Ana repeated his vow-like words as tears began to drip down her cheeks.“Pedro, I promise you that I will be support for you through thedificuldades y gozosof life.Through the moments of difficulty and the moments of joy, the moments of pain and the moments of peace.”
“And we have lived through so much already,” Peter said, his chuckle tinged with sadness.
Ana nodded.“And I promise to give you a life offelicidad y amor.”
He repeated her words, meaning every one with sincerity, even if he was not entirely certain how he would bring them to pass.
Felicidad y amor.Happiness and love.Peter’s chest constricted.How long had those feelings felt so out of reach?And yet light was breaking through years of darkness as a small hope bubbled up in him.If anyone would be capable of bringing love to his home, it was Ana.Peter leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of Ana’s head as she leaned into his shoulder, wrapping her arms around his.He wanted to linger in the warmth of her closeness, wanted to press a kiss to a number of locations other than merely the adorable curls on her head.But he would not ruin the sentimental moment by getting ahead of himself.
That is, until Ana interrupted their quiet contemplation herself by shifting to stand in front of him, their torsos pressed together, until they were helplessly wrapped in the shining white cords.“Ay, que error!” she said, her eyes full of laughter and her brows raised in feigned innocence.“We are tied together!Oh no!”
Peter chuckled nervously, “My dear, what will we do?”
“Está bien, I am sure you will get free of this...perhaps tomorrow.”She raised her eyebrow suggestively, teasingly.
He was now entirely certain that she would be able to feel his heart pounding through his chest.It nearly drowned out her voice, it was so loud in his ears.What on earth could she be trying to accomplish?
“Pedro, you forget one thing soimportante.”
His stomach dropped in panic, and the excitement of her nearness dampened significantly.“Oh no, do tell me what it is.”
“You need to kiss your bride!”
That request was entirely surprising but not entirely unexpected.Ana certainly was one for tradition.Still, Peter found himself entirely frozen in shock, his arms not knowing how to embrace his wife, much less pull her in for a kiss.Their first kiss at their first wedding was certainly not romantic or emotional, and now that some of those feelings had developed, he hadn’t the faintest idea of how to react.He searched her face for any of the wide-eyed panic that he had seen beneath the kissing bough, but her eyes were clear and bright, her smile peaceful.He had no desire to kiss Ana if it would cause her to remember such painful moments.But could it be that she had begun to leave those memories in the past?
“Are you entirely certain?”
“Yes.”Her voice was firm and steady.“Pedro, we areesposos.You are my husband.It is right to desire to kiss you, no?”
“Well, yes.”Peter’s face was flaming—he could feel it.“I simply want to ensure that you are comfortable, given your...past experiences.I would never want to experience any discomfort in my company.And if that requires that I maintain a safe distance from you, I will willingly do so without complaint...”
“No.Peter, I need you.I need your touch.”Ana placed her hands gently on his cheeks and stared into his eyes for a moment.“This helps me to feel safe—more safe than when you are not with me.”
Still, he hesitated.He had sworn never to frighten or harm her.But had she not just given her consent, her invitation?
Luckily, Ana moved for him.She brushed her lips against his with enough tenderness to draw tears to Peter’s eyes, which was not an easy feat.She pulled away for a moment and stared at him, vulnerability written in the blush on her cheeks and the brightness in her eyes.But before Peter could put to words his surprise and delight or apologize for his lack of experience, she covered his lips with hers again, this time looping her hands around his neck.Her lips were full, soft, and distractingly warm.Peace rose in Peter upon feeling closer to Ana than he had ever thought possible.For countless years, Peter had neglected every relationship of value in his life and had filled that void with an incessantly busy schedule, causing his quick rise in the army.But no victory or position compared to the deep contentedness that flooded him upon holding Ana in his arms.And upon feeling her closeness, countless memories raced through his mind.Passing Ana at camp, while fumbling to squeak out a word or two in Spanish to her.Watching her confidently and gracefully navigate complex communications in multiple languages.Seeing her walk down the aisle to marry him, her expression heartbreaking and beautiful.And kissing her for the first time as man and wife—a small, innocent peck that altered his life irrevocably.
After the initial surprise of Ana’s touch and the emotion of the memories wore off, Peter realized that he was kissing his wife, a moment he had dreamed of for longer than he cared to admit to himself.And that realization seemed to blessedly thaw him.He wasted no more time in wrapping his arms around her, slightly constrained as they were by the cords that still surrounded them.He threaded one hand through her hair and cupped the other around her growing waistline.Involuntarily, he sighed into their kiss.Her lips were perfection.Ana pulled back, laughing, and he brushed a kiss against her conveniently exposed throat.It would seem her throat was also perfection.Peter tested her cheek.Again, perfection.He returned to her lips, all his resolve completely dissolved.Yes, he was startled to discover that he most thoroughly enjoyed kissing his wife.This would be a new weakness of his, it would seem.
Finally, Ana pulled back from his grasp.“Wait, I haveuna pregunta.”
“Yes?”
“Why you take the berry from the kissing bough?”Her lips curved teasingly, but her eyes were genuinely curious.
Peter felt his face burn.He hadn’t realized she noticed him do so.“They say that if a man kisses a woman beneath the kissing bough, that he should take a berry as a sort of proof.Or remembrance.Perhaps it shall bring us luck.”
“Yes, I believe it bring us thisbuena suerte.Because you kiss me, I be so lucky,no?”
And Peter found it a good opportunity to pull her close again.
Feeling her nearness and tasting her sweetness was as dangerously intoxicating as any sort of liquor Peter had ever heard of.Granted, Peter had never kissed another woman, but he imagined Ana’s kisses were the most delectable of all.Then he returned her kiss, moving his lips against hers slowly, gently, hoping to convey how deeply he cared for her.He laced his fingers into her hair and deepened their kiss.Ana pulled back, smiling and breathing hard, and Peter felt his knees weaken slightly, both at her reaction and at his realization that he had kissed his wife.Finally.He cupped her face with one hand and leaned down to press his forehead against hers.
“Feliz Navidad, Ana.”
Chapter 14
December 26, 1813, Abbeygate, Surrey Hills, England
