“You know, if we call Jaime now, she may be able to extend her leave as well; she mentioned to me she was considering taking this week off.” Jason grinned excitedly and pulled his phone back out of his pocket, quickly dialing his sister’s number. Jaime, of course, screeched that they were insane when she heard the news, then informed her brother he was buying Ryan a ticket as her date, then insisted that he’d better cough it up and pay for Eva and Eric as well. He pinched the bridge of his nose, nodded his head, must have realized she couldn’t hear him nod, and finally agreed aloud to Jaime’s demands. As he sighed, sounding exhausted from the phone conversation, Kara giggled. Jason hung up the phone, tossed it on the table beside them, and went back to finalizing their new travel arrangements.
“We can wait Jason, we don’t have to do it right away,” she said softly, scooting in closer to him.
He simply kissed her in reply and told her to call Eva to let them know he’d buy their tickets if they wanted to come. He mentioned she should also call her father. While Paul wouldn’t be able to travel, they needed to let him know of their plans. He kissed her once more, then got up from the couch and dialed his parent’s number.
~*~
In the end, after several long phone calls filled with reassurances that they were not moving too fast, and that this really was what they both wanted, Jaime, Ryan, Eric and Eva all decided they would be going with them, while their parents all decided to stay home. They conceded to allowing a larger reception to be planned, and hosted, by Jason’s mother – and Jaime, of course - at a later date back in Austin.
Kara tried to assign Eva the task of going to Kara’s apartment and picking up a nice dress, but Eva immediately scoffed at that, informing Kara they would be shopping for something as soon as they arrived in Vegas. For once Kara didn’t bother arguing with her. When the planning was done, and their calls all made, they reconvened on the bed of their hotel room.
“I guess that’s everything,” Kara stated simply. They were booked on a flight leaving Houston at eight twenty the following morning, arriving in Las Vegas at nine twenty Vegas time, and they would be spending two nights at the Bellagio. They had considered staying another night, but chose to come home and spend their last night together in Austin. Jason would leave the day after their return on a flight back to Seattle, while Kara would stay behind and pack up her apartment, give her notice to the leasing office, and take care of the last minute arrangements that come with picking up your life and moving it across country.
Chapter Twenty-One
The following morning came entirely too quickly. When the wake-up call rang at six, Kara groaned as Jason rolled over, picked up the receiver, and immediately hung it up. Her body warmed at his touch when he re-aligned his body with hers as he snuggled back into her. It was the early morning light that woke her an hour later.
“Shit! It’s seven! Jason, wake up!” Kara jumped from the bed and ran into the bathroom. She turned on the shower and jumped in before the water had time to warm up.
“GAAAHHH! Cold! Cold!” She grabbed the shampoo and did a cursory run through her hair, rinsed the suds out, and quickly followed it with conditioner. By the time Jason had stretched and clamored into the bathroom, she was finished scrubbing her body and ready to get out.
“I take it that’s a no on shower sex?”
Kara simply glared at him as he stripped down.
Used to quick showers, he was in and out in five minutes, and they both dressed quickly. Because of their late start they had to race to the airport in order to make their flight, barely making it through security and up to the gate just as the attendants began the boarding process. Unfortunately, with the last minute flight, Jason had been unable to get first-class seats, but he made sure he was able to get them for their trip home.
As they settled into their seats, Jason took Kara’s hand and kissed it. “Is there anything you need, Ms. Soon to be Dietrich?”
Kara looked at him perplexed. Dietrich?
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I never thought about changing my name.”
“You’re not taking my name?” Jason asked, surprised.
“I just never thought about it,” Kara admitted. “My last name is Baker; I own a bakery. I guess I just thought it was my thing, you know?”
Jason paused for a minute in thought. “Huh. Well, I guess you don’t have to take my name, I just always imagined the woman I married would,” he said the words, but Kara could see he was upset by this, even if he didn’t admit it.
“You could take mine,” Kara offered. The look on Jason’s face was priceless. It was a cross between surprised and horrified. Baker’s not that bad.
“You could hyphenate.”
“You could hyphenate,” Kara countered.
Jason huffed and rested his head against the head rest.
“Are you angry?”
“No. Maybe? I don’t know,” he stalled, then continued, “I know I sound like a chauvinist, but I want my wife to take my last name.”
Kara thought this over, glancing at him periodically.
“Is it that important to you?” she finally asked.
“Kind of,” Jason admitted sheepishly.
“Why?”
“I guess it sort of sets my definition of family. I want us to have the same name, as well as our children. And I guess I’m a little old-fashioned about the name being used being the man’s. Mine.” Jason shrugged, furrowing his brow in thought.
“Huh.” Kara looked out the window for a minute, then turned back to him, “I like that it’s important to you. It makes me feel…I don’t know how to describe it. It’s like you really want me, us. That probably doesn’t make sense.”
“It does, actually. It’s like I said, it feels like we’re coming together and creating our family.”
“I like that.” Kara reached out and cupped his jaw with her hand. “Our family,” Kara whispered, stroking his cheek. “I’ll take your name,” she decided. Jason’s eyes lit up. “But I want to remain Kara Baker as far as the bakery is concerned. I guess you could say I’m keeping my name professionally.”
Jason smiled his adorable dimpled grin, “I think we just made our first almost-married, compromise.”
“Jason?”
“Yeah?”
“Have you ever had sex on a plane?”
“No. I hear logistically it’s near impossible; you have to be very creative.”
“I can be creative.”
“Are you saying you want to join the Mile High Club?”
“I’m saying I suddenly feel the urge to go into that bathroom right there,” Kara said pointing to the door to the lavatory. “If you suddenly feel the urge to follow, go with it.”
“What if people see us? Can we get arrested for that?”
Kara barked out a laugh. “I don’t know.” She chuckled as she unbuckled her seatbelt and walked down the aisle toward the bathrooms. Glancing back over her shoulder at Jason, she opened the door and stepped inside.
Before Jason could get out of his seat, Kara was back.
“Never mind, it’s disgusting in there. And really, people need to learn the concept of a courtesy flush. That’s all I’m saying.” Jason started to laugh, but she knew the look of disappointment on her face stopped him. Instead he lifted the arm rest and pulled her to his side to snuggle.
“You know, I could take care of you here…” Jason quirked his eyebrow and smirked as he stroked her arm. “We just need a blanket.”
She stared at him, trying to judge whether he was being serious, quickly deducing that he was. It was tempting, given that he constantly set her body on fire, but ultimately she decided against it.
Shaking her head to decline, she chuckled softly. “Thanks, I can wait until we get to the hotel.” After a brief pause she added, “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
~*~
The stress of the last couple of months, along with the overwhelming emotions fr
om their reconciliation, and now their elopement - not to mention the extremely late night they’d had the night before - was gaining on them fast. They literally dragged themselves to the counter of the hotel to check in, Jason struggling to keep his eyes open long enough to sign the credit card slip, secure a key, and get them to their room. After a muttered thank you, he took the key from the desk clerk and they navigated through the hotel, following the directions to their room on the fifteenth floor. After taking a quick peek out the curtain to check out the spectacular view of the Vegas Strip, they secured it closed to block out the daylight, put the do not disturb sign on the door, and climbed into bed naked.
“I just want you to know, under normal circumstances you being naked next to me would result in many hours of mutual pleasure. That being said, I don’t have the energy. I hope you don’t see that as a failure of my manhood,” Jason admitted
“I’m so tired I can’t even come up with a reply to that.” Kara patted Jason’s chest and promptly fell asleep.
~*~
The ringing of the hotel phone woke him later that afternoon. Groaning, Jason reached over and grabbed the receiver, momentarily considering dropping it back on the cradle.
“Hello,” he answered gruffly, rubbing his face with his free hand, trying to clear the sleepy fog from his mind.
“It’s one o’clock little brother, send your wench to me.” Jaime’s voice was far too chipper, and Jason wondered if by chance she had already begun drinking - they were in Vegas, after all.
“I’m not sure she would approve of your chosen term of endearment.”
“We’re killing time here, Jason. We have to find her a dress, we have spa appointments to get to - not to mention hair and makeup. Don’t make me send Eva,” Jaime threatened.
Jason’s head flopped back down onto the pillow.
“Baby. Kara babe, you have to wake up.” He nudged her until her head lifted up and she looked at him with bleary eyes. “The evil twin wants to talk to you,” he said, handing her the phone.
Kara took the receiver from him, and without speaking, stretched across him and did what he had considered first; she hung up the phone. As she began to retreat to her side of the bed, Jason grabbed her and held her to him.
“Mmmm, this is nice,” he mumbled as he began nibbling her neck.
Giving up her struggle to lay back down on the bed, Kara simply collapsed on top of him.
“Still sleepy...” she whimpered into his neck.
Jason chuckled lightly. “Jaime will just send up Evil Eva.”
Kara snorted, “Make sure the deadbolt is set.”
As soon as he released his grip on her, she rolled off of him and he reached out to stroke his hand from her waist to her hip, loving the silky feel of her skin. As he sat up and stretched the sheet fell to his lap, and he grinned as her eyes traveled his body. He was half erect, and the tip of him could now be seen. When she reached out to stroke him, it caused his body to jolt in surprise and pleasure.
“Well, hello there,” Kara whispered seductively.
Jason’s chuckle was breathless as he reached out to touch her. His hand moved lower, dipping down between her thighs, tracing her warmth and diving in, finding she was already ready for him. As he began to move over her, Kara pushed her hands on his chest, softly sending him to lie on his back. She settled herself over him and began to move, teasing at first, slowly, but picking up her pace as they both flushed and their heart rates increased. Kara gripped the headboard and slammed herself down on him, over and over, as Jason met her half way, rising off the bed with his thrusts. He gripped her waist, plunging in deeper each time as he felt the growl growing in his chest, his release looming.
“So good,” he panted, “I’m close.” He shook his head, willing the urge to release away, insistent upon bringing her over the edge with him.
“Yeeees!” She landed back down on him, grinding hard as her orgasm hit, the waves taking over as she clenched and swayed, grinding harder and harder. Jason struggled to hold still as his love came apart. When she began to collapse on top of him, he wrapped his arm around her waist and flipped her, immediately slamming back into her. It took only a few thrusts into her heat before he followed her in ecstasy.
When he stopped pulsing, he slowly pulled out, both of them groaning at the loss of contact.
“That was…”
“Yep.”
The phone rang again, and without speaking to the caller, Jason handed it off to Kara, who took it from him with a smirk. She said nothing, just laughed and handed it back to Jason to hang up.
“I’ve been given instructions to shower. ‘Now’,” Kara said, lifting up off the bed. “Want to join me?” She gave him a sexy look and dragged her body from the bed, trailing her fingers along his leg as she went. “It’s your last chance for sex with a single woman…”
“Hell, yes!” Jason jumped up off the bed and chased after her, as she giggled and ran from him. “Get ready for round two, baby!”
~*~
Showered and dressed, Kara was about to walk out the door when she realized they hadn’t discussed rings since their initial conversation about an engagement ring.
“What are we going to do about rings?” she asked, turning back, concerned.
Jason walked to her and circled his arms around her waist as he gave her a quick peck of reassurance. “I’ll handle it.”
She looked at him skeptically, but Jason rolled his eyes. “No huge diamonds, I promise.”
She was about to argue, but instead relented as her cell phone rang, reminding her that her friends were waiting in the lobby. “Okay, I trust you,” she sighed, giving him another kiss. “I guess the next time I see you, you’ll be at the altar,” she smiled, giddy with at the thought.
“I can’t wait. Luckily, I don’t have to. We still need to get the license.” Jason smirked, and leaned in. This time his kiss was not fast, but rather lingered for a moment, a promise of the passion to come that night.
When Kara’s cell beeped with a new text message she reluctantly pulled away from his arms, smiling, and headed out the door of their room to meet Jaime and Eva.
~*~
“First we need to get you a dress,” Evalyn stated the moment that Kara exited the elevator. She slipped her arm around Kara’s shoulders and began to lead her to the doors of the hotel. Once outside, Jaime took over. She pulled out a binder of the boutiques she had researched and a list of printed directions, and quickly hailed a cab. After settling inside they began discussing dress styles. Kara was adamant she didn’t want big or fancy, and really didn’t even care if the dress was an official wedding dress or not. Her only preference was for it to be white, just for tradition, but the rest was pretty much open; mostly she figured she’d know the dress when she saw it.
The girls didn’t stay long in the first shop they entered. The dresses were more along the lines of showgirl dresses, and as much as Jason may have enjoyed a dress that exposed that much of Kara, and encouraged them exploring that side of her fashion sense, Kara was not interested – even if it was white. It took two hours, but as she had expected, Kara knew the perfect dress as soon as she saw it. The top of the gown was halter-style, and the bodice was beaded with an embroidered lace overlay that split in the front down from an empire waist. The dress was floor length, and although Kara had been thinking she wanted a shorter dress, in more of a sundress style, once she put on the gown she changed her mind. It was simply beautiful. When Jaime sat a jeweled tiara atop Kara’s head to finish the look, she felt like a princess.
“That’s the one,” Eva said, nodding her head as she slowly walked around Kara to admire her from every angle. Kara agreed, her eyes filling slightly with overwhelmed tears.
Jaime turned to the sales lady and announced their intentions, “We’ll take it, and the tiara too,” she added with a smile and a wink toward Kara.
“Now, off to the spa!” Eva hugged Kara before turning her around and undoing the buttons at the ba
ck of the dress to help her out of it.
~*~
Ever since Kara insisted Jason not buy her a large diamond engagement ring, an idea had been turning around in his head. He knew she loved emeralds, and she once mentioned she had seen a Claddagh engagement ring with an emerald heart at its center. After a bit of research he found a Celtic jewelry shop just outside of town. He would need a rental car for the afternoon, but that wouldn’t be a problem. A quick call to the concierge set up a rental to be delivered to the hotel, and Jason called Ryan and Eric to let them know the plan for the afternoon.
It took about an hour to get to the shop, but the end result was worth it; Jason found exactly what he was looking for. Kara’s ring was mostly platinum but had two gold bands at the wrists of the Claddagh design. The heart at its center was an emerald stone, and the rest of the ring was decorated with diamond chips, totaling less than a quarter karat. He was sure Kara would be pleased with it. The ‘engagement’ ring came with a matching band that fit snugly as an accent against the stone. The ring he picked for himself was a simple platinum band with two vertical gold accents. It was small and unassuming and accented Kara’s ring perfectly. He paid for the purchase and the guys headed back into the city. With the wedding scheduled for seven that evening at The Wedding Chapel on the strip, they had some time to kill. Back at the hotel, Ryan and Eric pulled Jason to a blackjack table and settled in, working to keep his nerves in check, and his mind distracted, until the girls returned.
When it was time to meet back up with Kara, Jason was up five hundred dollars on blackjack. Eric had stopped playing in fear of his wife dismembering certain parts of his anatomy if he lost too much money, and Ryan was breaking even. Their dealer was a cute blonde who shamelessly flirted with all three of them, but especially with Jason. When it was time to leave the table, she asked the pit boss if she could go on break, then sidled up to Jason and asked if she could get his room number for later, after her shift. Jason blushed furiously, while Eric stared in stunned silence and Ryan guffawed uncontrollably.