She's got a wild temper and a nasty way of blaming me for everything but all the same—-'
He didn't finish because Natalie took matters into her own hands and reached up to him, winding her arms around his neck and pressing her lips to his.
'I love you,' she whispered fervently, and he tightened her against him, crushing her.
'I know,' he breathed into her mouth. 'How do you fancy Venezuela?'
'I'll go anywhere you go.' She could say no more because he caught her up more tightly still and covered her mouth with his, kissing her so hungrily that the whole world seemed to whirl away like the spinning autumn leaves outside.
'You can stop working,' he said firmly when she lay back against him, flushed and breathless. 'I can think of plenty of things to keep you busy.'
'Wrong again, so wrong,' Natalie said happily, looking up into the eyes that smiled down at her. T may have deserted my own dear father but I'm not stopping work. I've got books to write, plenty of them. I've gota crateful of notes and bundles of photographs. All I need is a typewriter and plenty of paper.'
'Maybe we'd better go by sea,' Kip mused thoughtfully. 'Of course you could always have my baggage allowance. I expect I can manage with just one clean shirt.'
'Nothing matters if we're together,' Natalie said softly, her face filled with happiness. It was all too new, too wonderful, and she trembled even now in the strong arms that held her.
'It would have been pretty tricky with you at one side of the world and meat the other,' Kip pointed out, and she looked up at him quickly.
'Is that why you mentioned it? Why, we hardly knew each other. Surely you weren't thinking then...?'
'I don't waste time thinking about things like that, my green-eyed angel. I make plans. As for not knowing each other, the moment I set eyes on you I knew you Were mine. You might not have been my idea of a television trouble-shooter but you were my idea of a woman—my woman.'
'I'll have to take you to meet my father properly,' Natalie sighed happily. 'I've got to warn you, he's a bit odd.'
'Don't worry, I've got two oddities in my family. Andrea and Aunt Maureen are planning the wedding.' 'Did you tell them?'
He laughed and shook his head, his teeth white against his tanned face.
'I decided to tell you first but Andrea had summed up the situation and informed Aunt Maureen. My sister is inclined to be a trifle bossy.'
'She's incredibly beautiful.' Natalie sighed and he kissed her smooth cheek, his hand stroking her breast until she arched against him.
'Is she? I didn't notice. All I seem to see is you, your witch-black hair, your green eyes. I've been in love with you since I first saw you and it's going to last more than a lifetime.'
She wanted to snuggle against him but he turned up her face, his restraint gone, claiming her mouth with such hungry passion that every other thought left her mind. She smiled against his lips and he felt it, his fair head lifting as he looked down at her.
'What is it, my love?'
'It's the rain bird,' she said dreamily. 'I never seem to stop hearing it. These weeks you've been away it's haunted my dreams. I wanted you so much and each night I could hear the song, see the green after the rain, feel your arms around me. The most wonderful night of my life.'
'There'll be other wonderful nights, darling,' he said huskily, looking down into her enchanted face, 'and days. Nothing will ever keep us apart again.'
He stood and lifted her, cradling her against him as if she was a precious delight.
'I'm going to love you,' he said thickly. 'I'm going to love you until the sad little look leaves your eyes and the smile comes back forever. You're mine, my beautiful Natalie, and nothing will keep us apart.'
Later in his arms she felt the worshipping warmth of his love and tears of happiness filled her eyes as in her head, clear and silvery sweet, she heard the song of the rain bird, a song of joy and love.
_The End💓