The Affectionate Player - Part2

Chapter 18

I wake to the sound of gentle breathing and glancing below I find Gracie draped across me in the same position she'd settled. She looks radiant this morning with her soft chestnut tresses resting on her back, her naked skin glowing on mine and the stunning diamond sparkling from her left hand reminding me again that she'll soon be my wife.

A smile spreads wide across my lips, my body stirring awake as I recall the image of this beautiful creature last night reaching the heights of ecstasy with me, and as she'd thrown her head forward with my name on her lips, my heart had sung in response spurring me to my own frenzied release. Trying not to disturb her I reach for my phone preparing to capture the vision before me. When in hell did I get so lucky?

The evening had been perfectly arranged with my first stage performance in years being the obvious reason for our family get together, and having chosen Gracie's engagement ring soon after Holly's birth I'd kept it locked in my safe out of sight. I'd planned to propose on her birthday but with Monty's disappearance and DI Brooks' plot to get him back, that plan had gone up in smoke.

In truth, with all that had happened recently I'd believed she would never consent to be my wife but with patience and love she'd come back to me, and last night she'd made me the happiest man alive. Inspecting her photo I'm thrilled with the result and as I change my wallpaper screen a text from DI Brooks arrives with news of Geri's prison visit.

"Who's that from?" Gracie's husky voice purrs, her sleepy face adorable.

"Good morning, beautiful. How are you?"

"Not as tired as I should be given your attempts to keep me awake all night."

"Well, whose fault is that?" I ask playfully.

"You're blaming me? That's hardly fair, you love beast!" Slapping my chest I take her hand and urge her gently upward.

"Listen, Campbell! You're the one who tortured me from four thirty yesterday afternoon with what was or was not under that magnificent dress. I had to, and I quote one critic, 'perform Marc Antony exceptionally' while imagining all sorts."

"Perhaps that's why you were exceptional, baby. Perhaps it's me who brings the best out in you." She grins twirling her fingers through my chest hair.

"Can't argue with that. Though, I must confess - all through my proposal I could think of nothing but zipping you."

"Really?" she asks, dropping her lip and feigning upset. "That's all you thought about it?"

"Of course not," I beam, kissing the tip of her nose.

"Good. Because I don't know what was more endearing? How nervous you were or the fact that it was your first time. I'd no idea Mel had 'popped the question' and that you were a proposal virgin."

"I know. In hindsight, I think things with Mel happened far too quickly. I got carried away in a bubble."

"No, baby. It was as it should have been. You loved each other innocently. No one could ever have predicted the horror that lay ahead. And just so you know, you really had no need to be nervous."

"I was worried you'd say no."

"I'm not certain that word is in my vocabulary anymore, when it comes to you," she giggles sweetly.

"You have no idea how happy you made me by saying yes."

"And I said it twice!"

"You did, didn't you? I had your ring from last November, you know."