After a tedious hour and ten minutes of listening to the report back from all the committee members, then discussing finances and projected budgets, Louisa was ready to scream. Her concentration hadn't been great to start with because all she could think about was getting home to Martin and James. But at last the meeting was adjourned and Louisa quickly gathered her papers together and shoved them into her satchel. People were still talking in small groups and she hoped she could just slip away without anyone noticing, but fate conspired against her.

"Louisa...have you got a minute?"

She turned and saw Stu McKenzie and David Miller, a representative from the Department of Education, approaching. Louisa groaned inwardly but she flashed them her brightest smile.

"Ahh...actually Stu, I was just heading out - it's getting a bit late."

"Don't worry, we won't keep you."

Famous last words fumed Louisa as she finally headed off down Fore Street. It had been another ten minutes of what she considered to be irrelevant chit chat with that very patronising man from the education department. Just because they were a small school in a fishing village didn't mean that they were backward. The cheek of him treating her as if she couldn't possibly be informed about departmental issues.

By the time she got to the surgery it was almost 8 o'clock and already dark. She quietly let herself into the softly lit kitchen but paused when she heard Martin's voice. He was reading to James, his voice soft and silky. She walked around the kitchen table and stood at the top of the step looking at the two most important people in her life. Martin had James cradled in his left arm and held the book in his other hand. James looked as if he was already asleep.

As if he felt her presence Martin turned his head and looked at her and his cheeks became a little more defined which Louisa knew meant that he was smiling.

"Hello." Martin closed the book and put it on the arm of the sofa.

"Hello...how did you get on?" she asked softly, not wanting to wake James.

"Fine…"

"Just fine?"

"No...good."

Louisa stepped down and came to sit on the sofa next to him. She put her hand out to gently stroke James' soft hair. His eyelashes made soft half-circles against his pink cheeks as he lay in his father's arm. Louisa felt as if her heart would burst with love as she looked at them. She felt so close to Martin in a way she would never be able to describe if someone had to ask her. All she knew was that her whole being hummed with love for him.

He looked at her and his face was soft in the dim light. Louisa lifted her hand from James' head and trailed her fingers up Martin's chest until she reached his face, where she let her hand rest against his cheek.

"Remember when I asked you yesterday to tell me what was in your heart?"

"Mmm…"

"Can you tell me now?"

He continued to stare at her and she could see he was struggling.

"Tell me what you are thinking when you look at me like that."

He took a deep breath. "Uhh...that you're very beautiful...and…umm..."

Louisa gently turned his face more toward her. "And?"

"And I still can't believe you're my wife."

Louisa's face broke into a radiant smile. "Thank you Martin. Was that very difficult?"

"Uhh…no." His tone was cautious as he dipped his chin and gave a little cough.

"Good...because next time you are thinking something like that, I want you to just tell me...without me asking."

"Every time?"

"Well yes…when we're alone of course."

Martin's eyes went round and he opened his mouth but nothing came out.

Louisa's smile was mischievous. "I want to know every thought that's swirling around that head of yours."

Martin tucked his chin in even more and mumbled, "That's not very practical Louisa."

"No...but it would be fun, wouldn't it?"

"Fun?"

"Yes...especially when you look at me in that special way. Then I definitely want to know what you're thinking."

Martin cleared his throat as a faint blush crept into his cheeks. "Yes...well...mmm…"

Louisa laughed softly. "Mmm...especially then." She stroked the hair at the back of his head and leaned forward to place her lips against his cheek. She loved his smooth skin and the clean male scent that was so uniquely his. He turned his head until his mouth was only inches from hers and Louisa slowly closed the gap until their lips met in a gentle kiss. Finally, she leaned back.

"I think James is ready for his cot now."

Martin looked down at his son. "Yes...I'll just take him up, shall I?"

Louisa nodded and slid off the sofa, watching as Martin stood up with James cradled in his arms. She bent to kiss the top of James' soft head. "Night night darling."

Louisa was rinsing a cup at the kitchen sink when she heard Martin come in. "Did James go down alright?" she asked, without turning around.

"Yes."

She picked up the towel to dry her hands, suddenly sensing Martin behind her and shivered as she felt his arms slide around her waist. She leaned back against him, tilting her head as his lips caressed the side of her neck.

"Mmm..." She turned in his arms so she could look up at him. His eyes seemed more light blue than grey tonight. "And what's all this about…mmm?" she murmured.

He lifted his head. "I thought you wanted me to show you...affection?"

"Oh I do…"

"Mmm...maybe I'm doing it wrong then."

Louisa shook her head slightly. "No...you're doing it just fine."

"Good."

He lowered his head until his lips found hers and kissed her so gently that her legs went weak. At last he lifted his head to look down at her with those soft eyes.

"So…what are your plans - for the rest of the evening?" he asked, his voice soft and deep. He had a way of raising one eyebrow and tilting his head slightly when he asked a question that she found so endearing.

"Well I'm hoping there'll be a handsome doctor waiting for me upstairs when…," She didn't get to finish that thought before his mouth came down firmly on hers again and she gave herself up to his kiss. Louisa didn't want the moment to end but she eventually pulled back slightly and Martin immediately tried to draw her in again.

"Uh uh." She quickly laid her fingers on his lips. "If you kiss me like that again Martin Ellingham, we won't make it upstairs." She stroked his cheek. "Why don't you go up in the meantime and I'll lock up down here?"

"Yes…" He reluctantly stepped back then hesitated, his eyes searching hers as if to reassure himself. She tilted her head to one side and saw him relax - just a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Then he turned and headed for the stairs.

After she'd locked up and checked that the surgery phone was routed to the standby doctor in Wadebridge, Louisa made her way upstairs. Martin was still in the bathroom, so she quickly undressed and slipped into the dressing gown she'd brought in her overnight bag, then went into the darkened nursery to check on James who, she was very happy to see, was peacefully asleep in his cot. Tonight she wanted her time with Martin to be uninterrupted. She left the nursery just as the bathroom door opened and he appeared wearing his dressing gown, his hair still damp from the shower. She smiled at him. "I won't be a minute," and slipped past him into the bathroom before he could say or do anything.

Louisa showered and brushed her teeth in record time and a few minutes later emerged from the steamy bathroom wrapped in her robe. She'd left her hair loose because she knew Martin liked it like that.

He was standing next to the bed waiting for her, so tall and sexy and her need of him was overwhelming. His eyes never left her face as she came to him and wound her arms around his neck, pulling his head down so that their lips met. They kissed hungrily and deeply. His hands slid down her back to press her close, moulding her body to his. His touch melted her inside as his mouth moved softly over hers, grazing her lips with his, then deepening into a slow and sensuous motion. Louisa felt weak as she wound her arms around Martin's neck, her fingers in his soft hair. He lifted his mouth from hers and trailed his lips down her jaw to the base of her throat where he let them linger on the pulse that raced there.

Their kisses were on fire as he began to walk her backwards until he lay her gently onto the bed, then slid down next to her. He let his hand wander to the sash of her gown where he slowly pulled at the bow and his eyes were riveted on her as he pushed the soft material aside. He looked down and his voice was soft and shook slightly. "You're so beautiful."

Louisa tugged at the lapels of his robe, pushing them aside until she could run her hands over his smooth chest. She gently continued pushing the robe over his shoulders until he sat up and swiftly shed it, letting it fall to the floor beside the bed.

Louisa's arms went around him as he settled back down beside her and she pulled him closer. She'd also shed her robe and her hair cascaded down over her naked shoulders.

"Louisa…?" His eyes were intense as they stared down into hers and he succumbed to the pressure of her arms pulling him closer as she arched her body against his. "Oh God Louisa…"

Their lovemaking was intense; fuelled by the sexual tension that had been building up between them over the last few days. Every touch, every whispered word became amplified by the outpouring of their passion. And when they finally reached the place of no return, they fell from that most exquisite of heights, clinging together - breathlessly whispering each other's name as they surrendered themselves to that intense and explosive moment.

When the storm had passed, they lay together, their hearts pounding and their breath ragged. Martin's face was buried in Louisa's neck. He tried to shift his weight off of her but she clung to him, running her hands down his smooth back and up again to lift his head so she could look at him. Her face was flushed and soft. "I love you Martin…so very, very much." She stroked his face gently. His eyes were so full of love and he gently kissed her forehead and then her lips. "Love you too Louisa."

ooooOOOOoooo

It was a long while later when Martin whispered. "Louisa?"

"Mmm…" She'd been lying with her cheek against his chest, listening to his breathing, sensing that he too was awake. She'd wanted to talk more about what had happened between them before, but she didn't want to spoil the tender feeling that had settled around them after their lovemaking.

Martin turned until he was lying on his side and rested his head on his arm, his other hand gently toying with a strand of her hair. "I'm glad you came back."

"I was always going to come back Martin. I was just angry with you and now that I…"

He put a finger on her lips. "I know you were angry and I now understand why." He traced a finger over her lips. "I'm sorry you felt excluded and...umm...I will take more care not to let that happen again."

Louisa sat up and leaned on her elbow, tucking her hair behind her ear. "We both have to take more care...haven't we? I got angry and instead of talking it through properly, I took James and left." She stroked her fingers lightly over his face. "I'm sorry for that...and I want you to know that I won't do it again."

They searched each other's faces in the dim light.

"I don't think I could bear it if you left again." Martin's voice was soft.

"I won't...you have my word."

The silence was filled with tenderness as they stared at one another.

Louisa raised an eyebrow as she ran her hand around his waist until it come to rest at the base of his spine and Martin knew she wanted him to tell her what he was thinking. He hesitated. How could he tell her that he was terrified? He could never be sure that he wouldn't blurt out something that he found perfectly logical but that she would see as insensitive. Or how confused he became at her emotional outbursts. All he knew was that he loved her with every fibre of his being. His whole world had come to revolve around her and James and nothing else mattered when he was with them. She completed him in a way he couldn't describe. It didn't sound silly when he said it in his mind, but the thought of opening his mouth and telling her these things terrified him.

Louisa leaned over and planted tiny little kisses on his lips. "Say it…"

Martin stroked her shoulder and took a deep breath.

"Umm…I was thinking that I am terrified of messing things up again. I'm not sure I can change and be the man you want me to be. The one who thinks before he speaks and sugar coats things to make them sound more acceptable. I tried it once…with your friend Polly…"

Louisa smiled but didn't correct him and waited for him to continue.

"As I recall it didn't end well, did it?" Martin hesitated and let his hand slide down her back. "But I do love you - it feels like every cell in my body comes alive when I am near you." He frowned and tucked his chin in. "Of course, medically or…uh…biologically speaking, that's utter rubbish…it's a cocktail of hormones that combines to make one feel…"

Louisa smothered his mouth with hers and he completely forgot what he was going to say. All he could think of was her – the feel of her body against his, the scent of her, how sweet her lips tasted and the relief he felt when he could gather her to himself and feel her loving arms around him.

Louisa leaned back to look at him. "I feel that way too Martin. And yes, there are things we must both work on, but I do know this…I don't ever want to be apart from you again. We can work things out – can't we?"

"Mmm…yes."

Louisa lay down and snuggled into him again.

Martin blinked in the dim light. "Will you move back home now?"

"Yes Martin. I will fetch the rest of our things tomorrow."

"Good."

Louisa felt Martin's hand gently rubbing her shoulder and the other fidgeting with the duvet. He was thinking again she was sure. He was usually very still in bed.

"Umm Louisa – when I said that thing about 'every cell in my body' – to be more accurate I should have said 'every nerve ending' because individual cells can't feel and I wasn't thinking when I said…"

"Martin…"

"Yes?"

"Shhh. No more talking."

"Mmm…yes." A silence fell between them again broken only by the distant sound of waves breaking against the harbour wall. Martin felt a contentment he hadn't felt in a long time. He kissed the top of her head. "Good night…Mrs Ellingham," he said softly.

Louisa's words were half lost as she mumbled against his chest. "G'night…husband."

ooooOOOOoooo

My apologies for the long delay in posting this final chapter of The Very Heart of Me - my muse has been rather fickle! I hope it's been worth the wait and I would love to know your thoughts.