Page 113 of Wilder at Heart
He’s right. Usually, I hate surprises. And the thought of someone else deciding my future for me should, in theory, leave me cold.
But everything this man has done is to show me it’s okay for me to love him.
It’s safe.
I can love him, and be happy with him, and he’ll take care of me. He’ll always have my desires in front of mind. My dreams. And holy hell, has he delivered. He’s bought us a house so far beyond what I dreamed of that I’m reeling. He’s peered into the most romantic, idealistic recesses of my mind and conjured up a magical future for us. And the prospect he’s painted is almost too much.
Because he’s telling me I don’t have to choose. Between the danger, the excitement, that I’ve grown to love about him, and my deep-rooted need for a future that’s as stable as my past was unstable.
He’s asking me to trust that he’s the man to provide it all. That hewantsto be that man.
‘Look at me, Theo.’ I slide my hand around his neck, my thumb dragging over the short hairs of that beard I adore somuch. ‘I love you. Even without all this, no one else can make me happy but you. And with all this?’ I raise my eyebrows at him. ‘It’s going to be a hell of a ride.’
CHAPTER 42
Theo
I’m not sure how we make it through the rehearsal, and the dinner, because I can’t focus on anything except how badly I need to get Nora naked and onto a bed.
To be inside her.
Scratch that.
To be able to tell her I love her while I’m actually moving inside her.
That’swhat I need
Everything goes smoothly. Of course it does. Nora’s at the helm. We rehearse the ceremony in the Walled Garden, which is partially set up, though apparently the flower arrangements are happening tomorrow morning. At five o’clock, which is the exact time we’ll kick off tomorrow, I stand next to my brother, and we watch as Saoirse walks up the aisle on her dad’s arm. He’s fit to burst, and she’s a total knockout in a slinky red dress.
The woman who’s brought Miles Montague to his knees.
Who knew it would be a beautiful, sweet-natured girl from Ireland?
But as it all unfolds, I have eyes for no one else but Nora. She’s discreet but in control: the puppet master who ensures everything. She instructs little Bea on how to toss rose petalsfrom her basket. She politely but firmly escorts a couple of the guests who’ve arrived today but aren’t part of the wedding party out of the Walled Garden. And she and Siobhan Quinn huddle and gesture at the currently bare wooden structure under which Miles and Saoirse will say their vows. Saoirse’s squinting a little in the sun, so I assume they’re discussing how to build out the foliage and provide the necessary shade.
Her work continues at the dinner as she straddles the weird dual role of being the wedding planner and the girlfriend of the best man, but eventually the meal draws to a close, thank fuck.
‘You should get some sleep, young lady.’ Nora pokes Saoirse in the arm in an attempt to distract her from nuzzling her fiancé’s neck at the table. ‘Miles, have some decency and let your bride-to-be get some rest.’
‘You staying away from your beloved tonight?’ I ask my brother, and he grimaces, his fingers stroking Saoirse’s bare shoulder. ‘Yeah. I’ve been relegated to one of the courtyard rooms with Bea.’
‘Sucker.’ I feel a perverse pleasure that I’m going to get laid tonight and my brother isn’t. ‘Come on, sweetheart. You’re dead on your feet. Let’s get you to bed.’ I shoot my girlfriend an evil grin because she won’t be sleeping anytime soon.
I followNora’s gorgeous little ass up the narrow stairs of our cottage. She’s been silent on the short walk across the resort to the pretty row of houses, her head resting on my shoulder as I hold her tightly against my side. But as soon as we get up to our room, she folds into me and slides her hands down my chest.
‘Theo,’ she moans, and I laugh-groan with her.
‘I know, baby. I know. Need you so fucking badly.’
‘I thought dinner would never end.’ She kisses me hungrily, and I yield. Melt into her straight away, my arms binding her as tightly to me as I can.
This is no time for tricks or moves or testing her limits. It’s sacred: the first time I’ve been inside the woman I love since we’ve both admitted our feelings for each other.
This is about our emotional connection even more than our physical one.
About paying homage to what’s coming, as well as to how far we’ve come.
That said, come on.
