Page 70 of The Playboy and the Widow
Her pastor’s words echoed through the church. When he asked her if she would take Cliff as her lawfully wedded husband, she opened her mouth to say in an even, controlled voice that she would. However, she wasn’t given the chance.
Joan spoke first. “She does.”
Katie chimed in. “We all do.”
Fourteen
So much for the small, intimate wedding party, Cliff thought good-naturedly several hours later. Everywhere he looked, there were family and friends pressed around him and Diana, shaking his hand, kissing Diana’s cheek and offering words of congratulations. Each wished to share in their day and their happiness, and Cliff was pleased to let them. If it wasn’t their guests pressing in around them, then it was Joan and Katie. The two popped up all over the hall, jostling gaily around the room like court jesters. Every now and again Cliff captured Diana’s gaze, and the aching gentleness he saw in her eyes tore at his soul. Beyond a doubt, he knew that she was just as eager to escape as he was.
Other than their meeting in the church, Diana hadn’t had more than a moment to talk to this man who was now her husband. They stood beside each other in the long reception line and were so busy greeting those they loved that there wasn’t an opportunity to speak to each other.
When there was a small break in the line of relations and friends, Cliff leaned close and whispered in her ear, but she scarcely recognized his voice. His aching whisper was filled with raw emotion. “I adore you, Mrs. Howard.”
Her eyes flew to his as the shattering tenderness of his words enveloped her. So many things were stored in her heart, so much love she longed to share. Because she couldn’t say everything she wanted to, Diana moved closer to Cliff’s side. Very lightly she pressed her hip against his. Cliff slipped his hand around her waist, drawing her nearer and tighter to him. For the moment at least, they were both content.
Hours later they arrived at the hotel room, exhausted but excited. A bottle of the finest French champagne, a gift from Cliff’s brother, awaited them, resting in a bed of crushed ice.
Cliff gave the champagne no more than a fleeting glance. He wasn’t interested in drinking—the only thing he wanted was his wife. He wrapped his arms around Diana and kissed her hungrily, the way he’d been fantasizing about doing all afternoon. He was starving for her, famished, ravished by his need.
Diana eagerly met his warm lips, twining her arms around his neck and tangling her fingers in the thick softness of his dark hair. She luxuriated in the secure feel of his arms, holding her so close she could barely breathe. She smiled up at him dreamily and sighed.
“I didn’t think we were ever going to be alone,” she whispered, her voice shaky with desire. Pausing, she pressed her face against the side of his strong neck.
“Me, either.” His voice wasn’t any more controlled than hers. His gaze fell on the bed, and the desire to make love with Diana wrapped itself around him like a fisherman’s net, trapping him. He didn’t want to rush Diana—he’d hoped their lovemaking would happen naturally. It was only late afternoon. They should have a drink and a leisurely dinner first, but Cliff doubted that he could make it through the first course. “Shall we have a drink?” he asked, easing her from his arms. Over and over again, he silently told himself to be patient, to go slow. There was no reason to rush into this when they had all the time in the world.
“I don’t want any champagne,” Diana answered in a husky whisper.
“You don’t?”
Smiling, she shook her head. “I wantyou.Now. Don’t make me wait any longer.”
Cliff’s knees went weak with relief, and he turned to face her. His heart pounded like a giant jackhammer in his chest.
“Oh, Cliff,” she murmured, holding out her arms in silent invitation. “I don’t think I can wait a minute more. I love you so much.”
His eyes glowed with the fire of his passion as he reached for her. He kissed her once, twice, hardly giving her a chance to breathe. Their bodies strained against each other, needing and giving more.
Wildly Diana returned his kisses, on fire for her husband, desiring him in a way that went beyond physical passion.
In response to Diana, Cliff wrapped his arms around her, bringing her close to him so she would know beyond a doubt how much he longed to make her his. Somehow, while still kissing, they started to undress each other. Deftly Diana loosened his necktie, rid him of his suit jacket and unfastened the buttons of his shirt. When she splayed her hands over his bare chest, she sighed and reveled in the firm, hard feel of him.
With some difficulty, Cliff located the zipper in the back of Diana’s dress and fumbled with it. Diana sighed into his mouth and reluctantly tore her lips from his. She whirled around, sweeping up the hair at the base of her neck to assist him and resisted the urge to stamp her foot and demand that he please hurry.
Their clothes were carelessly tossed around the room one piece at a time. By the time they’d finished, Diana was breathless and weak with anticipation. She’d thought to hide her imperfect body from Cliff, eager to climb between the sheets and hide, but he wouldn’t allow it.
Cliff broke away long enough to study Diana. His sharp features, hardened now with excitement, softened with indescribable tenderness. Just looking at her made the breath catch in his throat and the blood surge through his veins in a violent rush. His senses were filled with the sight of her as his eyes swept her body in one long, passionate caress. His breath was labored when he spoke. “You’re so beautiful.”
“Oh, Cliff.” Tears pooled in her eyes. Her body carried the marks of childbirth, but her husband saw none of her flaws. He viewed her with such a gentle love that he was blinded to her imperfections. Her heart constricted with emotion, and Diana was certain she couldn’t have loved Cliff Howard more than she did at that precise moment.
His self-control was cracking, Cliff realized as he pulled back the sheets from the king-size bed and tossed the pillows aside. He wanted Diana so much his breath came quickly, no matter how hard he tried to slow it, and his heart beat high in his throat. He kissed Diana again and pressed her back against the mattress. After the lovemaking their arms and legs remained tangled as they lay on their sides facing one another. Cliff was trapped in the web of overpowering sensation. He saw her tears and felt his chest tighten with such a tender love that he could have died at the moment and not suffered a regret. Everything in his life until this one moment seemed shallow and worthless. The love he shared with Diana was the only important thing there would ever be for him. He’d found more than a wife; he’d found his life’s purpose, his home.
Murmuring her love, Diana slipped her arms around his neck and pulled his head to hers. Her kiss was full, holding back nothing. Again and again Cliff kissed her. They were soft, nibbling kisses; the urgency of their lovemaking had been removed. They both slept and woke late in the evening. While Diana soaked in a hot bathtub, Cliff ordered their dinner from room service. Her stomach growled as the smell of their meal wafted into the large pink bathroom. She was preparing to climb out of the water, when Cliff came to her, holding a fat, succulent shrimp.
“Hungry?” he asked.
Diana nodded eagerly. It’d been hours since she’d last eaten—morning, to be exact—and at the time she’d been too excited to down anything more than a glass of orange juice.
“Good.” He plopped the shrimp in his mouth and greedily licked the sauce from the ends of his fingers. Darting a glance in her direction, he laughed aloud at her look of righteous indignation.
