Chapter 286 - Together, for the Rest of Our Lives

The maidservants and stewards came at the appointed time – not a minute earlier and not a minute late. Vaughn and Zenia were already wearing their respective wedding suit and dress. Vaughn was holding Zenia's hand when the people assigned to fetch them finally arrived.

"Madam, please go with us and the Gentleman must go with the Lead steward and his men," the Lead Maid informed the couple and both of them nodded their heads.

Zenia was ushered to board something that looked like a sedan chair being carried by four men. Vaughn was asked to ride a horse being escorted by five men. The Lead Maid and the Lead Steward led each group. They set off when they heard the sound of the tolling bells.

Zenia was feeling nervous and excited at the same time, while Vaughn…was no better. He kept tugging and releasing the reigns of the poor horse that did not know what to do anymore. The Lead Steward could feel the pain of his favorite horse, but he was also helpless. The current couple gave them a huge amount of payment. The Chief Elder tried to refuse the amount, but Vaughn insisted and even used a rather threatening tone and demeanor.

When they reached the front of the temple, they got off their ride. The door of the temple opened. The Lead Steward told Vaughn to walk ahead of his wife, who was left standing in the doorway. The Lead Maid put a white veil on Zenia when Vaughn reached the podium where the Chief Elder was standing.

The Lead maid whispered to Zenia, "Just follow the Chief Elder's instructions and you have nothing to worry about."

Zenia nodded her head and the Lead Maid ushered her to walk to where Vaughn was standing. 

Vaughn was looking intently at Zenia who was wearing a white dress with a flowing skirt as she made her way to him. She braided her hair loosely, and he could see some of the soft strands escaping from the braid. She was a perfect personification of what was called an ethereal beauty. The white veil was partly responsible for giving her that look.

They looked at each other and smiled before they faced the Chief Elder together. The ritual had begun. The Chief Elder gave clear instructions on what the couple should do next. It was as if they had rehearsed everything before. 

The Chief Elder made them recite their vows and handed them the rings imbued with some kind of magic. The partner would always know the whereabouts of the other no matter how far apart they might be. The rings were the gift of the Chief Elder.

Vaughn and Zenia gladly took the rings, and the Chief Elder instructed them to slip the ring on the finger of their lover to complete the ritual. Vaughn and Zenia did as they were told.

The Chief Elder smiled and announced, "I now pronounce you husband and wife. May no one or nothing will ever separate the two of you apart. You may seal your vow with a kiss."

Vaughn took off Zenia's veil and pulled her closer to him. He lowered his head and captured her lips. They were panting when he had decided to let her go. Zenia tried to push him away when she felt like suffocating already, but he stopped her.

Zenia pinched Vaughn's side lightly when he finally let her go. He chuckled and kissed her on her forehead. Everyone in the temple cheered for them, and the Chief Elder instructed the servants to serve the food in the reception hall.

Zenia and Vaughn looked at each other and did not expect that there would be a celebration. Vaughn took Zenia's hand, and they followed the Lead Maid to the reception. 

When they got there, so many people were already gathered. They even saw Zosimo among the crowd. Everyone raised their glass of wine to cheer on the newlyweds. They were strangers, but Zenia felt their warmth and genuine wishes for Vaughn and her to be happy.

The Chief Elder stopped everyone from making noises and uttered, "With this blissful marriage, let us hope for the return of heaven's blessings to our kingdom. May everyone go back to the ways of the old and put importance on family and sanctity of marriage. May heaven bless us."

"Heaven bless us," everyone in the reception hall uttered at once.

Chief Elder handed a glass of wine to Vaughn while Zenia was busy accepting the good wishes of the guests. Chief Elder urged Vaughn to drink up the wine to the last drop. Vaughn just followed. The Chief Elder just smiled at him.

"Congratulations! That glass of wine is my special gift to you. You look so young and still lacking experience. That wine can help you a lot."

The celebration continued, but the Lead Maid and Lead Steward escorted Vaughn and Zenia back to their house. When they reached the door, the Lead Maid and Lead Steward bid the couple goodbye.

Vaughn opened the door and lifted Zenia up to carry her in. Zenia closed the door and locked it while being held within Vaughn's arms. They went inside the main room and locked it too.

Vaughn put Zenia on the bed and suddenly felt hot. His hands seemed to move on their own. He was able to get rid of his shirt and bared his chiseled body before Zenia, who suddenly panicked.

She pushed him with all her might and shouted, "Wait!"

Vaughn seemed to be in some kind of trance and began inching his way to Zenia once more. He was aware of what he was doing and wanted to stop but some kind of force seemed to tell him that it could guide him properly so he allowed it.

"I said WAIT!" 

Zenia jumped off the bed and went to the bathroom. Vaughn just smiled and did not run after her. She could never escape from the bathroom even if she was thinking of doing it.

Zenia heaved a sigh of relief. She was glad that she hanged Tissuria's consummation dress inside the bathroom before she went out earlier. She quickly changed into the dress as her cheeks turned crimson.

'Well, this is it!'

She took a deep breath and turned the knob of the bathroom door. Vaughn heard it and smiled. His eyes kept looking at the direction of the bathroom.

When Zenia stepped out, Vaughn gasped at the sight of his wife. He did not expect that she would wear that dress. When did she get it? 

'Was it in the bag that she asked Jorick to retrieve from Ishelon?'

He blushed and felt even hotter. Zenia did not budge from her spot, and he could see her blushing cheeks. He stood up and walked to where she was.

He was surprisingly calm. He tried to suppress the surging emotions that welled up from deep within. He was certain that the wine that Chief Elder gave him must be the culprit. He let his hands do what they wanted to do. 

He went behind Zenia and loosened her braid. Her fragrant hair spread on her back. Her fragrance filled the room and the fire within him was ignited once more.

He gathered Zenia's hair and put them all on one side of her shoulders. He saw the scar on her bare shoulder. The artificial skin already peeled off. He lowered his head and began kissing Zenia's scar on her shoulder and back. The scar had a pattern that resembled a huge Mandala flower. He went up and then licked and kissed her nape. He was obviously an inexperienced man, but his body was not behaving anything like someone without experience.

Zenia let out a soft m.o.a.n and Vaughn gave in to his desire. He lifted Zenia up and carried her to their bed. He laid her down and began sucking her neck and nibbling her earlobes. He went down and his lips found the two erected peaks as if inviting him to try them.

Vaughn's hands gently massaged Zenia's b.r.e.a.s.ts and began sucking her n.i.p.p.l.es. Zenia let out soft m.o.a.ns, and Vaughn went crazy. His movements became a little rougher when he went back up to seize Zenia's lips once more. He held the back of her head to deepen the kiss. 

When he could no longer hold it in, he discarded the last pieces of clothing that he had and bared his n.a.k.e.d body. He did the same with Zenia's dress. 

He looked at his wife's perfect body and felt that his manliness was swelling even more. He pressed his n.a.k.e.d body against hers and his hands began exploring her body once more while his mouth imprisoned her mouth.

Zenia's head seemed to explode from the sensation that she was experiencing at that moment. Vaughn knew that the right time had finally arrived

"Zenzen, I'm going in, okay?"

"Hmm."

They both knew that it would hurt. Vaughn tried to be as gentle as he could while Zenia braced herself. She had encountered different types of pain before. Her first time should not be something she couldn't handle.

Vaughn thrust his manliness inside Zenia. He wanted to be gentle, but he realized that it was impossible to control his body at that moment. Was it because it was his first time? He couldn't stop even though he knew that Zenia was trying to suppress her tears from falling. It must be painful for her.

He whispered, "Please bear it for a little more."

"Hmm," she replied with tears in her eyes.

It took a while before Vaughn made a final thrust and released his seeds inside his wife. They were both panting and exhausted. Vaughn gathered Zenia within his arms and kissed her forehead. They had truly become one flesh.

Zenia fell asleep quickly with her n.a.k.e.d body next to Vaughn. She was so tired. Vaughn was conflicted because his manliness was swelling once more even though he was just looking at his wife's beautiful sleeping face.

He tried to suppress his desire and fell asleep next to his wife. They still had tomorrow and the rest of their days to taste the sweet nectar of love.