He wanted to believe in another life where he could have his woman for more than the short time it appeared they had left, but if he didn’t ever get that, he would celebrate every second with her now.
Shylah looked up at him, her eyes swimming in liquid, making them so dark brown they looked like chocolate. “I love you with all my heart, Draden, and I’ll always be your woman. You made me dare to dream, to feel real emotion. You make me laugh when the world is crashing in on me. You showed me what love was when I had no real idea.”
She swallowed hard and a tear like a beautiful diamond dripped down her face. Her voice was soft but clear. Trembling but firm. “I take you as my husband and promise I’ll be faithful and always at your side throughout our life together, whether that’s in sickness or in health.”
Her voice shook and Draden stepped closer to her, tightening his hold on her hands. The little tremor sweeping through her body made him want to gather her close and shelter her for all time in his heart.
Shylah took a deep breath to get control. “This love may not have the luxury of burning long, but it will burn bright. You will always be the man for me, the true love of my life.”
The look she gave him was radiant, although tearful. He slipped the ring on her finger, the one he wanted there because he was a traditional kind of man. Who knew? He gave her the ring to put on his finger. When he worked, he probably wouldn’t be wearing it, at least not on his finger, but he’d have it on a chain around his neck.
They were pronounced man and wife, and then he was kissing her, vaguely hearing the cheers in the background. She had given herself to him as fully as he’d given himself to her.
15
After talking with all their friends via computer, Draden gathered his woman into his arms and kissed her thoroughly again before dancing to the music playing in the background. Holding her in his arms, close to him, gave him a sense of peace, or rightness, and brought every cell in his body alive.
“It’s a damn good thing I’m wearing this jacket,” he declared, pulling her even closer as he whirled her around the room. “I wouldn’t want to put all the soldiers on alert.”
She laughed, the sound more like music than the song playing. She had removed the headdress for the dance and her hair was tangling in the stubble already growing on his jaw, although he’d shaved that morning. He loved that, the way those gleaming strands wove them together. He’d never believed in soul mates until he’d found her. She was it for him. She always would be.
“I rather like the idea that you want me.”
He heard the little note that didn’t ever belong in her voice. The one that said she wasn’t as confident as she let on. He looked down at her. “Look at me, sweetheart.”
She kept her head pressed against his chest for a moment, clearly gathering courage, and then her eyes met his. Shyness was there for certain. Where before she’d been a bold seductress, now she was unsure of herself. Had he done that?
“I’ve wanted you every minute of every day. Sometimes, baby, it was pure hell keeping my hands off you. I held out hope you didn’t have the virus. You weren’t exhibiting a single symptom while I was. I know we kissed and that should have cemented the fact that you were infected, but I couldn’t be sure. If I’d acted on the way I felt, and I was the cause of your death, that would have been the worst possible thing I could imagine. Loving you and causing you to die. I wasn’t getting worse, and I knew they pumped me full of that shit. There was a chance I was fighting it off.”
“So, you decided you had to protect me.” Her long lashes fanned her cheek, drawing his attention to her delicate bone structure and the smattering of freckles that he wanted to kiss one by one.
“Absolutely I did.” He couldn’t help himself—it was sheer indulgence, but he did kiss every freckle of gold that matched the gleaming metal at her throat.
“You’re so crazy, and you missed a few big opportunities.”
The teasing note slid down his spine like fingers. His cock reacted, growing harder. The ache was becoming a distinct pain. “We’ve got to go. Get out of here. I need you alone.”
“I’m not protesting.” Her eyes took on a mischievous glint and that quirky mouth of hers gave him a million ideas. “I’m the one who practiced all sorts of things and I believe you’re going to benefit from my studies.”
“We’re out of here,” he said to the camera.
A cheer went up, and he made a point of waving at them to let them know he’d been waiting long enough to be alone with her. It was all he could think about. Shylah teasing him only made him need her that much more. He shut down the cameras and music and held out his hand. Shylah placed hers in his without hesitation.
Night had fallen while they were inside, and the sounds were soothing after all the noise of conversations and well-wishers. Neither of them had been around other people for a few days, and he hadn’t realized how they lived with just the sounds of the forest. He was used to the swamp sounds, which meant he spent more time in it than out of it.
“I want the chance to show you my home. The swamp is beautiful in its own way, Shylah. I like being away from everyone, all the noise that drowns out the sounds, that brings peace. I go out at night and run so I’m part of what’s out there, instead of being locked indoors.”
He took his time, enjoying walking with her close to him. The moon spilled down on them, making the gold in her dress shimmer and gleam. Every now and then a beam caught on the rubies at her throat and ears, turning the gems into fiery blazes. Even that caused a reaction in his body. He forced himself to walk slowly, to take in everything, to memorize each moment with her. He never wanted to forget even the smallest detail about their day.
“Thank you for this, Draden. I have no idea how you pulled this off, but it was the most beautiful, amazing day any woman could possibly wish for.”
He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. “I wanted you to have a wedding day, Shylah. You deserved it.”
“You brought Zara and Bellisia to the ceremony.”
“I can perform magic once in a while.” They moved together on the narrow path leading to the ranger’s cabin. It was in sight now, the moon giving it a kind of halo in the high humidity. The air felt sultry. Hot. Or maybe it was his need of her. He wanted out of his clothes, and he wanted her out of that beautiful, formfitting dress.
On the porch of the ranger’s cabin were two cases clearly holding food. As another surprise, Joe had catered a small dinner for the two of them and the cases had been set on the porch of the ranger’s cabin by two soldiers dressed in hazmat suits. They were long gone before Draden and Shylah arrived.
Draden picked up Shylah, skirted the cases and opened the door. He carried her over the threshold, promising himself if they got back to the swamp, he would do it again to officially welcome her to their home. She settled her arms around his neck and when he went to put her on her feet, she kissed him.
He was already hot and the moment her lips moved against his, his head seemed to explode. He barely managed to kick the door closed before he was carefully undoing the bhaku and casting it aside, still kissing her. Over and over. He couldn’t stop. Couldn’t get enough of her. He managed, while he kissed her, to shrug out of the jacket and his own bhaku, leaving just his golden trousers. If he wanted her, he had to lift his head and take care of business, but his mouth had other ideas.
Shylah was left with just the golden sarong and the ruby necklace and earrings. Her skin had a glow to it. Shylah had high firm breasts, full and rounded, and he didn’t hesitate. Both hands cupped the soft weight and he kissed his way down her chin to her left breast. She tasted like heaven.
“Take the sarong off, sweetheart, and then my trousers.” He wasn’t going to sacrifice one minute of having her body to a mundane task, although removing her clothes could be sexy as hell under any other circumstances. He toed off the loafers he’d worn to speed up the process of getting rid of anything between the two of them.
&nbs
p; Shylah gasped when his fingers tugged at her right nipple while his tongue and teeth worked her left. Her breath hitched and then rushed out with a little keening cry that got him right in the cock.
“Hurry.” It was a command. An order. Almost a plea, but he felt her hands drop to his trousers, loosening them so they would drop around his ankles where he could kick them off.