Until Forever (Complete)

Epilogue

His gaze swept over her and he pressed his lips together to keep from gasping. Standing before him, the image of perfection, was Ellie. Dressed in a white night dress that clung to her body, the neck line plunged so far down her chest, he didn't believe it possible that she bought it in a store. He knew it was made specifically for her.

Her arms were left exposed, revealing her beautiful skin. Slowly, he made his way to her, slamming the door behind him. Every step he took, brought him closer to the woman who was now his wife. His wife! They had been through so much and never in a million years would he have imagined to get here, to be allowed to not just love Ellie, but to marry her.

He reached where she stood, her eyes shining as she watched him.

He watched her, his breathing labored. He wanted to sweep her off of her feet and carry her to the bed where he would claim her as his.

Reaching forward, he touched her arm, her skin feeling warm against his. Much more than claim her as his, he thought as he took a step that brought him face to face with her, he wanted to love her. To pour out every fiber of his being in loving her until she had no doubt in her just how he felt.

His hand traveled up her shoulder, to her neck and buried itself in her hair. He worked quietly, loosening it of it's bond. Ellie stood there, waiting and watching almost in anticipation. Her hair fell around her shoulders in a curly mass of black, framing her beautiful, oval face. He untangled her hair from his fingers and slowly moved his hands down the side of her face, to her neck and back to her shoulders. A soft breath escaped his lips as his fingers made contact with the short sleeves of her dress. Slowly, he began pushing them down the length of her shoulders. They reached the edge, falling to her arm and making a larger part of her chest visible.

His gaze continued to hold hers as he pushed her sleeves further down her arm until there was no barrier left to hold her dress in place and it slid off her body, falling to a heap around her feet, leaving her standing bare before him. His eyes drank the perfection of her body.

Ellie took a step then, reaching forward, she touched the button of his shirt. Her hands slid up his chest and to his shoulder where she pushed his suit jacket off of him and watched as it fell at his feet. She touched his face and breathed, closing her eyes briefly. Then, her hands reached for his buttons again and she worked expertly until she was sliding his shirt off of his body.

Bailey stood still, allowing himself to be striped by her. She pressed her hand to his chest, the cold metal of her wedding band, denting his chest. He loved the feel of that metal, he thought as he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it, it was a symbol of their bond. No longer was it a barrier, it was proof that they were free to love each other, it was proof of their oneness.

Elizabeth stepped forward, her skin making contact with his. Unable to stand the rush of heat that raced through his body, he leaned down and kissed her. He savored the taste of her lips, the purity of being able to kiss the woman he was married to. She leaned further into him, her hand caressing his bare back as her lips found his neck.

“I love you.” She whispered against his neck, leaving traces of heat on his skin.

His heart thumping dangerously in his chest, he leaned down and lifted her off of the floor, carrying her across the room where he placed her on the bed, their bed.

Leaning down, he took her as his wife, enjoying every moment of it.

Ellie laid still beside him, her head leaning against his chest as his hand played with a loose strand of her hair. She didn't speak, but he could tell she wasn't asleep either. When he planted a light kiss on the top of her head, she turned to him, a smile on her face.