Stargate Aschen: Chapter 50 – I Do (Unabridged)

Stargate SG-1 Sam/Jack Wedding

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Sam/Jack Fanfiction, Sam/Jack Fanfiction, Sam/Jack Fanfiction

Big thanks to Channach for plot-editing this chapter and to Raven Clark for editing this chapter with me. Also huge thanks to Shoe Queen, who worked as a third beta for this chapter!

Stargate SG-1 Sam/Jack Wedding, Stargate SG-1 Sam/Jack Wedding, Stargate

Sam glanced at herself in the oversized mirror and took a deep breath. Her fingers clutched the thin satin of her lilac dress, and she had to force herself to relax them. For the first time in ages she was wearing a dress. Maybe she shouldn’t have cut her hair again. Long hair would have gone better with the elegantly flowing waterfall of satin that started right under her breasts. She adjusted the lacy straps.

Almost time. She blew out a slow stream of air. Would Jack show up? Or had he changed his mind? Her stomach tightened. He wouldn’t change his mind, would he?

And if he didn’t? Then she’d be a married woman in a few minutes. Oh God… The knot in her stomach tightened. Tonight, she would no longer just be Sam Carter. She’d be Sam Carter, wife of Jack O’Neill.

Wasn’t she in way over her head? She’d never considered marrying this young. What if it didn’t work out? What if she disappointed him? What if either of them would want out in a year or two?

Jack had been with a lot of women before her. Had she missed out on something? Should they have taken more time? Would she have agreed to the contract if the gifted laws weren’t about to be reinstated? She closed her eyes and pressed a hand to her stomach. Way too much thinking… “Ugh.”

“What?” In the corner of the room in front of another mirror, both Vala and Janet turned.

“I think I’m going to throw up.”

“Don’t you dare.” Janet turned back to the mirror and fastened a strand of hair behind her ear. “It took us almost an hour to do your hair and get all those little ribbons on the dress right.”

Sam sat down on one of the chairs near the wall and took a few deep breaths.

“Are you worried he changed his mind?” Vala asked. When Janet smacked her arm, she rolled her eyes.

Sam’s felt her stomach clench anew and blood drained from her face. “You think he won’t show? Did he say anything like that? Did Daniel say something?”

“No, sweetie.” Janet gave her a reassuring smile. “Nobody said anything. He’s here, and he’s happy to marry you. Vala’s just babbling without thinking first, as usual.”

Vala folded her arms. “It’s not my fault you’re giving the groom carte blanche to change his mind with your one week of abstinence thing. You have weird customs, you know. Signing a contract, abstinence, and you even keep your names. On my homeworld the bride has to take the name of her husband after the wedding.”

Sam sat up straight as her nausea slowly faded. “Not changing names makes it easier to track genetics of a person. Besides, why should the bride have to take her husband’s name? Why doesn’t he take hers?”

Vala shrugged. “To show that she belongs to him.”

“Wow…” Janet half turned, her fingers still busy with her hair. “That’s archaic.”

“It’s just a name,” Vala said.

“It’s who you are.” Sam got up.

Janet nodded. “I agree. Our name designates which family we come from, and who our ancestors are. They are part of our identity. It’s cruel to expect a woman to give that up and take on a new one—as though it doesn’t matter who she was before the marriage.”

“I’ve never seen it that way. Not that I cared much. I’m not so much the marriage type,” Vala said, grinning.

When the door opened, Sam turned. Her father peeked into the room. “Am I disturbing anything?”

“No, dad, come in.”

Her dad walked towards her and took her outstretched hands. He looked down her dress, then at her hair. “You know, you look a lot like your mother when she was your age.” He put her hand to his lips and pressed a warm kiss on it. “I’m so happy for you, Sam. Jack is a good man.”

“I know.” Her dad was right. Jack was gentle, smart, principled, and handsome. Her stomach fluttered with anticipation. “But to be honest, I could do with a little less nervousness just about now.”

“If you weren’t nervous, I’d be very concerned.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Why?”

“Not being nervous on your wedding day means it’s either a marriage of convenience, or you’re signing the contract too recklessly.” He shrugged. “Selmak says, a bride has to be nervous or it’s bad luck for the relationship.”

“Very helpful. Thanks.” Flinching, she studied herself in the mirror.

“Sam?” Her dad stepped behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders. “We never talked about this, but I know now I shouldn’t have gone over your head. I should have trusted you to make the choices for your future. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

She took his hand on her right shoulder, and brushed her thumb over his fingers. “Don’t be,” she said, turning to face him. “If you hadn’t signed the contract with Jack, I might have never met him. I would have ended up in a breeding facility, married to a random compatible male.”

He squeezed her hand. “The one thing I always regretted was that I had to comply with the Aschen breeding schedule to keep my cover. I should have let your mother out of her vow.”

“You didn’t have a choice.”

“There’s always a choice if you look hard enough.”

She dropped a gentle kiss on her father’s hand. “Things aren’t as simple as they seem from a distance. I know that now.”

He held her gaze and his mouth pulled into a gentle smile. “I hope you’ll find all the happiness in the world.”

“Thank you.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I love you, dad.”

The door squeaked open, and a man peeked inside. “We’re ready to start. Is everyone present?”

“We’re all here.” Janet turned. “Do you want us to come outside now?”

He took a step inside and pushed the door almost closed. “No. We’ll have the groom and his best man take positions first. As soon as the music starts, the two bridesmaids should walk down the aisle to the front row and take the first two seats on the left. After you two are seated, the bride will walk down the aisle, her father right behind her.”

“Understood.” Janet nodded and rushed to the door where she sneaked a glance outside. Vala followed her.

Sam took another deep breath. “Okay. That’s it.”

Her dad squeezed her arms. “You couldn’t make a better choice.”

She gave him a cheeky grin. “You’re just saying that because my choice incidentally happens to be the same one you made.”

He laughed. “You know me, as long as I’m right, everything’s fine.”

She smoothed her dress out, then stepped up behind Janet and Vala. She was marrying Jack. From now on, nothing would keep them apart. They’d share everything. Euphoria flooded her when a soft piano tune drifted from outside.

Vala and Janet opened the door further and left the room.

“Just breathe, kiddo.” Her father squeezed her hands.

“Thanks dad.” She peeked outside. Vala and Janet took their seats in the first row. She blew out a slow stream of air and smoothed her dress down one last time. As beautiful as it had looked in the display, she couldn’t wait to wear her khakis and a simple shirt again.

All right. Just breathe. And don’t stumble. She left the room and followed the red carpet with slow, deliberate steps.

The carpet led to a large desk at the end of the room. As she approached, the grumpy looking government official behind it looked up, and his eyes narrowed in obvious impatience. She had to stifle a smile. Another thing that hadn’t changed. Most wedding officials were known for their impatience.

She shifted her gaze to the right, and her heart skipped a beat. Jack wore the dark blue trousers and matching jacket of the new POA uniform. They hugged his body as though they’d been tailored just for him, emphasizing his height and broad chest. Excitement tingled in her stomach as her eyes drank in every detail of his appearance.

He turned his head. Appreciation flashed in his eyes, and a smile made the corners of his mouth twitch. When she reached the front desk, she had to tear her gaze away from him.

A golden sign on the desk said Watson. Undoubtedly the name of the grumpy official. Watson studied her, then her father, before his gaze darted back to her. “Are you here of your own free will?”

She nodded firmly. “Yes, I am.”

Watson lowered his gaze and searched through a few papers on his desk. “Very well. Jacob Carter?”

Her dad stepped up next to her.

Paper crinkled, and finally Watson looked up. “Do you agree to give this woman, your daughter, into the care of this man, Jack O’Neill?”

“I do.” He nodded and let go of her arm to take a seat next to Janet and Vala.

“All right.” Watson studied her over the rims of his glasses. “You’re gifted, so I’ll need your genetic inheritance sheets and the signed permission of the Ministry of Procreation.”

“Oh.” Behind Sam, Vala jumped up. “Sorry. I almost forgot that. Here.” She handed the papers over the table.

The older man studied them for a minute before he nodded. “They seem to be in order.” He nodded to Jack. “You may now step forward and claim your bride.”

Claim her… For some reason her body tingled with anticipation at those words. She would finally be his. When Jack walked towards her, she turned to him and bit her lower lip. His eyes, so deep and dark, held hers while he reached out and took her hands in his. His thumbs drew gentle circles on her pulse points. Goosebumps danced down her arms, and all nervousness fled her body.

Watson’s chair creaked as he slid a piece of paper over the table. “Please sign your names under the marriage contract.”

Jack released her hands and turned to the table where he picked up the quill. In elegant letters he signed his name on the bottom of the paper. Then he turned and handed the quill over to Sam. She took it and lowered her gaze to the paper, her thumbs brushing over the roughened surface in quiet appreciation. Her own marriage contract with her signature.

With careful movements, she put her signature next to Jack’s and then paused to look at the piece of paper again.

Her heart jumped as she put the quill back in its holder, and then she slid the paper back over to the official.

“Very well.” Watson nodded and placed the contract in a blank folder. Their new family folder. He placed it on the desk and then picked up a golden tray with two traditional white wedding sashes on them, then he came around the desk.

“Please each take one of these sashes and speak your wedding vows while you place it around your spouse’s neck.”

Sam swallowed and picked up one sash with golden engravings on it. Then she lifted her gaze to Jack’s and reached her arms over his head to put the cloth around his neck. Her skin buzzed when her fingers grazed against his warm neck.

“Almost two years ago, I ran away from home to escape our marriage. I thought our relationship would weaken me and turn me into a prisoner. But you…” She lowered her hands to his chest and blinked, her throat tightening. “…you helped me become so much more than I ever dreamed I would be. You put your trust and unconditional confidence in me. And today, I want to put my trust and unconditional confidence in you by taking you as my husband. You’re an amazing man and I want to face the future with you by my side.”

Jack took one of her hands from his chest and dropped a kiss on her fingers. Then he reached for the remaining sash and placed it around her neck, his thumbs caressing her cheeks tenderly.

“You know how much I hate speeches. So after a lot of failed attempts at writing a vow, and a coupla angry rants from Daniel concerning this matter…”

She bit her lower lip in a futile attempt to remain serious.

A slow smirk pulled at his lips. “…I have decided to keep this simple. The moment we met, I thought you were an extraordinary woman, but you’re more than I ever dared to dream of. I don’t regret a single moment we shared along our bumpy road.” He faltered, keeping his face blank. “Actually, if I had the chance, I would probably forego signing that damn wedding contract over your head.”

She had to fight another smile. Only he would improvise in a situation like this. Affection pulled at her, and she forced herself to grow serious again.

“What I’m tryin’ to say is, I can’t promise you happily ever after. But I do promise to love you, and respect you, and cherish you on our road ahead. Whatever happens, we’re a team.” He let his arms sink and took her hands, linking their fingers. “Always.”

She swallowed against the lump in her throat and squeezed his hands. His dark gaze held hers as he inched closer.

“Very well.” Watson’s buzzing voice broke the spell. “I hereby pronounce you two officially bound.”

Eyes gleaming, Jack drew her toward him. Her stomach tingled in anticipation. His scent flooded her nostrils, and she held her breath until, at last, his lips grazed hers. When he wrapped his arms around her and dipped her down, she grabbed his shoulders in surprise. His tongue delved inside her mouth, stroking against hers, and she sighed.

Her head swam when he pulled her back to a standing position. Thank God he had the common sense to steady her before he let go, otherwise she might have tumbled to the floor. The twinkle in his eyes told her that he was aware of the impact his kiss had on her.

Face still close to hers, he took her hand and linked their fingers. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” As a child, she’d never been one of those little girls who dreamed of their wedding and planned out every single detail in her mind. She’d been more interested in physics and astronomy. And yet, at this very moment, she couldn’t remember ever being so happy. Not even her first trip through the Stargate compared to finally marrying the man she loved.

—

Loud laughter sounded from the living room downstairs where most of the party guests had gathered. Sam strolled along the corridor until she reached the closed door at the end. It creaked when she gave it a light push.

Mark’s room. As though it were a sanctuary, she entered and blinked into the darkness. How long it had been since that night she’d sneaked in here to steal his clothes and run away… And even longer since she’d tried to steal his toys.

Smiling, she strolled over to the wall. Dust had collected on the shelves and books. She picked up one of the action figures standing on the middle shelf. An Aschen justice agent, complete with uniform and weapon. How different their lives had been when they had still idolized the Aschen and what they represented.

When she moved the figure’s little arm, it gave a faint squeak. She bit her lower lip and chuckled.

The light went on and she blinked for a moment before she turned, the action figure still in her hand. Mark entered, his arms folded, his curly blonde hair wild and ruffled. “Trying to steal my stuff again, ‘lil sis?”

She chortled and held the figure up. “Don’t tell me you still wanna play with these.”

“No, but I didn’t think you’d want to either after everything.” He grinned, but then his face grew serious. “I still can’t believe all this time you and dad were part of the resistance, and nobody bothered to include us.”

She let her arms sink and shook her head. “For a long time, I didn’t know dad was part of it. He didn’t tell me either. If he had, things would have been a lot simpler.”

“I can imagine.” He leaned back and studied her. “I just had a chat with Jack.”

What was with that undertone? “And?”

“He told me about how you met. That was pretty reckless of you.”

She laughed. “Believe me, if I had known most of the guys in that bar were slave traders and weapon dealers, I don’t think I would have had the guts to go inside.”

Eyes wide, Mark sat down on the bed. “What are you talking about?”

She swallowed hard. “What are you talking about?”

“I was referring to how you attacked him with a knife at the barn.”

“Oh.” So Jack had left out the part about the forest bar, and how he’d drugged and kidnapped her. She smiled and lowered her head. “Yeah. That was pretty reckless, too.”

“Is there something else I should know about?” Mark sounded amused.

“No.” A laugh escaped her. “Some things better stay between him and me.”

“He seems like a decent guy.”

“He is.” She strolled over to the bed and sat down next to him. “Dad likes him.”

“I noticed that.” Mark squeezed her hand and then took the action figure to study it. “I can’t believe we constantly fought over this ugly thing. The funny thing is, I didn’t even want it that badly. I just wanted to pick on you.”

“Hey.” She smacked him and tried to take the figure from him.

Grinning, he pulled it out of her reach. “You would just use it for target practice.”

“I wouldn’t.” She gave up and looked at him. “You know, if you hadn’t taught me how to handle a knife, things wouldn’t have worked out so well.”

“Good thing I didn’t teach you well enough or you might have killed Jack.”

“Doubtful. His close combat skills are out of this world,” she said.

He let the action figure sink and took her hand. “Sam, I hope you’ll be happy with him. He really cares for you. But if you ever need anything or if anything ever happens, I’m still your big brother. You can always come to me.”

She studied him for a long moment. “I know. Thank you.”

“After you ran away…” He took a deep breath. “John, David, even Dad… They all thought you’d killed yourself. Dad never told anyone, and he never stopped searching, but I knew when I looked into his eyes.”

“And you?”

He shrugged. “I didn’t want to believe it. You’ve always been a fighter. I couldn’t believe that you would just give up like that. But…”

“But what?”

“I stopped looking. I was scared that if we kept searching, we might find your body somewhere. Not knowing, I could pretend you’d gone into hiding to live under a different name in some remote village, where the Aschen wouldn’t find you.” He gave a chuckle. “Of course I never imagined you’d go and search for the resistance.” He reached over and ruffled her hair. “Little rebel.”

“Stop that.” She wriggled away from him. “Vala and Janet took forever with the flower crown and I want it to look at least somewhat decent when I dance with Jack.”

Mark broke out in laughter, and then held the action figure out at her. “Here, keep it. Consider it a wedding gift. It’ll remind you that you drove the Aschen off Earth. So whatever problems you might have to face in the future, you’ll handle them.”

Her heart swelled with affection and a lump formed in her throat. “Thank you.”

“Oh, and dad said there’s a box with some of mom’s old stuff in your room. He packed some of her things for each of us. Look through it, and see if you want to keep anything.”

She got up. “I will do that. I already did my packing, so…” She waved her hand at the door.

“Feels kind of final, doesn’t it? Having to pack up everything you want to keep on your wedding day?” He buried his hands in his pockets.

“Yeah.” She studied the figure in her hand.

“Take your time with it, and enjoy the moment. I’ll be downstairs.” He winked at her. “I need to grill Jack about that slave trader bar.”

“Oh God.” Laughing, she followed him out of his room and walked to her own. She wrapped her arms around herself, when she entered it. A strange sense of longing for the past took over.

It felt as though she had slept in that bed just yesterday. She could almost hear Minny enter her room in the morning, could almost smell the scent of fresh coffee that wafted in with her.

Sadness swallowed up her joy for a moment. So many things had changed. She hadn’t seen Minny again since her betrayal. Good old Minny, who had been like a mother to her—and who had then betrayed her family. Had the revolution changed her mind, or did she still side with the Aschen?

She looked around her room and then picked up a few of her old clothes lying on the bed. Before she’d run away from home, there seemed to be an answer to everything. Things had been so simple when she had seen them in black and white. But now… After everything she’d been through, the line between right and wrong had become so blurred.

She glanced down at the box on the ground next to her bed, then picked it up and took the cover off it. Her mother’s things. She even remembered some of them, now that she saw them again. A shawl, a necklace, a few smaller items that looked like personal mementos. A book.

She ran her fingers along the dusty back and pulled it out of the box. Her mom’s diary…

As though it were a sacred text, she opened it slowly and skimmed the first pages. All of the initial entries were drawings, or consisted of only two or three sentences riddled with spelling errors. Mom must have started writing this when she was a child.

She flipped through some more pages, until the entries grew longer and more mature. How her mom had met a boy from the village she grew up in, how they sneaked out of the house at night, how he’d first kissed her…

Flinching, she skipped over a few pages that clearly described first sexual experiences. Apparently, her mom had broken the sexual restrictions law. Who’d have thought?

She opened a page close to the middle and stopped at an entry from the year 759. “Today they told me I’m gifted…”

Holding her breath, she ran her fingers over the writing, and began to read.

“Two Aschen officials stopped by our house. They gave me until tomorrow to pack up my belongings and say goodbye to my loved ones. They will pair me up with a compatible man. I don’t know how I will survive never seeing Derrick again.”

Her throat constricted. Her mom had still been in love with another man when they’d deported her to a breeding facility? How come dad never told me about this?

She turned two more pages.

“More tests. Every day they come and do blood tests or run other medical experiments. Do they even see us as humans? Or have we become no more than lab rats in their eyes? I’m never allowed to leave my room. Every day, a nurse brings me food, but that’s all the social interaction I get. They’re keeping us all in solitary confinement. The Aschen doctors told me the isolation will make me more receptive to my future husband.

But nothing they do to me will make me like him even a little bit. My heart will always belong to Derrick. My heart… That’s all I can still keep for him, because my body is no longer my own.”

The letters started swimming in front of her eyes. How horrible that had to be, being in love with a man, but being forced into a marriage with another by the Aschen. If Jack weren’t gifted, she would have shared her mother’s fate. If her dad hadn’t signed the wedding contract with Jack behind her back…

She swallowed hard. So many people weren’t as lucky and she had been. Jennifer and Rodney. Joe and his former fiancée. And after everything, the gifted system still continued.

The door creaked. Vision blurred, she looked up. Jack peaked into the room. “There you are. Sheppard and McKay are fighting over food downstairs. I’m afraid they won’t even stop at the cake if we don’t hurry.” He straightened and raised his brows, undoubtedly noticing the tears on her cheeks. “You know the whole deal with you packing up your stuff’s only an empty tradition, right? You can come back here whenever you like.”

“Yeah.” She shook out a laugh and wiped the back of her hand across her cheeks.

Concern softened his gaze as he entered the room. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing. I just…” She held up the book. “Dad gave me a box with mom’s old stuff, and I found her diary. I shouldn’t have started reading it today.”

He sat down on the bed next to her. “What’s it say?”

“She wrote about how she learned she was gifted. She was in love with another man and…” Her voice broke. “They didn’t care. They forced her to have sex with my dad. All those years when I was growing up, she lived through hell, and I never knew.” Her breath hitched. “Then I thought about Jennifer and Rodney, and how if either you or me weren’t gifted, we wouldn’t be allowed to be together.”

“Hey.” He drew her into his arms, and she buried her face in his neck.

“Joe told me he wanted to marry the woman he loved, but she wasn’t gifted. It repeats. Over and over again, and we’ll never stop it.”

“Carter.” He drawled her name and dropped a warm kiss under her ear. “We will stop it. Someday. Give it time. For now, their marriage contract will keep both, Faxon and Keller safe. The Tok’ra will protect her, so the POA won’t touch her.”

“Yes, she’s safe, and so am I. But how many gifted women out there aren’t as lucky?” She played with the hair at his nape while she glanced down at the diary. Jack flipped through the pages, then closed the book.

“We can’t change the way the world works in a day, you know.” He put the diary back in the box, then pulled out the necklace.

Sam rubbed her palm over her damp cheek once more. “It’s the only necklace I ever saw her wearing. In her diary she says that the man she loved gave it to her. When they pulled her out of the lake…after… She still wore this necklace.” She ran her fingers across the blue topaz.

Jack shifted. “Turn around.”

When she did, he laid the necklace around her neck and closed it in the back.

When she turned back to him, a gentle smile played around the corners of his mouth. “The gem is the same color as your eyes.”

She touched the stone with her fingers, then cupped his cheek and inched closer. “I love you.” She sniffed as her lips brushed along his, then she leaned her forehead against his shoulder.

“You know you’re kinda messing with my plans here.” When she lifted her head, a lopsided smile pulled at his lips. “I told your dad once, I wouldn’t take you home crying on our wedding day.”

She let out a shaky chuckle and wiped her fingers across her eyes. “I’m sorry.”

His thumb brushed over the wet trail on her cheek. “I promise, we’re gonna make this right. Somehow. We got rid of the Aschen. I’ll be damned if we can’t find a way to handle a nutjob like Kinsey.”

She sat up straight, her fingers grazing the topaz around her neck once more. “I know we will.”

He nuzzled her temple. “Sheppard’s gonna have the jumper ready around eleven. You think you’ll be done packing by then?”

“I’m already done.”

“You wanna take all of these?” He waved his hand around at the boxes.

“No, just those two next to the door. Dad asked me to pack everything I want to keep, so he can store it in the attic. Those over there I’ll take with us to Antarctica.” She picked up the box with her mother’s belongings. “And this one.”

“Sheppard and I will take them to the jumper later.” He held his hand out to her. “If you’re done here, may I have the traditional dance with the bride?”

Smiling, she grazed her fingers along his palm. “I might step on your foot.”

“I can handle that.” He drew her close. “By the way, you look absolutely stunning in that dress.”

Her cheeks warmed. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

“We better go downstairs, before I get ideas about throwing you down on the bed.”

“Don’t you dare. Removing the wedding sashes before midnight is bad luck.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Since when do you believe in luck?”

“Since I met you.” She linked their fingers.

He was right, they would fix the remaining problems on Earth, but today was for celebrating the few things that had worked out.

Gaze locked with his, she drew him out of the room. It was time for dancing.

—

Only a soft thud betrayed that the jumper had set down. The hum of the engines grew quieter, and died. The hatch gave a high buzz when it opened.

Sam inhaled deeply. The scent of damp forest and fresh grass reached her nostrils. She stepped out of the jumper and blinked. The log cabin stood dark in front of her. In the pale moonlight, she recognized the table on the porch and a few cans that hung down from the window frame as makeshift wind chimes.

One week… Giddiness spread through her. Last time they’d only had three days. Seven days seemed like an eternity compared to that.

When Jack’s mouth dropped a hot kiss on her neck, she yelped and turned in his arms. “Don’t we have any stuff to take in?”

“Nope.” His eyes shimmered almost black. “I already took care of everything the day before yesterday. Sheppard’ll take our boxes down to Antarctica and put them in storage there until next week.”

He reached down and swooped her up on his arms. She gave a shocked gasp. “Jack, your knee—”

“Will be fine.” He nuzzled her temple. “At least until I’ve carried you over the threshold.”

“Haven’t we done that already?”

“That was for the last contract. This one’s for today.” His eyes gleamed. “Not taking any chances with that luck thing.”

Giggling, she leaned her head against his shoulder. “You’re gonna need help again with the door.”

“Teamwork,” he said grinning.

“Have fun, you two,” Sheppard shouted from the jumper. “I’ll come back in a week and pick you up.”

The humming of the jumper engine picked up again, and slowly grew quieter. As they reached the door, Sam pushed the handle and ducked her head when they entered. Inside, Jack set her down and pushed the door shut behind him without taking his eyes off her.

Her insides tingled with anticipation. His index finger trailed up her arm, leaving goosebumps. When he reached the wedding sash, he ran his palm over it.

“Any regrets?” His voice sounded throaty.

She shook her head. “No. You?”

“Not a chance.”

She bit her lower lip and trailed her fingers up along his arm.

In an almost reverent move, he pulled the sash over her head and then shifted so that she could do the same for him. She put them both over the backrest of the couch to fold them up later.

When she turned, Jack stood right in front of her. His gaze heated as his eyes trailed down to her lips, then lower. His height put her off every time. Maybe because there weren’t many human men taller than her. Her breath quickened as she touched her fingers to his chest.

Married. He was hers now, and she was his. For good. She grabbed the sleeve of his uniform, and pulled him with her toward the bedroom. “Make love to me.”

His eyes blazed, and the next instant he pushed her up against the bedroom door. The air left her lungs. When he tipped her chin up and inched closer, she parted her lips. “I was thinking more along the lines of reclaiming every inch of your beautiful body,” he rasped, and nipped her lower lip. “And then taking you. Hard and fast.”

“Oh God, yes.”

He curved his hand around her nape, holding her in place as his mouth brushed over hers without taking. Her legs buckled. One week apart had been way too long, but somehow it had made the anticipation of her wedding night so much sweeter. She grabbed his shoulders and arched her body into him. He dropped his hands to her waist and held her flush against him, before he finally claimed her mouth, so slowly and thoroughly that her head swam with passion.

When they broke apart, he held her gaze, breathing ragged. “You know, during the past week I fantasized about all the things I wanna do to you.”

She cupped his cheeks. “So did I.”

Before she had a chance to protest, he lifted her up in his arms again and carried her inside the bedroom where he dropped her on the large bed.

She fumbled with the buttons of his jacket, then the ones on his shirt. When she pulled his shirt out of his trousers and slid her hands under the garment to feel his bare skin, he gave her a gentle push and she fell back on the mattress.

His fingers trailed up her arms, along her collarbone, and then pulled the straps of her dress down. She parted her lips for him when his mouth captured hers in a much too short kiss.

When the smooth satin slid down her skin, a light breeze from the open window grazed her bare arms and breasts like a soft caress. Pressure built inside her and she trembled under his touch.

He placed her dress carefully on the chair in the corner and unbuckled his trousers. After taking off the rest of his clothes, he dropped them on the floor. Leaning on her elbow, she took in every detail of him. His muscular chest, his strong arms and hands, his tight stomach.

“God, you’re magnificent,” he said, echoing her thoughts.

“Come here.” She held her hand out, and he joined her on the bed. The mattress shifted as she pushed him onto his back and straddled his hips.

She ran her fingers down his neck, his shoulder, his chest, his abdomen, gaze never leaving his. His eyes, so deep and dark, blazed with a passion that made every one of her nerves tingle. She leaned down and brushed her nose against his. When her nipples grazed his chest hair, the sensation shot spikes of heat to her core.

How could he be so familiar and yet so new and exciting? And why did her body tense with the same nervous anticipation she’d felt the first night?

When she nipped the skin over his jugular, he gripped her waist. His erection brushed against her abdomen, making her moan. “Jack…”

“Mmm?” He trailed his lips along her jaw, and she arched her neck to offer more.

“I need… oh.” When his hand slipped into her panties, she clutched the pillow next to his head. He immediately found the right spot while the thumb of his other hand grazed her nipple, playing.

“You were saying?” She swore she could hear a smirk in his voice.

“Nothing.” She writhed her hips, the sweet friction easing some of the pressure building inside her.

“Like that?” He nipped her chin.

“Yeah.” When his fingers slipped through her folds to her entrance, she slowed, waiting. Her skin buzzed with anticipation. Finally, he slipped one of his fingers into her. Her eyes fell closed. “Jack…”

His finger twisted and explored, and she pushed back against him. If he kept going like this, she’d shatter in a heartbeat.

Panting, she dropped her forehead to his and scraped her fingers through his hair. God, she could spend forever looking into those dark eyes. All those months she’d thought he was dead, she’d wished for just one more day with him. Life had granted them so much more.

She leaned in, offering her mouth, and he took it, penetrating with his tongue and mimicking the movements of his finger. Her mind spun with need. Panting, she broke the kiss and arched her neck, her mind focusing on what he was doing to her.

When he pulled his hand away from her core, a disappointed moan slipped out. He chuckled and wrapped his arms around her. “Hold on.”

She grabbed his shoulders and then laughed when he rolled them over so she lay on her back under him. His eyes sparkled with tenderness as his gaze roamed over her face. “I’m gonna kiss every single inch of your skin, and…”

He leaned in to her ear and whispered sweet obscenities, all the things he’d do to her with his mouth. His words intensified the pressure inside her until it grew almost unbearable. When his hands cupped her breasts and he shifted down to make good on his promise, her eyes fluttered shut.

He pulled her panties down her legs, and then seared a path down along her collarbone and between the breasts to her stomach. Fingers tangling in his hair, she arched into him when his tongue dipped into her belly button.

He was so good with his mouth, and it had been so long since he’d last used it on her. Images flashed through her mind. His mouth sucking, kissing, his lips wrapping around her clit while his tongue went to work, relentless and powerful. The memory almost drove her to the edge and she trembled in anticipation.

Gently, he pushed her legs open. As he neared her apex, she fisted her hand in his hair. His breath washed hot over along her sensitive folds. She whimpered. Just a little closer…

“Oh.” The first touch of his mouth against her center jolted through her like a hot summer storm. Waves of pleasure rippled through her when he pulled her clit into her mouth and sucked.

His tongue hit just the right spot. Once. Twice. She cried out and jerked against him. Pressure built low in her belly. God, yes. So little effort to kindle the fire and turn it into a storm of blazing plasma that swept her away.

Soon she pulled her hips up toward his mouth, needing more. So much more. “Please, Jack. Don’t stop.”

He sucked hard, and stars exploded in front of her eyes. The room spun so wildly she had to close them. Panting, she tried to hold on to reality until waves swept her away into an ocean of pleasure.

He eased up, giving her a moment to catch her breath before he pushed her to new highs and made her shatter again. And again, and again. She was in heaven.

—

Jack trailed his tongue along her core, giving her a moment to rest. Damn, he’d never get enough of her. One week apart had been one week too much.

When he brought her to the edge again, her thighs tensed, but his grip prevented her from closing them. When he didn’t ease up her nails dug into his shoulder and she screamed. Such a sweet, desperate sound. He could spend the rest of his life doing this and die a very happy man.

He gave her clit a last thorough lick before he spilled kisses along her stomach on the way up.

Chest heaving, she opened her eyes. “Oh…wow…” Her voice shook.

Smirking, he nuzzled her neck. Her skin glistened in the moonlight. “That good?”

“Yeah…” Her fingers brushed through his hair in a weak move.

“In that case I’ll make this a regular routine from now on.”

Her whimper shot straight to his groin. When she drew him closer with her legs and cradled him between her thighs, he grew almost painfully hard. Damn, he needed her. Now.

Her hot breath fanned his face. He brought his lips to hers and delved his tongue deep inside her mouth.

In the soft light filtering through the curtains, her eyes shimmered cobalt blue, darkened by passion. Her hands trembled as she cupped his face. “Take me. Please.”

He buried his face in her neck. “Not sure I’m gonna hold out very long.”

Her breathless laugh washed warm along his temple. “Even better. Fast is good, at least for now.”

Who was he to refuse her? He guided himself to her entrance, and thrust inside without warning.

A grunt left her and she arched her neck, exposing the sensitive skin there. He leaned in and tasted the salt on her neck. Her muscles fluttered around him. God, she was tight and so sweet.

Hands gripping at his shoulders, she wrapped her legs around his hips, drawing him even deeper. Heat rushed through him, and he rocked his hips against hers, picking up a slow pace. Her skin burned under his, her soft breasts grazing along his chest with the slightest movements.

He lifted his head to look at her. Her breath washed hot along his chin, her gaze not leaving his. He drew out of her only to thrust back in, the movement slow and deliberate.

She bit her lip. “Yes.”

Spurred on by her pleading tone, he quickened his pace. There’d be enough time for slow and gentle later.

Her hand cupped his cheek. He didn’t want to look away, not this time. And yet, after a moment, sensations swept him away and his head dropped to her neck.

Hooking his arm under one of her knees, he pushed her leg up further. Her hand flew up above her head and dug into the pillow. Now there was the sweet spot he’d been looking for, the one he knew drove her insane. He repeated the movement, again and again, keeping his thrusts unpredictable. Her hand gripped the pillow so tight her knuckles turned white and she gritted her teeth against soft screams.

He leaned in and nipped her chin, then he let his mouth hover above hers. “Come for me again, sexy.”

She gave a helpless whimper. How he’d missed doing this to her, pushing her until she came apart for him. No fantasy could compare to her flushed skin, her soft whimpers, her pleas.

“You’re mine now.” So cliché, and yet he couldn’t help it. The words slipped out over and over again. He kissed her shoulder, her neck, her jaw. Tasted the salty wetness on her cheeks as her body trembled under him, her soft outcries echoing in the room.

The instant he felt her come apart around him, he crushed her mouth with his, and then his mind blanked as his own release rushed over him.

—

Sometime later, they lay on their sides, facing the open window. Sam shifted when a warm breeze caressed her overheated skin. Slowly, the feeling returned to her limbs.

When Jack’s hot lips tickled her shoulder, she opened her eyes. “Mmm…”

He nuzzled her ear. “You look exhausted. You wanna sleep?”

Smiling, she turned on her back. “Not tonight. I don’t want to waste one second of feeling you close.”

His thumb traced her lower lip. “I’m gonna need a moment to recharge.”

Giggling, she buried her face in his neck. “I wore you out?”

“Sure did.” He released a long shaky breath. “Not that I’m complaining.”

She lay quiet for a moment, her cheek and ear against his chest as she listened to his heartbeat. “I don’t think I’ll ever regret marrying you.”

His grip on her tightened and he dropped a warm kiss on the top of her head. “Neither will I.” Another moment of silence. Then Jack shifted. “I’m kinda hungry… So how about I grill us some steaks, we’ll have a cold beer and watch the sunrise at the pond?”

“That sounds amazing.”

When he was about to get up, she grabbed his hand and pulled him close once more. “I hope this will never change.”

“What?”

“Us. I hope we’ll always be like this. You know, gentle, loving, understanding, respectful of each other. Even in eighty or a hundred years.”

“We will.” He leaned in. “I promise.”

She parted her lips for him. If it stayed like this between them for the rest of their lives, she’d never ask for anything else again.

Next Chapter

And, as a special extra, I created a Stargate Aschen Sam/Jack wedding artwork. ;) You can find the version without a watermark in the ebook, where I’ll have some extra wallpaper goodies, etc. for you too. So watch out for the ebook version of Stargate Aschen.