Chapter 20

The reception was just beginning to wind down as Danny and Lindsay retreated to their new bedroom where their clothing and possessions now lived. Lindsay's mother had cornered her only moments before to remind her of their discussion from earlier and then announced to the whole room that she looked tired and had better go to bed. This had sparked a series of catcalls and shouts which had turned both of the newly-weds bright red with embarrassment, and made Lindsay throw her mother a stony-eyed look before turning away.

After both making use of the bathroom down the hallway, Lindsay silently sat on the bed whilst Danny made sure the bolt was firmly drawn across the door. He knew what drunk young men tried to do on other peoples' wedding nights and he would be damned if he did not try and prevent this being harder for Lindsay than it had to be.

He went and joined her on the bed. Now they were finally alone, but she had not yet said anything or even raised her head to look at him and he was distinctly worried. He had sensed her unease all day and had chalked it up to normal nerves, but now when it was just the two of them he was realising it was more than that.

She shifted slightly on the bed and then turned and before he knew it she was kissing him, plundering his mouth in the way he had taught her to that day of the picnic. It was passionate and turning him on completely, but he also noticed her body was shaking.

"Wait. Stop", he said, gently holding her shoulders and pushing her back, "wait I was hoping we could talk first".

"Talk?" she said confused.

"Yeah. I just. I know we haven't had much time to ourselves recently and I was hoping we could spend a bit of time catching up", and calming you down, he thought.

She nodded and smiled weakly up at him, looking slightly more relaxed. He decided to begin again.

"You looked beautiful today," he said, "I am going to remember what you looked like walking down that aisle for the rest of my life". He paused before adding, "and you look even more beautiful here tonight, with just us."

"Yeah well, you don't scrub up too badly yourself", she smirked. Suddenly the tension broke and they both genuinely smiled at each other releasing shaky breaths.

"I'm sorry I was so spaced out yesterday evening by the way", Danny continued; "I think yesterday I only really began to understand some things and it really threw me". Lindsay stiffened suddenly and looked up at him. He did not seem mad anymore but she felt she should try and explain about what he had heard.

"I know Danny. I heard you talking to the boys outside the barn yesterday and I swear it's not true. You have to believe me", she almost begged him with her voice, "nothing happened with Robbie, he tried but I didn't let him".

He turned to her puzzled at what she was saying and then remembered the off-the-cuff comment Ian had made the day before. He almost laughed with relief,

"Oh, no baby, no no no, I never believed him. Don't worry I never considered for a moment that what he said was true. I always knew you're a virgin, and I am so honoured that you want to marry me and share that with me. I'm ashamed of the fact that I'm not, that should be yours for me to give to you too." He leaned over and kissed her gently on the mouth. He could almost feel the relief in her body.

"What did you mean then?" she asked recalling the rest of the overheard conversation.

"I think I finally realised what growing up here must have been like for you. An endless succession of labourers passing through and although you worked alongside them and pulled your own weight it was never enough to them and they never respected your work the way they should have."

"I am so glad that you were not already married off to one of the local boys before I got here, I may have had to steal you away. If what I heard yesterday is the way the men here regard women then I would never want you to be near them. I promise never to hurt you the way they said", he pulled Lindsay onto his lap and spoke in a low voice, his eyes imploring her to believe him, "My parents had problems in their marriage but Mac has always shown me how important a marriage of equals is, and that's what I want with you."

The relief was palpably written on Lindsay's face at what he said. She turned her face to his and brushed the softest of kisses across his lips.

"Thank you, Danny. That's what I want too". She paused, a teasing look across her face, "so you always knew I was a virgin huh?"

"Honey, my experience with women may be limited but I do have a little," he explained bringing one hand to cup her cheek and brushing a light kiss across her lips he whispered, "Your reactions tell me everything."

"Like the way you gasp when I do this" he kissed her neck, "and sigh when I touch you here", he said as he ran his palm down her back to cup her waist.

"And the way you tremble when I do this". He got them to their feet and then slowly, painstakingly began to unbutton her dress whilst stroking the soft skin of her back as it was exposed.

She shivered again, but let the dress drop as it was released from her body. She stepped out of it and he lifted it gently and draped it over the arm of the chair in the corner.

She remained in the centre of the room, and he realised how exposed she must feel in her bra and panties whilst he was fully dressed. Wrapping her up in his arms again, he gently dropped kisses on her neck and shoulders, and she tentatively reached up her hands and began to undo his tie, slowly drawing one end around his neck and then dropping the article on the floor. He divested himself of his shirt, and trousers until they were both left in just their underclothes. They didn't rush as they knew they had all night to complete this act, and so they both diligently began to explore each other's bodies whilst continuing to undress. Lindsay found a spot on Danny's hip that made him gasp whereas he discovered that she had particularly ticklish knees. They fumbled and stumbled their way slowly out of all their clothing, content for the moment to caress and learn their way around each other.

When they did finally complete the act it was cautious and sweet. Lindsay winced a little as he filled her but they kissed and he paused and stroked her skin until she was ready for more. Years later she would remember vividly how he had buried his hands in her hair as he moved inside her; how he supported her back as he ground into her sweet spot, dragging her over a new precipice with him. Yes they had been a little awkward and bashful but as far as she was concerned, the first hurdle of marriage was successfully cleared.

Lindsay was not sure exactly what awoke her the next morning. Despite the joy that she and Danny had found in each other's arms the previous night, she had not slept well. Perhaps it was that she was not used to sharing a bed with another person – a man – or that Danny's body resembled a furnace during the night. She wasn't used to feeling anybody else whilst sleeping: their movement during the night or their sighs whilst they dreamt. She looked at the clock, seeing that it was barely five, and smiled at the thought that as it was a Sunday they had hours before they had to think about getting up.