AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Does this mean you’re going to stop your verbal sparring?" I step closer; so does she.
"What do you think?" she murmurs.
"I think" —I wrap my arm about her waist and pull her into me— "that you’ll never stop keeping me on my toes, and I wouldn’t have it any other way."
She looks up into my eyes. Her golden eyes lighten until they resemble pools of sunlight. "I love you, husband."
My heart fills my chest. Warmth pulses through my veins. I pull her closer, then dip my head until my lips brush hers. "I love you more than myself. I promise to respect our differences. I swear I’ll put you and our family before anything else."
Her chin trembles. "Your country needs you, too."
"And I promise to serve with passion and dedication and do more than my best to steer the course of our future."
"You make me proud." She tips up her chin, and I close my mouth over hers. I kiss her deeply. She parts her lips, and I sweep my tongue over hers. I suck on her mouth, until a moan spills from her lips, until she sways into me, until she melts in my arms, and I pull her even closer into my chest. I kiss her and kiss her until, finally, the sound of clapping reaches me. Then I soften the kiss, brush my lips once, twice over hers, before I pull back. Her chest rises and falls, her skin flushed. Her breathing is ragged, and when she finally flutters her eyelids open, her eyes are more silver than gold.
"That was some kiss." She clears her throat.
"A promise. A pledge. My allegiance to you and my child you carry in your belly."
She swallows. "You’re going to make me cry."
"Only as long as they are tears of joy." I cup her face. "I love you, Zara."
A chair crashes to the ground, then, "Tiny!" a woman’s voice yells. We look up to find the Great Dane has broken free from Isla’s grasp. He’s galloping toward where the drinks are being poured at a table halfway up the garden.
"Tiny!" Isla lifts her skirts and races after him. "Tiny, stop."
The man pouring the champagne into the glass pauses midway. Then Tiny leaps onto the table, which crashes under his weight. The man jumps back. The bottle falls from his hands. Tiny snatches it out of the air, tips it upside down, and into his mouth.
"Tiny, you’re a bad boy!" Isla grabs the bottle and tugs it from Tiny’s jaws. Liam reaches her and seizes Tiny’s collar.
"Did that dog just neck a bottle of champagne?" Edward asks in a dazed tone.
Zara and I share a laugh. I turn to Edward. "We have much to catch you up on."
* * *
"Does that Great Dane have a taste for champagne or am I seeing things?" Edward looks from Isla to Liam.
"It’s her mother’s dog." Liam raises his hands. As if that explains everything.
"We’re baby-sitting him, while my mother is on a trip with her knitting club." Isla explains.
"And he has a fondness for bubbles?” Edward asks in a disbelieving voice.
"From the very first time we opened a champagne bottle in front of him. And it doesn’t seem to hurt him, at all.” Isla raises a shoulder. “Occasionally, he has a hangover, which is when my mother gets really upset with him."
"He’s so cute, though." Abby bends and hugs the Great Dane. Liam’s tied Tiny’s leash to his chair, and for now, at least, the dog sits on his haunches watching the humans with a long-suffering look on his face.
"He’s a darling, except when he’s in proximity to champagne," Isla agrees.
"Not that I’m encouraging him or anything, but he can have my share, considering I’m not drinking," my wife announces.
"Oh, my god, I totally forgot to congratulate you." Solene, leans over and hugs Zara.
From across the table, Declan watches Solene with a frown on his face. The two turned up separately to the wedding, have not exchanged a word since, and are seated at opposite ends of the table. Interesting. Not that it’s my business. Still, now that I’m married, I can’t help but wish the same for my friend.
"I’m so excited for you.” Isla flashes my wife a smile. “Marriage and a baby, back-to-back. Who’d have thought you’d beat me to the baby side of things?"
