“I should go back to my bed.” She yawned.
“I will get you there before the sun rises. For now, I want to hold you.”
He held her back to his front, both arms wrapped around her. He’d never slept with a woman like this before and knew it would not feel this way with anyone but Kate… his love. He didn’t know what this meant for him, or her, only that he couldn’t walk away from her now… or ever.
“I love you, Rory.” Her words were sleepy. He felt the smile tug at his lips as his eyes began to close.
So this was what it felt like to be loved.
Chapter Nineteen
Christmas Day, and Alice and Nicholas’s wedding day, dawned clear but cold. Snow had fallen and dappled the ground. Kate woke in her room and had a vague memory of Rory rousing her, then forcing her into her nightdress, slippers, and dressing gown. He’d then walked her back to her room. She’d slipped inside after a last kiss and fallen straight back into a deep sleep.
Now she was traveling with her sister to the church on Raven mountain, where they would wed, then the family would have a celebration for both Christmas and their nuptials.
“Are you nervous, Alice?”
“No. I love Nicholas and cannot wait for us to be together always.”
Her sister looked beautiful in ivory satin, with a heavy emerald cloak on top. Her hair was pinned with tiny diamonds, and she wore a circlet of white flowers on her head.
“You look stunning.” Kate dabbed her handkerchief to her nose.
“You’re not going to start weeping, are you?” Wolf was a large, calming presence at Alice’s side. Her hand was in his, clasped tight as the carriage rolled down Raven Mountain.
“Very likely,” Kate sniffed. “People cry when they are happy.”
“But there is more than your sister’s wedding making you happy, isn’t there, Kate?” She was subjected to an intense look from her siblings.
“This is Alice’s wedding day. We have no need to discuss anything but that.”
“I don’t mind, and it will take my mind off things.”
“I thought you weren’t nervous,” Kate said.
“I am a bit. So tell me, have you and Rory finally realized you love each other? He certainly seemed happy when I passed him in the hallway this morning.”
“I see the church,” Kate said, looking out the window.
“You love each other,” Wolf said in a flat tone that suggested he wasn’t sure how he felt about that. “And he’s a Raven, so that’s in his favor. What I want to know is when you had time to have a discussion about your feelings for each other.”
“Don’t be stuffy, Wolf, it is enough they share their love and Kate is happy. There is no need to dwell on anything but that.”
“It is a wonder I am not gray-haired because of what you both put me through.”
“And yet there you sit, handsome as always with your black silken Sinclair locks.” Alice beamed.
Wolf sighed. “Oh, very well, I will yield. It’s not like I ever had a say in anything either of you want.”
“I do love him,” Kate said softly. “And he loves me.”
“Well then,” Alice said, “nothing more need be said.”
“It appears not.” Wolf sighed again.
Rory satwith Max on one side and Rose the other in the small church.
He’d woken smiling this morning, light inside, and happier than he could ever remember feeling. He didn’t know exactly what the future held, only that it would now hold Kate and his family.
