Leather And Lace Part 29

"Thank you, love." Kris grasped Raven's hands and squeezed them. The dress was also brushed silk. Dusty blue in color, which went well with the light rose of the tux Raven wore. The dress wasn't tight but molded to the curves of Kris' figure well. The dress ended just above Kris' knees and had a rounded collar with a short v-opening and three-quarter-length sleeves. A silver braided belt around her waist was complemented by a sterling silver pendent of a bird in flight around her neck. "All the photos done?"

"All but a couple." Raven spotted the photographer and motioned him over. "I asked him to take a couple of you and me and a couple with Granny and us."

Kris smiled. "That's a great idea."

The reception was held at Sharon's grandparents house on Mercer Island. After the toasts had been made, the food had been devoured and the cake had been cut, the atmosphere relaxed and the dancing and drinking started in earnest.

As a member of the wedding party, Raven had been seated at the main table. Kris and Granny sat at one of the smaller tables with four other people. Raven made her way through the crowd and sat down beside Granny. "Where's Kris?" Raven had been waiting all afternoon for the appropriate time to ask her partner for a dance.

"She went to the little girls room." Granny leaned over and lowered her voice. "Do you know who the guy is that was sitting to Kris' left?"

"The one that's been attached to her shoulder all afternoon, patting her hand and forearm every chance he gets?" Raven scowled and Granny nodded. "Yeah, I asked Roger, Sharon's brother. He works with Sharon's dad. No one really likes him but Roger said their dad felt like he had to invite him." She searched the crowd for Kris' return. "Do you think he's pestering her or is he just a touchy, feely kind of person?"

"He's a little persistent and I know Kris is getting tired of it." Granny saw the storm clouds gathering in her friend's eyes. "Raven, let Kris handle it. You really don't want to deck someone at John and Sharon's wedding."

Raven's firm jaw let Granny know she was far from calm. "Alright, I'll let Kris handle it. But if she can't get him to back off, I'll take him outside and teach him some manners."

Kris walked back into the room intending to find Raven. Only Jeremy found her first. "I believe you promised me a dance." He grasped her by the elbow.

'Great.' Kris thought about putting him off, but decided to go ahead and get it over with. "Sure, why not." She managed a slight smile.

The song, unfortunately, was a slow one. At first he held her at a respectful distance. But as he twirled her away from him and then back, he brought their bodies into full contact and Kris could feel his excitement. She firmly stepped away, putting a little breathing room between them.

Raven spied Kris as she was led to the dance floor and could see that she wasn't thrilled to be there. Raven stood so she could keep an eye on the jerk. She moved closer when she saw Kris had to forcefully step back from Jeremy.

Kris knew that Raven was close; she could feel the irritation flowing from her in waves. She knew if she didn't stop his advances, Raven would. 'Do that again, buddy and you're going to be very sorry.' Kris grinned devilishly when she thought of the perfect solution.

Jeremy, of course, a.s.sumed she was grinning at him. He repeated the twirl and felt confident that she would push him away again. But this time when he spun her back to him, Kris raised her knee and planted it firmly between his legs.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I told you that I wasn't much for these fancy dance steps." Kris had told him no such thing but it got her point across to Jeremy and made it seem like an accident to everyone else.

"Sure, no problem." He limped off the dance floor as inconspicuously as he could. As he collapsed in a nearby chair, he made several offensive remarks directed towards Kris.

Raven overheard his mumbling and moved to where he was trying, unsuccessfully, to get sympathy from the occupants of the table. She towered over the seated man, giving him a look that made his blood turn to ice.

"What do you want?" Jeremy s.h.i.+fted uncomfortably in his chair.

In a voice that didn't carry beyond the table, she answered. "If you bother Kris again, I'll rip off little junior there," her eyes moved to his crotch making him fully aware of what she was talking about. "Shove it up your a.s.s and teach you the literal meaning of the phrase 'go f.u.c.k yourself'. Understand?"

He nodded his head. "Yes." He hung his head when he heard the snickers from the others at the table.

"That was priceless, Sagira." Raven joined her partner. "May I have this dance, madam?" Raven linked there arms and escorted her lover back to the dance floor.

The next several songs were slow and romantic. The pair danced together without interruption, lost in the moment of holding each other close and moving together as one.

"Can I interest you in watching the sunset?" Raven smiled at the green eyes staring so intently into hers.

"Sounds wonderful." Kris waited by the door as Raven stopped to grab two flutes of champagne.

Raven guided Kris towards the gazebo located in the backyard. She handed Kris her gla.s.s and both women gazed at the spectacular display of pinks, oranges and reds that the sun graced them with. They stood side-by-side with their arms around each other long enough for the colors to change toward the darker blues and purples.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Kris stared in awe at the display before her.

"So are you." Raven answered and sat her gla.s.s down. She reached into the inner pocket of her coat and pulled out a small velvet box. Getting down on one knee, she looked up into loving eyes. "Kris, I would be the happiest woman on earth if you would agree to be my partner, to link our lives together for as long as we are on this earth and for eternity thereafter." Raven opened the box she held in her hand to show Kris the silver antique filigree ring with a one carat round cut blue diamond.

"Yes, love. I want to be with you forever." Kris felt the tears of joy flowing from her eyes.

Raven placed the ring on Kris' lift hand and smiled as she stood up to wipe the tears from her partner's cheeks. "You are my heart and soul and I will always love you." Raven leaned down and sealed their commitment with a kiss, as the sun sank below the distant mountains.

The End.

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