Page 30 of On A Wild Summer's Day
The rain finally stopped and the sun breaking through the clouds as if heaven was bestowing a blessing upon him and Deirdre—for indeed, Liam had never felt more blessed.
They were husband and wife, Deirdre an O’Byrne no longer but now an O’Toole!
Still wrapped in her mother’s cloak, she had flung her arms around Liam’s neck as soon as they dismounted and kissed him soundly, and then announced that their wedding would take place as soon as she made herself ready.
Liam had felt bereft when Deirdre was hustled away to her dwelling-house by Triona, Nora, and Eva, womanly laughter,hugs, and happy tears all around while Ronan, Niall, Conor, and Tiernan had glanced at each other, chuckling.
“I warned you, O’Toole, she’s like her mother when her mind is made up,” Ronan had said wryly as he clapped Liam on the shoulder and then waved for everyone to accompany him to the feasting-hall to begin celebrating.
Aye, and what revelry to rejoice over Deirdre’s safe return and the upcoming wedding, the family priest blessing the ale and food hastily carried out by servants and then hurrying away to prepare the chapel for the ceremony…
Liam exhaled a sigh of utter contentment and gently drew Deirdre closer against him, her sooty eyelashes fluttering though still, she slept on.
He had never seen her look more stunningly beautiful than when she arrived at the chapel wearing a silken rose-colored gown that only heightened the pink blush of her cheeks and the soft gray of her gaze that never left his face.
Her eyes shining with emotion that he could never have imagined possible after how she had sparred with him for much of the day, but it was true.
Deirdre loved him—aye, Liam had never known such a miraculous moment as when the priest had proclaimed them wed, and now she slept beside him as his wife, with their marriage fully consummated.
Deirdre’s slender leg draped across his hips even as he felt himself growing hard for her again, for he would never have enough of her…
Liam chuckled to himself at how quickly they had left the feasting-hall resounding with cheers and good wishes to escape to Deirdre’s dwelling-house, which would now be their home.
He had already decided to remain with the O’Byrnes unless his father had need of him, but he wasn’t Murchertach’s Tanist after all.
That responsibility was his elder brother’s while Liam would now ride and fight alongside Ronan and his clansmen against any incursions by the Normans—no, no, this was not the time to think of such matters, with his bride so inviting and warm within his arms.
Liam knew he would wake her, but he couldn’t resist as he lifted her chin to kiss her sweetly parted lips…a soft laugh erupting from Deirdre that told him she hadn’t been sleeping at all, but just resting, her gaze filled with teasing.
“Kiss me, husband…a hundred times, a thousand times before this day is done. A most wondrous summer’s day, aye?”
Liam nodded and bent his head to kiss her passionately as still she laughed against his mouth in joyous celebration that made him laugh, too…until Deirdre drew back to stare into his eyes and reach up to tenderly cradle his face with her hands.
“I love you, Liam?—”
“What? Not O’Toole any longer?”
“No, Liam, Liam,Liam! Now kiss me again!”
He did, whispering against her lips as he crushed her against him. “Aye, wife, anything you say…always and forever.”
