CHAPTER ONE--I Do
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Sam Matthews smiled at his new wife and pulled her gently into his arms. His kiss, sweet and tender; was not exactly the way he felt like kissing her but it was their wedding, for crissakes. Now married, the rest of their lives would be an exploration of the thoughts and scenarios running through his mind.
Sadie whimpered slightly and leaned into the kiss. That does it, Sam decided, time to get out of here and off to a motel. He pulled back from her lips and smiled. Turning his attention to the minister he said, "Thank you, Reverend Colliver. We really appreciate your working us in tonight."
The reverend closed his book and looked at the couple. His six-foot four-inch height alone felt intimidating, but jet black eyes staring out from his pale face became almost too much to bear. To top it all off, a head of greasy blue-black hair stuck out in a most unruly manner. It gave the reverend a seriously creepy looking appearance in Sam's estimation. He and Sadie almost backed out when they met him in the lobby. Sadie chose the place because the name sounded cute: Heart and Soul Wedding Chapel. The reverend himself could not be described as cute though. Whispered deliberations between Sam and Sadie continued until the reverend's wife joined them and allayed their fears.
Janine Colliver seemed perfectly normal, Sam noticed with relief. Tanned, fit, and extremely beautiful, although he felt embarrassed to admit he saw her in that light. Her ebony hair, the same color as her husband's, appeared well-groomed. The length fell to her shoulders. Sam's gazed slightly lower and couldn't help but admire the lush, ripe cleavage he found there. Thirty-eight DD he guessed, his knowledge gleaned from a vast collection of Victoria's Secret catalogs.
Gorgeous big knockers notwithstanding, Mrs. Colliver welcomed them to the Heart and Soul and set Sam and Sadie at ease. "Call me Janine," she said pleasantly. She discussed the ceremony and possible music choices, and offered to stand up as a witness to the joyful event. Her husband performed the ritual professionally, and Sam felt a little more at ease as the big man looked down upon them afterwards.
"Happy to be of service," Reverend Colliver told them, his deep voice thick with an accent that sounded Cajun. "Blessed be your union in alignment with the moon and stars."
"Yeah, right," Sam said nervously, really wanting to get out of there. He put his hand on Sadie's lower back and urged her towards the door.
"Tip them," she whispered.
"We already paid," Sam muttered.
"Give them a tip," she insisted.
Sam pulled out his wallet and looked in it blankly, unsure of how much one tipped a big, greasy, creepy reverend.
Sadie reached in and grabbed a twenty, tucking it into the reverend's hand. "Thank you," she told him, and smiled at his wife.
"Bless you." The reverend pocketed the cash and followed them to the door.
Janine joined them and asked "Do you two have a room for the night?"
"Not yet," Sam replied. "But this is Las Vegas; there must be a million hotel or motel rooms out there."
"Of course," she replied with a knowing smile, "if you're into neon lights and slot machines." She pulled a business card from her pocket and handed it to Sam. "Here's a place we highly recommend, and they specialize in honeymooners."
Sam looked at the card, deep blue in color with silver stars on it.
Nightshade Inn
Where romance is just the beginning ... and passion endures forever.
Sadie glanced over his shoulder. "That sounds nice."
"I don't know," Sam said hesitantly. The card gave off the creepy-reverend feel. "We might just find a Motel Six."
"Ooh!" Sadie pouted at him.
Janine spoke up "The Nightshade provides complimentary champagne and a romantic late night snack--and don't worry, the rates are very reasonable. They're small and cozy, more like a bed-and-breakfast."
Sadie batted her eyes and pursed her mouth at Sam until he relented. He wanted those pouty red lips on his body, and he didn't care if that happened in some inn or in the lobby of the MGM Grand, for crissakes. "Okay, Mrs. Matthews, whatever you want."
She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him with a delighted squeal. When he could finally right himself he asked, "Do we need to phone ahead and make sure they have a room for us?"
"There's always room at the Nightshade," Reverend Colliver replied with a quirky-looking smile.
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