Page 54 of The Countess's Awakening

When the minister gave his final blessing, Wang turned to her, his hands framing her face, and kissed her—a soft kiss, merely a butterfly caress of his lips upon hers, but it lingered. Warm, almost reverent. Pulsing with such a deep, aching tenderness that the rest of the world fell away.

At long last, she was his. And he was hers.

They left the church in a flurry of well wishes. The gentle snowfall outside felt as if the heavens themselves were blessing them with a shower of petals.

Tonight, they would stay at the St. Nicholas Hotel for their wedding night, where Wang had insisted on reserving the bridal suite. Tomorrow, they would board the ship to England. Their honeymoon would be spent beneath the vast open sky, rocked by the motion of the waves.

As soon as they settled onto the deep cushioned seats of the coach, Wang enfolded her in his arms and lifted her onto his lap.

“Hello, Mrs. Wang.” He touched his forehead to hers.

The tender smile that lit his eyes filled her with longing.

“Hello, husband.” She smiled back.

“Are you ready for the next chapter of our lives? There will be much work ahead.”

Wang had made the decision to sell his house, and his tenants were interested in buying it, so the sale had been arranged and was in the hands of an agent. In England, they would find a new home together, and he and Colin would open a new clinic, a sanctuary of healing just as they had in New York.

“I am eager.” She brushed back her favorite, rebellious lock of hair. “What about you? You are leaving your home, your work, your entire life behind. How do you feel about it?”

“You are my entire life, and my home is where you are. I am excited. Happy as I have not been in years.”

A new beginning awaited them across the ocean. But for now, there was only this moment—their love, their vow, their future entwined.

And as Wang kissed her once more, she knew—without doubt, without fear—that together they’d conquer whatever came their way.