and we'll do it. I want to have a biological family again." He traces his thumb across my chin. "I want a baby with your eyes and my hair. Your sass and my humbleness."

"Don't forget your ability to be a real man," I whisper.

Jake smiles. "Yeah, I suppose there's that, too."

My eyes trail down his rumpled dress shirt, to where the first two buttons are already undone. I slide a hand down to the next button and expertly flick it open. When all the buttons are undone and his tie and dress shirt hang loosely against his toned frame, I trace every contour of his muscles with my palms.

Jake wraps his arms around my back and pulls me close to him so that our chests are touching, and I grind my hips against him again. A groan slips from between his lips, and before I know it, Jake is on top of me. His legs are tangled in my wedding dress and several curses slip from his lips. Although I had a dress for the reception party, I decided to not change. My wedding dress is special to me, and if I only get to wear it once in my life, I'm going to make sure it's well-used by the end of the night.

"Okay," Jake says, sitting up. He's kneeling on the bed, his legs bracketing my thighs. "As much as I love this dress on you, Gem, it needs to come off."

"Do you think anyone will hear us?" I giggle, knowing exactly where we're heading. I never thought this day could get any better, but it's about to. Jake's willing to try to conceive a baby with me! My nerves are bursting with adrenaline.

"Nah," Jake replies. He climbs down from the bed and begins to unbuckle his belt. "They're all passed out from too much alcohol." He slides his dress pants down, letting them pool at his ankles.

One look at him while he's undressing and I'm ready for him to pin me down and bury himself inside of me. I roll off of the bed and undo the zipper of my wedding dress, allowing the silky fabric to slide down my arms. Jake stares at me as I remove my lacy thong and matching strapless bra. I then remove the bobby pins from my hair. It falls down around my shoulders to my mid-back. I leave the crown-like braids in my hair.

Naked, I lay down on the bed, my body aching for his touch as I watch him strip down. He begins to undo his tie.

Feeling bold, I say, "What? Are you going to use your tie to bind my hands to the headboard?"

"Very tempting," he smiles. "But no."

He tosses his tie to the hardwood and then peels off his dress shirt. I draw my bottom lip between my teeth, watching as he kicks his pants off and removes his boxer briefs. When I see Jake standing in front of me in all his naked glory, the ache between my legs intensifies. I need him. Now.

Without hesitation, Jake climbs onto the bed and positions himself above me, cupping my face with one hand. A whimper escapes from my throat. His erection is pressing against my lower abdomen. It's enough to drive me crazy.

"Binding your hands," Jake continues, "would be nothing but a disadvantage for me. I want to feel your hands all over me, Gem. They're almost as wicked as your mouth."

I grin, sliding my hand down his torso until I come to his erection. I wrap my hand around it, squeezing lightly. He flinches, closing his eyes and pressing his forehead against mine as I tease him. As the seconds pass by, he gets harder and harder, and his breathing rate increases. The heat of his breath against my mouth is intoxicating—his breath smells like cinnamon whisky. Spicy and tempting. I drag my thumb over his tip, taking pleasure in the way he shudders.

"Gem," he rasps. "If you keep doing that, I'm going to come before I have a chance to fuck you."

His filthy mouth brings a smile to my face. I prop myself up on one elbow and flick my tongue against his earlobe. He shudders again. "Then what are you waiting for?" I whisper.

Jake doesn't hesitate. Cupping my knee, he wraps my leg around his waist and positions himself against me. The tip of his erection causes friction in the area that wants it most. I squeeze my eyes shut and suppress a whimper as I roll my hips, silently begging him to enter me.

"Patience, Gem," he laughs. His voice is throaty and passionate. "We'll get there, eventually."

"Jake," I groan.

He chuckles again, ignoring my pleas. Instead of pushing into me and fucking me senseless, he edges a knee between my thighs and kisses his way down to my breasts, stopping to tongue my nipple.

"Oh my God." I arch against him and slide my fingers into his hair, which spurs Jake on; he tongues my nipple again, grazing his teeth against the sensitive skin. A violent, pleasurable shiver rattles my bones. A moan escapes my lips. "Fuck, Jake."

A throaty laugh heats my skin as he trails a path down my body, stopping just above my slit. He glances up at me, and I hope he can see the pleading look in my eyes. I need him to break the tension in my body. I need him to touch and taste me, to bring on one of his mind-blowing orgasms. My chest heaves with each expectant breath.

Finally, with a cocky smirk on his face, he nuzzles the juncture of my thigh, breathing me in. He kisses the inside of my thigh, sucks on it. Although he's being thorough, he's driving me crazy. I spread my legs wider for him. "Jake," I say, tapping my clit with a manicured nail. "I need you right here. Your mouth or fingers will do, but I would prefer your mouth. Maybe your tongue, too."

He glances up from my thigh with an arched brow. "I was making my way there, Gem. Am I going too slow?"

"Yes," I reply.

Grinning, Jake slides his palms to my hips and holds them down. His mouth follows, hovering over the apex of my thighs. "I need some clarification, Gem."

I rub myself where I want him. It makes the knot in my stomach tighten. "I need your tongue right here."

Jake flicks his tongue over my fingers. "Here?"

"Right there," I breathe.

"Do you want me to do it again?"

"Yes," I moan. "Stop teasing me, Jake. Please."

Jake sweeps his tongue across my clit again and then pushes my fingers away and covers it with his mouth. He circles with his tongue before grazing my sensitive skin with his teeth. A gasp escapes my throat. And before I can moan or tell him he's doing a good job; he latches on and begins to suck. Hard.

My hips lift involuntarily, grinding against Jake's mouth. The longer he works his tongue against me in slow, sweeping motions, the tauter the knot in my stomach becomes. I tighten my fingers in his hair and bow off the bed when the first orgasm hits. I close my eyes and cry out his name, riding out my orgasm while Jake works unspoken magic with his tongue.

When my orgasm is finished, I'm left feeling loopy and content, which only maximizes when he glances up at me with a lazy grin. "How was that?" he drawls.

"Exceptional," I whisper. Peeking through my lashes, I slide my hands under his arms and pull him up so he's on top of me again. "Now, Jake?"

"Yeah, Gem?"

I loop my arms around his neck. "Help me make a baby."

I don't have to ask him twice. When Jake drops his head to kiss my throat, he guides himself into me at the same time. He grinds against me, seeing how much I can handle. "How do you want to do this?" he rasps. His eyes are squeezed shut. "I'm on the edge already, Gem. Sensory overload."

I applaud Jake for being honest with me. It's been a while since we've gone bare, so I can't blame him. I understand why he's experiencing sensory overload. "I don't care about the pace, Jake," I murmur.

He slowly grinds against me; he pulls out and then thrusts back in with a slow, teasing pace. "How's this?"

When he repeats the motion, my eyes want to roll back into my head. I don't think he can fully comprehend how perfect it feels. "That's, ah, perfect, Jake. Keep going."

He presses his lips to mine, swallowing me up in a hot, passionate kiss while he continues with the slow grind. Although Jake and I have had sex many, many times, this time feels different. Instead of simply doing it for pleasure and because we love each other, we're doing it to create life. We're trying to start our own family.

"Jake," I whimper. "I'm close."

"I know," he murmurs, nipping at the skin of my neck. He drags his tongue over my skin, soothing the stinging sensation. It distracts me so much I don't realize he's slipped his hand between us. When his fingers make contact with my clit, I bow off the bed, overwhelmed by the motion of his fingers. "Come for me, Gem."

He doesn't have to ask twice. Crying out his name, my back arches off the bed and a wave of ecstasy washes through my body. It sends me spiralling into a dizzy, drugged state of mind. 

Although I've already orgasmed, Jake intensifies the pace; he hooks an arm under my knee and draws my leg up. He begins to pound into me at a relentless pace. The drowsy feeling in my body quickly fades. It's replaced by a surge of adrenaline. "Oh my god. Fuck. Jake."

Beneath us, the bed creaks with our frantic movements; every time he thrusts into me, I raise my hips to meet him. Our kisses become sloppy; our breathing heightens. Jake and I are a mess of limbs and kisses and sweat and passion, pushing each other closer and closer to the edge. While I'm proud of him for making me orgasm twice already, and nearly for a third time, I want him to come. And after he comes, I want to lay here with his arms wrapped around me and wonder if this is going to work or not.

I tighten myself around Jake, relishing in the way his cock twitches. "Gem," he pants. "I'm... I'm so fucking close."

I tangle my fingers in his hair and pull his bottom lip between my teeth. I then let go of it, watching it snap back into place as he continues to thrust in and out. "Let go, Jake," I murmur.

The last thrust is sloppy, but the feeling that follows after is astonishing; I feel when he comes inside of me, and I pull him closer to me, hoping and praying that this will work. Jake moans my name and tells me how much he loves me as he rides out his orgasm. When he's done, he collapses on top of me and quickly rolls to the side, pulling me into his arms. I'm tempted to tell him to keep going, but it would be unfair of me to do so. Most men aren't as lucky as women—it takes a while for them to orgasm again. Besides, I can't be too greedy. Jake's decided to try to conceive with me. What else could I ask for?

Snuggling closer to Jake, I rest my head on his sweaty chest and exhale a content sigh. "I love you," I whisper, tears brimming my eyes.

He tips my chin up and wipes the tear away. "I love you, too, Gem."

When I meet his gaze, I see the same look on his face. The same tear sliding down his cheek.

If this works, we're going to have a baby in nine months.