WIth this submission I have written 99 word document pages for this story, definitely the longest thing I've ever written.
I am not in any way affiliated with the church mentioned in this chapter (or any church for that matter). I just did a google search for a church that accepts same sex couples, as all churches should.
Chapter 8) April
When the men woke up on April 3rd, they found it to be a bright, sunny day. This worked well with their plans. After a leisurely breakfast, they went to the park where they had first confessed their love.
They met Diana, Jo, Wade, Jake, Matt and Paul in the open area by the lake that they had watched from the overlook on the walking path. With their friends' help, they set up folding chairs; decorated with streamers and flowers; and prepped the area for the early afternoon ceremony. Once everything was set up, Wade, Jake, Matt and Paul stayed at the site. They took turns to freshen up and change at the public bathrooms, making sure nothing happened to the decorations and seating guests as they arrived.
Cliff and Scott went home to dress. They both wore a cream colored linen suit. Scott wore a blue shirt, Cliff's was green Their ties were both cream colored, Scott's with a thin blue stripe, Cliff's with a thin green stripe. Cliff's short black hair was carefully gelled and stood up on top. He had stubble on his chin and jaw line, a look he had adopted some months ago. Scott's long silky brown hair, now halfway down his back, was loose and flowing and he was clean shaven. They each had a red rose on the lapel of their suit jacket.
Scott met Cliff at the door to their home, and they walked arm in arm to the Mustang. They held each other silently for a few moments, before kissing lightly and getting into the car. Quietly, nervously, Scott drove to the park. He parked in the space his friends had saved for him, right behind the chairs where their friends and family sat.
Cliff's parents had flown down and were staying with Scott's parents. Cliff's friend, Tom, had flown in from California and was standing as Cliff's witness. Diane, Scott's best friend, was standing for him. Their friends were there; Al from Children's Home attended and brought Alex with him. They even agreed to close The Garage early so their employees/coworkers could attend. Since neither man was active in their religion or any church, Scott's uncle George agreed to open and close the ceremony. At some point in his many careered past, George had been a minister for Universal Life Church. He hadn't actively participated in the church for several years, but was still able to officiate a ceremony. He even printed a Commitment Ceremony Certificate to present to the happy couple.
When George saw the car pull up, he stood and welcomed everybody to Prescott Byron Edwards and Heathcliff Earnshaw Andrews's commitment ceremony. He talked a little about how the couple met, and how they now worked together.
While George continued his speech, Cliff and Scott sat in the Mustang; staring at each other. Carefully, Cliff took the ring off his left ring finger. Spinning it between his fingers he read the writing inside before handing over to Scott. Scott also removed his ring and passed it over to Cliff. They would exchange the rings, again, during the ceremony.
George finished his speech, and started music on a CD player. When Cliff and Scott heard the strains of the guitar, a recording Scott had made for the occasion, they opened their car doors and met at the front of the Mustang.
Diane and Tom rose from their chairs at the back of the seating area. Arm in arm, they walked up the aisle between the seats. When they reached George they separated, each standing on one side. Following them, Cliff's arm entwined in Scott's as they slowly walked up the aisle to stand in front of George.
George explained that Scott and Cliff would exchange their own vows.
"Cliff, I knew I wanted to know you the day we met," Scott started, holding Cliff's hands in his own and looking deep into Cliff's eyes. "Talking to you in the classroom at The Garage, I found you to be intelligent, considerate, and beautiful. Unfortunately, ethics rules didn't allow me to ask you out while you were a client. I found out you were thinking about going to the car show and I waited impatiently for you to show up all day. Just before you arrived I had decided I was going to have to swipe your number from the office files, ethics rules or not."
"The past year has been amazing. Knowing you and loving you has changed my life for the better. I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you. I promise to love you, and be faithful only to you for as long as we live. Forever yours." He slipped Cliff's ring onto his lover's left ring finger.
"A year ago, I still wasn't sure where I was going in life. Meeting you was the best thing that happened to me. I not only found the love of my life, my family, I also found a home, and a career. I promise to always communicate with you even when we're mad at each other, and to never take your love for granted. I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you. I promise to love you, and be faithful only to you for as long as we live. Forever yours," Cliff vowed as he placed Scott's ring on his finger.
The men kissed to finalize their vows and turned back to George.
George spoke for a few minutes about commitment, love, and trust. Before the ceremony could get too long, he proclaimed them partners and husbands, in spirit if not by law. George thanked everybody for attending, and invited them to the reception that was set up on the 3rd floor of Exc!te. Cliff and Scott Edwards, because Cliff wanted to take Scott's name, walked back down the aisle arm in arm.
Once they reached the Mustang again, Scott wrapped his arms around Cliff and pulled him close. Braiding his hands into Cliff's hair, he passionately kissed his husband, his tongue plunging into Cliff's mouth. Cliff intertwined Scott's tongue with his own as he enfolded his husband into his arms.
Breathing hard as they separated, they heard their friends and family cheer and whistle as they got into the car and drove away. At the reception they mingled with their friends and family as they enjoyed a buffet dinner, wine and champagne, and dancing. Scott and Cliff danced closely, shared bites of their dinner, and kissed every time their guests tapped silverware against their wineglasses.
After cutting their wedding cake and sharing a piece, they danced one more slow dance before leaving for their honeymoon.
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Scott and Cliff had just arrived back at their home from their reception. The men had plans to go to a cottage on a private beach in Mexico for a few days. Their plane didn't leave for several hours, so first they planned to consummate their union in their own home. In Cliff's hand was the certificate commemorating their ceremony, already framed courtesy of George. The first thing they did was made room for it on the bookshelf in the living room. After having gently placed it, Cliff turned to Scott and wrapped his arms around Scott's neck.
Scott looked down at his love and smiled as he ran his thumb down Cliff's face. He leaned down and kissed Cliff's cheek, his lips, and his neck. Scott breathed, "My partner, my husband," as he fiercely pressed his lips against Cliff's.
They each removed the other's suit jacket and tie as they stood there kissing. Breaking apart from their heated kisses, Cliff grabbed Scott's hand and pulled his partner up the stairs to the bedroom.
Once there they saw that Diana had snuck into the house during the reception. Scattered on the bed was flower petals. On their bedside tables and dressers were bouquets of wildflowers and roses, next to them flameless candles flickered gently in the semi-dark room.
Cliff surveyed the room with appreciation before turning back to his love. His eyes on Scott's, he unbuttoned his lover's shirt and slowly slid it off his shoulders and down his arms to pool onto the floor. As Cliff unveiled his lover's hard, smooth shoulders and chest he kissed the soft skin, feeling the muscles contract under his touch. Scott groaned, wrapping his hands in Cliff's long hair, as his lover continued to worship his body.
Cliff released the catch on Scott's dress pants and pushed them down past his hips and muscular thighs. Kneeling, Cliff removed Scott's shoes and pants. Scott stood before his love in just a skimpy black thong.
Still kneeling, Cliff slowly dragged the thong down Scott's muscular legs. Pulling his hand up and down the length of Scott's cock, Cliff looked up to meet Scott's eyes with his own before taking the tip into his mouth. Eyes locked together, Cliff' sucked the head deeper into his mouth as his tongue ran over it. Scott wrapped his hands around Cliff's head, gently pushing him further into his groin.
Scott moved his hands to Cliff's ass, grasping the muscular mounds in his hands as he continued to suck and lick at Scott's cock until it was fully hard and dripping. Then he stopped, removing his lips and hands from Scott's body as he stood.
Cliff led his lover to lie down on the bed. He stood at the edge of the bed and stripped, his eyes locked on Scott's. Naked and grinning he grabbed a partially opened rose out of the vase next to him as he crawled onto the bed to sit next to his lover.
Setting the rose on the bed next to him, Cliff leaned over Scott and entwined their hands as he kissed him deeply.
"I love you Scott Edwards, my husband," he whispered as he moved his lips along Scott's jaw, enjoying the burn from the stubble there. Dropping a kiss on the underside of Scott's jaw he sat back up and disentangled their hands.
Cliff picked up the rose and swiped the side of the velvet soft flower against Scott's collarbone. Scott shivered under the soft, light touch. Cliff continued to play the flower along Scott's chest, as he watched Scott's eyes turn darker and smokier. Pulling the rose up perpendicular to Scott's chest, he enveloped first one, then the other, of Scott's nipples with the dark red flower and twirled it around. Scott moaned as the velvet petals lightly teased his nipples and areolas.
Scott caressed Cliff's body with the hand closest to his lover as he continued to writhe under the soft touches Cliff administered. Scott ran his hand down Cliff's side and over his hip. He squeezed Cliff's ass and ran his fingers along the crack. As he teased Cliff's puckered hole, Cliff moaned.
