Nathan grinned at Elizabeth as they walked up the front porch steps after their reception. The wedding had been early enough in the day that the sun was still in the sky, though it was sinking slowly toward the horizon. He easily lifted her into his arms, carrying her into the home they would now share together. Elizabeth looped an arm around his neck, marveling at how he carried her as if she weighed no more than a feather.
Before setting her back on her feet, Nathan pressed her closer to his chest and brought his lips to hers, kissing her with a promise that took her breath away. Once she was on her feet again, Nathan kissed her forehead and said, "Why don't you go change, and I'll get some dinner ready for us."
Elizabeth's eyebrows shot up. "You're making dinner?"
He chuckled. "Well, not exactly. Rosemary said she left some stew in a crockpot before the wedding so we wouldn't have to worry about cooking tonight. So basically I'm just ladeling it into bowls and slicing the bread." He winked at her. "But I still get to say I got dinner ready."
Elizabeth laughed on her way to her bedroom. Their bedroom, she reminded herself as she walked in, seeing Nathan's things boxed neatly in a corner. He had finished moving over everything he needed late last night before heading back to his house to spend one last night there. As she changed from her wedding dress into a skirt and blouse, her gaze landed on the bed, and she felt her stomach start to flutter.
She wasn't naive: she knew what happened on a wedding night. To be honest, she wanted to give herself completely to Nathan. But that didn't mean the shyness and nervousness she felt stealing over her were going to be easily banished. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she carefully hung her wedding dress and then walked back toward the kitchen.
Nathan turned toward her, his devastatingly handsome face lit up with a smile. He had taken off his suit jacket and tie, and several of the buttons were undone on his dress shirt, lending him a casual, relaxed air. He had plugged in the lights on the Christmas tree, and the soft glow radiated on his face even in the kitchen. He held up two bowls of stew. "Would you like to eat on the porch swing? We can watch the sunset during dinner."
Elizabeth smiled softly, loving his thoughtfulness. He knew just how much she loved sitting on that swing with him, especially in the cool of the evening. She nodded as he handed her a bowl and then grabbed some chunks of bread as they headed for the swing.
Words weren't necessary for several minutes as they sat eating and taking in the beauty of the scene in front of them. Elizabeth was eternally grateful that her home was on a hill, allowing them to see over the houses in front of them to the ocean, which was currently sparkling orange and red from the sun sinking gently into the water. Elizabeth finished her stew and placed the bowl on the small table next to the swing. She leaned her head against Nathan's shoulder as he used his foot to rock the swing back and forth.
"I can't imagine a better wedding," Elizabeth said softly. "This was the happiest day of my life."
"Mine too," Nathan said, pressing a kiss to her head. "The wedding was perfect, but the best part is that you and I are finally married." He smiled. "We get to have a life together. I feel so blessed to be able to be your husband."
Elizabeth looked up at him. "We're both blessed," she said. "I love you so much, Nathan."
Nathan leaned down, pressing his lips to hers, his hands framing her face. He rubbed his thumbs against her jawline as he pulled back, gazing into her eyes. A fire lit in his, and his lips returned to hers with a fiery passion, uninhibited by any restraint. Elizabeth gasped when he finally pulled back, trying to catch her breath. "Where did you learn to kiss like that?" she asked, gaping at him, her heart pounding in her chest.
"From you," Nathan replied, smiling at her. He leaned toward her as his thumb continued to graze her jaw. "You're the only woman I've ever kissed."
Elizabeth's mouth dropped. "Seriously?"
He nodded. "Seriously. I never cared for anyone enough to kiss until I met you. You're the only woman for me."
Elizabeth felt speechless. Nathan smiled and his lips returned to hers, his kisses getting progressively deeper and more passionate. Elizabeth felt his love with all her senses, and she marveled that he could be so passionate and yet so gentle at the same time. Nathan's lips left hers and pressed against her neck, trailing kisses down to the hollow of her throat. She tilted her head back, shivering slightly as his hands pressed her closer. She instinctively knew where this was headed, and it both thrilled and scared her. All at once, the shyness returned, butterflies romping through her stomach as her nerves got the better of her. She sat bolt upright, startling Nathan and looking at him with wide eyes. "I...I think I need a minute," she squeaked, jumping up and rushing into the house.
She paced back and forth in the kitchen, muttering to herself. "W/hat is wrong with you, Elizabeth?" she said out loud, running her hands through her hair. "You've been waiting for this moment for months, and now that it's here you're as nervous as can be! What gives?" She let out a breath, pressing both hands to the table, eyes closing. Her heart was beating double time as she desperately tried to get enough oxygen in her lungs to stop her ragged breaths.
"Elizabeth?" Nathan asked, his voice tentative. She looked up, seeing him standing at the entrance to the kitchen, a concerned look on his face. "Are you alright?"
She stared at him, at a loss for words. How was she supposed to explain what she was feeling? "I...I…" she stuttered. Tears pricked her eyes.
Nathan walked toward her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "What is it, sweetheart?" His brow furrowed. "Did I do anything to…?"
"No!" she exclaimed, shaking her head vehemently. "You didn't do anything, Nathan. I just...I guess I'm just nervous about...uh...about...tonight. I've never...ah...um...been with...a man...before." Her cheeks burned, and her eyes couldn't lift past the third button on Nathan's shirt.
"Look at me, Elizabeth," he said gently, tilting her head up. She did, meeting eyes that held so much love and understanding. "I've never been with a woman before, and believe me, I feel the nerves too."
"You do?" she asked, eyes widening again.
He chuckled softly. "Yes, sweetheart, I do. That's normal."
Elizabeth nestled herself in his arms, suddenly feeling relieved. "I'm glad you said that. I don't know what came over me. One moment I felt ready, and the next I was a bundle of nerves." She looked up at him. "I'm sorry, Nathan. This isn't how I pictured tonight going."
Nathan smiled tenderly, brushing her hair back from her face. "Don't apologize, Elizabeth. If you're not ready, you're not ready, and I'm okay with that." He kissed her forehead. "We can do something else tonight. How about a movie?"
Elizabeth's mouth dropped. "Really?" she asked. 'You'd give up intimacy tonight for a movie?"
He looked at her, his eyes steady. "If that would make you more comfortable, then yes. I would never force you into something you're not ready for, Elizabeth. That's not what love is." He walked to the living room and bent down, looking at the selection of movies. "How about A Christmas Carol?"
Elizabeth was too busy blinking back tears to answer. She had thought she already loved Nathan as much as was humanly possible, but his care for her feelings and his willingness to sacrifice his own desires for hers touched her and increased the love she felt for him. When she didn't answer, Nathan looked back at her with a raised brow. "Elizabeth? Does that sound good?"
She shook her head wordlessly, walking toward him. Nathan stood, looking slightly confused. She couldn't blame him; her feelings were all over the place tonight. But in a rush she knew she was ready. She reached up, wrapping her arms around his neck and drawing his head down to hers. She kissed him deeply, feeling a hunger for him she hadn't known existed. Nathan's return kiss was gentle, and she knew he was still considering her feelings. She pulled back, looking up at him with a fire in her eyes. "I'm ready, Nathan," she said softly, reaching for the buttons on his shirt and slowly undoing them.
His breathing was coming more rapidly, but he placed a hand on her cheek, searching her eyes. "Are you sure?"
Sliding her hands around his back, Elizabeth simply nodded, reaching up to kiss him again as her hands explored the muscles in his back, loving the feel of his skin against hers. "I love you, Nathan," she whispered against his lips. She pulled back and winked. "Maybe we can get to work on creating those kids we talked about having."
That made Nathan laugh as he caught her up in his arms. "I'd love nothing more, sweetheart." He carried her to their room and laid her gently on the bed, lying next to her and wrapping his arms around her. His lips met hers in an intense kiss that filled her senses and made her head swim in the best possible way.
Elizabeth's shyness and nerves were now a distant memory. In their place was a strong desire for her husband, the man she loved above all else. As Nathan's kiss continued, setting fire to her body, she thanked God for the amazing gift of this incredible man in her life. The man who would be in her life forever and who she loved more than words could say.
Nathan lay with Elizabeth in his arms, neither one of them ready to sleep. He had known there was a strong bond between them, but now, after their time of intimacy, he felt a powerful connection to her that hadn't existed before. He'd always known there was merit to the biblical phrase "the two shall become one," but he'd never had any context for that. Now he did, and he understood the words in a real sense. He and Elizabeth truly were bonded as one in a beautiful and permanent way.
Elizabeth sighed in contentment and shifted so that she was laying against Nathan's side, resting a hand on his chest. Her eyes were dancing as she looked up at him, and Nathan felt a jolt of electricity go through him as she absently played with the hairs on his chest. "Do you still want to watch that movie?" she asked, lifting her brows.
"Absolutely," Nathan said quietly, running a hand through her hair. "I love A Christmas Carol."
"Me too," Elizabeth said, reluctantly pulling away from him to climb out of their bed. She pulled her light robe from the bathroom hook and wrapped it around herself, tying it securely. Nathan found his robe as well, and then they walked hand in hand to the living room. He put the movie in, then settled onto the couch, pulling Elizabeth into his arms once again and holding her against him securely. He couldn't seem to keep from holding her, and she didn't seem to mind one bit. She snuggled against him as the opening credits played, leaning her head back against his chest.
Twenty minutes into the movie, Nathan noticed that Elizabeth suddenly went limp, her head rolling to the side. He smiled to himself as he realized she had fallen asleep. Carefully, he moved her to what looked like a more comfortable position, letting her head rest against the curve in his shoulder. She burrowed closer to him in her sleep, letting out a small sigh.
Nathan felt a sense of total contentment with his wife sleeping in his arms, the soft glow from the Christmas tree lights falling over her face. He leaned his head against hers, breathing in the scent of vanilla that always surrounded her, before he too fell into a dreamless sleep.
