The Ties that Bind (Kingdom) (36 page)

Even though she wanted to prolong the delicious feeling Jason was causing to run through her body, her mind wouldn’t let her. Her body had taken over, and its demands would be met.

Aviva gave him and her body what they both wanted. She came. At first she tightened with pleasure, then came the continuous contractions and release that flooded her body with pleasure. Each wave washed over her longer and harder than the one before.

“That’s it, Angel, I feel you, can you feel me?” As the words left Jason’s mouth, Aviva felt a hot gush as he followed her into release.

Holding her close, Jason ran his big hands all over Aviva’s back, up to her neck, only to begin again. It was almost as though his hands wanted to touch each part of her all at the same time. As he caressed her, he placed whisper light kisses along her chest, neck and face.

As their breaths slowly returned to normal, Jason held Aviva’s face away from his with gentle care. Finally, she opened her eyes and looked at him.

“This is just a fraction of how much I love you and what you mean to me. I have so much more to show you.”

“I love you too, Jason, so much!”

“Of course you do, have you seen me?”

“Jason!” Aviva said, punching him in the chest.

“What, I was only agreeing with you. I thought that’s what husbands were supposed to do when their wives made a perfectly rational statement.”

Chapter 38

The drive back to the house was a fun one. Jason appeared to be in extremely good spirits insisting that Aviva sing to him every time a song came on the radio that he liked.

When they had finally moved to the front seat of the SUV, Jason had taken her hand and after kissing her ring finger had placed it on his thigh. For Aviva's part, she was content to leave it there.

At some point on the return journey, she had coaxed Jason into singing along with her. At first he had been reluctant, and when he joined in, she understood why. His voice wasn’t the worst singing voice she had ever heard, it was just that every now and then he would go off key in a way that made her shudder. But in the end, she didn’t give a damn, they were having a marvelous time.

By the time they made it home, it was close to 9pm. Aviva had been expecting their family and friends at around 7pm and felt a little guilty that they hadn’t been there to greet them. Her guilt at missing their arrival was short lived. Aviva could hardly wait to show Hope and MacKenzie her ring.

It had started snowing again on their drive back. By New York standards, the weather had been moderate. However, from what Aviva could see by the ferocity of the way the snowflakes were now coming down, that was all about to change.

Pulling up before the main entrance to the house, Jason stopped the car and suggested she go in so that she could stay out of the inclement weather. Aviva declined, telling him she didn’t think she would be able to stop herself from showing off her ring as soon as she stepped through the door. She wanted them to make the announcement together so she would wait for him.

Without comment, Jason put the car into drive and continued around the house to the garage.

Taking the back entrance they made their way through the kitchen. Aviva couldn’t help but notice that many of the counters were loaded down with the food Jackson had insisted they order from the hotel because he didn’t want anyone to have to spend countless hours cooking. In all honesty, she hadn’t put up one ounce of an argument against his suggestion.

Mrs. Emerson and Mr. Ronson, the Kingdom family butler who had been with them since Jake and Josh had been children were both in the kitchen when they entered. Both of the elderly staff appeared a little startled by their appearance. They were also dressed in their coats and had suitcases standing by their feet, ready to leave for the holiday.

As the thought registered with her, Mrs. Emerson answered the ringing of the kitchen telephone.

“Kingdom residence.” Her two words were followed by a short period of silence before she followed up with, “Okay” before she hung up.

“Are they outside?” Mr. Ronson asked.

“Yes, and not a moment too soon if you ask me. The way that snow is coming down had me worried.”

“Well let’s get out of here.” Mr. Ronson said, picking up both of their suitcases, ready to depart.

“Happy holiday.” Aviva said, giving the elderly couple a genuine smile, as she responded to the pull of Jason’s hand as he led her out of the kitchen, and along the walkway that would lead them into the spacious hallway of the house.

With her line of vision blocked by the bulk of Jason’s body, Aviva jumped when a chorus of
surprise
reverberated around her as Jason stepped from before her.

“What are you all doing out here?”

“Waiting for you guys, of course!” MacKenzie spoke for the whole group who all stood around grinning.

Aviva was a little put out that they obviously already knew her news. Looking over at Jason, Aviva give him a dirty look that she hoped he recognized as her being pissed at his lack of ability to keep his proposal to himself.

“So what would you have done about all this if I had refused?” Aviva couldn’t help asking a grinning, Jason.

“Wasn’t going to happen because I would not have taken no for an answer.” Jason responded seeming not to care that their audience had grown quiet.

For the short time it had taken him to answer, Jason’s expression had changed. His regard so serious that Aviva knew his words weren’t spoken with cocky bravado for the benefit of the onlookers.

He was telling her in his own way how much her acceptance meant to him, but he was going about it as only Jason would.

Shaking her head, Aviva wrapped her arms around his waist and gave him a hug. “What am I going to do with you?”

“Marry me.”

“I already said yes, so you don’t need to worry. You are not getting away from me.”

“In that case, how about marrying me tonight?”

“Don’t be silly. A wedding takes ages to plan...” Aviva came to a stop as she realized why all the people she loved were standing in the hallway with the full knowledge that Jason had taken her out to propose.

“Well, Angel, what do you say, will you marry me tonight? Everything is in order, all you have to say is yes.”

Aviva knew she looked like a simpleton with her mouth hanging open, but she couldn’t seem to speak.

“It doesn’t matter, Angel. If you need more time, it’s yours.”

“But what about... my dress?”

“Jason took care of everything, Vee, and the dress is beautiful.” MacKenzie told her with a smile.

“Everything?”

“Trust me, every last detail is perfect.”

Aviva was still in shock. Everything was moving much quicker than she felt she could cope with.

She and Jason had known each other for less than a year. His proposal had come as a lovely surprise. Although not giving it conscious thought, Aviva had imagined that they would go through a lengthy engagement before any discussion of a wedding took place.

Yet here she was standing in a hallway full of people, all of whom were watching and waiting for her response. Maybe it was too quick. But Aviva knew what she wanted, she also knew how Jason felt and what he wanted. They wanted to spend the rest of their lives together.

“Looks like you just got yourself a date, Jason King.”

“Well thank God for that! I thought you were going to leave my man hanging there like one of these Christmas decorations you have all over this house!” Josh quipped, getting a disgusted look from his father and brothers for the inappropriateness of his comment.

“Oh, and, by the way, I love all the decorations you have hanging all over the house. Good save, right?” Josh asked no one in particular.

It was just as well because no one was paying him the slightest bit of attention. What Aviva’s acceptance and his comment had managed to do was to set everyone in motion.

Hope and MacKenzie moved towards Aviva as though they were on a military mission, their expressions a bit frightening to Aviva.

“Come on, girl, we need all the time we can get. Aviva, when was the last time you did something about those eyebrows, and don’t let me get started on that afro.” Hope said reaching her side to give her sister a hug to let her know that she was joking.

“Forget about the hair, Ms. Hope, that’s my job. If yours is anything to go by, you are not going anywhere near my girl’s hair.”

“What’s the matter with my hair?”

“The fact that you have to ask that question is answer enough!” Hope quipped.

Being led away by her sisters, Aviva turned her head and caught Jason’s eyes. The smile they shared evoked memories of the day they had met, and they both knew that their circle was nearly complete.

**********

They had been upstairs in Aviva and Jason’s bedroom for nearly three hours. When
Aviva had been told the ceremony was taking place at midnight, she had wondered what they were going to be doing for so long. She hadn’t reckoned with having to deal with Hope and MacKenzie. The only peace they had offered her was the time spent relaxing in her bath. Then the maniacs had gone to work.

Although Aviva would have foregone the fuss over her hair and makeup, she had to admit that her sisters had turned her out.

Her skin had never looked better from head to toe. Whatever, Hope had used on her, she was absolutely glowing. Knowing that she didn’t like using too much makeup, Hope had worked on her face in such a way as to give the impression that her radiance was entirely natural. The result was an almost flawless complexion.

MacKenzie had also been busy. Her hair had been washed, and blow-dried, stopping short of straight. The result was she still had a natural wave to her hair. MacKenzie had then pulled it back into a simple chignon that she arranged at the side of Aviva’s neck.

Both women had insisted that she couldn’t see the dress until they were finished. This was one part of the whole operation that truly worried her. What if she hated the dress? Aviva knew she would wear it regardless, she didn’t have a choice. But honestly, she was more than a little worried. By all accounts, Jason had chosen it himself. Yes, she was worried. The man who mostly wore jeans and t-shirts had chosen the most important dress of her life.

All her doubts vanished as though they had never existed when she finally had her wedding dress on. The simplicity of the design translated into sheer perfection.

The gown was made out of a lightweight pristine white satin. Designed in a sleeveless empress style, its high neck fit around her throat framing it to perfection. The only adornment was a band of crystal like stones added to the fabric just below her breasts.

The skirt of the gown flowed around and against her body in a way that only gave a hint at the figure beneath it. As Aviva continued to study her reflection she turned to take in the back. The dress was held together by crystal buttons that ended at the base of her lower back. Where the buttons ended the train began, sweeping behind her in a cascade of luxurious fluid material. Aviva loved it, knowing she couldn’t have chosen better herself. Jason had captured to perfection everything she could have wanted in a wedding dress.

When she finally looked at her friends they all turned mushy and cried. The end result of their emotional outburst was that Hope had to retouch her make-up.

“It’s nearly midnight. I just have one more thing to do before we go down.” Aviva spoke the words, but her attention was still captured by her reflection in the mirror. Breaking away from her friends, she went into the bathroom and closed the door.

Bowing her head, Aviva began to speak to her mother. “Hi, Mum. If I had one wish, it would be that you could be here with me tonight. I know you would love Jason and his family. I’m so happy, mum.

I’m sorry you didn’t get the chance to feel the way I feel right now, or to experience being happy with the man you love. But I’m going to live this life for the both of us. I have to go, but I’ll speak to you soon. I love and miss you.”

Her talk completed, Aviva’s head popped up as a thought came to her. Rushing out of the bathroom she ignored the startled look on her friends’ faces as she hurried toward her closet. Dropping to her knees, she was just about to push her head into the bowels of the space, when she was unceremoniously grabbed by both arms, and literally lifted off the floor, still in her crouched position.

“Are you crazy?”

“What the hell are you doing?” Both of Aviva’s friends spoke at the same time.

“I need the box. I can’t believe I nearly forgot about it.”

“What box do you need to get so badly that you’re going to mess up all the good work I did on all that hair?” MacKenzie asked in exasperation.

“The box my mother left for me.”

“What’s in it?” Hope asked.

“I don’t know. My mother left instructions that I should open it on my wedding day.”

“Well there’s no way I’m getting down there. Hope, you have to get it.” MacKenzie told her with a look that said
I want to see you refuse
.

Sucking her teeth, Hope rolled her eyes for good measure and got down on all fours. “What does this box look like anyway?”

“Just pull out the red box in the corner.”

Shuffling backwards, Hope emerged pulling a red leather box with her. Lifting it, she carried it to the bed and set it down.

Moving her out of the way, Aviva opened the lid and looked inside. Two of the three people who looked inside could see nothing but sheet after sheet of music, and some books.

Aviva saw the means that had sustained her throughout the years that followed the death of her mother. She also saw the diaries that told her mother’s life story. But that wasn’t what she was looking for. Buried beneath her most prized possessions was another smaller box. She had been instructed in her mother’s final diary that it wasn’t to be opened until her wedding day.

Over the years, Aviva had been more than a little curious, but she had carried out her mother’s wish. Lifting the box she reverently opened the lid and read the note that had been folded in on itself many times in order for it to fit into the small container.