‘And now the vows,’ Father O’Malley said, pulling Eva out of her fantasy.
‘What?’ She gasped. ‘But I don’t have any prepared. I didn’t know.’
‘You don’t need anything written here,’ Father O’Malley said turning around the paper he’d been reading from. ‘They’re all written here.’ He placed his hand over his heart. ‘Julian. Would you like to go first?’
Julian’s delicious smirk told Eva that maybe his mind had been wandering to the same places as hers and she couldn’t wait for later.
Julian took a deep breath and his dark, delectable eyes locked on hers.
‘Libertas supra omnia. It means freedom above all.’ Julian paused, and Eva’s heart was racing so loudly she was actually worried it would be heard.
Julian scratched his head, and he actually looked awkward. It was adorable and Eva loved him even more for it.
‘I very rarely have trouble with words. But right now, finding a way to say how much I love you, Evangeline…words fail me. Libertas. Supra. Omnia,’ he repeated, saying the words slowly and clearly.
‘I used to think freedom was the most important thing in life. I’d spent my childhood desperately trying to be free. Free from this place as it burned to the ground.’ Julian glanced back at the restored house.
‘Free from the orphanage that took me in and destroyed my innocence.’ Julian looked at Mia now, and she nodded back at him. ‘Free from memories and pain. Just free. But what I learned is that I was never really free at all. I was actually trapped. Trapped in this little world I had created for myself. It was cold and lonely in there. I had built walls so high that no one could climb them. Almost no one. Somehow you, Eva, you made it. You climbed right over. I was supposed to be saving you. Fixing you. But I can see now that you were never broken. It was me. I was in pieces. You found the pieces and you slowly put them back together. Even when I gave you so many reasons not to. You even found the one last piece, the most important piece of all. That piece was you. You make me whole. I love you more than life itself.’
Happy tears streamed down Eva’s cheeks and this time she didn’t care about what they did to her make-up. It was her turn.
‘Julian. You’re right. I do make you better.’
Everyone erupted in laughter and applause. It took quite a while for everyone to pull themselves back together and for silence to fall back over them.
‘Anything else you’d like to add, Eva, or are you a woman of few words?’ Father O’Malley joked.
Eva looked at Father O’Malley and then back to Julian. Anything she could say Julian already knew.
‘You’re wrong about one thing,’ Eva said softly. ‘I didn’t find all the pieces, Julian. Just half. The other half are right here.’ Eva pointed to herself. ‘We’re two halves of a whole, baby, right?’
Julian slid his fingers between Eva’s and pulled her hand to his lips, kissing her skin softly. ‘We haven’t even gotten to the I do’s yet and already you’re putting me in my place.’
‘Well, let’s skip to the good bit then, shall we?’ Eva said. ‘Father, if you’d be so kind.’
Father O’Malley nodded and grinned. ‘Repeat after me… I, Julian Harte…’
‘I, Julian Harte.’
‘Take thee, Evangeline Andrews, to be my lawfully wedded wife in good times and bad, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live,’ Father O’Malley finished.
‘Take thee, Evangeline Andrews, to be my lawfully wedded wife in good times and bad, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live,’ Julian said, his eyes sizzling into Eva’s soul.
Father O’Malley turned from Julian to Eva. ‘I, Evangeline Andrews…’
‘I, Evangeline Andrews.’
‘Take thee, Julian Harte, to be my lawfully wedded husband in good times and bad, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live.’
‘Take thee, Julian Harte, to be my lawful wedded husband in good times and bad, in…’ Eva hesitated, the next words hurt her throat. She looked into Julian’s eyes. They were so bright and full of happiness, encouraging her to continue.
‘In…in…sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live,’ Eva finished unable to choke back her tears.
Julian pulled her into his arms, and Father O’Malley barely had time to say, ‘Kiss the bride,’ before Julian’s warms lips were pressed against hers, assuring her that everything would be all right.
‘I love you, Mrs. Harte,’ Julian whispered from his open mouth into hers and the words sent a shiver down Eva’s spine.
***
They spent the rest of afternoon enjoying the ambience of the house. Julian watched with pride as his beautiful wife mingled with friends and family. Caterers had arrived with more food and drink than they could possibly eat and the afternoon had passed in a blur of chat and laughter. Every so often, Eva would leave whomever she was chatting with and come to check on Julian. She’d throw a soft kiss on his cheek and whisper that she loved him in his ear, then he’d watch her glide gracefully in her elegant dress back to mingle some more. All evening he watched her. Of course, he chatted with friends, too. He even discussed a little casual business with Mr. Thompson, but his eyes were never far from Eva’s delectable body.
Chapter 40
Julian closed the front door after Melissa and Samantha, and sighed. ‘Gah, I thought they’d never leave.’
‘They were just as excited,’ Eva said.
‘Not as excited as I am right now. Get your sexy little ass upstairs, Mrs. Harte,’ Julian smirked.
Eva raced up the stairs but Julian caught up with her halfway and spun her around.
‘Too slow, baby,’ he said. ‘I’ll just have to take you right here.’
Eva arched her back, easing herself against Julian’s chest and away from the edge of the step grazing her back. ‘Here,’ she mumbled, kissing him.
Julian dragged her bottom lips between his teeth. Eva could feel his cock throbbing in his pants against her thigh. She knew he wasn’t waiting for them to get to the top of the stairs. He slipped off her shoes one at a time, and cupped the back of her calf, his fingers slowly creeping up her leg. He pushed her dress out of the way and she lifted her ass in response so he could guide it over her hips. Julian groaned with appreciation as he eyed up her silky, white thong.
‘Fuck! I knew that would look hot on you,’ he said, catching the elastic at the top between his teeth, pulling his head back, and letting go. The elastic pinged against her skin with a sharp sting, and just as she was about to protest, she felt his fingers glide the lacy silk out of the way, serving her pussy up to him. He lowered his head and his tongue swirled against her. She dropped her head back in pleasure and repeated his name over and over.
‘Tell me I own this,’ Julian said, his hot breath rushing against her.
Eva gasped. Words were hard to form.
‘Tell me,’ he insisted. ‘Tell me I own my wife’s pussy. I need to hear you say it.’
‘You own it, baby,’ Eva whispered. ‘You own every inch of me.’
Julian pushed Eva’s dress higher and she lifted her arms so he could pull the dress off over her head. He tossed the beautiful dress over the banister, followed by her thong and bra that he ripped off roughly.
She was laying back against the stairs completely naked, and he was still fully dressed. She had to even things up a little. She slipped her hands under his jacket and slipped it off his shoulders, but he reached for her wrists and dragged her hands over her head. His tossed his shoulders and his jacket slipped back into place. ‘I want to hear you scream my name as you come first…’
Eva didn’t argue. She closed her eyes, laid back, and let her husband’s soft tongue against her pussy tip her over the edge.
Her fingers gripped his hair, and she screamed his name as her hips bucked uncontrollably against his face.
‘Fuck baby, where did that come from?’ Julian said, pushing himself up to lean his chest over hers and
wiping her wet from his mouth with the back of his hand.
‘I dunno,’ Eva mumbled. ‘I read somewhere that orgasms are more intense when you’re pregnant.’
‘We are doing that again,’ Julian said, tossing Eva a yee-fucking-haw look.
Julian scooped Eva into his arms and walked up the stairs. He kicked open the bedroom door gently with one foot and tossed Eva onto the bed.
She helped him out of his suit, grasping as his cock sprung free from his pants. She was married to a man whose body took her breath away. And right now she couldn’t be any happier.
Julian flipped Eva onto her belly and pushed her ass cheeks apart with his hands, serving her glistening pussy up to him. ‘I want to make the most of taking you from behind before your bump grows.’
‘Then we can just try this,’ Eva said, pulling herself up onto all fours.
Julian groaned with appreciation and Eva ground her hips to sweeten the deal.
He palmed her cheeks again, this time slipping his cock inside her. Slowly pushing all the way until his balls rested on her.
Eva ground her hips around, and around, each twist driving more and more pleasure circling around her inside.
Julian slapped her ass as he pounded into her, giving it to her rough as he whispered two words that made her want to let her orgasm go just hearing them. ‘My wife.’
Eva met him thrust for thrust, clasping the sheet in her clenched fists. Just as she was on the edge, Julian’s hand reached around her and tortured her clit with the tip of his fingers. She felt the tightness before her explosion, but he denied her once again.
‘Ah, Julian no,’ Eva called out, frustrated as hell.
Julian flipped her onto her back, a look of pure lust and hunger splashed across his face. ‘I want to watch you come.’
He rammed into her again, harder and faster than she’d ever remembered. He throbbed hard and Eva felt her muscles clench around him sucking every last drop out as they came together.
Julian fell forward. His weight hovered just above her for a moment as he leaned down to kiss her. He rolled to the side and flopped onto his back. Eva turned towards him and threw one leg over his. ‘Julian, I…’
Julian cut her off with another kiss. ‘I love you, too,’ he said.
Eva lay content beside her husband for what felt like a blissful forever. They drifted in and out of sleep. Waking every so often wrapped around each other in all sorts of different ways. And all too soon, the morning light peeked in through the gap in the curtain and Eva could hear the rattle of Julian’s phone as it vibrated with a call against the bedside table.
‘That’ll be Anthony,’ Julian said, sliding his arm out from under Eva’s head as he reached for his phone. ‘We need to leave for the airport in about an hour.’
Eva swung her legs out of bed and stood up.
‘You okay?’ Julian asked, ignoring his still ringing phone.
‘Yeah. Of course, I’m fine. It’s you I’m worried about.’
‘Don’t be,’ Julian said. Standing up and walking around the bed to stand in front of Eva. ‘Come for a shower with me.’
***
Julian watched as Eva sat in the back of the car before he pulled the front door closed behind him. He took a couple of steps back, just enough to take in a view of the house in one blink. Eva would be okay no matter what. And so would his child. His little boy or girl would grow up in the place he once called home. Even if Julian couldn’t be there for his child, he knew Eva would make damn sure the little kiddo grew up with all the memories. Julian had been too scared to allow himself memories, but his child would never experience that. Eva would make sure the memories were there to be cherished, never to hurt.
Julian sat in the backseat of the car and placed his hand reassuringly on his wife’s knee. ‘To the airport please, Anthony,’ Julian said far more confidently than he felt. Game over.
Epilogue
Five and a half months later
Eva sat in the dark behind the large, solid walnut desk. Her elbows rested on the table and her chin rested on her clasped hands. She glanced around the room making out the shadows of the office she knew by heart. When the time came, Julian made it very clear he wanted Eva, and only Eva, to take over the running of the entire Harte empire in his absence. It had been hard, sometimes too hard. Every inch of the place reminded her of him. Even more so in the dark, and she smiled now as she thought of him. The office just wasn’t the same without Julian. The company still ran smoothly, Eva made damn sure of it. Investments were made, deals were struck, apps were created. But the atmosphere was missing something. It was missing an arrogant Irish man with chocolate eyes that burnt into her soul, a huge heart covered up with a mask of sophistication, and most of all, it was missing the man she loved most in the world by her side.
Ignite Technologies had changed considerably since the first time Eva had stood in that office. For one thing, a name, everyone from the security guards at the main door to the suited fat cats on the board of directors knew and respected was Evangeline Harte. Ignite Technologies was world recognised for its advances in computer software and programming. But it was also one of the largest donators to charity in the world. Andrews Harte was growing from strength to strength as was Melissa at the helm of it all.
Shelly was no longer an employee of the company, but far from being upset about it, Eva was thrilled to see her friend doing so well. It had been a long, hard road for Shelly and Nathan. The Irish media was a tough market. But their online paper, The Whisper, was gaining readers faster than Eva could blink and she had no doubt the silent investment Ignite Tech had made to help them get off the ground was money very well spent.
A gentle knock pulled Eva out of her daydream. She didn’t answer. Another knock followed. Eva lifted her head and sat up straight. After the third knock, the door creaked open a fraction and a sliver of light crept into the room like someone had taken a slice out of a dark chocolate cake.
‘Are you going to lurk in the shadows all day?’ Eva said, cutting into the silence.
The door opened a little wider.
‘Shut it behind you,’ Eva added, her voice clear and her request concise.
The door closed and the corners of Eva’s lips curled. Good.
‘Come here,’ Eva commanded.
Her stomach twitched as the footsteps crept slowly across the floor. ‘That’s far enough, thank you.’
Eva allowed a silence to fill the air for just long enough to edge on intimidating.
‘Sit. There’s a chair waiting for you.’
Eva waited a moment until the shadow of a body crouched.
‘So. Do you have what it takes to join us here in Ignite Technologies?’
‘I think so,’ he said.
‘You think so,’ Eva echoed dryly. ‘Well, unless you know so, you may as well get your ass the hell out of my office right now.’
‘Your office?’ he questioned.
Eva’s eyes pinched hearing his tone.
‘Have you heard otherwise?’
‘I know this company was started by Julian Harte.’
‘Yes. It was. Is there some point to this history lesson?’ Eva questioned sternly.
He didn’t reply.
‘You have the audacity to question my authority?’ Eva continued.
‘I apologise.’
‘Don’t apologise. It makes you weak. You’re not weak, are you? This company has no room for weakness.’
‘One thing I have never been, Mrs. Harte, is weak,’ he said, the confidence in his tone was giving Eva a hot flush.
‘Good,’ she said, hiding her attraction to his voice. ‘I have your resume. It makes for impressive reading.’
‘Thank you.’
‘One thing it neglects to mention is your ability to make the boss come three times before breakfast.’
‘Mrs. Harte, I believed we proved that already this morning, didn’t we?’
Eva stood up slowly from behind the desk, her ba
ck yielding a little to the weight of her expanding belly. She flicked on the light and smiled at the beautiful man waiting for her in the centre of the room.
‘How’s my baby today?’ Julian asked walking towards his wife.
‘She’s fine,’ Eva said rubbing her belly.
‘I meant you,’ Julian replied turning his wife around to gently massage her neck with the tips of his thumbs.
Eva groaned gently, enjoying Julian gently work the knots out of her neck. ‘Oh. Oops. I’m fine, too. Except your daughter thinks my ribs are a pillow and she’s definitely taking some Irish dancing lessons in there.’
‘Well, I hope she’s not too comfortable in there. I can’t wait to meet her.’
‘Me, too. And I can’t wait to see my feet again. The doctor did say labour could start any day now.’
‘He did, didn’t he? I like that doctor.’
‘You just like him because he said the best way to bring on labour is sex.’
Julian gently spun his wife back around and shot her his signature coquettish smile. ‘Who am I to argue with a medical genius?’
‘Are you sure you’re ready for this? Eva said concerned.
‘We’ve had nine months to prepare. We’re ready,’ Julian replied.
‘You know that’s not what I meant. I meant are you ready to come back to work?’
‘Fuck, Eva. You’d wrap me up in cotton fucking wool if you could. Yes, I’m ready. I’ve been working from home for months now. I’m sure the little extra effort of getting my arse into the office every day won’t kill me.’
‘I know, I know. Sorry. I just worry.’
‘Well. Let’s put it this way. If I had the energy to fuck you doggy style on the kitchen table last night, I’m sure I can manage sitting behind that desk for a few hours every day.’ Julian’s coquettish grin sent a wave of lust rushing down Eva’s spine.
‘Lock the door,’ Eva said meeting Julian’s smile head on with a sultry twinkle in her eyes as he did as she asked.
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