The Apple Tree (34 page)

Bianca locked eyes with Levi at the end of the aisle as she clutched her mother’s arm for support. He wore khaki slacks and waistcoat over a white dress shirt. She’d never seen him so dressed up before and he looked absolutely never-want-to-look-at-another-man sexy.

She took small steps in time with the music and focused on the huge smile plastered on his face. Her throat tightened and she blinked several times to avoid the tears that threatened to pour down her cheeks. The smiling faces of her friends encouraged her.

When she reached the end of the aisle, she gave her mother a hug and took Levi’s hands. His eyes expressed the same joy she felt in her heart.

The minister they’d found only a couple of days ago began by welcoming the crowd and saying a prayer. He brushed a hand over his balding head and then nodded for Levi to say his vows.

Levi pulled a piece of notebook paper from his pocket and cleared his throat. “Bianca, I knew as soon as I met you that you were special. I promise to love you, care for you and protect you, even when you make me try strange food. I vow to always be a willing guinea pig for your recipes as long as they don’t involve my most hated fruit. And most of all, I promise to cherish every wrinkle and gray hair. I hope you know that with those, my love for you will only grow stronger.” He squeezed her hand and his gray eyes became glossy as they gazed into hers.

She cleared her throat and began the lines she’d memorized. “Levi, when we met, I wasn’t sure if I should run or kiss you. I’m glad I settled for something in-between, although kissing might have been a good option too. I promise to love you, care for you and try my hardest at being a good wife for the rest of my life. I will always be happy with the life we build together and cherish every day I get to spend with you. I vow to be strong in the face of whatever crazy things this world throws at us and to hold your hand through it all.”

Levi’s stubbled cheeks rose in a grin and she had to fight the urge to kiss him. The time would come for that later.

The minister dropped his Bible and bent to retrieve it. He straightened his glasses and asked if they had rings.

Levi slipped the white gold band on her finger and repeated after the minister. “I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness to you.”

She grinned and then turned to Stephanie for his ring. “I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and faithfulness to you.” She pushed the band up his finger, but it stopped at his knuckle. She gave it another shove. “I-I can’t get it on.”

Levi laughed and tried to help her, both of them jamming the band against his skin. “It fit at the jewelry store,” he said.

The crowd laughed and Jeremy shouted, “Push it! Push it real good!”

The minister held up his hand. “Sometimes our fingers expand when we’re nervous. You can leave it for now. I’m sure it will slide on easily later.”

The color rose on Levi’s cheeks and he pressed his mouth to keep from laughing. She squeezed his hand and the finger with the ring around its knuckle.

The minister looked out toward their friends and family. “You have declared before all of us that you will live together in marriage. You have made promises to each other, which have been symbolized by the joining of hands, taking of vows and the giving and receiving of two rings. By the authority vested in me by God and the State of Oregon, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Shouts of applause broke from the crowd and Owen hopped up and down, clapping, in the front row.

Levi kissed her, wrapping his hands around her face and moving his lips tenderly with hers. Forgetting the crowd, she lost herself in his embrace and a sensation of complete bliss until he finally pulled away to face their waiting friends.

They bounced around from person to person, receiving hugs and congratulations. Happiness beamed from her like a heat lamp and Levi never let go of her hand.

He’d invited his friends Wiley and Margaret, an affectionate couple who wore tailored clothes that hinted at designer labels. Margaret gave Bianca a tight squeeze. “I’m so glad Levi’s found you. We worried about him, alone all the time.”

Levi rolled his eyes. “I was fine before.” He slid his arm around Bianca’s waist. “But my life is even better now.”

The afternoon passed in a blur of best wishes, champagne and cake.

As the sun drifted below the horizon, Bianca stood talking with Stephanie and Frank, when Levi approached. With a mischievous smile on his face, he took her hand and pulled her away from the tent and the party. He led her around to the front of the house, then turned and smiled, his gray eyes smoldering.

Her stomach dropped like she was on a roller coaster.

He lifted his palm, caressing her cheek and then leaned down, brushing the tip of his nose on her forehead. An unfamiliar, but delicious scent drifted off him and she realized he must have bought cologne for the wedding.

Her eyes closed and she focused on his gentle touch against her skin. He leaned down further and captured her lips. With gentle pressure on her shoulders, he pushed her against the house. She clutched his back as the weight of him pressed her against the scratchy wooden wall and she thought she’d faint right there under the house eave.

Suddenly, his lips were at her ear, his voice deep and raspy. “Let’s go inside. I can’t wait any longer.”

She didn’t have to think twice. Grabbing his hand, she led him the few feet to the front door. He came up behind her, scooping her into his arms and carried her over the threshold straight toward the bedroom.

This was the first time she’d ever been in his room. Her gaze focused on the bed. A fluffy blue comforter lay neatly over the queen sized mattress.

He set her feet down on the hardwood floor and slid his hands around to the back of her head, his fingers dividing the strands of her hair. Several pins fell out, clinking as they dropped to the floor. Her heart pounded so hard she thought it might jump straight out of her chest.

“
I’ve been thinking about this since the first time I saw you,” he said.

Her mind flashed to the evening she’d met him in the orchard. His rugged good looks had captured her attention right away.

She crushed her lips onto his, coaxing his mouth open to deepen the kiss and groaned as her body filled with need. Her hands rested on his hips, fully conscious of his hard body beneath the fabric of his waistcoat.

He held one arm around her waist, the strong muscles holding her weak legs up. His lips moved down to her jaw, kissing and sliding his tongue along a fiery path until he reached her chin and then moved to her neck. When his heavy breath fell against her ear, a shiver ran through her.

“
What about the wedding guests?” she said, between gasping breaths. “They’re going to miss us in a minute.”

He pulled back, bit his lip like he was thinking and then let go of her, jogging to the window. Sliding it open, he stuck his head out. “Hey! Party’s over. Go home now!”

Several hoots of laughter and applause broke out as he slammed the window shut and dashed back across the room to where she stood.

“
There you go. They won’t miss us now,” he said with a devilish grin.

“
That was bold.” She giggled as he returned his lips to hers, sliding his tongue over her bottom lip. Kissing Levi was completely different than kissing any other man. His kiss held promises, this wasn’t just for tonight. He wanted her forever and she hadn’t even realized how much she needed that.

His hand found the zipper at the back of her gown and he slid it down, agonizingly slow as it traveled from her shoulder blades down to the middle of her back and finally down her hips. The dress hung loosely around her body as he stepped back, his dilated eyes running over her.

A bout of panic overtook her. Would he like what he saw? She made herself calm down. He loved her and he was her husband now. Taking a deep breath, she slipped one shoulder of her dress down, and then the other.

His eyes followed as the fabric dropped to her waist, exposing her lacy white bra. The sound of his breath catching hit her ears and he brought his eyes back up to meet hers in a molten gaze. Her heart pounded as she yanked the dress past her hips and it fell to the floor.

The look in his eyes washed her self-consciousness away. He rushed forward, wrapping his arms around her body and kissing her neck.

“
I am so damn glad you wandered onto my property.” He pulled her upwards, lifting her as she wrapped her legs around his body and carried her to the wood paneled wall, pressing her against it.

“
You sure didn’t act like it at the time.” She laughed and kissed him again, running her fingers along the stubble on his jaw.

“
I was an ass, but you know why.” His hands traveled under her hips to her butt, giving it a squeeze before slipping along her thighs. Burning trails followed his fingers along her skin. Hardness pressed through his slacks against her spread legs and his hips swiveled with the same rhythm as his lips.

Levi’s heart pounded as his hand slid over Bianca’s smooth legs. It’d been so long since he’d felt a woman’s naked body and her soft curves set him on fire. Kissing her neck, his fingers toyed with the thin strap of her bra and then his lips slid down to her collarbone. Pulling back slightly, he beheld her gorgeous ivory skin. Three freckles formed a triangle between the swells of her chest and he kissed them, trying to memorize her body.

The scent of freesia and lavender from her bouquet hung on her skin. He inhaled, wishing he could somehow taste the delicious scent.

She whimpered, clutching the fabric of his shirt and then reached her hands between them, yanking open the buttons on his waistcoat. Helping her, he undid the last button and then cursed his own enthusiasm. He should slow down and take the time to savor this, but he couldn’t stop now. Placing his hands under her hips, he lifted her from the wall and carried her to the bed.

After setting her on the new blankets, he shrugged the remaining fabric of the waistcoat off and then yanked his dress shirt over his head, throwing it to the floor to join her dress. He took a long look at her as she lay with red strands of hair draped across the pillow and wearing matching bridal-white lacy bra and panties. Did she buy them just for today? For him? The look in her eyes was intoxicating, hungry, and it mirrored exactly what he felt inside.

Crawling over her, he rested between her legs. The sensation of her skin on his bare chest was pure heaven. He placed his arms beneath her and rolled so she was on top of him, straddling his hips and leaning over to kiss him. Her hair formed a curtain blocking out the rest of the world.

His hands ran over her back, down the curve of her waist and over her hips. Reaching behind her, he found the clasp of her bra. How do you unlatch this thing? The last woman he’d been with had worn a corset and while this looked much simpler, his clumsy fingers struggled with the modern contraption. When it finally clicked, he groaned, slipping his hands under the lacy material. His palms cupped the soft fullness of her breasts and she moaned against his mouth as he circled the pointed buds with his thumb. So soft and… feminine. God, how he missed having a woman. And he’d somehow managed to snag the best, sweetest, smartest, sexiest one.

She reclined, just long enough to yank the bra off her shoulders, before leaning down again and lightly brushing her lips against his, once, twice, three times. The fluttering, barely there touch intensified his already dangerous need for her.