Had their drink finished so soon?
“Wait.” She rose as well, placing her empty glass next to his.
“Is there something else?”
Yes. No.
Yes.
“You’ve come all this way dressed like that just to leave?”
He stared at her blankly.
“Well?”
“What are you saying, love?” he asked gruffly. “I don’t want to misunderstand.”
“I’m saying you can sleep next to me, beneath your own bedding, of course.”
His glance turned skeptical. “Are you foxed?”
“From a spot of gin? No. Do I look foxed?” Foxed, no. Crazy... possibly.
“No, you look lovely as always.”
She smiled at him.
“Then... I shall go get my bedding.” He disappeared in a flash.
Lord Almighty.What did I just do?Her gaze turned to the bed. Big. Enough space for both of them.
No problem . . .
*
Will opened hiseyes to the vision of his wife’s sweet face. His gaze flickered over her long lashes. They were like feathery fans resting against her cheeks, casting delicate shadows on her pale skin. The lines of defiance that often filled her features were smoothed away in sleep, leaving behind an expression of innocence.
A rush of warmth and contentment washed over him as he took in her serene expression—one he hadn’t seen since they’d become betrothed.
Will traced the curve of her jawline with his fingertips, marveling at the softness beneath his touch.
Lord, he wanted to kiss her.
Her lips, slightly parted in slumber, held the promise of sweet whispered words and tempting kisses. The rosy hue of her cheeks hinted at the dreams that played in her mind, perhaps filled, if he was arrogant enough to believe it, with him.
Perhaps I can become a poet after all.
As always, the beauty that radiated from her entranced him, especially in the simplicity of waking up beside her.
A sense of awe settled within him.
This woman, his wife, held his heart in the palm of her hand. She was not even aware of her power. Though Will was sure she, with her sharp wit, would soon realize he was wrapped around her every word.
Her presence in his house, his life, had brought light that had been missing for years. Even if she never gave up her heart, there was simply nothing better than spending a day by her side. This woman completed him in ways he had never thought possible.
Will brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, reveling in the soft touch against his fingertips. He drank in the sight of her, committing it to memory. Given her unpredictability, he was not guaranteed a spot beside her again tonight. He found it ratherremarkable that she had allowed him to stay at all. This could be considered a giant leap in the right direction.
One’s heart isn’t made of one compartment.
