Watching her surrounded by her friends, he felt his heart swell. She was so beautiful, intelligent, and kind. Even when she had been little more than a child he had felt honoured to be in her presence. He loved her eyes, the exact color of the ocean during a storm, and her hair, as soft as down but the color of freshly cut wood. He loved the way her laugh made him feel, the shivers it sent up and down his spine, and the fact that he could always make her grin. The set of her jaw when frustrated amused him while the way she would step up to defend anyone fascinated him. Her slim waist invited his arm, while her soft lips and the slender curve of her neck competed to be that which invited his mouth. He loved the way she craved his kiss, always wanting more. Yes, she was his and no one else's.
They had been student and teacher, friend and confidante, warrior and ally, lover and quarreler. He wanted to be man and wife. She wanted to wait. She had assured him time and again that he was all she wanted, would ever need. He understood she was young, and he knew how the court gossips would react to their marriage. He would do anything to protect this beautiful woman, even hurt himself. But he couldn't help but wonder if he would always be the one she wanted. If maybe she didn't want forever with him. Perhaps she was keeping her options open. Maybe she didn't want to make a mistake. It pained him to think such thoughts, and it was so hard to believe when she looked at him with her eyes. Kissed him with her lips. He could drive himself mad playing this game.
Watching her with their friends another thought accosted him. What if they didn't approve? Could they have persuaded her to wait, to think? He certainly didn't want to rush her into something she could regret. But he didn't think their friends could sway her if her mind was made up.
It was during this train of thought that she turned to scan the room, drawn no doubt, by the feel of eyes on her. Upon meeting his dark gaze she waved and smiled. The kind of smile that made the corner of her eyes crinkle, her lips part, and her gray-blue eyes seem to glitter with pleasure. When she smiled at him like that there was no doubt of her love. Perhaps she only wanted to give them each time to get used to the relationship. He smiled at the thought, and in response to the plump, pink lips turned up in his direction.
No one could doubt the love and devotion behind a smile like that.