Page 67 of Evan

Evan made his way through the throng of people who insisted on stopping him every few minutes to offer words of encouragement.

He was impatient to be with his new bride. Hundreds of pictures had been snapped, they had cut the towering pink champagne cake and danced their first dance as a couple and afterwards, had been separated for what to him seemed like ages. He was impatient to get back to her.

And it appears that they were of the same mind. His smile bloomed when he saw her extricating herself from the women demanding her attention and came towards him.

“Hi, wife.”

“Hi, husband,” she whispered huskily. “I missed you.”

“You read my mind.” He linked his hand with hers. “How soon can we leave?”

She stepped into his arms, her hands going around his neck. She had taken off the added layer of tulle and her dress was now a simple gown without frills. “How about a few minutes from now? I will let pastor know that we are out of here.”

“Sounds good.” He gazed down at her, love and adoration shining in his eyes. “Have I told you how much I love being married to you?”

She tilted her head to one side. “I believe you have. But I love to hear it.”

“I love being married to you.” He told her huskily. “And I want to be alone with my wife.”

“Say it again,” she whispered.

“My wife. I will be saying it every single day until you tire of it.”

“Not a chance,” she vowed.

*****

He cradled her in his arms and waited for the storm to abate. A smile touched his lips, and he felt as if he was on top of a very high mountain looking down on lesser mortals. His bride had been shy and hesitant at first, until he had coaxed her into a frame of mind that had sent the passion raging through their bodies.

She was lying flushed against him, her arms wrapped around his body, her head resting on his damp chest.

“I was afraid of disappointing you.”

He knew she wasn’t asleep, because she had stirred several times in the last few minutes. She should be exhausted; he had been hungry and needy.

“How could you possibly think that?” He shifted so that he could look at her exquisite face. What he saw there made his heart swell, his body quickening.

Her dark brown eyes were limpid and sparkled with passion. Her hair loosened from the intricate braid tumbled artlessly around her face and her lips… He was having a difficult time describing the texture.

“You know why.” She lowered her long lashes shyly. He was intrigued and awestruck by her. She was an innocent; he would be the only man for her and that humbled him. And yet shewas so filled with wisdom, he could scarcely believe she was this young.

Tilting her face up, he smiled at her indulgently. “Fishing for compliments my love?” He teased her.

“Maybe.” She smiled at him lovingly. “I was anxious to please.”

“You did just that and more.” He felt his heart racing as he thought back to the last hour. “So much more. In case you did not realize it, I was worshipping your body.”

Her hand crept over his chest, loving the feel of his dense chest hairs. “I noticed. I want babies.”

“We are off to a very good start.” He chuckled. “But I want the chance to spend some time getting to know my wife.”

In answer to that, she snuggled closer to him and in a few minutes, they were no longer talking.

*****

“Think you have enough pictures?” He was vastly amused and indulgent as he stared at her animated face. They were on the fifth day of their two-week honeymoon and so far, they had been to London, where he had a flat.

Rome where she fell in love with the architecture, museums, churches and stores and protested when he bought her so many things, they had to be shipped home. In Venice, they explored the area on gondolas, with her trying to learn Italian. He took her to Pompeii and Tuscany where the company had invested in a very lucrative vineyard.

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