Page 67 of Axel

Now she was walking towards him, a smile wreathing her exquisite face. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, and he found himself wondering if she was real. He was also wondering how he could have been so foolish to stay away from her.

She had changed his life drastically. She was coming to him willingly to be his wife and was also carrying his seed. His chest felt as if was going to burst through his chest with the weight of his happiness.

Impatient to get it over and done with, he walked towards her, meeting her halfway and taking her hand in his, expression indescribable. It was if they were the only two people in the entire garden surrounded by the beauty of nature.

The scent of flowers blooming, the sound of the river flowing – even the squirrels and rabbits scampering around were the perfect ambiance for their union. Drawing her into his arms, he gave into the desire to prove that she was real by kissing her softly on the lips. “I adore you.” He whispered.

The few families and friends would report later that the bride had tears in her eyes as the groom stared at her in complete love and total commitment.

*****

“Happy, my love?” Axel asked huskily. The ceremony was over, and they had both changed out of their wedding fineries. A professional had been hired to take pictures of the bridal party, but her dad had insisted on making his own memories. Armed with a camera he had purchased in one of the gift shops, he snapped away happily.

“I want my own album.” He told her while they were dancing. “I intend to have them developed so that I could show everyone at the retirement home.”

She had been further surprised when he told her that her mother had given up her place and moved in with him.

Lifting her face to the man who had minutes ago became her husband, she smiled dazedly. “I think I need to be pinched. I wore down your resistance and reluctance to marry me.”

He sent her an amused indulgent look, his eyes roving over her exquisite face. She had changed into a green wool dress that clung to her slender curves and looked great against her complexion.

The diamonds he had gifted her with sparkled around her slender throat and her lobes. She was also wearing the magnificent diamond princess cut diamonds he placed on her finger. She was by far the most beautiful woman he had ever met. And she belonged to him.

“I would hardly call it reluctant. More like cautious. But I am happy that I got over my – shall we call it ‘fear’ of getting hitched?”

She laughed softly, her fingers twining around his neck. “So am I.” He was so tall, she thought whimsically as she gazed at his attractive face. Her husband was not handsome in the traditional way, he had too much character stamped on his features.

But his amber eyes were beautiful and intense. She had also discovered to her amazement that his lashes were thick and long. Not that he would welcome a comment like that. His mouth was sculpted and sensual, something she had discovered firsthand.

“Something wrong with my face?”

She jolted at the amused sound of his deep voice.

“Everything is right with it.” Loosening her hands, she used it to cup his beloved face. “I am besotted by this face.”

“Good.” He whispered thickly. “It so happens that the feeling is completely mutual.”

*****

“What do you think?” Leaning against the doorjamb in a deceptively casual manner, he watched his bride wandering around the room, which he had redecorated.

They had discussed living arrangements before they left for their three weeklong honeymoon where he had jetted her to all the places he had houses. Now they were back in River Glades. During their absence, he had ordered the contractors to work nonstop so the place could be ready for their return.

Ellie had been awestruck by the changes and that was before they entered the wide marble foyer. He had scooped her up in his arms and bounded upstairs as if she weighed nothing more than a few pounds.

She had put on some weight because her husband insisted on them dining at a different fabulously extravagant restaurant every night. And her pregnancy was going great.

Aside from her breasts feeling a little sensitive, she couldn’t believe she was carrying his baby. She was almost two months pregnant, and the dreaded nausea was not plaguing her. Her doctor warned her that it might appear later in the pregnancy.

“Darling?” He was getting more anxious as the silence continued. His wife was from the city and had been a city girl all her life, but he wanted his children brought up in River Glades. His mother and sister had been so grateful they had cried when he told them the decision.

But the most important thing to him was making sure his wife was happy here. She had given up her job at the magazine and wanted to concentrate on building a home for them. His motherhad roped her into becoming a part of the many organizations she was in charge of.

“You didn’t have to change a thing.”

“It was too masculine.” He continued to watch her, his anxiety mounting as she continued her journey around the spacious room. He had instructed the designer to add some colors because he knew she would like that. “Say something.”

“I love you.” She turned to face him then and he felt a jolt at the tears brightening her beautiful eyes. “I love you so much that I have a hard time finding the words. You make me so damn happy. I-“ He had moved swiftly to stand in front of her and she went straight into his arms.