Her dress had been of a Renaissance style, off white and simple with belled sleeves and a panel of cream-colored crushed velvet down the front. A wreath of white flowers had adorned her head rather than a veil.
Evie looked down at her ring finger as she absently caressed Traevyn’s shoulders. She grinned. She loved the way the diamond sparkled in her engagement ring. More than that, she loved the way her wedding band looked right next to it. Her husband… Traevyn was her husband. Traevyn Whitelaw. It still seemed surreal to her.
She sighed. The wedding had been everything she had ever dreamed of and more. She was pretty sure that they had taken up most of the park with their massive party, and she was actually a little surprised that they all hadn’t been carted away for disturbing the peace.
The reception had been an all out free-for-all with lots of laughter and dancing. They had stayed late into the night and the party had still been in full swing when they’d left. Evie had no doubt in her mind that most of their friends and family members were nursing hangovers.
Traevyn had booked them two nights at the Crater Lake Lodge, a historical hotel that offered them an amazing view of the lake, which was the most brilliant shade of azure blue Evie had ever seen. She thought it was ridiculous that she had lived in Oregon her entire life and claimed to be an artist, but had never seen Crater Lake. It was a beautiful work of art created by nature, and she was happy that Traevyn had thought of staying there.
They were leaving for Italy in two days and they could spend the time up till then relaxing, enjoying one another, and admiring Nature’s art.
Evie ran her hand along Traevyn’s side and hip, loving the texture of his skin and deciding that she would never be able to touch him enough. She sighed and closed her eyes as she relived their first night together.
He had been so gentle with her and had nearly driven her to the point of insanity with his unhurried exploration of her body. She’d been a little nervous at first, but burning, molten desire had quickly replaced her jitters as soon as he put his hands on her.
The sun had been rising when they’d finally made love and, when they’d become one, Traevyn wept, whispering emotion-laden words to her before sweeping them both away in a tidal wave of passion. Evie had come to the conclusion that she had been correct in her original assumption: Traevyn was a fantastic lover. At least, that’s what she imagined. She had never been with any other man, but generally, she thought seeing stars was a good sign.
Traevyn turned over and fixed his eyes on Evie’s, smiling softly. “Good morning, my gorgeous bride,” he murmured.
She yawned and stretched. “More like good afternoon.”
He smiled and leaned over to kiss her neck, running his hand down the length of her body as he did so.
Evie sighed, luxuriating in his touch on her bare skin.
“I had a fantastic dream,” he whispered.
“Oh yeah?”
He nodded and kissed along her collarbone. “I dreamed a beautiful angel came to me and took me to heaven.” He pulled her into his arms and held her close.
She snuggled against his chest and listened to his heartbeat. “I had a dream too,” she said.
“What’s that?”
“I dreamed I found a man in a painting, a man in pain, in the darkest of places. I braved a journey into that dark place and found a masterpiece.”
He pulled back a little and gazed down at her, framing her face with his hand. His eyes were soft, but serious. “A lifetime is not long enough to show you the magnitude of my love,” he whispered.
She smiled and wrapped one leg around his waist. She rolled on top of him and sat up so she was straddling his hips. “Well, you’ll just have to try,” she said with a wicked gleam in her eye. “And you can start by refreshing my memory on all those things we did last night. My recollection of them is a little hazy.”
He arched an eyebrow and smirked. “Oh really?”
She nodded. “Yes, I definitely think I need a refresher course.”
He reached up and placed his hands on her hips. “Well, whatever my apprentice needs…” He squeezed her sides, causing her to squeal with laughter. He rolled her over onto her back and settled himself against her, his lips inches from hers, his hair falling around them like a silk curtain. “…she most certainly will receive,” he whispered, his voice a sinful caress against her skin.
Evie looked up into his eyes. The eyes of her husband, her soul mate, her world. She saw her whole life in those eyes and she loved how life looked. She welcomed his kiss and wrapped her arms around him, her body catching fire to match the love that already burned like an inferno in her heart.
Epilogue
Three Years Later
It was late when Traevyn returned from his trip to San Jose. He had gone for two days to meet with a dealer who had been interested in some of his paintings, and he was now far beyond exhausted. Home had never looked so good.
He opened the door and entered quietly, knowing that Evie and Julia would be asleep. He spotted Seth sitting on the couch, eating some concoction and watching television.
“Hey, welcome home,” Seth said, barely looking away from the TV.
Traevyn grinned and set his keys and bag down. Seth had come to live with them while he was at college, and he was actually being very responsible about the whole thing. He lived in the dorms on campus during the week, but was with them on the weekends and during breaks. He paid rent during the summer, helped with the chores, and had been a lifesaver when it came to babysitting. Traevyn had watched him slowly morph into a man, and it made him proud to see the person he was turning in to.
“What are you doing up so late?” Traevyn questioned.
Seth sighed. “I have a gigantic mid-term in psychology on Monday. I was attempting to study.” He rolled his eyes. “That’s not working out so well. Studying was never my strong suit.”
Traevyn chuckled and sat down next to him.
“How was your trip?” Seth asked.
He shrugged. “Boring mostly. I just wanted to come home. You know how I hate being away from your sister.”
Seth nodded. “We were all wishing you’d come home soon too since you’re the only one who can get Jules to sleep before two AM.”
Traevyn grinned and looked around at his living room. It was still basically the same, but it had Evie’s touch all over it. Above the fireplace hung the painting he had done for her, and he had hung several of her paintings that he liked as well. She had taken one whole wall and decorated it with pictures of their family and friends, which he particularly liked. It made his home seem like life had come back to it after it had been so cold for so long.
Seth had taken over the basement, which he had turned into some kind of rock music lair, and one which Traevyn usually tried to avoid at all costs. There was always various music equipment strewn everywhere and it tended to smell like feet and bologna ninety-five percent of the time. He generally didn’t mind. His house was enormous. He could sacrifice one small piece of it if it meant having Seth around.
“Well, I’m going to bed,” he announced. “I’m barely awake as it is. Good luck with your studying.”
Seth wrinkled his nose and grunted.
Traevyn started up the stairs. At the top of the staircase was another wall that Evie had claimed for her own. She had taken it over, forming it into a collage of pictures of just the two of them. Most of them were wedding pictures and shots from their trip to Italy, and he adored it. He stopped to admire it as he always did and smiled.
Quietly, he moved down the corridor that had once been inhabited by his wife and her brother. He swung open the door that had been Evie’s and his heart sighed in warm contentment. There, looking dwarfed in her pink bed slept his daughter, Julia. Evie’s greatest gift to him. He noticed she was wearing her pink and purple pointed princess hat they had gotten her at Disneyland. With a chuckle, he went to remove it.
“Seth put it on her,” Evie’s soft voice came from the d
oorway. “I told him she was too young to appreciate it, but he didn’t care. He thought it was cute.”
Traevyn smiled and took the hat off, then smoothed back his daughter’s dark hair before pressing a kiss to her forehead. He studied her for a moment, marveling over her perfection. She looked just like Evie. He glanced over at his wife, standing in the doorway wearing a flannel shirt and baggy pajama pants. He grinned and went to her, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. “What are you doing up?” he murmured. “It’s late.”
Evie closed her eyes and rested her head against his chest. “You know I can’t sleep when you’re gone.”
He tightened his arms around her and sighed. “The whole time I was gone I just wanted to be home with you.” He guided them out of the room and closed the door softly before giving Evie the kind of kiss he’d been dreaming of giving her since he’d left.
Evie moaned into the kiss and wrapped her arms around him. “I missed you,” she whispered. “So did Julia.”
He smiled, his heart feeling so full he thought it would burst. It had been Evie’s idea to have children only a year into their marriage. Actually, she hadn’t even told him she’d gone off of her birth control pills. She had just surprised him one day by telling him that he was going to be a father. He’d been apprehensive at first, right after Julia was born, still plagued by guilt that would not release its grip on him. Evie had patiently seen him through it, as she always had, and he could honestly say that he was all right now. He was whole again. All because of Evie. He owed his entire life to her.
She had given him everything he’d ever wanted and more. She’d given him a love greater than anything he could have imagined. She’d given him Seth, who he viewed as a brother and confidante. She’d given him Julia, who he loved in a way he hadn’t thought he could love again. She’d given him a home and a family and a life. She had given him his life back. He was alive because of Evie.
“I love you, Evelina Whitelaw,” he whispered.
Evie grinned. “How is it that I never get tired of hearing that?”
He smiled. “It’s because you love me so much.”
She gave a soft laugh. “I think you might be right.” She raised herself on her toes to kiss him, then took his hand and began to pull him down the hallway. “Come on,” she yawned. “Come to bed.”
He snorted. “You’re not tired, are you?” he teased. “That is not an option.” He bent and lifted her into his arms, drawing a startled shriek from her.
“Traevyn!” she hissed, covering her mouth. “If you wake her up I’ll never forgive you!” She smacked him half-heartedly on the shoulder.
He grinned devilishly and continued to carry her toward their bedroom.
“You’re going to throw your back out,” she grumbled.
He slid his gaze over to meet her eyes. “No one ever threw their back out from carrying a midget,” he retorted.
Evie’s eyes widened and she stared at him in shock. “I cannot believe you just said that. Forget your welcome home present.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “You have a present for me?”
“Not anymore,” she huffed.
His eyes narrowed. “Oh, you’ll give me my present.”
“No way!” she cried.
He let out a snarl and attacked her neck with his lips, causing her to dissolve into giggles. He carried her inside their bedroom and kicked the door shut. From inside the room, her laughter echoed throughout the house, bringing light and joy everywhere it touched.
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About the Author: Brieanna Robertson
If someone were to ask me what I am, it could be summed up in one, simple word: Dreamer. Ever since I was a small child my imagination has run wild. I have been telling stories for as long as I can remember, creating grand worlds in my head and going on adventures that were invisible to others around me. Am I eccentric? Yes. Am I proud of that? Absolutely.
I write about the things that inspire me, both in this world and in realms only seen with the imagination. My heroines are sassy and strong. My heroes are sometimes shy. I have an obsession with music (and musicians) and a fascination with wings. I believe true love does exist, and sometimes it is found in the strangest, most unexpected places. I also believe that family and close friends are the glue that hold people together.
Above all things, I believe in being true to yourself and seizing the day. Life is an amazing gift. Make your experience as beautiful as you possibly can.
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