Chapter 15
Epilogue
As promised, a veritable feast was laid out by the restaurant to celebrate the Elliot/McKenzie wedding and the family had tucked in heartily.
Now that the dishes had been cleared away, the inevitable speeches made, toasts cheered and several rounds of drinks had been drunk the atmosphere was one of joviality and heading rapidly towards raucousness. Caroline and Kate, although enjoying the party mood, felt it was time to leave the fray and celebrate in a more intimate manner.
After checking that Kate's mum was right to take care of Caitlyn until the morning and saying 'good night' to their daughter, the couple made good their escape midst a fair bit of 'nudge, nudging' and 'wink, winking' innuendo that newly-married couples have to endure.
They walked hand-in-hand, for the most part in comfortable silence, the short distance along the old, cobbled streets to the cottage where they were staying, the radiance of the full moon still shining down on them.
Kate unlocked the door. Their thoughts were as one as Caroline led the way with her partner directly to the bedroom where she initiated a searing kiss that scorched its way to each woman's core. Hands quickly removed clothing until both women stood with their bodies naked and their hearts bare for the other to see. They stood slightly apart, not touching, each just languidly taking in the presence of the other until Caroline reached out and ran a finger lightly across Kate's lips and then continued to trace a path down Kate's slender neck and along her breast, eliciting a soft, sensual gasp as she passed over her dark nipple. Kate then encircled Caroline's waist with her arms and drew her in close so she could feel the press of her skin. Their foreheads rested against each other.
"I love you, Caroline. In the deepest part of my heart I know that you will only ever be the one for me," Kate declared as she brushed Caroline's lips with her own.
Caroline struggled to find the words to reply that would communicate with any accuracy her feelings for this wonderful woman.
"I love you too, Kate ….and all I know is that I want this to be forever and I'm hoping that forever is a very long time. More than anything I want us… this…to be a lasting pleasure."