Arousing Love, a teen novel (26 page)

“I can’t believe it, we’re actually
betrothed. We’re gonna be married. Can you believe it Zach? It’s
really happening.”

“I know. I can hardly believe it either. He’s
actually given you to me.” The immensity of it started to hit home
as I realized what a huge thing Joanna’s father had done.
He’s
given me his only daughter.

“One year from today we’ll be waking up in
each other’s arms. We’re going to be so happy, Zach.”

“I love you, Joanna.”

She smiled up at me. “I love you too, my
husband.”

Fourteen

I applied some aftershave to my face, and
looked at myself in the mirror. It felt so weird getting ready for
this, knowing I was going to be making love for the first time in a
matter of hours. I’d thought about this moment so many times, and
now it was actually happening. It was surreal. We’d been waiting
for this day for so long, and now it was finally here at last.

I wondered how Joanna was feeling. Her
parents had thought it best for us not to see each other the last
few days before our wedding.

I took a deep breath, grabbed the car keys,
and took a last look around the apartment—everything was ready for
her.

Driving to her house, I was feeling so on
edge. I tried to stay calm, taking nice steady breaths. Every part
of me was tingling with anticipation.

I knocked at the door, and Joanna’s mother
let me in. She looked nervous and excited and emotional all at
once.

“Joanna’s still getting ready.” She
smiled.

Their house was decorated for our celebration
party tomorrow.

“The house looks great.” I smiled. I felt
awkward, not sure how I should act around her.

She pulled me into a big hug. “You’re part of
our family now, Zach.” She started tearing up. “I’m sorry, I’ve
been overly emotional lately.” She pulled out a hankie and dabbed
her eyes.

“That’s understandable.” I smiled.

She recovered her composure. “We’ve invited
everyone we can think of to your wedding celebration tomorrow. Your
parents said they’d be here.”

“Hey, Zach.”

I turned to see Joanna’s father arriving
home. He smiled as he came through the door. “How’re ya
feeling?”

“A little nervous.” I admitted.

“Yeah, I bet.” He grinned. “Where’s
Joanna?”

“Still getting ready.” Her mother pointed at
the ceiling. “I’m gonna go up and help her. I’m sure she’ll be down
soon, Zach.” She gave me a smile as she passed me to go up the
stairs.

Her father and I went into the living room
and sat down on the couch to wait. He seemed very relaxed, which
made me feel a little more at ease. He put his hand on my
shoulder.

“This is a great day, Zach.” He grinned.
“It’s been such a pleasure for me watching the two of you grow and
mature in your faith over this past year. I’m really proud of you.
I couldn’t have asked for a better husband for my daughter.”

I just smiled, I didn’t know what to say.

“You’ve been like a son to me already.”
Joanna’s father wiped at his eye. “Now I’m getting all emotional.”
He laughed. “This is such a big day.” He smiled as he tried to
compose himself. “I don’t even need to ask you if you’ve kept the
bride-price.”

“I want you to ask me.”

He laughed. “Okay, Zach, have you kept the
bride price and not done anything sexual with Joanna since you were
betrothed?”

“I’ve honored my promise to you, and with
God’s help, I’ve paid it in full.”

Joanna’s father smiled and nodded. “Good
man.” He patted my shoulder.

I was starting to feel all jittery now. My
heart was racing and my breath was becoming a little unsteady.

“Are you okay, Zach? You’re not gonna be sick
are you?”

“No, I’m fine.” I took some deep breaths.

He gave me a sympathetic smile. “Remember,
it’s not just about the first time, you’re going to have her for
the rest of your life.”

“I know.”

“This is God’s gift to us, Zach. He gives us
the gift of her beauty, and her love and all the delight that she
brings us. And you are God’s gift to her, your strength and your
love and care. Be blessed and enjoy it.”

“She’s ready.” Joanna’s mother called down
the stairs.

“Come on, let’s go see your bride.”

We got up and went into the hallway. She
appeared at the top of the stairs, and for a moment I forgot to
breathe. She was wearing a long white dress, her hair tied up in a
special way, with little wisps hanging down to frame her face. She
smiled at me so happily, a pink glow to her cheeks. I stood there
breathless, in awe. I blinked the tears away, not wanting to see
her as a blur, as she floated down the stairs towards me. I held
out my hands to her, and she took them in hers as she stepped off
the last stair, and we stood face to face, her eyes shining with
excitement.

“You’re so beautiful.” I barely
whispered.

She didn’t say anything, she just smiled, and
my heart overflowed with love.

“Happy birthday.” I said hoarsely. I had a
big lump in my throat, I was so happy for her, and for us.

Her mom had come down the stairs behind her,
holding a camera in her hand.

“Let me get some photos of the two of you
together.”

“Getting a before and after shot?” Joanna’s
father joked.

She took some photos, then her parents
ushered us towards the front door. At the doorway, Joanna turned to
her mother with tears in her eyes.

“I love you, Mom.”

“Oh sweetie, I love you too.” They hugged,
her mother’s face flushed with emotion. She fixed a stray wisp of
Joanna’s hair and smiled lovingly at her daughter. “My little
girl’s all
. . .
grown up
. . .
and
. . .
what a wonderful woman you’ve become.”
Tears rolled down her face. She kissed Joanna on the cheek.

Joanna’s father had tears in his eyes too. He
hugged his daughter and said some quiet words to her. Then he
turned to me. “I’m giving you the most precious thing I have in
this world, Zach, and it’s my pleasure to give her to you. Look
after her, and be blessed.” He smiled and shook my hand. “Go and
enjoy each other. We’ll see you tomorrow at your wedding
celebration.”

I opened the passenger door for Joanna, and
she got in carefully, keeping the bottom of her dress from touching
anything. Her father brought her bags, and I helped load them into
the trunk. He gave me a hug before I got into the car, and he
closed my door for me. Her parents stood arm and arm on the
driveway waving to us as we backed up and drove away.

We were both silent as I concentrated on the
road, taking only little glances at Joanna as I drove. She looked
at me and smiled, and I gave her a shy smile.

I parked in front of our apartment.

“We’re home.”

She grinned. “Are you gonna carry me over the
threshold?”

“Sure.”

We both laughed.

I unlocked the door and put her bags inside,
then I picked her up and carried her, giggling, across the
threshold. I kicked the door closed behind us, and gently placed
her down in the middle of the room. We stood there looking into
each other’s eyes, my love for her overwhelming everything else I
was feeling. I drew her into my arms and we kissed. She smiled up
at me, blinking back tears.

“I’m so happy this day has finally come.”

“Me too. I love you
. . .
so much
. . .
” I was feeling overly emotional and a
little giddy.

“You wanna go to the bedroom?” She asked
meekly.

“We don’t have to yet if you don’t want—”

“I want to.”

My heart surged. “Okay, wait here a sex, I
mean a sec.”

I went into the bedroom. This was the most
exhilarating feeling ever. All of my senses were heightened and my
heart was beating so fast.

I started lighting the candles I’d placed
around the room. My hand was trembling as I lit them, and I had to
steady the lighter with both hands. When I went back out to Joanna,
she was standing exactly as I’d left her, waiting for me, her
cheeks slightly flushed.

“Are you nervous?”

“I’m shaking.” She smiled, “But I’m not
scared, just excited.”

“Same.” It wasn’t scary, it felt so natural
doing this with her, my best friend and soul mate, the one I loved
more than anything else in the whole world.

I took her by the hand and led her into the
bedroom. She looked around in amazement as she took in the four
poster bed I’d bought for us, with its white lace canopy, the
candles surrounding us adding their warm, sensual glow to
everything.

“It’s beautiful.” She whispered. She looked
at me with an unreadable expression.

I combed a wisp of hair from her face, and
her breath quickened at my touch. She closed her eyes as my
fingertips caressed her soft cheek and lips, and down her smooth
neck, to her bare shoulders. She opened her eyes again and looked
at me with such desire. My fingertips lightly traversed the
delicate skin of her cleavage, before slipping beneath the thin
strap of her dress, lifting it gently from her shoulder. She was
breathing harder now, and I kissed her parted lips as my fingers
moved to the other strap, easing it off. Her dress fell away,
crumpling at her feet.

She was wearing lacey lingerie and I could
see her through it. I saw a tie holding the top piece, and with
shaky hands, I started untying it. It slipped from her, and she
stood there topless, her smooth skin shining in the warm glow of
candle light. She was exquisite. I kissed her bare shoulder as my
fingers traced the firm softness of her breasts, her body trembling
with each gentle caress. This was so good, even better than I’d
imagined it. She was so beautiful, and every caress of her was pure
delight.

My hands traveled down her body, reaching the
bottom piece of her lingerie, my fingers slipping beneath its band,
sliding it down over her hips until they dropped away, falling down
around her ankles. She shuffled them off and stepped out of them,
completely naked.

My eyes swept over her. She was even more
beautiful than I remembered.

She smiled, and my heart overflowed with love
and desire. She took my hand and stepped back towards the bed.
“Come make me your wife.”

She let go of my hand as she sat down on the
edge of the bed. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. I loved every bit
of her.

I started taking off my shirt, while she
undid my belt buckle. I helped her, pushing my pants and underwear
off and kicking them away. I stood naked before her, my whole body
trembling with anticipation. I was breathing so fast, everything
felt so heightened.

She reached up and gently touched me, my body
tensing at her soft caress, her hands moving slowly, feeling all of
me.

I eased her back on the bed and she lay prone
beneath me. She touched my face as I maneuvered over her, lowering
my body to hers.

She breathed out a deep sigh, and we were
one, moving slowly, gently, as she moaned. I watched her face as
she closed her eyes, biting her lower lip. We were one, and it was
amazing. Her body felt so good, and I loved her so completely. We
moved together in quickening rhythm, as her moans became a
beautiful song. I felt a deep joy within me, growing and filling
me, gaining intensity until it broke forth in pure ecstasy, my soul
rejoiced.

We lay there entwined. I felt so close to her
now. She knew all of me and I knew all of her, so intimately. It
was such a beautiful feeling lying in each other’s arms after
making love. A feeling of profound peace and contentment washed
over me.
Thank you Lord!

“We’re one flesh now, Zach. We’re married
before God.” Joanna spoke quietly, almost reverently.

“I know.” I stroked my fingertips across her
beautiful skin. “How do you feel? Did you like it?”

“Yes, I loved it.” She smiled. “I love making
love to you.”

“It didn’t hurt?”

“A little, but I hardly noticed after a
while. Did you like it? Did it live up to your expectations?”

“Yes, it exceeded them all. Not just because
of what it felt like, but the feeling it gave me, you know what I
mean? It was wonderful.”

She smiled so lovingly. “I’m glad. I want to
please you in every way.”

“You do please me, in every way. You please
me with your love and your beauty, you satisfy my soul and my body.
You make me so happy.” I kissed her petal soft lips. “I’m so happy
you’re my wife.”

“I love you, my husband.” She smiled and
looked into my eyes. “You wanna do it again?”

I laughed. “Okay.”

Joanna slept, her head on my shoulder, her
leg curled over mine. I gently stroked her lower back and hip with
my fingertips, lost in contented bliss, letting all the happiness
flow over me.
My sweet Joanna, so lovely, so joyful and
beautiful, I can’t believe you’re mine.

I closed my eyes, and I could feel all of
heaven open above us and the presence of God surrounding us. We
were laid bare before him, naked but unashamed.

And God looked down upon us, and he
smiled.

www.arousinglove.com
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