What You Want Most

Chapter Thirteen

The garter had been removed and thrown; the bouquet had been tossed. Through a haze of bubbles, the newlyweds headed for the waiting limousine.

The drive from the Ritz Carlton to the Hay Adams was quiet. Mac sat across Aaron’s lap as they shared hungry kisses. “You are so beautiful, Sarah,” Aaron whispered, caressing her cheek. “I can’t believe we’re finally married. When you came down that aisle...”

 

Aaron swallowed hard as Mac stepped into the aisle. Their gazes met across the sanctuary and held until the congregation stood and broke the connection. The music began and Sarah’s uncle Matt initiated their measured procession down the aisle. The guests smiled as she passed.

“Who gives this woman to be married?” asked the officiating pastor. Scott Parker was a close friend of Aaron’s from their college days and had agreed to marry them.

“Her uncle, Matthew O’Hara,” Uncle Matt said, chest puffed out proudly.

Mac smiled up at him and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you, Uncle Matt.”

“I love you, Sarah,” he whispered back. He placed her hand into Aaron’s and stepped back to take a seat in the front pew next to Admiral Chegwidden and Bud.

The rest of the ceremony passed in a blur for Aaron until it came time for the kiss. He listened with half an ear as Scott performed the ceremony. He spoke when prompted, but his mind remained focused on the woman in front of him.

The blush color of her empire gown heightened the flush on her cheeks. The high waist emphasized her generous curves to almost distracting degree and the soft velvet of the bodice made his hands itch to touch it. The long chiffon skirt whispered teasingly around her long legs.

“By the powers vested in me by the District of Columbia, I now pronounce you man and wife.”

Finally...

“Aaron, you may kiss your bride.”

 

With an index finger, Aaron traced a path along the velvet neckline of Mac’s gown. He smiled at her intake of breath. “You’re glowing,” he whispered in her ear.

She smiled and kissed him again before sliding off his lap and onto the seat next to him. This was the second time she’d been told she was glowing...

 

Mac smiled up at Sturgis as he approached the bride’s table. He asked Aaron of he could dance with her. Aaron agreed with a smile of his own.

“You’re a beautiful bride, Mac,” Sturgis said as he escorted her to the dance floor.

“Thanks, Sturgis,” she replied happily and moved into his arms.

They danced in silence for a few moments before Sturgis spoke. “Do you still wonder why?” he asked referring to her rape and subsequent pregnancy over a year ago.

She shook her head. “No.”

“Can I be so bold as to say that I think things have worked out exactly as they were supposed to?”

“Why do you say that?” she asked curiously.

“Remember when you accidentally told me you were in love with a certain Navy commander?”

Mac blushed, but nodded, remembering that slip of the tongue so long ago.

“For all your certainty that you were in love with Harm, you didn’t have the glow you do now,” Sturgis told her.

“Really?” she asked, a pleased flush staining her cheeks.

Sturgis nodded. “Really. Even Harm noticed it. Ever since you fell in love with Aaron. I can pinpoint the week if you like.”

Mac laughed out loud. “That’s okay,” she said. “I think I know when it was.”

The song ended and Sturgis returned Mac to her husband.

 

The limousine pulled to a stop in front of the Hay Adams Hotel. The driver came about and opened the door them. A bellhop was already waiting for them and escorted them directly upstairs.

“Allow me, Mrs. Vawter,” Aaron said scooping Mac into his arms.

The bellhop opened the door of the bridal suite and carried in their luggage. Aaron carried Mac into the room and settled her onto the elevated four-poster bed. Aaron offered the young bellhop a healthy tip and dismissed him.

Mac looked around the sumptuous room. There was soft green and ivory toile at the windows and on the bed. The walls were ivory with white molding around the windows and doors. Mac slid off the bed onto the luxurious moss colored carpet and padded over to the fireplace. “Aaron this is lovely,” she said, her eyes shining with delight.

“Only the best for you, my love,” he said, coming up behind her and enveloping her in his arms. He placed a gentle kiss on the nape of her neck causing her to shiver. “We’re finally alone,” he murmured.

She turned in his arms and they shared another lingering kiss. When it ended, they were both breathing heavily.

“Sarah...” Aaron whispered raggedly. He unzipped her gown; ready for the moment he’d been dreaming of for months.

“Aaron, wait--” she said, breathlessly.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, slightly concerned.

She smiled. “Nothing’s wrong. It’s just that I’ve been planning this for awhile. I bought a gown. I want to wear it for you on our wedding night.”

As eager as he was for their union, he could deny her nothing. Her first wedding night had been nothing more than a drunken grope session. He was bound and determined to erase every bad memory he could and replace them with beautiful romantic ones. “Of course. You go.”

She gathered her toiletries and a small flat box from her suitcase and hurried into the bathroom.

“God bless you, Grandmother,” he whispered upwardly, thankful for the trust fund she’d set up for him many years ago. “And thank You, Lord.” Aaron adjusted the fire and moved about the suite turning off the lamps, but leaving the wall sconces turned down as low as they would go. And thank goodness for dimmer switches, he thought. He was still a little nervous, but he wanted to see his bride as they made love for the first time.

Once the mood was set, Aaron grabbed a pair of pajamas from his own suitcase. The burgundy paisley print against the navy colored silk reminded him of something...a tie. Harm’s tie....

 

He’s nervous, thought Aaron, watching Harm roll the end of his tie through his fingers as he approached them.

“Congratulations,” Harm said to the couple. He offered a hand to Aaron. “You’re a lucky man.”

“Yes, I am,” Aaron agreed seriously, realizing this was no time to joke or wisecrack with the other man.

“Would you mind if I had a dance with Mac?”

Aaron deferred to her. “Sarah?”

She nodded and accepted Harm’s outstretched elbow. They walked to the parquet dance floor in silence.

Aaron watched as Mac rested contentedly in her friend’s embrace. They danced easily for awhile. Aaron stiffened when he saw Mac look up into Harm’s face and try to pull away. Harm held her fast and whatever he said appeased her because she settled back into his arms.

Aaron thought they looked comfortable together. Maybe a little too comfortable. He was on the verge of interrupting when Admiral Chegwidden approached.

“Don’t worry about them, Mr. Vawter. They’re just saying good-bye. Harm’s too honorable to have an affair with a married woman--even if the woman were interested.”

Aaron nodded uncertainly but said, “I know.”

The two men kept their eyes on the bride and her best friend. Mac’s smile faltered and Aaron watched her reach up and cup Harm’s cheek. Harm gently kissed her palm and then wiped away tears that Aaron hadn’t seen and continued speaking to her. He made to move to break this up right now, but the admiral stopped him again.

“You don’t have anything to worry about,” he said.

“He’s making her cry. It’s our wedding day, Sir. Her tears should be happy, not sad,” Aaron replied.

“I understand your concerns, Mr. Vawter, but trust me she’ll be fine. She knows how to handle him,” Admiral Chegwidden remarked. “And besides, you don’t know that they’re not happy tears.”

Despite his desire to break them up physically, he stayed where he was. He didn’t want to make a scene. Harm continued talking to Mac for a just a few more seconds. She finally pulled away, even though the music still played, and this time Harm let her go.

She placed a gentle kiss on his cheek and then turned to Aaron and walked toward him, a loving smile on her face.

“Are you okay, Sarah?” he asked when she reached him.

The admiral slipped away unnoticed by the either the bride or the groom.

“I’m fine,” she said. “Come on.” She reached for his hand and pulled him out to the dance floor, settling herself into her husband’s arms.

She looked up into Aaron’s stormy eyes, detecting a lot of worry and a little jealousy. “You have nothing to worry about. Not now, not ever,” she reassured him. “It’s you I love the way a wife loves her husband.”

He nodded taking in her bright eyes and glowing skin. “I know, Sarah.” They shared a long look before being drawn together in a heated kiss.

 

Aaron shook his head to clear the memory. What was she doing in there anyhow?

Mac carefully stripped off her gown and laid it across the chaise lounge. She moved over to the vanity and gazed at herself in the large oval mirror. She could see the sparkle in her eyes and the high spots of color on her cheeks. She broke into a smile. Lieutenant Colonel Sarah “Mac” MacKenzie was gone and Mrs. Sarah Vawter, wife and mother, had taken her place. It had been a gradual change over the last several months, but the final transformation had been the moment her husband had kissed her to seal the deal.

Only she hadn’t known it then. It was only when she’d danced with Harm that the realization hit home...

 

He’s was wearing the tie she'd given him. He’s nervous, too. She couldn't believe he was wearing the tie she'd given him the year she was engaged to Mic. Mac remembered giving it to him. Mic had not been pleased, but Harm was her partner and her best friend, after all. He had to have a gift. But she compromised and bought him an impersonal tie. She'd always regretted it.

“Sarah?” Aaron passed Harm’s question to her. Harm must want to dance. At least, she hopeed that was why he was here. Mac nodded and reached out to accept Harm’s charcoal gray elbow. They said nothing as they walked to the dance floor.

She swung into his arms and settled easily into his embrace, almost as if it were her place. They danced for a few moments. Mac jumped slightly when Harm began to sing in her ear.

“Oh, how you sparkle; and oh, how you shine, the flush on your cheeks is more than the w—”

Mac tried to pull out of his embrace. “Harm...”

He looked down at her, his eyes sad. “Mac, please. Just listen.”

She looked at him for a long moment before she nodded and allowed him to hold her close again.

Mac relaxed in his embrace and listened to his soft voice in her ear.

“He must do something that I didn’t do. Whatever he’s doing, it looks good on you. You look so good in love. You want him, that’s easy to see...

“He must have stolen the stars from the sky, and gave them to you to wear in your eyes. I had my chances, but I set you free. And now I wonder why I couldn’t see... You look so good in love. You want him, that’s easy to see...”

Mac’s smile faltered and tears welled up in her eyes. She reached up and placed a gentle hand on his cheek. Harm covered her hand with his own and raised it to place a soft kiss on her palm and then soaked up her tears with a forefinger. “Be happy, Sarah,” he whispered.

Finally, she pulled away, gently disengaging herself from his arms. With a gentle kiss on his cheek, she walked away from her past and turned to look at her present and her future, a warm smile on her face.

 

The slight knock startled her out of her musings. “Sarah, are you okay?”

“Yes. I’m fine,” she said. “I’ll be right out.” She pulled her wedding underclothes off and slipped the black satin and lace scrap over her head. She looked at her reflection and sighed a contented, happy sigh. It had been the day of her dreams. And waiting for her, in the other room, was the man of her dreams.

She pulled open the door and allowed Aaron his first glimpse of all of her.

“Wow...” he whispered.

Mac walked over to her husband and slipped her arms around his neck. His arm closed around her waist in response. “I’m sorry I kept you waiting.”

“It was well worth it,” he murmured against her mouth. Now that they were alone, Aaron allowed his passion free reign. He scooped her up once more and carried her to the bed.

~*~

Aaron rolled over and looked into the bright eyes of his bride. A wave of joy surged through him and he smiled. “Good morning, Mrs. Vawter.”

“Good morning, my husband,” she replied. “Last night was astonishing.”

Aaron blushed. “I’m glad you’re pleased,” he replied. “What time is it?”

“Zero seven thirty-six,” she said her eyes never leaving his.

“I knew I married you for a reason,” Aaron teased.

“Is that the only one?” she asked, a delicious pout on her lips.

“Praise God, no,” he said seriously. “I married you because you are an intelligent...” He kissed her. “...gorgeous...” He kissed her again. “...sexy woman.”

“Oh, I see,” she whispered into his mouth. “And you are a very wonderful man. I love you, Aaron.”

“Ah, Sarah, sweeter words I’ve never heard.” They lay together quietly wrapped in each other’s arms.

The End

A short sequel is in the works.