Shadow of Love (39 page)

‘
Oh, God, yes!’ She couldn’t have stopped that outburst if she had wanted to, her whole body shattering into a thousand pieces, each of them drowning in pleasure that was almost too intense to bear. Wave upon wave of ecstasy sent her clinging to him as if he were the only rock in a world that had lost any shape and form. She heard him groan in response, his body shuddering over her in the final stroke, his hot lips coming down to her mouth and kissing her passionately as he held her close.

It was a moment later that he actually lifted himself off her, his head remaining pillowed on her breasts for a few seconds. Carefully gliding to her side, he propped himself on his elbow, his eyes gentle as he looked down at her heated face.

‘
That was absolutely amazing,’ he whispered, bending and kissing her gently on her mouth. ‘You are amazing, Emily.’

She smiled. At the moment, she was so utterly happy that she doubted she could ever stop smiling again. Her fingers lifted to trace a pattern on his tanned chest, weaving into the luxurious mat of dark, springy hair that dusted his broad chest and narrowed to a strip going down his flat stomach and lower still. She didn’t want to look there, she decided, determined to savor this moment of closeness without an interruption of her greedy thoughts.

‘
Well, your procrastination is forgiven.’ She smiled again as she felt him shiver against her fingertips. He might act cool, but he was definitely responding to the gentle pressure of her hand, his silky skin tensing under the sheen of perspiration.

‘
It brings me to something else, my sweet.’ He laughed and gathered her closer, his kiss demanding enough to distract her from whatever he was about to say. But he would have none of it, his head lifting just a second before she managed to wrap her arms around his neck. He smiled at her, his eyes warm.

‘
You’ll have to behave now, ok?’ Before she had a chance to answer, he kissed her lightly on her nose and got up, totally unconcerned about his nakedness. Not that he should have been, she thought dreamily, her eyes going over his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and firm, muscular buttocks.

‘
That means not looking at me like that.’ He grinned, looking very young and happy. He was smiling a lot in the last three months, she thought, recalling his polite friendliness at Sophie’s wedding. He was absolutely charming, congratulating her and Peter and even putting up with Marlene flirting with him shamelessly.

‘
There.’ He interrupted her happy memories, returning to the bed with a small package wrapped in golden paper. It was too big to be a ring, she realized, but still her heart skipped a beat when she saw his eyes watching her tenderly. ‘That’s for you, Emily. I got it from my grandmother, who insisted I pass it on to you as soon as possible.’

She unwrapped it carefully, puzzled by the oblong shape. As the paper fell apart, she was unable to stop herself from gasping at a glittering necklace in gold with inlaid pattern of lapis lazuli stones.

‘
It’s my grandmother’s wedding gift from my grandfather,’ James explained, his voice soft. ‘You know the customs here. The groom is supposed to shower his bride with gifts to make up for the fact she is abandoning her family and starting her new life with him.’

It was absolutely gorgeous, she thought reverently, her fingers going over the intricate pattern of the golden platelets, the cold smooth stones worked into them oval and perfect.

‘
Thank you, James,’ she whispered. ‘But isn’t it something your aunts should get? After all, they’re family and I—.’

He didn’t let her finish. Instead he pulled her closer, his hands picking up the necklace and clasping it around her neck. As it fell into place, he smiled, satisfied. His fingers brushed over the stones, lingering on her skin underneath.

‘
It’s a tradition for the male descendant to offer it to his bride, generation after generation,’ he said, his eyes tender. ‘I can’t think of anyone else I would like to wear it except for you, Emily. Will you do me the honor?’

She didn’t realize she was crying until he kissed her, and she tasted the salty taste of her tears on his mouth. She nodded, smiling a watery smile, the cool metal against her skin feeling absolutely perfect.

‘
Of course I will.’ Before he could respond, she gave him a look from under her eyelashes, her mischievous spirit coming back to life. ‘I just wonder if it’s ok with the tradition for me to wear it while still not married to you, James. I have my plans for the immediate future, and I wouldn’t want to desecrate it with disrespect, you know.’

He laughed, his voice low and so utterly happy, her heart almost turned over.

‘
I think we should start our own tradition,’ he decided, his eyes darkening dangerously. ‘And, as long as it’s our secret, this necklace can’t talk. It’s a safe bet that we can get away with all kinds of improper plans you might have, then.’

And that was exactly what they did.

.