Page 81 of Nigel

"Finally,"he whispered as he took her lips in a gentle and soul-destroyingkiss.

"Wait for thehoneymoon." Someone called out. Laughter broke out and he endedthe kiss reluctantly, his face taut and hard with passion.

"We are leavingas soon as possible."

"Absolutely."She touched his face gently. "My darling husband."

*****

"You areglowing." Lionel murmured as he circled the paved area near thepool with her. The sumptuously delicious chocolate cake had been cutand their first dance as husband and wife had been dispensed with.Now her husband was dancing with the female members of her family.

"I should hopeso." She smiled dreamily; her face turned up towards the sun."My wedding day is perfect, with barely a cloud in the stunningblue of the sky and I am in love with my husband. And bonus! I ampregnant."

"I am happy foryou." He kissed her on the forehead. "Mama would have beenover the moon."

"She would havebeen." Her expression was sober. "That's the one bad momentin this wonderful day. She did not live to see her only daughter gethitched."

'She is somewherelooking down at us." He shifted uncomfortably. "What?"

"Look at you,sprouting BS."

"You believe ittoo."

"Perhaps."She kissed him on the lips. "I love you."

"What?"

"I know I neversay it enough, but I love and appreciate you. You can be a major painin the ass, but you are always there for me."

"I am yourbrother," he said gruffly. "Now you have a man who worshipsthe ground you walk on." His head lifted to stare at his newbrother-in-law. The man could scarcely take his eyes off his brideand he had a feeling he could not wait to get the honeymoon started.He wore his damn feelings on his forehead.

"He does,doesn't he?" She grinned at him.

"And speaking ofthe dear man. I think he is coming over to tell you that it is timeto go."

"I can hardlywait." She stepped out of her brother's arms and into herhusbands with obvious eagerness.

"Hi darling."

"We are ready tosay our goodbyes." He kissed her tenderly, ignoring theiraudience.

"Let's go andchange and get out of here. Our honeymoon awaits. You are still nottelling me where we are going?"

"It's asurprise." He cupped her face between his hands. "I adoreyou."

"The feeling ismutual. Let's get going."

Chapter 16

They toured Europe.That's the only way she could put it. Their first stop was in thesouth of France where he had told her before that he had a villa andthat was where it was brought home to her how much a man of means herhusband was.

He was not flashy,far from it, but quiet authority was stamped all over him and doorswere opened as soon as he spoke. Their next stop was in Italy wherehe visited some friends and she was introduced to several of hispowerful friends and their wives. Then they went on to Spain andtheir final stop being in Kent where he told her he had a flat.

They roamed thelovely countryside and took picnics in parks. He made love to herevery night and early in the morning, and on the last day of theirtwo week honeymoon they stayed in bed.

"We could comeback any time," he murmured as if reading her thoughts.

"Do you think wewill always be like this?"

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