The Lover's Children novel Chapter 25

KIRSTIE

“Kirstie, you’re strangling me.”

Indeed, my new husband is quite pink around the face and I release my hold on his tie.

“Thank you.” But he’s laughing. “Where did you acquire your cavewoman skills?”

“Just taking my caveman into my cave lair.” And I’m laughing too.

He takes me by the shoulders, kisses my forehead. “You’re okay? Really okay?”

“Yes, really okay. How about you?”

He grimaces, scratching at the back of his head. “Richard had a point. No-one’s going to forget this wedding.” He stands back, looks me down. “‘Fraid the dress is a bit of a disaster zone.”

“Hmmm, yes, but I think that’s the end of my aspirations to meringue-hood.”

“Less of a meringue. More of an Eton Mess. Come on, let’s get you out of it. I have an urge to get my new wife naked.” He fiddles with the ties at the back of the corset, loosening them. I sway back and forth as he tugs them loose, then free.

“Sorry this is taking a while. The cord’s got splashed with pine resin somehow. It’s all knotted together.”

“Cut through them.”

“You sure of that? The dress…”

“I’m sure.”

“If you say so. Um…” He casts around… “Ah, yes. Letter knife.”

I hear him puffing air behind me as he struggles with the inadequate knife to free me from the corset. “You know, there was a time when, after the wedding, the friends of the bride would undress her and get her into bed and waiting for the husband. And his friends would get him ready for her. I could never understand why. But I’m beginning to now… Hah!”

The corset abruptly loosens, then falls away. I step out from the massed skirts and petticoats.

Ryan tilts his head. “There’s suddenly a lot less of you.” He moves close, his hands on my waist, reeling me in. “You know, when I saw you coming up the aisle in that dress, part of me was bursting with pride. But…” His eyes twinkle… “… another part of me was planning to bend you over the bed and fuck you wearing it. Then to shoehorn you out of it. Then tie you to the bed with the cords and fuck you again, spreadeagled.”

I snuggle into him. “On another occasion maybe. How about that bath?”

*****

The bath is already half-filled, brimming with foam. A battalion of bottles of oils and scents cluster on the side. Champagne sits on ice, set on a silver tray with a single rose and foiled chocolates. Candles light the room. Soft music plays from somewhere.

Pressing my fingers to my mouth. “Oh, Wow…”

Ryan clicks his tongue. “They did a lot in a hurry.”

“That's what friends are for, I suppose.” I pick up a bottle and sniff - rose oil - then hold it to Ryan’s nose.

“Hmmm. Nice. Use some if you like. What friends are for? Yes, I'm hearing that phrase a lot today.” He pops the cork, fills the two flutes with foam, waits a few seconds, then tops up until we have two glasses of primrose pale champagne.

I tip half the bottle of oil into the bath, swish the water around then turn on the hot tap again.

“Don’t make that water too hot.” Ryan waggles his eyebrows at me. “I have plans.”

I waggle back. “All the ingredients for a party all of our own.”

His grin fades, his eyes gleaming dark. Setting the glasses on the tiled edge of the bath, he moves close. His hands resting on the flare of my waist to hip, his lips brush over mine.

He pulls back, his eyes locking with mine. “Thank you for marrying me. Thank you for today, even if it hasn’t been quite what we intended.”

“What we intended was that by the end of the day, you and I would be Mr and Mrs Dougherty. Look, we’re only partway through, and we’re already there.”

His voice is rough, but his eyes dance. “So we are.” His hands slide around me, tugging me in closer, pulling me in tighter. One slips up my spine, cupping the back of my head as he presses his mouth to mine, this time forcing me open. Giving his kiss. Taking mine. Pure passion. Pure heat.