The Invisible Husband by Cari Hislop Page A

arms returning his kisses. “Wake me in the
morning. Open the curtains and let me see your face.”

    Adam moaned as
his heart begged him to take the gamble. “How will you fall in love
with me if you see my ugly face?”

    “How will I
fall in love with you if I never see your face? How can I know who
you are without seeing how your words match your expressions?
Imagine how you’d feel if some ugly woman you’d never seen fell in
love with you and paid all your debts in exchange for your hand in
marriage, but afraid of being found repulsive she refused to show
herself. Could you fall in love with her?”

    “I don’t
know…”

    “Exactly.”

    “My situation
is totally different!”

    “How?”

    “I’m a
man.”

    “You never
debated at College did you?”

    “There’s no
point debating. I know I’m right.”

    “Are you sure
you fell in love with the right woman?”

    “Yes.” Adam
watched over her shoulder as she wiped her mouth and drained her
glass and wondered if he dared give in to his heart’s latest demand
that he kiss the hollow where her shoulder met her neck.

    “Do you trust
me?”

    “Why?” His wary
lips paused half way to their desired destination and kissed the
edge of her ear.

    “When the clock
chimes half past, I’m going to close my eyes for about a minute.
You may kiss me on the lips and then leave for the night. Do you
trust me to keep my eyes closed? How badly do you want to kiss
me?”

    His lips
pressed against her shoulder, but his heart was no longer
interested in unresponsive flesh as it hammered its cage in
excitement. “Are you taunting me?” The hoarse words were squeezed
from a throat tight with longing.

    “No, I’m daring
you.” She started pushing the small folding table holding her tray
off to the side of her chair. He automatically reached out to help
revealing his hand. “I see my demon-Lord has taken human form. You
have a very nice hand. What colour is your hair? It looks
dark.”

    “Black…I wear
it cut short. I used to wear it long, but it has an obnoxious wave
that makes people think I’m some sort of idiot poet. Combined with
the eye patch…”

    Her shoulders
shook with laughter as she turned her profile to reveal her smile.
“Combined with the eye patch you look like a poet-pirate? Have you
ever written poetry?”
    “Only as a
school boy…there was this girl. She laughed at me when I read it to
her and that was before I had to wear an eye patch. I was
quite…”

    “Handsome? She
was probably nervous.”

    “No, she told
me I was a silly fool. She’d set her sights on an older boy; horrid
wench!”

    “You wrote her
poetry and not me? I’m jealous.”

    “You wouldn’t
be if I allowed my silly heart to mash up its most tender
sentiments and carve them into a piece of paper. You’d laugh
yourself sick; my heart couldn’t bear it.”

    “I’m glad to
hear you take some care of the poor creature. The clock is chiming
six-thirty.” Adam froze, agonised by indecision. If he kissed her
she might open her eyes. His first kiss might be his last, but if
he didn’t kiss her he wouldn’t be able to sleep.

    He tentatively
inched around the chair until he was looking down on her smiling
upturned face. Her eyes were closed, but for how long? “Are you
going to kiss me or stand there warming your backside?” Adam could
hear his heart panting for the offered privilege. Giving in, he
took hold of her face and lent over to taste his wife. Coming into
contact with soft warm skin, his heart firmly took control. He
could smell mulled wine. Then he could taste it as her lips freely
parted accepting his tender kisses causing his heart to press flat
against its cage in ecstasy. His aching back was silenced by
propping a knee beside her on the chair allowing him to wallow in
bliss.

    Releasing her
parted lips, he hovered inhaling her breath until a curious hand
touched his leg resting on the chair. Did she want another kiss?
His heart was quick