Chapter Thirteen #2
I smile, but my heart is banging on my ribs as I lead her to the car.
I take her to the passenger side, open the door for her, and hold her as she gets in, making sure she doesn’t bump her head. Then I go around the other side and get in behind her.
“Congratulations, sir,” Tane says, starting the engine as I buckle up.
“Thank you.”
“Did you have a good time?”
“It went very well, thanks. Is Wren’s case in there?”
“Yes, sir. Ready to go?”
“Please.”
He puts the car in drive, and we wave to everyone at the house as we slowly pull away.
We’re spending the night in my apartment in the city. Then, tomorrow, I’m driving us down to the farm not far from Cambridge in the Waikato.
Tane takes us over the Harbour Bridge into the CBD. The roads are quiet, the city a glitter of lights.
Wren is silent beside me. When I glance at her, she’s looking out of the window, her hands in her lap.
“Are you feeling okay?” I ask, the first time I’ve said anything for a while.
She looks at me then, her eyes shining in the lights that flash overhead. She nods, but doesn’t say anything.
For the first time, I’m able to think about what Mum said. It’s difficult for her, this arrangement. I can’t believe Dad told Mum.
She likes you a lot. But you Ashfords can be quite intimidating when you want to be.
I intimidate her? I assumed Wren was regretting marrying me. But could her quietness be due to the fact that she’s just nervous?
I think about how I acted at the house, dragging her outside, then telling her I was going to take away her freedom before I pushed her up against the wall and kissed her senseless. I wince. No wonder the poor girl’s terrified.
Wren gives a little sigh. Softening inside, I reach out and take her hand in mine. “It’s okay.”
She looks across at me. Her eyes look huge in the dim light.
“Have I told you that you look beautiful today?” I ask.
She gives a small smile. “A few hundred times.”
“Doesn’t matter, I’ll say it again. You look stunning.”
Her lips twist, and she lowers her eyes bashfully.
“I’m the luckiest man alive,” I tell her.
She tips her head back on the seat, blows out a long breath, and closes her eyes.
“How are you feeling?” I murmur, moving a strand of hair from her face.
“A bit dizzy.”
“Do you feel sick? I can ask Tane to stop.”
“No, I should be okay…” She sighs and lifts a hand to brush unsteadily over her face. “I’m sorry. I think I had too much champagne.”
I chuckle. “It’s your wedding day. I think it’s allowed.”
“It was a lovely day,” she whispers. “I didn’t let you down, did I?”
I frown, lifting her hand to kiss her fingers. “Of course not. Why would you think that?”
“You and your parents… you’ve been so good to me… and I wanted to do it right…”
“You did everything right, Wren.”
“I always screw everything up…”
“Not this. You were perfect.”
“Thank you for not changing your mind,” she murmurs.
“What?” It startles me. “I was never going to change my mind. I was worried you might not turn up.”
I don’t think she’s heard me. “All morning…” she continues hazily, “I thought they were going to come in and… tell me you’d called it off…”
“Babe…”
“I couldn’t believe it when… I saw you standing there… in your suit…” She leans toward me. “I’m not going to tell you how handsome you looked…”
“Aw…” I close my fingers around hers.
“My husband,” she whispers.
“Yep. All yours.”
She giggles and presses her fingers to her mouth. Then her eyes turn curious. “Are we really married?”
“’Fraid so.” I smile at Tane as he arrives at my apartment building. “Do you mind bringing her bags up for me, please?”
“Of course,” he says, heading into the underground car park and pulling up in the space with my name on it.
“Stay here,” I tell her, and I get out and walk around the car. I open the door and offer my hand.
She stares up at me. “Mrs. Ashford!”
I smirk and pull her up. “Yup. To love, honor, and obey.”
She pokes me in the chest. “I did not promise to obey.”
“I think you did. I distinctly remember it.” I glance at Tane, who’s chuckling as he gets the bag and case out.
“Wicked man,” she says, leaning against me. “You’re teasing me.”
“Maybe a little.” Tane shoulders Wren’s backpack and lifts out her case. We go into the elevator, and I swipe my card and press the button for the penthouse.
Wren leans her head on my shoulder. I kiss the top of her hair as the elevator rises smoothly up, and then smile at Tane.
“Are you taking the convertible tomorrow?” Tane asks.
“Yeah. We’ll leave mid-morning. It’s only a couple of hours, max.”
“Should be there by lunch.”
“Yeah.”
“Mrs. Maxwell getting everything ready for you?”
“Hopefully. Knowing her we’ll have enough food for six years.” We both chuckle.
Wren’s eyelids are drooping; she’s almost asleep. The elevator slows and stops, and the doors open.
“Come on, babe,” I say. “Nearly there.”
I hold onto her with one arm as we walk out into my apartment. Tane brings the case and backpack in and leaves them at the end of the corridor, next to my case, which is all packed and ready for the next day.
“Anything else I can do for you?” he asks.
“No, that’s fine, thank you.”
“Hope you have a great week, sir.”
“Thanks so much. And thanks for dropping us off tonight. Sorry it’s such a late one.”
“No problem at all. ’Night.”
He goes back into the elevator, and the doors close.
I look at Wren. She’s barely stirred.
Bending, I slide my hand beneath her legs and lift her into my arms.
“Come on,” I murmur. “Bed for you.”
I carry her through to my bedroom, stopping at the sight of the bedclothes covered in rose petals. More roses sit in a vase on the bedside table, along with champagne in a bucket of ice.
I sigh and look at her. Slowly, I lower her feet to the floor.
“Wren,” I say softly. “Time for bed.”
“Tired,” she says, sinking onto the mattress.
“I know.” I watch helplessly as she flops onto her back. Okay. I’ve put Caesar to bed several times in the past; I can do it for my wife.
Lifting up the layers of lace to expose her feet, I carefully take off her sandals. She mumbles something, but doesn’t complain.
I go out to the kitchen and retrieve a bottle of water, then look at the cases and backpack. She probably has a nightie in there, but I don’t want to go rummaging through her stuff. Leaving the case and bag there, I go back into the bedroom. She hasn’t moved.
I open the door to the walk-in wardrobe, fetch a T-shirt, and come back out.
“Wren,” I say firmly. “You need to take your dress off. Come on. You can put this on.” I take her hand and pull her to a sitting position. She groans, but lets me lift her to her feet.
Supporting her, I take her into the bathroom. “Can you take your dress off?” I ask, unclipping the circlet from her hair and leaving it on the side of the sink.
She manages to gather the skirts in her hands, but doesn’t have the coordination to lift it up her body. Taking a deep breath, I help her peel it up and over her head. A scatter of rose-petal confetti falls from it onto the tiles as I hang it carefully on the back of the door.
I turn back. She’s leaning against the sink, almost asleep on her feet. She’s wearing a beautiful set of cream underwear, and I swallow hard. Not now, Marcus.
“Here.” I help her slide her arms into the T-shirt and tug it over her head and down her pale body. It reaches past her ass, and I blow out a breath, relieved when she’s covered. I’ll have to leave her underwear on.
“Sweetheart, you gonna pee before you come to bed?” I hesitate, not sure whether to help.
“I’ll be fine,” she declares, focusing for a moment.
“I’ll wait outside.” I go out and pull the door closed. While I’m waiting, I slide off my jacket and hang it up, then pace up and down until she finally opens the bathroom door.
“How are you feeling?” I ask.
“Thirsty,” she mumbles.
“Come to bed.” I take her over to it, peel back the duvet, and she sits. I take the top off the water bottle and wait until she’s had a good drink. Then I help her lie back on the pillows.
“Mars…” she mumbles.
I sit on the edge of the bed.
Her eyes shine, and she presses her fingers to her lips. “I’m sorry.”
I smile and brush her hair back from her face. “It’s okay.”
“I’ve ruined everything,” she squeaks.
“Of course you haven’t. It’s one night. Tomorrow is a new day. We’re going to the farm. It’ll be fine.”
She wipes beneath her eyes. “I didn’t mean to ruin it.”
“You haven’t.”
“I was just… nervous.”
“I know.”
Her eyelids are drooping. “Kiss me,” she mumbles.
I hesitate. She moistens her lips with the tip of her tongue and looks up at me longingly. I want to kiss her more than anything… but I can’t, not like this.
Leaning forward, I kiss her forehead.
“Tease,” she mutters.
I chuckle. “Go to sleep.”
“Don’t go,” she murmurs.
“All right.”
I walk around the bed, climb on top of the covers, and sit back on the pillows. Wren rolls toward me, and I watch her curl up, her head tucked under my arm. I rest a hand on her shoulder. Her skin is warm and soft.
Lightly, I draw circles on her skin. She sighs.
Minutes later, she’s asleep.
I know she requested her own bedroom to sleep in. Equally, I don’t want to leave her in case she’s unwell in the night. And she’s my wife. I’m not going to leave.
I wait for about five minutes. Then, quietly, I get up, strip off my suit, and slide back under the duvet. I make sure to tuck it between us, and curl on my side facing her.
I don’t touch her. But I smile as my eyes close, and within moments, I’m asleep too.