The room echoed with her words, and Oskar let out a relieved breath, pressing his lips to her forehead. Lifting her hand, he slid the wedding band onto Lily’s finger, his movements sure and steady.
Her heart raced as she did the same for him. It fit perfectly—just like they did.
The celebrant raised her hands and declared solemnly, “I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
The words were met with applause and Oskar’s grin stretched from ear-to-ear, his happiness infectious.
“You may now kiss the bride,” the celebrant continued.
The words reached her ears as if from a great distance. Oskar leaned in slowly, giving her time to close her eyes and tilt her head at just the right angle.
Their lips met in a kiss that was both sweet and passionate, like a promise of all the days yet to come. Cheers erupted around them. Oskar wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.
“Thank ye for marrying me,” he whispered.
She gave him a teary smile. “Thank you for asking me.”
Arm in arm, they made their way outside into the warm summer afternoon and strolled around, greeting their guests and chatting. Music played as people milled around, talking and laughing, enjoying the sunshine and the joy of the day. Lily spotted Anna trying to teach a baffled Emeric some modern dance moves. She had to laugh at his confused expression.
After they had greeted everyone but before the banquet started, they slipped away for a moment and strolled down a wooded path in the hotel grounds, leaves rustling in the breeze. Lily kept her hand firmly wrapped around her new husband’s. Husband. She could still barely believe it.
“I could stay here a hundred years and never get used to it,” Oskar remarked, gesturing around them. “The clothes, the speech, the metal carriages racing about. It’s like nothing I couldimagine. Everything moves as quick as a hare. I feel dizzy with it all.”
Lily smiled. “Don’t worry, we’ll be going home soon.”
Oskar turned her to face him, his arms encircling her waist. “No second thoughts?”
“Never.”
Oskar’s eyes searched hers. “I’ll stay here with ye, if that is yer wish,” he said earnestly. “I was only joking about never getting used to it. Ye need only say the word.”
She reached up to caress his cheek. “No. Our home is in your time. I like who I am there. I’m stronger. Better. It’s where I’m meant to be.”
If ye have the courage to take it, it will lead ye to the place where ye will find yerself, and to the person who will show ye who ye really are.
Shehadtaken the path Irene had set out for her and she had found who and where she was meant to be. Would Irene be pleased?
Oskar smiled. “I like who ye are no matter what time we are in.”
He drew Lily close and brought his lips to hers. Lily melted against him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
And that was it. It was as though a dam had broken loose and desire and need came flooding through Lily in a tidal wave. The kiss deepened, his hands began to roam and caress with growing urgency and Lily knew Oskar wanted her as badly as she suddenly wanted him.
She didn’t resist when he gently laid her down among the soft grasses or when he began pulling at her clothes. In fact, she helped him, eagerly tossing her garments away, wanting nothing between them but hot skin.
As he pulled off his shirt, Lily ran her hands over the muscled expanse of Oskar’s shoulders, taking in the feel of warmskin under her fingertips. His eyes studied her, darkening with desire. Then he leaned forward and cradled her face in his rough hands, his calloused fingers caressing her cheeks as his lips descended on hers again. This kiss was slower, deeper, but no less passionate than before.
Part of her said that they ought to wait until their wedding night and that they had guests waiting but Lily couldn’t have stopped now if she’d tried. She’d spent last night away from him as tradition dictated and that was more than enough. She wanted him badly. She had to have him.
Her breath hitched as he kissed his way down her neck, his stubble dragging lightly across her skin in a delicious friction that had her arching towards him.
“Oskar,” she gasped, her fingers tangling in his hair. Her pulse raced, her senses filled with him—his scent, warm and masculine, the gentle pressure of his lips on her skin, the feel of his body, strong and solid against hers.
“Ye’re beautiful, Lily,” he breathed, his voice a low rumble that echoed in the quiet woods. He pushed her onto her back and moved over her, his body aligning with hers in a way that felt perfectly right.
Her world, for that moment, became the small patch of grass beneath them, the leafy canopy overhead, and the man above her. She didn’t care about anything else.
He placed his hands to either side of her face and looked down at her. She had always loved the light blue of his eyes but now they were dark like indigo, full of desire. It sent heat pooling into her stomach.
