Marcus saw her coming, the way her body lurched and tumbled right at him. Her eyes turned wide in panic, her mouth opened as she went to scream, and before either of them knew what wasgoing on, her body was thrown into Marcus’ as if she had leapt toward him on purpose.
Marcus wrapped his arms around her body to catch her. He then pulled her in as if in protection. A face full of her hair, her scent filling his nostrils, and his hands gripped her waist tight.
She froze as soon as she fell into him.
Slowly, she pulled back, her eyes still wide. Marcus did not let go, more out of instinct than anything. For a few moments there they were, Marcus holding her wife, his wife just about sitting in his lap.
Their eyes met. Held. Faces inches apart. A beat passed between them… and then another… he could feel her heart racing in her chest. Her body was stiff from the surprise, but it slowly relaxed into him and for a brief second Marcus wondered if she might never leave his arms again…
“What are you doing?” she yelped suddenly and pushed herself back.
“I might ask you the same question,” he said. “If you wished to sit so close to me, all you had to do was ask.”
She scowled at him as she scrambled back onto her own seat. She then folded her arms, crossed her legs, and turned away. He continued to watch her, taking note of the pink flush in her cheeks and the heavy rising of her chest.
Then she glanced at him, saw him watching, and she looked away again.
Marcus resisted the urge to chuckle. She was clearly mortified, while trying so hard to act as if she was furious with him. Another quick glance, another scowl, and she focused out the window as if her life depended on it.
Whatever this marriage promises to be, I doubt it will be boring.
They rode the rest of the way in total silence.
Marcus had no doubt that his wife was embarrassed, and while he liked to pretend that her fall had no effect on him, that would be a lie. He could still smell her, he could still feel her, and his pulse quickened whenever he dared to linger for too long on that brief encounter.
