Page 67 of Bryce

He knew the instantshe stepped into the room. It was as if the very air shifted and herpresence took over completely. Without hesitation, he stoppedspeaking to the minister and turned to face the door.

His breath caught inhis throat, and he felt the tension easing around his heart. Even tothe very day of the wedding, he expected her to tell him she hadchanged her mind and could not handle the pressure associated withbeing with him.

The press wasrelentless, with no qualms about invading their privacy. He hadordered his staff to do everything they could to ease that pressureoff her. And he had seen the frustration which he had tried to dosomething about. But here she was, willing to join her life to hisforever.

Zahra felt herselfsettle, when she noticed the emotions that stormed into his eyes,darkening it. He had eyes only for her and she felt her own eyesshimmering with tears. He loved her, there was no doubt of it.

He loved hercompletely and because of it, she could deal with anything else.Handing her bridal bouquet to Sandra, she went to meet her groom.

*****

“Where are we?”She had slipped straight into an exhausted sleep. The reception hadgone on longer than they anticipated with the crowd even bigger, andreporters vying to take pictures and get comments.

“Nowhere.”He grinned over at her as he brought the vehicle to a stop in frontof a very rustic cottage in the middle of a lush, vegetated area.Snow glittered white on treetops and bushes, and there was smokecurling from the slightly crooked chimney.

“Somewhere inthe middle of Virginia. It belongs to a rather eccentric directorfriend of mine.” Turning to face her, he found his heartmelting as he stared at the sleepy eyes and the creases on her cheekfrom the cushion he had placed there.

“My wife.”His throat was constricted and for a few seconds, he could barelyswallow. “My love.” Taking her hand, he drew her to himand indulged in a steamy kiss that had her melting against him.

“Ready?”

“Hmm.”She wrapped her hands around his neck and inhaled his scent. “Yes.”

“What do youthink?” Taking her jacket, he hung it up and took her hand,leading her into a cozy living room with shabby furnishings and afireplace that extended from one wall to the next.

“I think it’slovely. Shabby chic.”

“Hungry?”

She shook her head.Her stomach had been queasy, and she had been unable to eat anythingmuch. He had noticed and asked her about it, and she evaded givinghim an answer by saying that it was nerves.

“I want to goto bed.”

He chuckled, his bodytightening. Crossing the room, he wrapped his arms around her waist.

“That can bearranged. I am sure you’re tired from the activities of thepast few weeks and would like nothing better than take a nap…,”he grunted when she punched him in the stomach. “No need to getviolent.” Tilting her chin up, he kissed her. “I loveyou.”

“Show me,”she whispered.

He was nervous, whichdid not make sense since he had been looking forward to this eversince he came back into her life. She was his wife now. She had nothesitated to take his name.

She was ZahraWhitlock, his to have and to hold, until death. And he meant to keepevery promises and vows he had made to her before God and man.Starting now. Stepping towards her, he cupped her neck and bent tokiss her.

“You’remine.” He whispered thickly.

“Yes.”

“For the restof my life. Nothing will ever get between us.” He kissed hercheek and the sides of her lips.

“Bryce.”

“My love?”He was at her throat, loving the scent of her and the feel of herskin against his lips.

“I love you somuch.”

His fingers tightenedon her arms. “I thought you would give up.” Lifting hishead, he stared at her with intense eyes.

“When I saw theway the reporters were behaving and the attention focused on us, Ithought you would tell me you do not want this. You don’t wantme. I was scared spitless and would wake up every night to makecertain you were still next to me.”

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