SAFE IN ALL HER FALLINGS

Alistair and Ahnna spent one more night in Coff's. Maximus had insisted on renting them the bridal suite at the best hotel in town. One night. One night for a honeymoon. But it would have to do. Marce's funeral was scheduled early in the evening the following day. A wedding and a funeral. As hard as tomorrow would be, Ahnna knew now that she could make it through. Because of Alistair. Because she was no longer entirely alone in the world. Because of his love. Because of how much she loved him.

Joimus had brought Ahnna a white silk nightgown, knowing, since she'd packed the suitcase for her, that Ahnna had nothing special for her wedding night. Alistair was sitting on the side of the bed when Ahnna came out of the hotel bathroom in the gown. She paused halfway across the room as he looked up, catching his breath. Her long dark hair hung in waves over her shoulders, contrasting beautifully with the gown. Only one small bedside lamp was still lit and in its glow her exquisite features were so heart-grabbingly perfect that he could barely breathe. She had on only the thin gown and through it her breasts were clearly defined as were the curves of her hips, her thighs.

"My wife," he whispered, holding his hand out to her.

Her eyes glistened with sudden wetness as she returned his gaze, staring at him in almost unbelieving wonder that this man...this man...was her husband. She crossed the rest of the carpet, stopping so that her legs pressed lightly against his knees. He rested both palms high on her hips, letting them slide slowly down the silk to her upper thighs. For a moment he closed his eyes, then touched the fingertips of his right hand to his own lips, but only briefly before the hand went back to her, slipping behind her, and guiding her with him as he leaned back across the bed.

In the morning she lay in his arms, the length of her bare against him, and when he woke he loved her again, wanting her to start this day with a gentle tenderness. His hands, his lips, moved over her, adoring her, stirring every nerve ending into awareness. In the night he had loved her with an intense passion, but now his every touch was a quiet gift of himself as he brought her exquisitely and slowly to the edge of the world. And he held her as she rose and as she fell so that she might know that he would always be there for her, for all her risings and all her fallings, and that she would be safe. She would be safe, because of him, even this evening.