Chapter 16
 
“Mmmmm,” Caroline murmured into Simon’s ear as they stood closely together.

They’d eaten together, then taken Chris to the nearby pub, where new dads were evidently nothing new judging by the knowing grin the barmaid gave when Chris ordered the first round. By the time they took Chris back to the hospital and waved him goodbye, Caroline was feeling no pain at all.

“I wish you’d make love to me, Simon.”

“We shouldn’t,” he answered by reflex, his mouth reacting before his brain could intervene.

Caroline pulled away from him and turned obliquely away, causing him a feeling of loss. “So you keep telling me,” she said, with a little heat although her voice was quiet. “I love you. I want you. Why’d you – ?”

Simon put a finger to her lips. “I didn’t say no, Caroline.”
Caroline faced him again, a look of hope blossoming on her face.

“I’m ready go forward now, love,” he told her, taking her back in his arms. “I think seeing Marianne today is what pushed it home to me. I can’t really explain it… I just think I’ve been so afraid, and I don’t really have a clue why.”

She closed on him, lips pursed for a kiss, a gift that Simon was only too happy to receive. They’d kissed before, many times, but since their breakup those months before, none of the kisses had had this kind of intensity, this kind of meaning behind them. In that moment Simon felt his connection with her blossom, physically, emotionally, spiritually even.

In a pause for breath he whispered, “Back to mine, love?”

“Oh, yes,” she replied, her tone promising him everything.

- - - - - - - - - -

By the time Simon was dragging his injured leg over the step into his parents’ house he was wondering if he’d be able to take his beautiful girlfriend up on her promise. His knee hurt, and he was unable to contain a wince as, grunting, he stood straight and carefully planted his foot.

Instantly Caroline was there by his side, arm encircling, helping to steady him.

“Fuck, this hurts worse now than when I left the hospital!” he hissed.

“It’s the physio, Simon, plus then you’ve been up and about with me and Chris. You should have rested it. Come on, I’ll help you up the stairs.” Caroline leaned closer still to him for a moment and kissed him just underneath his ear. “Poor boy, I’ll look after you…”

Simon growled, but inside it was good to hear.

They struggled up the stairs, making more noise than Simon would have wished. As he feared his mother’s voice came from his parents’ bedroom, “Simon? Is that you?”

“It’s me, Mrs. Cook, Caroline. I’m helping him up the stairs.”

Instantly his mother answered in a worried tone, “Is everything all right? Simon?”

“I’m okay, Mum. It’s just that I had physio today and I shouldn’t have stayed on my feet for so long afterwards. I’ll be fine.”

“I’ll get him settled, Mrs. Cook,” Caroline insisted, and Jackie Cook, wise woman that she was, asked no further questions.

They hobbled into Simon’s room and with Caroline’s aid he collapsed into his chair. They both took a breather, then Simon asked for some of the painkillers he’d been provided. Caroline fetched him a glass of water to take them down. “Thanks, Cari,” Simon absently mumbled before downing his tablets.

 “Mmmmm,” Caroline hummed, “now let’s be getting you undressed, huh?”

She grabbed him by the waist, pulling him forward in the chair, and sank to her knees, scrabbling at his belt for a moment before undoing the buckle.

“Caroline?” Simon asked, startled. She just looked up at him with a sloppy grin on her face.

“I’m not waiting any more, Simon.”

She had difficulty fishing him out of his underwear, but finally she managed it. Simon already knew the answer, but asked anyway, “Are you really sure, Caroline?”

“Oh, hell, yes!” she said. Simon felt any lingering doubt disappear as he felt her licking along his length from base to tip. She repeated this a few times, licking all over his organ, to the accompaniment of his groans of pleasure. Then she took the head into her mouth, sucking and licking, while jacking him off with one hand. Simon looked down to see her other hand busy between her legs.

“Cari!” he gasped. He was at his limit already. Caroline just kept on going, and he groaned as he filled her mouth, muscles rigid, his pelvis lifted off the chair.

Caroline choked, coughed and spluttered. “I thought I was ready for that, but it seems I wasn’t,” she finally croaked out.

Simon wanted to slide down off the chair in front of her, and finally managed to do so while keeping his knee comfortable. He kissed her, tasting himself on her lips, but paid no attention to such minor things. He was too busy enjoying the kiss. Caroline was enthusiastically trying to get her tongue to disappear down his throat, the sheer passion in her setting his nerves afire.

He pulled back for a moment. Caroline went with him, but he pushed her gently back.

“What’s got into you?” he asked, surprised by her assertiveness.

“I’m fed up with waiting, I love you, I’m horny as all hell and maybe just a little drunk,” she replied, grinning.

“Just a little,” he observed, smiling back.

“Just enough to lose my inhibitions, Simon,” she giggled. “Talking of which…”

She reached for his manhood, and Simon couldn’t move away. She began by gently stroking, then moved on to rubbing more urgently. Simon, though injured, was a young man who was basically very fit, and he responded quickly enough to get a coo of delight from his girlfriend.

“Let’s move this to the bed,” he urged. Nodding happily, Caroline stood, swayed a little for a moment and then helped him up.

“You on the bottom,” she told him, “but not until we’re undressed!”

They quickly stripped out of their clothes. Caroline made Simon growl with arousal as she slid her panties down her legs, maintaining eye contact with him all the while. She kicked them free, careless of where they landed, then took his arm and drew him to the bed.

He lay down, stifling a grimace as pain flared briefly in his knee again before Caroline straddled him, leaning down to kiss him, crushing her breasts against his chest. She kissed him soundly before asking, “Lick me? Please?”

Simon grinned like a shark and nodded. Caroline reversed herself and lowered herself down; but Simon put a hand on her lovely bottom, halting her for a moment. He wanted to see her, first.

Her slit was framed by light fur, her engorged lips parted and the pink inner lips glistening. Simon had tasted her before, he remembered, but he hadn’t taken time to really drink in just what a wonderful visual feast she was.

He inhaled her scent, heady, evocative of the most debauched wonders. Finally, he relaxed and pulled her to him. Before he could do more, though, he sensed her head dip, and felt her tongue lick the end of his dick. He stopped, and Caroline took advantage, licking around the head for a while before slurping him in deep. She drew back slowly, teasingly, using her tongue again as she reached the end before slowly engulfing him again.

Simon reciprocated, taking a swiping lick from clit to anus. She tasted divine, a heavenly mixture that seemed metallic/salt/sweet and that passed directly from his tongue to his genitals, and Caroline moaned as his penis swelled even further in her mouth. Her vibrations almost set him off too early, and Simon stopped for a moment, hoping Caroline would do the same. She must have sensed how close he was, as she, too, stopped for a moment, allowing him to regain control, before they once again began to pleasure each other.

He licked, sucked and gently bit at the feast she had prepared for him, while Caroline loved him with her mouth, just gently keeping him aroused and giving them both pleasure without trying to send him over the top. Simon had no such inhibitions, however, it was his intention to send her screaming into orgasm, several times if he could. Some few minutes later she tensed and he felt her crushing down on him, onto his mouth and tongue. He kept up his ministrations, now concentrating on stimulating the small fold of skin hiding her clit, while he pushed one hand down to her breasts, rubbing, gently squeezing, and with his other hand he introduced a finger, then two into her, crooking, searching for her G-spot.

He wasn’t sure what had done it, but her felt her orgasm begin. Caroline yelled around his dick, and Simon reached for a nipple, squeezing and pulling on it while sucking directly on her clitoris for the first time, to prolong the sensation. Caroline went nuts for a few moments, arching her back and lifting her mouth clear before collapsing down onto him. Simon took another long lick at her before she almost leapt off him, collapsing onto her side, legs tightly closed, whimpering. He lay alongside her, grinning at his success.

Pulling himself together he turned and crawled up to where he could cuddle into her, holding her while she recovered from the tremors. She turned her head to face him.

“You’re good at that!” she gasped.

“Thank you,” he smugly replied. Then he changed his expression to mock-serious. “I didn’t think I was that good, though. I think I need more practice.”

She kissed him before replying, “Nuh-uh. I want you inside me, Simon. Now!”

She rolled on top, straddling him and lifting herself up. Taking hold of his manhood she rolled the tip around her wet, pink and engorged lips for a few moments, coating the head of his prick in her juices, before setting it at her entrance and slowly, slowly dropping herself down on it. She was hot, and tight, and the lubrication was needed, but it was sufficient. Reaching bottom, Caroline ground herself against him for a moment or two before beginning to move, angling herself to ensure that she stimulated herself against the base of his dick at the bottom of each stroke.

Simon, looking up at her, thought she looked like some primordial sex goddess. Involuntarily he began to move within her, working out how to do so without feeling the pain in his knee. Using his other leg to lever, he began matching her thrusts.

She was hot, sweaty, sexy as all hell and suddenly her eyes caught his. They kept eye contact as they pleasured each other, through all the driving need for each other. Finally, as they lay together after working their way to a mutual climax, Simon recognised something he knew he’d felt before, but hadn’t understood.

Love.

- - - - - - - - - -

“Really ready for this, Simon?” John asked. It was far from the first time of asking, but this time seemed especially significant.

The two men had remained fast friends. Now they stood together after getting out of John’s Mini.

“Couldn’t be more ready, John,” Simon answered. His friend, and now Best Man, fussed with the Groom’s tie for a moment before Simon brushed his hand away. “You’re worse than Mum!” he complained.

“Give over. Your Mum wouldn’t have bought you a double Scotch before we came here.”

“True!”

Simon scanned the grounds outside the Church. St. Anne’s was resplendent in the late summer sunshine, fully living up to it’s nickname of “Church in the Vale”, nestling in the trees at the bottom of the pretty valley. There were a lot of people wandering around outside, with yet more likely to have already taken their seats inside. Simon idly wondered how they’d fit everyone in.

“Is Chris here yet?” he asked John.

“Yeah – there he is, talking to the photographer. Comparing notes, you think?”

“Probably, though I know Chris doesn’t do weddings himself. Can’t stand the things, he told me.”

“I’ll bet this one’s going to be an exception,” John answered with a wry grin. Simon just nodded.

“Nervous?”

“Who, me? Nah, nerves of steel!” Simon told his friend. ‘Yeah, right. As long as it’s sprung steel!’ he thought.

“Not too late, you know,” John reminded him in a near whisper. But Simon simply shook his head before responding.

“Yeah, yes it is. It has been for a long time, now. Besides, I wouldn’t back away from this if I could.” Simon was quiet for a moment before he continued, “It’s not that I fear getting married, or that I don’t want to. It’s just a big step.” John looked at him in understanding.

Simon took a deep breath, said, “Come on,” and started walking.

- - - - - - - - - -

Following their reconciliation, Simon had proposed soon after they had first made love. His hesitation, such as it was, had been because he didn’t want to seem too precipitate, he’d been sure enough of himself – that, and fear of getting the wrong answer from Caroline. He took his courage in both hands and asked her, dreading her reply. Of course, Caroline had jumped on him, showering him with kisses and saying “Yes, yes, YES!”

The corners of Simon’s mouth curled up slightly in memory. Announcing the news to their families had been… interesting, he thought. He’d half expected Tina to be wary, given his previous relationship with her other daughter, and the problems all three of them had had. But no, she’d been ecstatically pleased, telling him she’d be delighted to have him as a son-in-law and cuddling both of them. Marianne had been feeding her daughter, Angela, so she’d contented herself with saying, “Oh, that’s wonderful news!”

Marianne’s legs had been burnt more severely than she’d at first realised. She’d decided to give up on the glamour modelling altogether, and now was working with Chris as his assistant photographer – and was becoming quite well known herself among the models she shot as someone sensitive, sympathetic and able to draw the best out of a particular shoot. Between them, they’d become quite successful in a low-key way. If they’d been willing to devote the time and attention they could have made a really big splash but the first priority for both of them was their daughter.

Deciding on a double wedding had been obvious. Deciding exactly when had been a matter of negotiation with the Rector. They’d been lucky to get this slot in early September.

Presenting the news to his own mother and father had been fun. He’d started with, “We’ve got some news…” and had happily allowed his parents to think the worst before telling them that no, Caroline wasn’t expecting, but yes, they were going to get married! His father had gruffly offered his congratulations while his mother had wept tears of joy (or relief!?) while hugging them both.

But now it was The Day.

Simon posed for photographs outside the door to the pretty little church with John, Chris, and as a group with grooms and best men before he and Chris walked up to the front together. They greeted the Rector and then waited while everyone took their seats.

Eventually all was ready.

The organist had been playing variations on “Air on a G String”; now at a nod from the Rector he struck up the traditional Wedding March. The doors at the front of the church opened and Simon was captivated by the sight of Caroline and Marianne, in traditional white dresses, as they glided up the aisle towards him. Beside him, he was dimly aware of Chris but his attention was entirely on the two beautiful young women’s serene advance.

Later, Simon would remember little of the actual ceremony. He would remember holding the hymn book in both hands and yet still being unable to prevent it shaking, leading Caroline, smiling, to take it from him, her faultless poise astonishing her groom. He remembered the exchange of rings, and most of all the moment when the Rector announced, “Gentlemen, you may now kiss your brides!”

Afterwards they had to pose for photographs of course. Many photographs. Marianne’s modelling friends had come, as had a couple of Chris’ fellow photographers. In addition, the double wedding had brought the local press, who were (of course) intent on showing the glamorous brides but who also covered Simon’s “heroics” as they insisted on calling it. Simon tried to make light of his time in the Fire Service but his ex-colleagues (especially John) refused to let him, playing up, in particular, that last incident when he’d saved Marianne – a highly newsworthy item in itself.

For the reception Simon’s parents and Linda had taken over a local pub for the day. The weather was bright and sunny, and though the breeze held enough of a chill to be noticed, most people stayed out in the garden area. Simon and Caroline, along with Chris and Marianne, did the rounds, enjoying the company of friends, smiling at people from the ‘other side’ that they hardly knew and even enduring some moments with relations who wanted to talk about embarrassing things from their childhood. One of Chris’ friends was a disc jockey, and it was he who announced the first dances – plural, for both Chris and Simon would dance with their brides together. The usual progression of dances came after, but finally brides and grooms were, once more, dancing together on the crowded area of lawn. Halfway through this dance, Chris caught Simon’s eye, and entirely without rehearsal they switched partners, earning startled, confused glances from some but big smiles from Marianne and Caroline.

At the end of that dance Marianne, closely pressed against her brother-in-law, spoke softly.

“So you’ve forgiven me?”

Simon smiled warmly. “Of course, Marianne. I did that long ago.”

- - - - - - - - - -

Leaving the Service had been a wrench, but Simon had felt it a necessary step. His knee had mended well, but he’d lost flexibility in it – and now ascending a ladder quickly proved a problem. More than this though, Simon was plagued by nightmares involving that horrible day when he’d been forced to abandon children to the fire at the school.

Talking to his friends had helped a little, but most of all it had been the support from his fiancée and especially her sister that had enabled him, eventually, to come to some sort of terms with his experiences. Long before that though, he’d come to the knowledge that he had to begin a new phase of his life, that in addition to the extra risks his physical problems posed as a fireman, mentally he was no longer up to the challenges he’d face. His worst fear was that he’d place his colleagues or members of the public at greater risk, so he’d decided, with regret, to leave.

His father had arranged for him to interview for a job at the same company he was now working for. He’d begun by working in the production area, but already had been promoted to a supervisory position in the test department. It had been his father’s idea to begin studying at the new Open University, but it had been the Production Manager who had championed the idea. In a few years, Simon would get his  Business Management degree and be able to proudly put “BA Hons (Open)” after his name.

Caroline worked at the same factory. At the moment she was happy to do so, though Simon knew that every time she saw her little niece Angela, her brooding instincts became clear. Still, they were both content for the moment to help build up their lives to the point where she could leave work to begin looking after a family.

- - - - - - - - - -

It was early in December. Simon and Caroline had been married for three months, time in which they’d made the usual adjustments that couples must when first married.

Caroline could tell Marianne was smirking a little when her sister spoke with her on the phone, complaining about the latest bad habit that Simon had revealed to her.

“Did you tell him?” Marianne asked.

“Of course I told him!”

“And does he still leave his socks on the floor by the bed?”

“…Well. He sometimes remembers. But he did it again today!”

“He’s trying, sis. Cari, he loves you, and don’t you think you’ve got the odd little habit that annoys him?”

“Dammit, this isn’t fair. You know him too well, and you know all of my bad habits. Yes, he mentioned about the toothpaste tube…”

“Squeezing from the middle? Still?”

Sheepishly, Caroline admitted, “I forget.”

“Uh-huh. At least he showers as soon as he gets home, sometimes Chris leaves it until bedtime, but still insists on wrapping me up in a big cuddle and kiss. Nice and romantic, but if the studio’s hot like it usually is he can get a bit rank, to be honest.”

The twins had laughed at their respective husband’s shortcomings. Simon emerged from the bathroom in time to see his wife replace the phone in its cradle.

“Hi, love. Put some more coal on the fire, please? It’s chilly.”

Grumbling good-naturedly about getting coal dust on his hands after just being in the shower, Simon did as he was bid before settling on the sofa next to the woman he loved. Smiling contentedly he put his arm around her and Caroline snuggled in close to him. Simon gazed at the fireplace enjoying his cuddlesome wife’s embrace.

Caroline kissed his neck before pulling away from him slightly. She saw him staring into the flames.

“You okay, Simon?” she asked.

Simon blinked.  “Yes, love. I’m okay. Just staring into the fire, and the thought came to me that I’m content, but that this is the only sort of fire I have to deal with, the only sort I ever want to see again.”

He stood up, drawing Caroline to her feet and turning his back on the fire. Then he kissed her…