God, yes. There was absolutely no way she could face all those people again.
“I can’t carry her, it would draw too much attention, but I’m not sure she can walk.”
“I can walk,” she said, her voice reed thin even to her own ears.
“I’ve got an idea. I’ll start the speeches early. Mum, you runinterference between here and the main doors. William, you help Juniper.”
“Good plan. Let’s go.”
“I’m so sorry.”
Gwen bent down and kissed Juniper on the forehead. “Don’t you dare start that. You just let William look after you.”
CHAPTER 25
William
William helped Juniper to her feet, feeling a little shaky himself. God, she’d scared the shit out of him. He’d never seen her like that. Her face pale as death, her eyes enormous and dark and that choking sound she had been making when he got to the bathroom. He’d almost rather help her give birth again than watch her go through that. “Come on, honey.” With his arm around her waist, William half carried Juniper out the door that Gwen was holding open for them. Cassie had successfully pulled everyone’s attention away from the main doors by taking to the stage.
They were up in the suite in no time. He sat her down on the couch and went to the drinks trolley and poured her a straight brandy. She shook her head when he held it out to her. “Take it. You’ll feel better.” She looked up at him, her eyes huge and haunted, her face still deathly pale. “Take it, honey, please.” She took it and knocked it back in one shot, wincing as she handed the glass back to him. It seemed to bring a little color back to her cheeks and her hands were shaking less. “Come on. I know what you need.”
He led her to the bathroom, running the shower as hot as he thought she could stand. Then he removed the pins from her hair, running his fingers through it to loosen it, kneeling to remove her shoes, helping her out of the dress. Then he quickly stripped off and stepped into the shower, pulling her with him. He wrapped his arms around her, and she sighed as the hot water washed over her. He stroked her hair gently and kissed the top of her head. She made a sound, a half-strangled sob and he tightened his hold. “Let it out, honey.”
She did, wrapping her arms around his neck, burying her face in his neck and bawling her eyes out. There was nothing he could do but hold her while she rode it out, so that’s what he did.
She took a deep, shuddering breath as the sobs subsided. “I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t say that.”
“I feel like such an idiot.”
“Don’t say that either.”
“I didn’t look like me. Isn’t that stupid? I got so upset because I looked in the mirror and I didn’t look like me.”
He understood what she meant because although she had looked absolutely lovely and perfect for the occasion, she really didn’t look anything like he was used to seeing her, with her crazy curls that he loved so much and her flower child dresses. He leaned back a little but she kept her head down so he crooked a finger under her chin, tilting her face up to his. His heart cracked a little at the expression in her eyes. Desolate was the word that came to mind. Not knowing what else to do, he reached for the shampoo, squirting some in his palm and rubbing his hands together before pushing his fingers into her hair, washing it and giving her scalp a massage at the same time. At least he could wash the gunk out for her.
When he was finished, he turned the taps off and reached for a towel, wrapping it around her before getting one for himself. He got another towel and squeezed as much water out of her hair as he could then he dried them both off and led her to the bed.
Once under the covers, she nestled against him. At least she wasn’t bone chillingly cold anymore. They were lying face to face, he had one arm under her pillow and the other resting lightly on her hip. She wriggled closer, hooking her leg over him, sighing as she pushed her fingers into his hair, searching for his lips with her own.
“Juniper?”
“Please, William.”
He couldn’t resist her. He didn’t want to resist her. Sliding his hand from her hip, up her back, into her hair, he kissed her. She pushed her tongue into his mouth a little desperately, but he slowed her down, kissing her with heartbreaking tenderness. He swept his hand down her body in soft, soothing strokes. She sighed into his mouth as his hand found her breast, cupping her gently. He eased her onto her back, just giving her those soft, drugging kisses for the longest time before breaking away, pressing light, wet kisses down her neck, across her breasts, down her stomach until he was nestled between her legs. He ran his tongue lightly over her clitoris, his senses filled with the taste of her, the scent of her, this woman who he loved so much. He worked on her until he felt the tension building within her, pushing her until the pleasure cascaded through her and she came with a soft sigh. Then he moved up her body until he was kissing her again, tangling his tongue with hers so she could taste herself. She wrapped her arms and legs around him, clinging to him, and he slipped inside her, all warm and wet as she was. He never stopped kissing her as he moved inside her, pushing her up again with long, deep strokes until she stiffened against him, her head falling backagainst his arm, her legs tightening around his waist. Only then did he let himself go.
After a little while, he rolled off her onto his back. He pulled her against his side and she rested her head on his shoulder, placing her hand over his still thudding heart. He listened as her breathing deepened and she drifted off to sleep. But he couldn’t sleep. He lay there staring into the darkness, a slick ball of dread building in his gut, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.
CHAPTER 26
William
“You’re different here.” She said quietly without looking at him. She was staring out over the harbor, her robe pulled tight as she sat across the breakfast table from him, not touching her food.
“Am I?”
She nodded, keeping her gaze averted. He wanted to push her, but he was too afraid he knew what she meant, so he let it lie.
