Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 95326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
“His pain was palpable, for it mirrored my own if I was to ever lose you. I told you the decision would be ours about whether we remain in this marriage or not, but I rescind my word since I do not want to live without you, wife, my heart would break, and I would be but a shell of a man without you. So, you are stuck with me as your husband, but I can give you my word on one thing and that is that I will never rescind the overpowering love I have for you. My love for you will grow strong and deeper every day and remain with me beyond my dying day.”
Elsie’s eyes flooded with tears, and she swiped at them as they began to roll down her flushed cheeks one by one. His declaration of love left her so stunned that she could think of only one response. “I love you too.”
Cavell chuckled as he smiled. “Something I knew and was waiting for you to have the courage to tell me.”
“You did?” she asked surprised then saw a playful glint in his eyes and she smiled. “It is what you hoped, husband.”
“More like prayed,” he said with a chuckle and hugged her gently. “I do love you, wife, and always will,” he said, needing to say it again, needing her to know, needing to hear it himself.
“And I will love you more, more and more every day,” she said finally finding her voice.
Cavell wiped a tear off her delicate cheek and, subtle as it was, he could feel a stir of passion course through her body. And the air seemed to crackle with an invisible current that drew her ever closer to him, though neither of them moved. He wiped at another tear that lingered on her cheek and his light caress seemed to heighten the intensity in the air, as if a delicate balance teetered on the edge of their declared love.
“I am going to make love to you, wife,” he said.
“Aye, please,” she said eagerly.
“Shed your garments,” he ordered gently.
Seeing her husband shed his own garments made the task much easier for her, though her hands trembled as she did. She wanted this, had wanted him to couple with her of his own free will to truly seal their marriage. And now they would, not out of duty, but because they loved each other.
Another rush of fresh tears spilled from her eyes as she shed the last of her garments and she turned her face away from him to hide them.
His naked body was suddenly pressed against hers, flesh against flesh, warmth against warmth, love united, and he turned her around slowly in his arms.
He wiped at her wet cheeks. “If you prefer not to—”
“Happy tears,” she said quickly.
He chuckled and swung her up in his arms, her arms rushing around his neck as he carried her to the bed. “Then I fear you will be weeping all night.”
She smiled. “I look forward to it.”
She did until he placed her on the bed, and he stood beside it to look down at her, his glance roaming over her naked body. She was far too exposed, far too vulnerable, and she quickly reached for the blanket.
He grabbed her wrist, stopping her. “Nay. The last time we coupled in the dark. I want to see all of you this time.” He released her arm.
Fear turned her eyes wide. She had not considered this… being naked in front of him. He would surely find her lacking. Her arms hurried to cover her small breasts.
Cavell sat on the bed beside her and gently pried her arms off her breasts. “You are beautiful, wife.”
He kissed her lips gently before leaning down and lavishing each nipple with kisses and nips, enjoying the feel of how hard they grew against his tongue while he ran his hand down along her waist to give her slender hip a squeeze.
He lifted his head. “You have the softest and most beautiful body.”
The passion in his eyes, the tenderness of his loving touch, the truth in his strong voice had Elsie saying, “You make me feel beautiful.”
“Fear hides your beauty, wife. Let it go and know I love you,” he urged gently as his lips descended on hers in a kiss.
His words touched her heart and she felt something melt in the uncharted depths of her innermost being, something she had carried for far too long, something she was finally giving herself permission to let go… that she believed herself plain, unattractive, therefore, no man would love her and yet here was a man who loved her deeply.
She eased her lips off his, needing to say, “I am beautiful, and you are handsome.”
He smiled. It had been a while since he heard a woman say that and he could see in his wife’s gorgeous, soft blue eyes how very much she meant it. And he loved her even more.