Cross leaned forward, pressing a fervent kiss to her forehead, closing his eyes he thanked God for delivering her safely into his arms. "Let's get you home," Cross murmured against her skin.
"Yes, please," Essie agreed softly as she wound her arm around his and he led them down the street. Thankfully it wasn't too far of a walk, but it would be a welcome distraction, allowing him time to relax from the fear and anger than had rocked his world.
That had threatened to shatter it.
He reached over and squeezed Essie's hand as it rested on his arm. As she offered him a warm smile full of trust and love, he returned the smile, thankful. Because even though fear tried to conquer the day, and steal the joy of the moment, it didn't win.
Love held that honor.
And always would.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Essie took deep breaths as she walked down the stone aisle of St. George's towards Cross as he waited for her. His gaze was almost too intense to hold, the joy, the raw masculinity of his presence was overwhelming, yet she couldn't glance away. His deep blue eyes spoke to her with every step, pulling her in, reminding her how much she was loved.
How much she was wanted.
As she shared a warm smile with Cross as they faced the rector, she tried to memorize every nuance of the ceremony, cherishing it in her heart.
She wanted to remember the strong tone, the solid confidence of Cross's words when he repeated this vows. The smoldering gaze he sent her as he spoke the words and the swirling heat in her belly it caused. Every glance he sent her, every breath of air that was scented with a hint of cinnamon and clove that clung to the air around him; all this she tucked into her memory.
Soon, the ceremony was over… except the kiss.
Essie bit her lip as she glanced up to her new husband, shy yet feeling a powerful boldness well within her, a courage born of desperate desire for the one you loved.
Her husband's eyes twinkled as they smoldered like blue fire as he pulled her into the strength of his frame. Closing her eyes, she willingly gave herself over the spell of passion he wove over them as his warm lips pressed against hers.
She expected a quick kiss.
And once again, in true Cross fashion, she was surprised.
His tongue teased her lips, flirting with them as he nipped her lower lip and sucked it teasingly.
It only took a moment for her to return his kiss, tasting, teasing, loving him with all the joy in her heart.
It was only when the priest cleared his throat that Cross gentled the kiss and slowly withdrew, a knowing grin on his face.
Essie smiled in return, knowing that if kissing was as… delightful, everything else must be beyond imagining.
And for the first time, she wondered why in heaven's name there was the social protocol of a Wedding Breakfast.
The only thing she was hungering for was her husband.
And if the burning gaze her husband continued to give her were any indication, he felt the same way about her.
Cross cursed food of every sort, every glass of champagne, and every bloody person who congratulated them.
It might be ungrateful, but to have to smile, converse and pretend that he wasn't dreaming of the moment he could leave and finally thoroughly love his wife, was the most acute form of torture he could imagine.
And Essie wasn't helping! No, she'd send him the most flirtatious grins, sly little winks and at the table, she had run her slippered foot up his leg.
He'd choked on his champagne.
The minx had laughed.
He'd turn the tables later, that much he vowed. He'd make her wait in sweet anticipation, close to completion till she—
Saint's above! He needed to leave before he made a scene!
Essie was speaking with his mother, so he skirted the edge of the room till he came up behind his wife, sliding his hands around her waist he tickled her softly till she jumped. It was poor manners, he knew, but it was only his mother.
Of course, his mother narrowed her eyes and was about to scold when he interrupted her. "We're leaving, just wanted to say good-bye." Cross spoke in a carefree manner as he began pulling Essie backwards, towards the door.
His mother grinned, shaking her head. "I told you he wouldn't last very long!" She called to Essie.
Cross chuckled. "I find that there are certain things I have not patience for. It's truly one of my worst faults."
Essie turned to him, cocking an eyebrow. "Impatient?"
"In every way possible, yet as impatient as I am currently, I do believe that you'll find that I have quite the attention span for other… endeavors." He allowed himself the pleasure of raking her body with his gaze.
Merciful heavens. She was a goddess, perfect in every way meant to entice a man, tempt him beyond his ability to withstand.
Thank the Lord he had no need for self-control any longer.
As they entered the carriage, Essie's face began to glow in a becoming blush as she didn't sit on the opposing side as usual, but promptly sat on his lap.