A North Carolina Autumn - Chapter 30: Chapter 30

When I see Rylie again back in the reception hall, it feels like we were parted for longer than simply a few minutes. She looks breathtaking, yet again, in her simple white dress that flows all the way down to the floor, and her hair still in the loose waves brushing just above her collarbone.
We'd both gotten nice, but comfy dresses for leaving the reception, since our wedding dresses would've made the 30 minute drive to the airport and the two hour flight more than a little bit uncomfortable.
Rylie's eyes meet mine, and I feel the blush rise in my cheeks as they travel down my body in a slow, heated look before jumping to mine once more. That one look was all it took.
Suddenly, it didn't matter how good she looked in her dress, I couldn't wait to get it off of her. I shake my head slightly to clear my thoughts, and a smirk slides onto Rylie's face. Of course she knew exactly what that look would do to me.
I close the remaining distance between us and slip my hands into hers. "I missed you." I say softly.
"I know." She replies with a grin. I glare at her and she laughs before leaning in, sliding her hands along my waist, and brushing her lips against my ear. "I missed you too. You look lovely in that dress, but I can't wait to take it off." My eyes flutter closed as her breath tickles my ear, and her words send a shiver down my spine.
I take a steadying breath before opening my eyes. "If we didn't have a flight to catch, I'd take you into a back room and f..."
"Okay!" Rylie laughs, quickly placing a hand over my mouth. "Later." She promises with a grin before replacing her hand with her lips. "I love you." She says softly before pulling me towards our mothers.
"Are you two ready?" Kristen asks with a smile, and Harper grins happily in her arms.
"Yes." Rylie smiles as she looks at me.
The double doors open to the lit up front walkway, and I take in our friends and family lining the stone path as they cheer and clap. The lights scattered about bring a warm glow to the darkness brought on after the sun set completely. Rylie's hand slips into mine once more before she pulls me down the walkway, and I can't keep the smile from my face. Once we reach the end of the path, Rylie turns towards me, and her eyes meet mine the moment before she kisses me, earning more cheers from the crowd.
I always got weak in the knees when kissing Rylie, but I fear I won't be able to keep my footing as Rylie kisses me now. She pulls away all too quickly, leaving me slightly stunned and trying to catch my breath, and I smile when she opens the car door for me.
"Thank you, love." I whisper before kissing her cheek and sliding into the passenger seat. Rylie hops in the driver's seat and starts the car, and I roll down my window to wave as we pull away.
"We're really married." I say with a grin as we pull onto the road.
"We're married." Rylie smiles, taking my hand. "It's all over the car, too." She laughs, and I glance around the car for the first time.
"Oh my God!" I laugh. Rylie was right. There's writing all over the windows, and the back window says 'just married'. Except it's backwards for us. The back seat is filled with balloons and... "Are those...?"
"Condoms. Yep! Courtesy of your cousins and the Salty Christians, no doubt." Rylie giggles.
"Oh, one hundred percent. Jeremy and Sam were definitely the masterminds behind that, since our conversation at the final surf competition this year."
"I'm sorry, what conversation?" Rylie's eyebrows are raised, and her eyes flick to mine briefly before focusing back on the road.
"Oh," I laugh, suddenly remembering. "It was the day you woke up from your coma. I was in Topsail for the final competition, and Jeremy and Sam were getting after me for tanning. As I was putting on sunscreen, Jeremy said something like, 'At least you use protection.'. And without thinking, I said, 'Well, with this I do.' and they both freaked out. So, this has to be pay back." I finish with a laugh.
"Aspen, oh my God." Rylie laughs. "I'm so sad I missed that! Stupid coma."
"Well hey, I'm sure we can replicate the scenario again somehow." I giggle. "It's so easy to make those two uncomfortable."
"Fair point." Rylie grins. "And we'll skip the coma this time."
"Yes, please." I agree with a laugh.
When we arrive at the airport, we've got a little over two hours before our flight will start boarding. "Look at that, we made such good time!" I grin.
"Yeah, but airport parking might throw us off a little bit..." Rylie comments, and I hear the small hint of stress in her voice.
"Shit, I'm sorry Ry! I didn't even think about the fact that you've never done this before."
"Hey, it's okay." She reassures me with a warm smile. "Just be my navigator, okay?"
"I love you and your patience." I reply before reading the signs along the road and directing her to the right parking lot.
When we finally park 15 minutes later, Rylie blows out a break before leaning back against her seat.
"You did so good, especially for this being your first time!" I tell her. She turns to me with a smirk, and I raise my eyebrow.
"How come you didn't say that to me after our first time?" She asks in a serious voice. Both of my eyebrows shoot up, and I bark out a laugh.
"Rylie," I gasp after a moment, clutching my stomach. "We both know you're best at words of encouragement during... those moments." I giggle.
"I am, aren't I?" She grins. "But we have a few minutes if you want me to teach you a little bit." She says, leaning closer to me with each word.
I pull my bottom lip between my teeth as my eyes dart down to her mouth, mere inches from mine. "I think we'll need more than a few minutes," I whisper, and my voice comes out low and husky despite my best efforts.
"Maybe they'll hold the plane for us." Rylie says before pressing her lips against my neck. "You know, since we're newlyweds and all." Finally, her lips meet mine, and she kisses me the way I'd been dying to be kissed all night.
Suddenly, I didn't care if we completely missed our flight. "Fuck..." I whisper as one of her hands slides beneath my dress and up my thigh. "Rylie..." I breathe before kissing her hard.
"I know, baby. Let's go catch our flight so we can get to our hotel, and I can love you the way I so desperately want to love you."
I groan and drop my head back against my seat. "You're driving me crazy." I whine as I turn back to her.
"I know." Rylie grins. "But I will make it up to you later." She promises before pushing open her door, letting in the cool November air. "Let's go catch this flight that I will most definitely be holding your hand for the entire time." She laughs.
"Is that a promise?" I grin, opening my own door. Rylie opens the trunk and pulls out both of our suitcase, and I grab my backpack before kissing her cheek. "I will gladly hold your hand."
With that, we lock the car and I pull her in the direction of the airport.
"Did you dump out all of your water?"
"Yes. And my snacks are in a zip lock bag, just like you asked." Rylie laughs. "I think you're more nervous than I am!"
"Definitely not. I just don't want to get stopped while we're going through security." I explain defensively. I was a little bit nervous, though.
"Have you been stopped while going through security before?" Rylie smirks as we get into the line once we've checked our suitcases.
"Yeah," I laugh, not elaborating further.
"Go on..." Rylie encourages as her eyes wander around the huge, bright airport.
"One time, we were flying to a family reunion, and I had an empty CO2 cartridge in my backpack."
"How..." Rylie starts.
"Physics class." I explain. "I didn't think to check my backpack for anything like that, so it was terrifying to have security pull me aside in a slightly angry manner." I say with a laugh. "I was with my mom and some cousins, and they teased me for days!"
"I would have teased you too." Rylie giggles.
"I know you would've." I grin before lacing our fingers together.
Luckily, we get through security quickly and with no incident, and I lead the way down the maze of long hallways to get to our gate. When we get there, we find two empty chairs and I take a seat, letting out a breath.
"Sweet, the hardest part is over!"
"That was the hardest part of the whole trip?" Rylie asks, wide eyed.
"Well, no. Of today, I guess." I laugh.
"Are you counting the second half of the airport and flight as today or tomorrow, since we land after midnight?"
"Tomorrow..." I reply with another laugh. "I think getting to our hotel may be a little bit stressful, but we can handle it." I smile reassuringly. "We've got another while before boarding, wanna watch some Wynonna Earp?" I grin.
"Yes, please!" Rylie says excitedly, and I pull out my phone and headphones.
"Okay, here is your boarding pass, and we've got the window seat and a middle seat."
"So we're with a stranger?" Rylie scowls.
"Yes, but they probably won't talk to us." I laugh.
"But still, a stranger..."
"Do you want the window seat?" I offer with a grin.
"Really?" An adorably excited look covers Rylie's face.
"Yes, really. I want you to see the view from the air, especially at night. I might just lean over you a lot so I can see, too." I smile.
"And an excuse to have you leaning over me? This just keeps getting better and better!" Rylie laughs, but then a serious look slips onto her face. "No flirting with the stranger next to you, okay?"
I laugh before kissing her cheek. "I wouldn't dream of it. I've only got eyes for you." I promise with a smile.
We grab our backpacks and step into the line to start boarding the plane, and I watch the people around us as the line quickly moves. Most of the people are adults, although a few kids are scattered about. I smile when I see most of the children asleep in their parents arms, or on the verge of falling asleep on their feet. It was only 11:00pm, but I guess that was pretty late for kids.
"Is there a time difference in New Orleans?" Rylie asks me as we near the counter where an agent stands, scanning boarding passes.
"Um... let me check." I pull out my phone and do a quick Google Search. "Yes, they're an hour behind us. So we take off at 11:45, and we'll land a little bit before 2:00am, but it will be 1:00am there."
"It will feel like 2:00am though." Rylie grumbles.
"Oh, someone's already sleepy." I grin.
"No, I'll be fine! I might take a little nap on the plane, but I will be wide awake by the time we reach the hotel." Rylie promises with a smirk.
"I want to say I'll hold you to that, but really, if you're ready for bed when we get there..."
"Aspen, it's been nearly a week since we've..." She looks around quickly before lowering her voice and leaning in. "Done anything. Wedding planning kept getting in the way. I want to touch you, feel you. And now that you're my wife..." She trails off, biting her lip.
"Okay." I respond, slightly breathlessly. I couldn't wait to get to New Orleans before, but now, I was suddenly wishing we were there already.