I'm Not Who I Used to Be Ch. 02

~~~~~~

On the ride back to my boyhood home that afternoon, Sarah made certain that she sat right next to me on the bench seat of the old truck I drove when I was in college. As I said earlier, the look on her stunningly beautiful face that day was shining like the brightest of beacons through the darkest of nights, warming my heart from the inside, out.

"I hope that I don't sound condescending when I tell you this," I began "But I'm so very proud of you for facing your fears, Sarah. Not only have you shown me how much you love me but you've also shown me what a truly strong woman you are. And I can hardly wait until you're my wife."

"Oh, Michael, how sweet," Sarah tenderly replied, leaning over and kissing my cheek as I drove us, "Speaking of which, when would you like to get married, baby?"

"Don't ask me, hell; I'd marry you yesterday," I grinned, making her giggle, "It's entirely up to you, my beauty."

"We'll figure something out, baby," she kindly replied "My only regret is that I didn't realize what a kind and gentle man you are until it was almost too late."

"But we still managed to get together, Sarah," I told her, "So don't worry about the rest of it."

"You're right, Michael," she softly replied, gently laying her head on my shoulder, "And that's all that will ever matter from now on..."

~~~~~~

Chapter Two

My time at home was nearing its end as Mark and I had to get with Kevin and Lee before we were all supposed to return to Los Angeles for the release of Odyssey's debut album. However, two days before I had to leave, Sarah gave me the greatest news of my life.

"I'm coming with you, Michael," she giddily smiled, "And don't you dare try to stop me."

"I would never do that," I happily replied, "But what're you going to do about your job, Sarah?"

"That's easy," she giggled, "Daddy gave me my trust fund, and while I can't touch the principle until I'm forty, the interest will give us more than enough money to live on, my love."

"Wait a minute," I protested "Ahmet told me that I'm about to make plenty of money from our first album, Sarah. I'll be more than able to take very good care of the both of us, baby, I swear."

"I know that," she sweetly replied, smiling as she held her left hand up in front of me, "But when you put this ring on my finger it meant that we're supposed to be facing this world together Michael...together."

"I love you so much," I grinned, pulling her into my arms, "Please forgive me for not thinking on those terms, baby..."

~~~~~~

And so our lives began together; Ahmet leased us a Silver Eagle tour bus that had not only a queen sized bed in a private room at the very back of it for Sarah and I, but there was more than enough room for Mark, Lee and Kevin. Granted, Mark already was a member of my family who stood beside me in everything I did, but Lee and Kevin were also as close to me as Mark was, and in the days that followed, I grew to love them as the brothers that, to me, that they already were.

Our debut album, which was simply named, "Odyssey", rose to platinum status less than a week after its release, and then double platinum before the month was out. We went on tour the day after the album was released and everywhere we, the fans adored us. We sold out every venue that Ahmet booked for us to play, and it was then that I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I was doing that which I had been born to do.

~~~~~~

After being on the road for five months, we had a three week break. It was then that Sarah and I got married. Every member of both of our families were in attendance along with a few friends that we were close to.

Sarah wanted get married on the ranch, so; her and her mother, Mallory, along with every single female member of my family, all got together and found the perfect place for us to hold the ceremony. The ceremony took place in a clearing that was about half an acre in length and three fourths of an acre in width, directly beneath a two hundred year old Live Oak Tree which happened to be located almost directly in the center of the clearing.

Because she was my only living grandparent, Grandma-Lucy spared no expense in preparing the clearing for our ceremony. She even had the ground beneath the oak tree cleared and leveled, and Uncle Jack built a small, beautiful platform for us to stand on with the minister while we spoke our vows to one another.

Dad saw to it that another fifty feet of brush was cleared from the back of the clearing in order to set up two large, air-conditioned changing tents that were powered by solar panels. See, I told you that my family was the best that a guy could ever want and/or have. The gown that Sarah wore had been passed down through her family from her great, great grandmother.

It was Victorian in its design and consisted of lots of lace, satin and linen and it looked absolutely beautiful on her. As opposed to wearing a traditional veil on her head, Sarah wore beautiful wreath made of holly, with baby's breath throughout the whole thing, along with her long blonde hair softly flowing over her shoulders and down her back. She looked so stunning that I felt my knees begin to buckle, and had Mark not been there as my best man to hold me up; I think that I would've certainly fallen to the ground...

~~~~~~

Sarah wanted not only the traditional vows spoken between us, but she also asked me if it was alright if we wrote our own set of vows to be spoken right after the traditional vows.

I had no problem whatsoever with her request, hence the reason I told her, "I never knew what love truly was until I saw you for the first time. God spoke to my heart which told me that you were the only woman I would ever love, Sarah. You are my heart, my life, my past, present, and future. I will love you, and no other, until I take my last breath," as happy tears rained down my face.

"I'm eternally bound to you, Michael," Sarah sweetly began, "It was your love, and your love alone that brought me out of the darkness and into the eternal light of what will always be our love. You are my husband and I am your wife, and before God, as well as our families and friends, I give you my solemn promise to love you, and no other, until our Lord takes me from this earth..."

~~~~~~

Because of the fact that my grandfather had fought in the Pacific Theater during World War Two, we were allowed to use the VFW Hall there in my home town to hold the wedding reception in. Everyone who attended the wedding were all at the reception and I was never more proud of my precious and beautiful Sarah than I was that day.

Sarah's maternal cousin, Natalie Torrance, was her maid of honor, who, she herself, was beautiful in her own right. She and Sarah shared the same hair and eye color, as well as the same figure, and could've almost passed for twin sisters as opposed to cousins.

Sarah and I had both turned twenty-three by this time, and being almost two years older, Natalie would be turning twenty-five in a matter of just a few days. Before Natalie drove down from Houston, Sarah told me that she'd broken up with her ex-boyfriend over a month ago due to the fact that she'd caught him cheating on her; and when the word got out that she was single, all of the single males in attendance asked her to dance at least once...all except for my cousin Mark that is.

However, what I thought was one of the most memorable moments of the whole ordeal was when, without any prodding on Natalie's part, she walked up to Mark and asked him to dance. The look on his face was priceless, because even though he was considered to be very handsome by every woman he'd ever encountered, my cousin was rather shy...almost painfully so at times.

What he didn't know was that Natalie almost flipped when she first met Mark at the wedding rehearsal. Sarah told me that her cousin thought that Mark was the most handsome guy that she'd ever met.

"What a nice thing to say," I smiled, when Sarah told me that bit of information, "Tell Natalie how much I appreciate what she said about my cousin."

"You can tell me yourself, handsome," Natalie giggled, as she appeared from behind me, "And I didn't say that Mark was the most handsome man I'd ever met. I said that he was most handsome single man I've ever met. My cousin is married to the most handsome man I've ever met," which immediately made my face turn beet red in embarrassment.

"Ooo, look at him blush, Sarah," Natalie teased "You're right, he really is adorable."

"Come on, you two," I good-naturedly complained, "You're embarrassing me."

"You're better get used to it, cutie," Natalie continued teasing me, "You're a member of our family now, too, buddy boy," as she and Sarah continued to giggle like a couple of school girls with a naughty secret.

"Leave him alone, Nat" Sarah girlishly giggled, "We just got married and I don't want to run him off."

"That's something you'll never have to worry about, my love," I gently told Sarah, "A team of wild horses couldn't pull me away from you."

"I love you, too, baby," Sarah softly smiled, leaning over and giving me a tender kiss on my lips.

But before I could reply, my new mother-in-law appeared beside me wearing a smile on her pretty face. Then she took my hand from Sarah's and asked, "Is there any chance that I could talk my very new, and very handsome son-in-law into dancing with me?"

"I would love to, Mallory," I gently smiled, taking her hand into mine, "Come with me, pretty lady..."

~~~~~~

As we walked toward the dance floor, the band began to play a song by John Conley called "Rose Colored Glasses," which is written in a ¾ time signature.

"Oh, my God; I love this song," Mallory excitedly smiled, "Do you know how to waltz, Michael?"

"I most certainly do," I grinned, pointing at my grandmother, "My grandmother taught me how to do all of the traditional dances when I was just a little fella."

"Well, then," Mallory coquettishly giggled, "Lead the way, handsome."

I could immediately tell that Mallory was an excellent dancer after only a few moments of dancing with her, hence the reason I stepped up the pace by leading her all over the dancefloor, twirling every other step. Of course Mallory kept right up and didn't miss a single step. I could tell that she was having a blast dancing, simply by the wide and delighful smile that was her face and remained there even after the song came to an end.

"My goodness," Mallory smiled, slightly out of breath, "You certainly know how to show a girl a good time."

"I try," I chuckled, "Thank you, Mallory, I really enjoyed dancing with you."

"Aw, you're more than welcome, honey," she sweetly replied, then she leaned over and kissed me on the cheek and told me, "Let's get you back over to Sarah so she won't think I'm trying to steal you away from her."

"I know that you're only teasing me," I replied smiling, "But there's nothing on this earth that will ever be able to take me away from Sarah. I want you to know that."

"I do know that, Michael honey," she softly smiled, "And that's why we all love you very much. You've put a smile back on my daughter's face again, and for that her father and I will forever be eternally grateful..."

~~~~~~

"It's about time you got your handsome self back over here with me," Sarah playfully pouted, "I miss you when you're not here."

"That's why I'll never leave you, my love," I replied tenderly kissing my new wife's lips, "Because I can't live without you either..."

~~~~~~

Sarah and I spent our first night together as man and wife in what used to be the Warwick Hotel in downtown Houston. Granted, the place is no longer there, but in its time, the Warwick was one of the few Five-Star hotels in the area. The splendid opulence of each and every single room and/or suite had seen the comings and goings of major stars and dignitaries from all over the world, and the bridal suite was well known for having every amenity known to man, not to mention that it had its own small indoor pool and hot tub.

"Oh, my God, Michael," Sarah gasped, after I carried her through the threshold and set her on the floor of the suite, "This suite is so beautiful. Thank you, baby."

"You're more than welcome," I softly told her, "But it's nowhere near as beautiful as you are, my love, and that's the God's honest truth..."

~~~~~~

We took each other's clothes off and then I led Sarah by the hand to the hot tub, the both of us slowly entering the one hundred degree water at the same time.

"Mmm," Sarah purred, rubbing the front of her naked body against mine, "This is making me horny, baby."

"That's a good thing then," I softly spoke, gently rubbing the palm of my hand back and forth across her beautifully naked ass, "Yes?"

"You know it is," Sarah groaned, slowly grinding her crotch firmly up and down my right thigh, "Oh, God; this feels fucking wonderful, baby."

"That's it," I erotically encouraged her as I whispered into her ear while kissing the underside of her throat, rolling and slightly pinching her nipples between the thumb and index finger of my left hand, "I want you to cum for me, my love."

"Uhng, this is so fucking hot, Michael," she deeply groaned, erotically humping and grinding her hot, wet crotch against my thigh, "Finger my pussy, baby, please do it now."

The moment my hand touched her outer labia, it almost felt like her pussy was hungrily sucking my middle finger into her vaginal entrance, eliciting a loud corporeal moan coming from somewhere deep within her. Less than a second later, I felt her hand on my cock, urging me to stand up and sit on the side of the hot tub.

Sarah wasted no time taking me into her mouth and on past her tonsils as I felt my cock slide right down her throat. As she began rapidly bobbing her head up and down on my rod it took only a few moments later until I felt the urge to cum beginning to rise up from within my balls.

"Sarah," I groaned "I'm gonna cum, baby."

In answer to me she held one hand against my stomach, encouraging me to remain seated, while she worked her head and mouth up and down my cock in perfect time with her other hand. It took only seconds after that until I was filling her mouth with my seed; and after every spurt of semen I released, I could feel her swallowing it in order to make room for the next one.

I tried my best to work my fingers in and out of her pussy but I was too far gone to be able to accomplish anything whatsoever at that point. And after fully cleaning my cock with her mouth, my beautiful Sarah stood up and pulled me into her arms as she sweetly kissed my lips. Of course I could taste myself on her tongue, but I didn't care because of the fully deep and passionate love I was feeling for my stunning wife.

"Wow, baby," I smiled, panting like I'd just run a marathon "That was intense."

"I'm glad you liked it," she mischievously giggled "That was the very first time I swallowed cum."

"I love you, Sarah," I told her, quickly pulling her body against mine, "I've always loved you from the first moment I saw you."

"I'm so happy that you did, baby," she purred, "And thank you for not giving up on me."

"Never," I quickly told her, moving so that her body was sitting where mine had just been, "Not in a millennium."

She knew what was coming when I lowered myself into the water, stopping only to spread her legs wide enough to place my mouth on her dripping pussy that sweetly reeked with her aroma. From that point on I ate her like I was starving, not stopping until she screamed my name in the passionate throes of her orgasm...

~~~~~~

After we were both showered and cleaned up, I ordered room service. Of course after the food arrived, we shed our clothes and lay together on the bed, feeding one another without a stitch on. God what a beautiful body Sarah has. Even now she could rival any model, any time, any place, but excuse me for getting a little ahead of myself...

~~~~~~

After we finished eating and our food had settled, Sarah looked at me with those beautifully hypnotic blue eyes of hers like she was staring into my soul. And knowing that she'd been able to do that since the moment I first saw her, I simply smiled, leaning in to kiss her soft lips.

"I never knew that loving someone would make me feel so complete, Michael," she tenderly smiled, "I still can't believe that you waited for me all those years while we were in college together," and then she looked at her hands and quietly said, "This is the very last time I'm going to say this and then you'll never hear me mention it again...I really don't deserve a man like you, but I'm so happy that you didn't give up on me."

"I could never give up on you, my love," I softly smiled, pulling her back into my arms, "I asked God to make you mine the very first night after I saw you that very first day of class."

"Now I know what it means when I was told that patience is a virtue," she happily grinned, "I hope you know that you'll never be able to get rid of me now."

"Good," I chuckled, "Because I'll never want to be rid of you either...never!"

~~~~~~

The next day I took Sarah to Hawaii for our honeymoon. Her Mom helped me find a place that was semi-secluded up on the North Shore of Oahu. We frolicked in the water together and Sarah went with me to surf the world famous Banzai Pipeline. Man; what a rush that was.

Sarah was so taken with watching me that we went to the shores of Waikiki where the waves weren't so dangerous and I taught Sarah how to surf. And after riding her first wave ashore with no assistance, she, too became enthralled with it almost as much as I was.

"Now I understand what it is you guys see in riding waves," she enthusiastically replied, on the way back to our cottage that afternoon, "It's almost spiritual, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is, my love," I smiled, my hand on her leg as I drove us, "Yes, it is..."

~~~~~~

THE NEXT DAY

We took a full tour of the Hawaiian Islands by helicopter that next morning, and were surfing the shore that afternoon after lunch. Of course we spent each evening making love until, exhausted, we fell asleep in one another's arms. The rest of the time we were there, we could be found surfing the incoming tide every morning together, and touring the Islands in the afternoons. However, every night we made love, and when the time arrived for us to return home, Sarah and I were talking about buying a home there in the islands to live in after Odyssey retired from the music industry...

~~~~~~

It's been said that almost nothing last forever, which rang true when the time came for David Worley to go to trial. I'd always had faith in the justice system and this day was no different. Once the jury brought in a verdict of guilty, Worley was sentenced to twenty-five years to life for what he'd tried to do to Sarah and me, in that he'd been charged with, and found guilty of, attempted murder.

Personally I thought that he'd gotten off rather easy, but because he'd been a model prisoner while awaiting his trial, as well as the fact that he was still young, and according to the judge, a prime candidate for corrective rehabilitation, David Worley was sent to a facility north of Dallas, Texas called the Collfield Unit. It's a place where violent offenders are sent to undergo what is referred to as psycho-sematic rehabilitation, along with the use and application of what are now called "Psychoactive Drugs".

What surprised us all was the fact that, right after he'd been sentenced, as well as with the judge's and D.A.'s permission, David Worley was allowed to stand up in court and apologize to not only me and Sarah, but also our families, for all of that he'd put us through. He openly admitted his role in what had occurred, accepting his fate. Last but not least, he hoped that after enough time had passed, we would be able to find it in our hearts to forgive him one day.