Chapter 1: Wedding Night &

The night before his wedding, Ryan sat on the edge of his bed in athletic shorts and a T-shirt, his tall frame tense with nerves. Tomorrow, he would marry Madison, and the thought made his stomach flutter.

A knock sounded at the door.

His father stepped inside, closed the door behind him, and cleared his throat.

“Ryan, we need to talk about what happens after the ceremony.”

Ryan looked up. “After the ceremony? We take pictures at the church, then go to the reception.”

His father smiled. “No. I mean after the reception.”

“You’re not invited after the reception,” Ryan said with a grin. “Madison and I are going to our hotel room—alone.”

“That’s exactly what I want to talk about.”

Ryan’s grin disappeared. “What happens at the hotel?”

His father sat beside him. “I’m talking about intimacy, son. Marriage is about more than the wedding itself. You and Madison are beginning a life together, and part of that life will be learning how to be close to one another.”

Ryan nodded cautiously. “We agreed we don’t want children for a year or two.”

“That’s fine. Intimacy isn’t only about having children. It’s about affection, trust, communication, and making each other feel loved.”

Ryan thought about that. “So what am I supposed to do?”

“Listen to her. Pay attention to how she feels. Don’t rush. There’s no test you have to pass tomorrow night. First, make her want it. Start with slow, deep kisses. Tell her she’s beautiful—women never tire of hearing that.”

Ryan filed the advice away, surprised by how simple it sounded.

“Stroke her arms, her back. Undress her slowly while you keep kissing. When she’s breathing hard, touch her breasts, then between her legs. When she’s wet and her muscles twitch, she’s ready.”

Ryan pictured Madison beneath him, imagined her soft sounds, and felt his cock stir against his shorts. Ryan laughed nervously. “That makes me feel a little better.”

His father put a hand on his shoulder. “Lay her down, get between her thighs, and ease inside. Go slow the first time—it might sting for her. Hold her afterward. The most important thing is that you care about each other. Everything else, you’ll learn together.”

Next door, Madison sat with her mother in the living room. Her mother had been trying to find the right words for several minutes.

Finally, she handed Madison a worn, dog-eared copy of The Joy of Sex. “My mother gave me this when I married your father,” she said. “It helped me understand some things I was too embarrassed to ask about.”

Madison looked at the book, then at her mother. “Mom...”

“I know,” her mother said with a sheepish smile. “It’s awkward. But tomorrow you’re starting a new chapter of your life. I want you to know that you can always talk to me.”

Madison hugged her. “Thank you.”

Madison carried the book to her room, heart fluttering. She opened it on her lap and stared at the explicit drawings—bodies tangled, mouths open, hands gripping. A strange, warm ache bloomed low in her belly.

The following afternoon, the church filled with family and friends. Ryan stood at the altar in his rented tuxedo, his heart pounding. Then the music began. Madison appeared at the end of the aisle in her white gown, her veil drifting behind her.

For a moment, Ryan forgot everyone else was there. He saw only her.

When the minister pronounced them husband and wife, Ryan lifted her veil and kissed her softly. Applause swept through the church, but Ryan barely heard it.

They were married.

Hours later, they arrived at their hotel. Madison set her overnight bag beside the bed and turned toward him. “My mother gave me something,” she said.

Ryan raised an eyebrow. “Another wedding present?”

“Not exactly.” She held up the The Joy of Sex.

Ryan laughed. “My dad gave me a speech.”

“Mine gave me homework.”

They sat together on the edge of the bed, the book open between them. For a while, they simply talked—about the ceremony, their families, the reception, and how strange it felt to finally be married.