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‘For better, for worse,’ I breathe, repeating the priest’s words, keeping my eyes fixed on hers. ‘For richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health.’ I pause, fighting to keep the lump in my throat from hampering my vows. I’m feeling a little overwhelmed. ‘Until death do us part.’ I swallow, grateful to George when he reaches for my forehead and rubs his hand vigorously across my brow. Because now I don’t need to wipe the sheen of sweat away.
‘Are you breaking out in a nervous sweat, Hunt?’ Eleanor asks quietly, smiling up at me.
‘It’s hot in here.’ I brush off her observation before she clings on and teases me with it for the rest of our lives together.
‘You have declared your consent before the Church,’ the priest declares. ‘May the Lord in his goodness strengthen your consent and fill you both with his blessings.’
‘And treasure,’ Eleanor adds, and I grin.
‘Amen.’
‘Amen,’ the crowd repeat, and before I get the heads-up from the priest, I’m swooping in to claim my prize, kissing the ever-loving, gorgeous life out of her while George smacks us both on the head and she laughs into my mouth.
‘Um . . . you may kiss your bride,’ I hear the priest say over the ear-piercing clapping of the congregation. I only break away when I need to shift a wriggling George in my arms and, placing him on his little feet, I take Eleanor’s hand in one, George’s in my other, and walk the loves of my life out of the church.
‘Ta-dah!’ I sing, and George giggles relentlessly as I magic a shiny silver coin from behind his ear. He claps his hands in order for me to carry on, so I straighten him up on my lap and rest back on the couch, pulling my bow tie from around my neck and casting it aside. I show him the coin lying flat in my palm and he quietens down, his little, intrigued eyes studying it closely. I close my hand into a fist. ‘Tap,’ I tell him, and he smacks my hand on a shout. Then I open it up, revealing an empty palm.
‘Ta-dah!’ he shouts, bouncing up and down so vigorously I have to catch him quickly before he leaps from my lap. I laugh and haul him into my chest, and his little hands rest on my cheeks, his forehead meeting mine.
‘You’re gonna be a genius like your daddy,’ I tell him, nipping at his nose. ‘But no funny business. Be a good genius, you got it? I don’t want to face the wrath of your mother.’
‘No, you don’t.’
I look up and see Eleanor by the door, still graced in her gown, a warning arch to her eyebrow. ‘Hey, princess.’ I pat the couch and she pads over, dropping a kiss on George’s head as she lowers next to me.
‘What are you doing in here?’ she asks.
‘Me and George needed a time out.’
‘So you could teach him some tricks of the trade?’ She produces the silver coin from behind my ear, twiddling it between her fingers on an accusing hum.
I grin. ‘It’s just magic.’
‘And God knows where it could lead to.’
‘Maybe he’ll be the next Dynamo.’
‘More likely the next Becker Hunt.’ She nudges me playfully. That’ll never happen. I won’t let it. George will run the Hunt Corporation one day, but only the legitimate side of the business will exist by then. I promised Eleanor that, and I don’t plan on breaking it. ‘I need to get him bathed and in bed,’ Eleanor says, just as George yawns loudly.
I pout and dot his face with kisses before reluctantly passing him over. ‘Has everyone gone now?’
‘All except Dorothy. She’s helping Gramps to his room.’ Eleanor stands and sits George on her hip.
My smile is instant. And so is the blood rushing to my cock. My eyes drop and she turns teasingly, sauntering out of the library with a purposeful sway with my boy in her arms. Today has been amazing. The courtyard of my Haven has been transformed into something even more spectacular than what it already is, marquees erected, flowers everywhere, champagne flowing and the people we love flooding the space. But this time, our time, is what I’ve been looking most forward to.
Consummation. My palms tingle with excitement. ‘Be quick,’ I order, adjusting my straining trousers.
She tosses a coy look over her shoulder as she disappears through the door, causing all kinds of chaos to erupt in my groin area. ‘It’s going to be a good-fucking-night,’ I say to myself, rising to my feet.
Deciding to check up on the dogs and get myself a drink before I head for our private space, I wander down the corridor towards the kitchen, relishing in the peace surrounding me. I flip the top buttons of my shirt open and push my way into the kitchen, finding the dogs curled up in their basket. Winston gives me a moment of his attention before returning it to Clementine, licking her ear affectionately. ‘Hey, boy,’ I coo, wandering over to them and crouching. Winston gives me droopy eyes, and I swear I see concern in them. I look at a sleepy Clementine, her belly swelling massively. She’s due any day now, and while Eleanor’s girl is taking pregnancy in her stride, just like her owner did, Winston isn’t so serene. He refuses to leave Clementine’s side. Hasn’t for weeks now. I reach forward and stroke his sad face. ‘I know how you feel, buddy,’ I soothe him. ‘She’ll be fine. Stop worrying.’ I’m a fine one to talk. I didn’t leave Eleanor’s side in the last month either, and I was good for nothing when she was in labour. I’ve never felt so helpless.
