❧
The night air was crisp and clear. Hundreds of stars lighted up the sky, and Brandi lifted her face. "What a beautiful night."
"You aren't going to get off that lightly. No changing the subject." After making sure she was safely inside the car, he closed the door and walked around to the driver's side. After closing the door, he reached for her the way a hungry man reaches for a long-awaited meal.
"I love you so much," he muttered, pulling her to him. His kiss reinforced his words.
Brandi felt as though the world had suddenly exploded into a kaleidoscope of color. This kiss was not the friendly kiss he had given her each night before leaving her for the night. This kiss made leaving a sacrilege. This kiss could go on for eternity with very little effort.
When Greg finally raised his head, his face was flushed and his hair had been disarranged by Brandi's fingers.
"Let's go home," he suggested quietly.
She nodded.
When they walked into the house, neither one of them spoke. Greg slipped her coat off and hung it in the hall closet. "Would you like some coffee or something?" he asked, like a gracious host.
Brandi shook her head.
Greg led her into the living room and guided her to the sofa. As soon as she was seated he sat down beside her, taking her hands in his. "Brandi, if you aren't willing to marry me, tell me now. I have to know-Did you mean what you said earlier?"
She nodded. "I think I must have fallen in love with you the first time you kissed me, in the snow, even if I didn't realize it at the time."
"Oh, Brandi," he whispered.
Brandi felt his arms enfold her, and she felt that she was surrounded by the wonderful haven of his love. His kiss was so tender it brought tears to her eyes. How could she possibly resist this kind and sensitive man? Buried deep inside him was that young child who had never experienced unconditional love. Brandi's heart seemed to expand with a surge of feeling for him.
When he finally pulled away from her, they were both trembling. Greg's voice broke when he started to speak. He cleared his throat and in a husky tone said, "I know I'm rushing you, but I'm so afraid of losing you. I don't want to take that chance."
"I don't feel rushed at all," she admitted with a smile.
"You have no idea how badly I want to make love to you, Brandi. But I want you to be mine when I do. Can you understand that? I want our first night together to be perfect. I want to know that you want and love me as much as I want and love you. I couldn't bear to make love to you, then lose you."
Brandi placed her hand along his jaw. "You aren't going to lose me, Greg. I promise."
"I've got to go to St. Louis for a trial next week. I know I'm rushing you, but would you go with me? We could have the judge marry us. I don't want to wait any longer than I have already."
Brandi was aware of the tight rein he was holding on his emotions. She knew this was important to Greg. She didn't need the public vows and the signed document. Her commitment had already been made to him.
However, she could better understand him since Tim had explained about his background. His first engagement also played an important role in how he felt now. He didn't want a long engagement, a large wedding, a reminder of his past.
Brandi knew that she loved him enough to agree to whatever he wanted.
"I'll marry you, Greg. Whenever and wherever you want."
B
randi stood in the judge's chambers and glanced around as though she were in a dream. She was becoming used to the sensation. In the past four days she had often felt as though she would wake up any minute and find herself at home, would discover that everything that had been happening to her was the result of her vivid imagination and too much rich food.
She looked across the room at the man she had met a few short weeks ago, the man she had just married. He was deep in discussion with the judge who had performed the ceremony.
Brandi focused her attention on the rings that nestled on the third finger of her left hand. The engagement ring had been placed there three days ago, the day they had arrived in St. Louis. Greg had wasted no time in starting the paperwork, arranging the blood tests and purchasing her rings.
The trial that they had come to St. Louis for had been postponed because the judge was in the midst of another trial that had run over from the week before. In fact, that trial was the topic of discussion between Greg and the judge at the moment.
Brandi almost laughed at the situation. Somehow Greg had managed to sandwich the wedding ceremony between his other appointments. How like him! If she hadn't loved him so much, she would have wanted to point out that his distracted interest in their union was not the most romantic attitude she could wish for in her groom.
But she did love him, and she wanted to be a part of his life, regardless of how much or how little of his time she shared. She knew he loved her. She also knew he had a well-organized, fully established life that had nothing to do with her. She couldn't expect him to change. She could only love him just the way he was.
Greg nodded at something the judge said, shook hands with him, then strode across the room to Brandi. He smiled as he took her arm and started toward the doorway. "Ready to go?" he asked, opening the door.
Brandi looked over her shoulder at the judge, who was already donning his robe to return to the courtroom. "Yes. Where are we going?"
He grinned. "You're asking a brand-new bridegroom where he's taking his bride? I thought I'd been too obvious to leave any doubt in your mind."
She could feel her face flush at the obvious look of desire in his face. "What about the trial?"
They came out of the courthouse and headed toward Greg's car. "The judge expects this one to be over this afternoon. Therefore ours will begin at nine in the morning."
"Don't you have to get ready for it?"
He helped her in the car. "Honey, that's all I've been doing since we got back from Colorado. I'm ready for the trial." He paused and touched her cheek lightly with his finger. "I'm also more than ready to get this marriage started."
Brandi watched as he walked around the car and got in. One thing she could say about Greg was that he had great powers of concentration. Now that he was concentrating on her, she felt that she was vibrating from the intensity of his attention.
They drove to the condominium where he stayed while in St. Louis. It was located high above the downtown area, with a view of the Mississippi River and St. Louis's famous arch.
Since they'd been in town, Greg had shown her the sights, and had taken her for a marvelous dinner at one of the restaurants located in the Union Station mall. She'd been fascinated by the artwork displayed there.
"Did you get in touch with Tim?" she asked in hopes of diffusing some of the tension that seemed to fill the car.
"I tried, but couldn't reach him."
"Then he doesn't know we're married?"
"He isn't going to be surprised. I told him when he called on Saturday that this was what I wanted."
She smiled. "And he didn't try to talk you out of it?"
"He knew better." Greg reached over and took her hand, rubbing his thumb across the rings he had placed there. '"I've rushed you, haven't I?"
"I don't mind."
"But you deserved so much more—a big wedding, a white gown—"
"I'm not Penny, Greg. No matter how we would have planned it, you are the only man I've ever loved, ever wanted to marry.''
He took her hand in his. "I didn't realize I was being so obvious."
"I'm sorry about the past, Greg, but I'm glad you weren't married when we met."
"So am I. It scares me to think about not having you as part of my life."
They pulled into the underground parking lot of his building, got out of the car and walked over to the elevator. Brandi glanced at her watch. "It's only two o'clock. It seems strange to have you here in the middle of the day. Are you sure there isn't something you're supposed to be doing at your office?"
He grinned. "Positive. Why do I get the feeling that you're trying to get rid of me?" They stepped into the elevator, and Greg punched the number to his floor.
She shook her head and watched the numbers of the floors they passed flash by. "I suppose I'm just nervous. I'm not really very experienced at this sort of thing."
"Neither am I. I've never been married before."
She shook her head. "I just don't want to disappoint you."
The doors opened slowly, and they stepped into the hallway. Greg already had his key out. They walked to the door in silence. After unlocking it, he motioned for her to precede him into the foyer.
They had been staying here for the last few nights. Once again, Brandi had been occupying the guest bedroom. Now she had no reason to continue to sleep alone. She turned to Greg.
''I'm being silly, I know."
"You're being adorable, as usual," he said, sliding his arms around her waist. "I apologize for my Neanderthal behavior, love. I'll admit it. All I could think about was being alone with you... without interruption. I didn't mean to frighten you."
Her arms crept around his neck. "I could never be frightened of you, Greg. I love you. I want to learn how to express that love. Show me how."
Never in his life had anyone looked at Greg with so much love and trust. He could feel a trembling deep within himself that he could only pray wouldn't reveal itself to her. Surely it wasn't traditionally the bridegroom who trembled.
He loved her so much. He wanted everything between them to be perfect from this day forward. Greg picked her up and carried her into his bedroom. At long last, she was where she belonged, where he had wanted her to be since the first day they had met.
Slowly he allowed her feet to touch the floor so that she was standing only a few inches from him. Then, for the first time since the wedding ceremony, Greg leaned down and kissed her.
Brandi felt as though she had been waiting for days for his kiss. Not since Saturday night had he kissed her with so much feeling, so much passion and fervor. Since coming to St. Louis he'd reverted to the chaste good-night kisses that had almost driven her out of her mind.
Now he showed no reserve whatsoever. The heat they were generating at the moment raised the temperature of the room several degrees. By the time he reluctantly raised his head, Brandi knew her knees were not going to hold her weight.
She sat down on the side of the bed and looked up at him helplessly. He knelt beside her.
"You okay?"
She nodded. His face was flushed, and his eyes glittered m the afternoon light. Without thinking, she brushed her fingers through his thick hair. Then she reached for his tie and began to loosen it.
He looked gorgeous today, the well-fitted suit contrasting beautifully with his shirt and tie. And yet all Brandi could think about at the moment was how good he looked without them. Following her instincts, she quickly unbuttoned his shirt so that she could touch his bare chest.
When her fingers touched him, she felt his reaction and her eyes met his.
Greg felt as though his heart were going to explode from its rapid beating. Brandi's touch seemed to bring his body to a quivering awareness. Quickly he shrugged out of his jacket and shirt, giving her more room to explore.
He found the zipper to her dress, slowly moving it from her neck, down her spine and to her hips. The dress fell away as though its presence were no longer necessary, the warm woolen material giving way to his masculine warmth.
In less than a minute he had Brandi totally disrobed and under the covers. After removing his shoes, socks and suit pants, Greg joined her.
"This does have a certain sense of familiarity to it, doesn't it?" he asked, pulling her into his arms.
He was right. Their bodies adjusted to each other as though from years of habit.
"Only this time we're not asleep," Brandi managed to say, a little breathlessly.
"Were you thinking about taking a nap?" he asked, tracing the gentle curves beneath his fingers.
"The thought never crossed my mind," she responded honestly.
"Good," he murmured with a great deal of satisfaction. Then there were no more words, unless their soft murmurs of pleasure could be considered as such.
Greg took his time experiencing the fantasies that had filled his head about Brandi since he'd first met her. He kissed and caressed each and every part of her body, coming to know her and enjoy her, revealing to her the wonderful secrets her body had harbored while she'd waited for the right man to come along, the man with the right touch and the right timing to share with her all that she needed to learn about her own sexuality.
By the time Greg had moved above her, Brandi had lost all of her self-consciousness. She had imitated his explorations, learning his body and its responses to her touch. Her body had taken over, eagerly awaiting each step on the journey to fulfillment.
Greg's patience with her was rewarded. As he took careful possession of her she relaxed and absorbed him, accepting the natural culmination of all that they felt and shared.
Brandi marveled in the sensations she continued to experience as Greg showed her how beautiful an experience their coming together could be. He made love to her gently, but with an intensity that left no doubt that she was more important to him than anyone or anything else in his life.
Brandi felt the tension continue to mount within her as she followed his lead. Never had she experienced anything like the wonderful sensations he was evoking. She felt as though the two of them had been lifted up high above the universe to experience all that was there for two lovers to enjoy.
She let out a soft cry as her body seemed to contract and then expand, and she felt as though she were melting and becoming a part of him. Her cry seemed to be a signal to Greg, for as she held him tightly, he groaned, making one last convulsive lunge before rolling to her side and collapsing against the pillow.
So that was what lovemaking was all about, Brandi thought with a small sigh of pleasure. The complete giving of oneself to another. That intimate sharing in which hearts, minds and bodies intermingled. How could she possibly have thought that she didn't need such a sharing in her life?
Within moments they were asleep.