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Vanna half turned so she was curled into me. I pulled a blanket from the back of the couch we were sitting on and wrapped it around her. She put her hand to my cheek and tipped her head back. “Perfect night.”
Her eyes were glassy, and a cloud of champagne and ouzo surrounded her, but I wouldn’t have changed a thing about this moment. Because it felt right.
When her body became boneless in my arms, I carefully stood up, making sure I didn’t jostle her too much with the movement. “We’re calling it a night. Thanks for celebrating with Vanna.”
Freya hugged us. “We’re so happy for you both.”
Jude held up his half-empty beer. “I second that.”
Everyone called out their good nights, and I carried a sleeping Vanna to our bedroom, Daisy following. Taking off her clothes didn’t feel right, so I only removed her shoes and jewelry and pulled the blanket over her body.
Sliding under the blankets next to her, I tugged her into me. The bed jostled when Daisy jumped up, getting comfortable by our feet.
Tomorrow morning we’d talk. It was time to make this marriage real in every sense of the word.
14
VANNA
Hell’s bells,what is wrong with my head?
I groaned, keeping my eyes closed and turning over in bed. I didn’t make it far, the heavy arm draped over my waist keeping me pinned to a warm body.
A body that vibrated with a throaty chuckle. “There are pain pills and a glass of water on the nightstand.”
I carefully opened one eye, then the other. “I feel sick.”
“Take the painkillers and then come back here and get more sleep. It’ll help.”
Unable to do more than follow Gabriel’s instructions, I sat up, my hand going to my head when a sharp, stabbing pain shot through it. I gulped down the whole glass of water and took the pills, then collapsed back onto the bed. “I’m never drinking again.”
Gabriel laughed, pulling me back into his body, this time fitting my front into his side. “You’ll change your mind as soon as you feel better.”
I shamelessly ran my hand across his abs, enjoying every hard dip. His breath hitched, and I smiled into his chest, tangling my legs with his.
But instead of pulling away, his arm around me tightened, and he brushed a strand of hair out of my face, then kissed the top of my head. “Sleep. Then we’ll talk.”
Since I was entirely on board with the first part of that plan and didn’t know what to think of the second part, I decided sleep was a great idea.
* * *
When I woke up again, my head felt like someone was sitting on it. I was still wrapped around Gabriel, and his even breathing told me he was asleep.
When I lifted my head, that same sharp, stabbing pain shot through my skull. I moved the hand that had been resting on Gabriel’s stomach to my temple and let out a pained groan.
“What’s wrong,anghele mou?”
His raspy voice made my body come alive, and I squeezed my legs together to relieve some of the pressure. But instead of the relief I was looking for, all it did was intensify the need that had overtaken my body.
The pain in my head had dulled to a distant throbbing, my brain too occupied with gawking at my husband. He’d never looked better than in that moment—ruffled from sleep, his lips so close that all I’d have to do was lean forward to find out what they tasted like.
“Head hurts.”
A deep rumble filled the air, and his eyes were alight with humor. “I bet. The only thing that’ll help now is more sleep. You can have more painkillers in a few hours.”
Sleep sounded great, but first I had to relieve my full bladder. My head protested when I got up on unsteady feet. I stumbled my way to the bathroom and took care of business, then washed my face that was smeared with makeup.
Once I looked somewhat human again, I collapsed back onto the bed. Gabriel pulled me into his side once again, winding his arms firmly around me and tangling our legs together.
