Page 111 of Forever Fascinating

Blushing profusely, Matthew pulled the glass out of her hands, setting it down, and picked her up bodily. He was toting her out of the restaurant, before she could say anything else, causing Jana to burst out laughing as she hung onto his shoulders, realizing that they were starting their ‘alone time’ a little early.

“Bye! I love you all!” she called out playfully, waving at her family from her perch over his shoulder, hearing Matthew laugh, along with several others in the restaurant, before she heard applause in the distance.

This groom was whisking his beloved bride away.

Getting to the car, Matthew set her down so he could open the car door – before kissing her. He jogged to the other side, hopped in, and immediately put the car into reverse, causing Jana to buckle up quickly as she laughed at his anxiousness, knowing exactly what he was feeling and thinking.

He smiled at her lovingly, winking, as he pulled onto the main road.

CHAPTER29

JANA

Twenty minutes later,Matthew pulled up in front of the cottage and threw the car into park, nearly sliding across the hood of the vehicle in his rush to open her door. He scooped her up, kissing her passionately, and proceeded to walk blindly towards the cottage… until he ran into the deck with his shin.

“Owwwwwwch…” he grunted, whining slightly, causing Jana to flinch in awareness, before smiling at him.

“We could just go inside, you know.”

“I’m carrying my bride over the threshold - again.”

“Fine, but let’s get onto the deck so you don’t trip or injure yourself,” she countered, smiling.

Matthew stepped onto the deck, beaming at her, and held out his hand, as Jana put her hand in his, stepping up beside him, pointedly.

“There,” she teased, “Was that so bad?”

“Terrible…” he said in mock exaggeration, picking her up again – only to roll his eyes, and setting her back down on her feet again. “Let me unlock the door and we’ll try this one more time.”

Jana couldn’t help but laugh as he fumbled with the lock, before opening the door with exasperation, then smiling at her… and hesitating.

“What?” she asked nervously, from the way he was looking at her.

“You just look so beautiful in this moment,” he began, holding out his hand to her, and pulling her into his arms the moment she took it. This was not what she expected from him, especially after the way they’d left the restaurant so abruptly.

He laid her hand on his chest, holding her close, and began dancing with her, there on the deck, in the silence for several moments before she heard him humming softly.

He spun her around, before pulling her close again, and this time, Jana wrapped her arms around his shoulders, feeling herself falling under his spell, remembering that this was how they’d met.

He'd teased her about hearing the music outside of the church, when they both knew there was nothing audible outside of the building. As he hummed, she realized that she recognized the song… letting out a soft sigh.

Matthew was humming the tune,Can’t Help Falling in Love,and it seemed almost magical and so appropriate. She fell into line with him, content to dance in his arms forever, as she began humming along with him.

As they got to the chorus… he slowed his steps and looked at her, slowly leaning forward. Jana knew there was nothing between them anymore to stop either of them, no secrets, no doubts, nothing but love.

His lips hovered over hers, his breath catching, as her heart beat wildly in her chest, hoping this feeling would last forever.

They had kissed dozens of times in the past, yet this moment was encompassing and different somehow. It wasn’t a kiss of affection between friends… this was the first kiss of star-crossed lovers.

Soulmates.

Matthew softly pressed his lips to hers, and Jana savored the feeling and taste that was just exquisitely him. His cologne, his warmth, his breath, the scrape of his stubble even though he’d shaved… it was all just him.

He deepened the kiss as she opened to him, wrapping her arms around his neck, and closing her eyes as he began to walk her slowly towards the cottage, picking her up at the last second.

“Threshold…” he whispered in explanation, leaning towards her again.

“Threshold,” she acknowledged distractedly, kissing him back passionately – and reached out to shut the door behind him, closing them off from the rest of the world.

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