by L M Allen
“Okay.” I nod firmly. It’s done. She gasps and jumps back, searching my face. I reach out and swipe my thumbs over her cheeks.
“What about me?” I close my eyes as Gary’s voice fills my ears. I feel it when Bells steps away from me. And I peek through scrunched-up slits and watch Gary’s boots step in closer. “Do you hate me?”
The words stick in my throat and I turn my face away, the last time I saw him alone flashing through my head. But it’s not Gary running at me as I relive it in my memory. It’s Dan. And I get it. It’s suddenly all so clear. I’m blaming him for what Dan did. Holding Gary responsible for his brother’s crimes, because he reminded me of them so harshly. Because, in my head, it was Dan coming at me with that look in his eyes. Not my friend. Not my substitute big brother. Not a man who was terrified of losing his pregnant wife, but a man who almost killed his.
His hands rest lightly on my shoulders, and I flinch. I hear his breath catch as he gets it too. The weight of his touch lifts for just a fraction of a second, then his fingers clamp down as he steps in, chest to chest. His chin rests on my head as his arms enfold me. “I’m sorry, sweets. I don’t know what else I can say.” I stand, tense and frozen for several seconds, until the reality wins over the fiction. My arms lift around his back, and he squeezes me tighter as my breath judders through my lungs.
When Gary releases me, it’s straight into my mum’s arms. He doesn’t give me a choice about it. But I don’t object. I just want it all over now. I want to put it behind us and move forward.
‘First rule of survival: Keep moving forward, Evie. Don’t stop. No matter how hard, or how pointless it seems. Adapt or die.’
I know, Daddy. I know.
When I spot Will, watching from a distance, our eyes lock and I have no doubt about which direction forward is. A slow smile lights up his face and he walks over, leaving Scott at the coffee bar.
Mum hears Will approach and steps aside. He takes my waist, searching my face. “Do you know what an amazing woman you are, Eva Adams?” I breathe out a soft laugh. “Will you marry me?” A smile runs over my lips.
“Yes.” Will arches an eyebrow.
“Yes? Are you sure?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.” I push up on tiptoes to kiss him lightly. Will nods, a wide grin on his face, and Bells takes my arm.
“Come with me.” Her hand slides down to mine and squeezes tight.
I follow Bells upstairs to a suite (not Will’s) and walk inside when she holds open the door. My eyes move around the room.
“It’s beautiful.” The space is full of flowers and candles. There are pictures on the walls of Will and me. The girls. Our friends and family. Bells ushers me into the bathroom. The clawfoot tub is filled with steaming, aromatic water—jasmine if I’m not mistaken. Rose petals are floating amongst the many candles reflected on the surface. A long, thin glass is standing on the windowsill between tall pillar candles and orchids.
“Wow.”
“Get in. But don’t be too long.” Bells flashes me a grin, as I turn confused eyes on her, and shuts the door.
Well...it’d be rude not to.
I walk a step over to the windowsill, take the glass stem in my fingers and sniff.
Smells like elderflower. I take a cautious sip. Tastes like elderflower. Yum!
After thirty minutes or so luxuriating in the bath, I emerge into the bedroom, wrapped in a fluffy bathrobe. “Sit,” Bells commands as my mum enters and hands me another glass of sparkling elderflower.
“Okay...? Thanks.” I take the glass and perch on the dressing table stool. “What is wrong with you two?” I giggle as Mum whips out a hairdryer, and Bells produces a makeup bag.
After another half an hour, I’m declared done. I glance in the mirror. My hair is a cascade of loose curls with two thin plaits threaded, tiny jewels keeping those annoying front bits back from my face. My makeup is barely there, subtle, just how I like it.
Bells appears behind me in the mirror with a padded hanger. My gaze drops over the simple, cream-coloured dress with silver bands of jewelled details that it’s supporting. “That’s beautiful.” I turn to look at the gown properly, my hands running over the silky material.
“Let’s get it on you.”
“Me? I thought it was yours.”
“No. That’s mine.” She jerks her head to another hanger on the outside of the wardrobe door.
I stand and pluck the dress from her hands. There’s a bag on the back. I take a peek inside. Underwear. “I don’t understand? Are we going somewhere?”
“A celebration is in order,” Mum says, running her fingers lightly through my hair. “We’ve all been through a lot.” I draw a breath and nod. She’s right. It’s been pretty tough. A good ol’ time is needed by all.
Bells rushes in as I’m positioning the straps of the dress on my shoulders. It feels like heaven against my skin. The satin slides across my body, skimming over each curve like a caress. “You look beautiful,” she half sobs, tears in her eyes.
“Thank you. So do you.” Bells’s dress is floor-length and deep plum in colour, but similar in style. “Shall we go celebrate?” She nods and runs to the mirror to carefully wipe her eyes, then flashes me a brilliant smile. She reaches out for my hand and we leave the suite, heading for the stairs, which have been filled with lighted candles down the edges in our absence.
Davey is waiting at the bottom in full uniform. He turns when he hears us, his eyes watching us descend. “You look beautiful, Blue.” I’m feeling suddenly emotional as I take his elbow when he offers it to me. He leads me through Escape towards the French windows, soft, mesmerising music floating all around us.
The girls are waiting just inside the doors with Mary. They squeal when they see us, and run. I crouch down to hug them. They’re all ready to party too. “I love your dresses, girls.” I smile my thanks at Mary, who must have gotten them changed and ready.
“Let’s go, Muma!” Summer squeals, breaking away from me and running to grab Mae’s hand.
“Go where, sweet pea?” I ask her as I stand and brush my dress straight with my hands.
“We’re gwetting mawwied!”
“We’re...?” Davey reaches for my hand and threads it through his elbow, after he offers me a trailing bouquet of white, cream, and the palest yellow flowers.
“If you want to?” His steady eyes search my bewildered ones. I glance down at the dress, and over at Bells and the girls. The flowers in our hands. This is my wedding?
My eyes move from face to face, as it slowly sinks in. This is my wedding? I wait for a second, to feel panicked or unsure, but all I feel is...happy.
I nod, and Bells’s fingers close around the two little hands already searching for hers. Davey produces a ring from his pocket. I know it instantly. “Dad’s ring?” I take it from his fingers and turn it around in my palm.
“You don’t have to keep it as Will’s wedding ring if you don’t want to. It’s just so that you can give him a ring too.”
“Thank you,” I tell him quietly.
Davey slips it back into his pocket, and we follow the girls out.
I see Will, waiting at the end of a flower-lined aisle. I can’t help glancing at all the people watching my progress. I see Nikki; she’s focused on Davey. I glance at him and he shakes his head, ever so slightly.
Will turns in my direction when Scott says something in his ear. Our eyes lock, and I float towards him. Until three uniforms block the aisle, their faces hard. Battle ready. “It’s not too late to do a runner, Evie. I can take him.” Sid smirks.
I smile softly and kiss each cheek. They all stand aside, one by one, and Davey delivers me to Will.
“Can I trust you to protect her?” Davey’s voice has dropped to that growly, ‘don’t fuck with me, pal’ tone I know so well. “Believe me when I tell you she’s hard work.”
Will gazes steadily back at him. “I’ll protect her from anything.” Davey stares at him hard for a
few more seconds, and then nods once. He kisses my cheek and takes my hand from his elbow and places it in Will’s. I gaze up at Will, his face shining, his eyes full of love, and I know I’ve found my forever.
We turn back around and face the room full of family and friends, and Will pulls me into his arms. He looks deep into my eyes before his lips touch mine with a sweet tenderness I’ve never felt before. Tears flood my closed eyes and escape down my cheeks. When he steps back, he has the soft glow of happiness illuminating his whole face. I’m sure I do too. “Let’s go and celebrate, Mrs Hunter.”
***
My feet hurt from dancing. My face hurts from smiling. My arms hurt from hugging. And I’ve never been happier, standing in the centre of an off-duty squad of special ops and honeytraps. Even if I can still see white lights every time I blink from all the bloody photos.
“May I have this dance, Mrs Hunter?” I take a deep breath. Mint, citrus and champagne. My man. My husband. Husband! I turn to face him; his eyes are shining like a sunny day in the mid-Atlantic.
“You can have anything you want.” Sid coughs on his drink. I narrow my eyes at him. Will smirks.
“I look forward to collecting on that later. But for now, I’ll settle for a slow dance with my wife.” Will takes my left hand, looks deep into my eyes and kisses my wedding ring before leading me off to the dance floor.
“Good day, baby?” Will murmurs softly, his fingertips brushing my hair away from my face, as I sway in his arms.
“The best. Thank you.”
“Thank you, Eva. Your forgiveness was so much more than I deserved. Your hand in marriage...I don’t think I’ll ever stop trying to prove to you that you didn’t make a mistake in marrying me.”
My heart aches for this man. This man, who has lived with abandonment his whole life, traded on deception for his whole career. Until now. And it’s so clear he’s trying to find his way as much as I am. “There is nothing in this world that could ever make me doubt marrying you was the best decision I ever made.”
His knuckles graze down the sides of my face, and he leans in, his lips so soft on mine. I stifle a yawn.
“Are you tired?”
“Hmm.” I shrug.
“Just give me ten more minutes, baby. And then I’m taking you to bed.” The corner of my mouth lifts in a smirk. “I thought you said you were tired.” Will laughs.
“I said no such thing.” I’m certainly not anymore.
“Come.” He takes my hand and gets the attention of one of the waitstaff. He says something I can’t hear, my hand clasped in his, and leads me towards the front doors.
Within seconds, a shawl is draped over my shoulders. I glance back, and Bells is smiling at me. “It might get chilly.” She shrugs and winks at Will, who only chuckles and continues to lead me away.
When we, and all our guests, are assembled in the grounds, Will turns me around, his hands on my shoulder. “Watch.”
I gasp as the sky bursts to life, in every colour imaginable. Will side-steps, standing behind me. His hands slide down my arms and settle over mine on my belly, as his chin rests on my shoulder. I’m mesmerised. Colours burst, and stars cascade through the night sky above our heads, reflecting in the lake.
Even after the bangs, claps and whistles fizzle and die, I stay still, wrapped in Will’s arms. Safe and loved. It takes a moment to realise that we’re alone. Everyone has melted away into the night.
“How about one last dance before bed?” Will asks and kisses the hollow below my ear.
“Yes, please.” I turn to face him and remove my shawl. “Just a sec.” I hold onto his shoulder and flick off one shoe and then the other. Oh my God. That is so much better already. But the cool, soft grass on my bare feet is blissful as we sway and move across it, surrounded by candle-lit lanterns and miles of fairy lights. I follow Will’s every step, my body pressed to his, until thunder rumbles over our heads. We both glance up at the sky as fat raindrops start to fall, first in a pitter-patter before gradually increasing to a relentless downpour. I smile through the rain at my man, and he sweeps me up into ballroom bliss.
When we run back inside, both soaked to the skin, we draw every pair of eyes. I fold my arms over my chest and make a dash for the stairs, Will right behind me. “Good night!” we both call, giggling madly as we run and wave.
“Oh my God, I left my...shoes.” Will throws them at the foot of the bed. And the shawl on top of it. “Thank you.”
He smiles softly, prowling towards me like a caged predator. I swallow hard. My lips part, and my eyes drop to his, and that sexy come-hither thing he has going on. He stands just in front of me and runs his thumbs down my arms, across the goose bumps. “Let’s get warm.”
He leads me to the bathroom and flips on the shower. When he turns back to me, his eyes are heated, despite how cold he must be. He holds out a hand, and I place mine in his. He leads me to the shower, both of us fully clothed.
He slips a finger under each dress strap and gasps as he releases them, and the dress, heavy with water, pools around my feet.
I stand still and let him look. It’s not something I’m used to. But the way he’s looking at me it’s...as if I’m sacred. His fingers move to the buttons on his shirt, and my eyes follow each twitch as he frees them, one by one. The sopping material is hanging open and dripping down his thighs. He unfastens the cufflinks, and they clatter to the floor. He waits for my eyes to find his before he pushes the shirt over his shoulders.
I gasp, my hand flying to my mouth. I can feel Will watching my face as my gaze moves across his chest again and again. I reach out my hand tentatively, my fingertips inching forward to brush the red skin and raised turquoise ink.
“Is that...permanent?” He catches my hand and kisses my fingers.
“For life.” My eyes drop back to the thick, cursive text. “Your name, signed across my heart.” His hands move to my hair as I gaze up at him. “My wild thing.”
“When did you...?”
“This morning.”
“Oh!”
“Do you like it?”
“I love it.” I smile softly and peck his lips. “I love you.” I kiss him again. “But...It’s my writing...?”
“Yeah, the guy did it from the picture you took in the woods.” I reach down and undo his trousers. I push them lower, along with his boxers, and he steps out.
“It’s almost a shame to take your underwear off,” Will says, stepping back a bit, his eyes flitting over my body. Then he reaches around and unclasps the bra. “Almost.”
When we’re both more than warm, panting and desperate for each other, Will flips the handle up and turns off the spray. He offers me a heated towel. Then another for my hair. “We’re not consummating our marriage in the shower.”
I don’t care where it happens as long as it’s now. But I step out of the shower and into the bedroom.
He takes my towel and slowly passes it over my skin, soaking up every drop of water. He looks at my face, kneeling in front of me as he dries my calves, before he springs to his feet and lifts me off mine, swinging my body into his arms. And then he lays me down in bed.
He stretches out beside me, his fingertips swirling in maddening circles over my hypersensitive skin until I’m whimpering and writhing, grabbing at his hair and demanding more.
“You want me, wife?”
“Yes!” My mouth seeks his and I feel his smile as I try to move his body over mine.
“You’ve got me, baby. I’m yours.”
“Will!” He moves over me, his weight like a comfort blanket, and slides inside me, slow and smooth. I groan with the fullness at last, my head tipping back, my spine arching. He stills.
“Eva. I want you so badly, baby.” I look deep in his eyes while they search mine.
“I’m yours. You’ve got me. For life.” He growls and lowers his head, sealing our mouths and begins to move in a mind-blowing, body-bending rhythm that melts my brain right out of my head.
I’m just se
nsation and nerve endings. Hormones and shattered breath. This is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. I have no control over my fingernails as they rake his back. My hips, as they move and grind with his. My legs, as they lock around his waist. The screams, as they rip from my throat.
He doesn’t stop. It’s like an express train to nirvana. I don’t know how I got on top. But I sit up straight and grind us both into a frenzy, until I’m flat on my back again, his mouth at my breast and orgasms coming at me like traffic on the motorway. In the fast lane.
My body judders and shakes as he pounds every last tiny ounce of pleasure from me and then he groans, his head dropping to my chest, his arms shaking as his hips thrust one last time and he stills. His muscles are twitching. His breathing harsh. And he rolls off me, snags an arm around my midsection, and buries his face in my hair. “Wow,” he pants. I can hear he’s chasing oxygen too.
“Yeah. Wow.”
***
“Good morning, hubby.” I grin as I watch Will’s eyes slowly blink open.
“Morning, wife.” He reaches for me, and I snuggle under his outstretched arm. “Breakfast?” he asks, rubbing his eyes.
“I thought you’d never ask.” I catch Will’s pulled-together brows, before I disappear under the sheets and he makes a garbled sound, his torso and legs lifting a few inches and falling back down flat with a jerk and a groan as I take him in my mouth.
After spending a few more hours consummating our marriage, Will and I emerge into the dining room in need of food.
“Morning.” Will greets anyone who will listen with a warm smile. He pulls out my chair for me and I sit, watching him walk around the table and take his own seat.
“Our flight is at two,” Will informs me.
“Flight?”
“You didn’t think I’d forgotten a honeymoon, did you?”
“I...hadn’t even thought about it.” We haven’t been home that long. “Where are we going?”
“To Mexico. But at some point, you need to see our Paris and Rome hotels too.” Our? Will nods slowly as though he can read my mind. “Yes, Mrs Hunter. What’s mine is yours.”