Suddenly embarrassed, she tried to ease away from him, but his hands trailed down her back to her hips, moulding her to him and making her gasp and ache and move against him restlessly instead. ‘Tell me what you want, Audra.’
‘You,’ she whispered, meeting his gaze. He was right. There was no need for secrets or coyness or awkwardness. Not now. She loved him. And the fact that he loved her gave her wings. ‘I wanted to come here because this is where I want our first time to be.’ She lifted her chin. ‘And I want that first time to happen this afternoon.’
His eyes darkened even further. His nostrils flared, and he lifted a hand to toy with a button on her blouse, a question in his eyes.
She shook her head, her breath coming a little too fast. ‘No more kisses out in the open, thank you very much. I bet Lois Lane is still lurking around here somewhere. And one set of photographs in circulation is more than enough.’
He laughed.
She glanced down the hill at the outbuildings. ‘Why don’t you walk me through your plans for our home?’
He grinned a slow grin that sent her pulse skyrocketing, before sliding an arm about her waist and drawing her close as they walked down the slope. ‘What an excellent plan. I hope you don’t have anywhere you need to be for the next few hours, Princess. My plans are...big.’ He waggled his eyebrows. ‘And it’d be remiss of me to not show them to you in comprehensive detail.’
‘That,’ she agreed, barely able to contain her laughter and her joy, ‘would be very remiss of you.’
When they reached the threshold of what looked as if it were once a barn, he swung her up into his arms. ‘Welcome home, Princess.’
She wrapped her arms about his neck. He was her home. Gazing into his eyes, she whispered, ‘It’s a beautiful home, Finn. The best. I love it.’
His head blocked out the setting sun as it descended towards her, and she welcomed his kiss with everything inside her as they both started living the rest of their lives right now.
EPILOGUE
‘GO! GO, PAIDI MOU!’
Audra laughed as Maria shooed her in the direction of Finn, who was waiting beside a nearby barrel of flowers in full bloom. The town square was still full of happy holidaymakers and very satisfied vendors.
‘You listen to my wife, Audra,’ Angelo said with a wide grin. ‘Your husband wants to spend some time with his beautiful wife. Go and drink some wine and eat some olives, and bask in the satisfaction of what you’ve achieved over the last three days.’
‘What we’ve achieved,’ she corrected. ‘And there’s still things to—’
‘We have it under control,’ Maria told her with a firm nod. ‘You work too hard. Go play now.’
Audra submitted with a laugh, and affectionate pecks to the cheeks of the older couple who’d become so very dear to both her and Finn during the last fourteen months since they’d moved to the island.
As if afraid she’d change her mind and head back to work, Finn sauntered across to take her hand. As always, it sent a thrill racing through her. Her husband. A sigh of pure appreciation rose through her.
‘You make her put her feet up, Finn,’ Maria ordered.
He saluted the older woman, and, sliding an arm around Audra’s shoulders, led her down towards the harbour. Audra slipped her arm around his waist, leaning against him and relishing his strength. They’d been married for eight whole months, but she still had to pinch herself every day.
Standing on tiptoe, she kissed him. ‘I think we can safely say the festival went well.’
‘It didn’t just go well, Princess.’ He grinned down at her. ‘It’s been a resounding success. The festival committee has pulled off the event of the year.’
She stuck her nose in the air. ‘The event of the year was our wedding, thank you very much.’ They’d been married here on the island in the tiny church, and it had been perfect.
His grin widened. ‘Okay, it was the second biggest event of the year. And there are plans afoot for next year already.’
He found a vacant table at Thea Laskari’s harbourside taverna. ‘I promised Thea you’d be across for her kataifi.’
They’d no sooner sat than a plate of the sweet nutty pastry was placed in front of them, along with a carafe of sparkling water. ‘Yum!’ She’d become addicted to these in recent weeks.
‘On the house,’ Ami, the waitress, said with a smile. ‘Thea insists. If we weren’t so busy she’d be out here herself telling everyone how fabulous the festival has been for business.’ Ami glanced around the crowded seating area with a grin. ‘I think we can safely predict that the festival cheer will continue well into the night. Thea sends her love and her gratitude.’