He pressed her hand against his cheek, breathing deeply while he formed the words in his head and forced them into his throat. ‘I love you,’ he whispered.
No bolt of lightning struck them down.
‘I didn’t hear you,’ she whispered back.
A dam broke somewhere in his chest, but surprisingly it didn’t hurt. It felt good. Warm. Joyful.
‘I love you,’ he said, his voice firm and sure. He leaped to his feet. ‘I bloody well love you.’
Her arms went around his neck. ‘I love you too, Michael.’
He kissed her, held her close, felt her slight, lean body in her ridiculous clothes, and for the first time he could remember, he felt as if he belonged.
It didn’t matter where they went. As long as they were together, he would be home.
Humbled, he lifted his head and she stared at him with worried eyes.
‘I love you with all my heart, Lady Hawkhurst,’ he whispered. ‘I hope you don’t live to regret this wild start of yours.’
‘Never,’ she whispered against his lips. ‘I’d go to the ends of the earth with you.’
‘Ah, yes. The small matter of our course.’ He set her on her feet. ‘Wait here a moment.’
‘Where are you going?’ The panicky note in her voice made his heart ache. He had yet to earn her trust. But he would, if it took the rest of his life. ‘I have some orders to give.’ His voice roughened. ‘I’ll be no more than a minute or two.’
The moment he left, Alice felt all her old fears return. She paced the cabin. Would she be able to keep such a handsome, virile man happy? Common sense told her it wasn’t possible. Her heart refused to listen.
The door swung back. Outside the men were shouting and running back and forth, while he stood just inside the doorway looking at her. Quiet joy glowed in his sea-tinted eyes as his gaze rested on her face. It warmed her through and provided the strength she needed to believe.
‘I hope your crew aren’t too disappointed,’ she said.
He cocked his head on one side. ‘Why should they be?’
‘They expected to go to sea.’
‘Yes.’
She blinked. ‘We are going to India?’
He shook his head. ‘Bermuda. On our honeymoon. Our real honeymoon.’
‘Michael, we can’t. Father is expecting me to take him to London.’
‘I sent word when I went to fetch you back.’
‘I don’t have any clothes.’
He put an arm around her waist and nuzzled her neck. ‘You aren’t going to need any. Not for days and days. Perhaps never.’
She glanced over at the bed and shrugged. ‘It would be a shame to waste a brand new bed.’
He swung her up in his arms and in a few long strides he reached the bed. ‘I don’t deserve you, wife, but I love you with all my heart.’
She raised her face for his blissful kiss. ‘As I love you.’
* * * * *
ISBN: 9781459219557
Copyright © 2010 Michèle Ann Young
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