Randle's Princess (18 page)

Suddenly she realized this man knew how she had always felt trapped here.  How she had always wanted to get out and see the world but it was forbidden.  And even in Vegas he knew it was Randle she kept looking around the room for and made her so nervous.  He knew it all along but still had the guts to come back for her.

“You are so right,” she admitted now greatly anticipating their time together.  This was her chance to at last be free and see the world outside these walls.

“I think we’d best get back inside before everyone thinks we’ve already left,” he then suggested as he took her hand in his.

As they strolled back up the path toward the house Lia glanced up to catch a quick glimpse of Randle staring out the window but just as suddenly he disappeared again.  He was more than likely watching for them the entire time they were outside.  But somehow now she wasn’t worried about it.  Thomas Bransford was now her husband.  Randle gave her to him freely and now he would just have to come to terms with it.

Again they were inside and she could feel it as she looked around and everyone in the room took their turn glancing in their direction as if to see if this couple was happy together.  Lia couldn’t help it now, she could feel herself beaming inside and knew she had come back inside as a much happier person then before.

“I don’t mean to be pushy,” Thomas then whispered to her, “but we really need to be leaving for the airport soon.”

“Of course,” Lia replied quickly and excitedly thinking about their trip.  “I’ll go up and get changed.”

Thomas walked to the bottom of staircase and stood and watched her until she closed the door then again went to join the guests.

Now Lia found herself in rather a hurry.  She unzipped the dress as quickly as she could and threw it back across the bed then ran to the closet trying to decide what to wear for their trip.  She knew it would be a long flight and wanted to pick out something comfortable but at the same time she wanted to look appealing to her new husband. 

Finally she decided.  Again she swirled in front of her huge mirror dressed in a skin tight white mini dress with a V-neck but not too low cut, her hair was shiny and bouncing to her waist.  She took her fingers and flipped a strand of hair up over each shoulder so it could dangle sexily down her chest as well.  Then again she heard a knock on the door and feared it now to be Randle.  She walked over and opened it cautiously only to see Marc and James.

“Hey guys,” she greeted cheerfully.  “Come on in.”

“We came to gather up the luggage you’re planning to take with you,” Marc then started but seemed to be a bit nervous himself.

“Oh thank you,” she replied.

“Miss Lia,” he then went on, “We’re sure gonna miss you.”  And with that he reached out and gave her a big hug.

Lia gladly hugged him back then James too.  “I’m gonna miss you guys something awful,” she admitted trying now to fight back the tears.  “You’ve both been so good to me.  My only friends for so many years.”

James turned to face her many bags as if he were trying himself not to tear up.  “Which ones?” he asked.

Lia pointed out the ones she was taking on the honeymoon and they grabbed them up and just as quickly left her alone again.

“Well, this is it,” she then stated out loud as she looked around her bedroom one last time and finally found the courage to walk away from it.

As soon as she made it to the top of the stairway Thomas again came to stand below and she could now see Randle approaching him.  The guests were still there and now it seemed quiet and everyone was staring as she made her way down to her husband.

“The ladies are waiting for you to throw the bouquet,” Thomas then informed her with a big smile as he took her hand and began making their way back to the table where she had left it.

Lia smiled back thinking this should be fun.  She didn’t hesitate to reach for the blossoming bouquet and laughed seeing all the ladies in the crowd hustling up to take their positions.  She turned her back on them and hurled it as hard as she could through the air and quickly spun back around to see who caught it.  A middle aged woman, nice looking but Lia had no idea who she was but laughed anyway at the woman’s own excitement. 

Maybe she will be Randle’s wife she then thought but quickly put that possibility out of her head.  The last thing she wanted to do now was spoil her wedding.  She had every intention of making this work out for the better and refused now to let her sudden jealousy of ever seeing Randle marry another woman ruin it for her.

Thomas grabbed her hand and pulled her to him.  “Are you ready?” he asked.

“Yes,” she answered energetically.

They turned hand in hand and made their way out the front door to the waiting limo.  The driver opened the door and she turned now to look back toward the house.  Randle was standing in the doorway wearing his dark sunglasses with his hands pushed deeply into his trouser pockets and she knew surely he was staring straight at her but he made no effort of coming to her.  She raised her right hand slowly and waved.  He finally broke a small grin and nodded his approval then turned and shut the door.  She could no longer see him but once again felt his pain but turned and got into the car with every intentions of making her new life a happy one.

Thomas slid in next to her and when the door closed and she saw the partition between themselves and the driver was also closed she knew they were alone together for the first time.  A bit of nervousness now came back as the car began to move and she couldn’t help but to turn her body and place her hands on the back of the seat and stare out the window at her childhood home and watch until it was completely out of her sight.

She came again to sit next to Thomas and stared up at him.  “I’m sorry,” she told him with such emotion.

“It’s quite alright.  I told you I fully understand.  This has all happened so quickly but as I promised before…once you get used to me you’ll never wanna be anywhere else.”  He seemed so sure about it.  So confident she finally smiled again.

She crossed her legs and tried to get comfortable as they drove.  But she could feel his eyes scanning her legs and finally meeting hers again.  Then his arm slid around the back of her neck and again he kissed her with so much passion she couldn’t fight it. 

“Lia Bransford, you just don’t know how proud I am to have you as my wife,” he then stated softly.

Finally she became nervous again about their first night together as man and wife.  Could she go through with it?  Never had she slept with a man and never had she really had the desire too, but now…she could feel her body burning from deep within and she was greatly anticipating it happening.

“How old are you?” she then asked trying to cool things down.

“Twenty-six,” he chuckled back seeing she was trying to change the subject.

“Wow, you’re only two years older than me.  I’ll be twenty-five next June,” she then informed him but he looked at her with no surprise.  As if he had already known it.

“Lia, just how close have you and Randle been?” he then asked much to her surprise as if he were insinuating they were lovers.

Her eyes widened and her mouth fell open with shock.  “Oh Thomas, it’s not what you’re thinking.  Randle and I have
never
been like that, I promise.”  But from his gaze she wasn’t sure whether or not he believed her but she wasn’t too concerned.  She knew that soon he would know for himself that she had never slept with any man and that he too could trust her as well.

He gave her a quick kiss on the forehead as if it was of no great concern to him but she knew it was.

The car finally pulled up to the curve at the airport.  “I hope you don’t mind.  I don’t have a private jet like you’re used to,” he then stated.

“Of course not,” Lia laughed at him now.  “I’ve only been in Randle’s jet once.”

Thomas finally turned to her with a serious expression about his face.  Now she feared she had angered him in some way.

“Can you do me just one favor?” he asked gently.

“I can try,” she stated nervously.

“Can we please try not to say his name anymore?  I know it’s gonna be hard at first, but it’s just me and you now and I really want this marriage to work,” he stated as he took her in his arms trying his best not to upset her.

She looked at him seriously.  “I promise,” she replied.  “I may slip from time to time but I will do my best.”

“That’s all I ask,” he then stated then took her hand and they made their way through the airport and onboard their plane.

Again she found herself feeling a bit nervous knowing what a long flight this would be but she knew she was actually leaving the states with her new husband who was turning out to be the most romantic and passionate man she had ever met. 

As the plane began it’s take off it was she who was now squeezing his hand as if begging him to protect her from whatever was next to come. 

“Don’t worry Lia.  I’m not going to leave you,” he promised.

She gazed at him admiringly now.  “I trust you completely,” she finally admitted as she sat back and relaxed at last.

Lia suddenly felt her body slightly shaking.  “Lia, Lia,” she then realized was Thomas’s voice as he was trying to wake her up.  She must’ve fallen asleep the remainder of the flight.  She turned groggily toward him and stretched out her arms while she yawned.

“We’re about to land.  I didn’t want you to miss it,” he then informed her.

“Oh wow,” she exclaimed finally perking up and immediately turning to the window.   It was early in the morning now in Venice as the plane began its descent. 

Thomas grinned at his new bride as she now seemed like a young child peering out at her new surroundings. 

“You’re gonna love it here,” he then stated as he watched her.

“Oh wow,” she echoed out again.  “This is awesome.  Look at all the water…those buildings are beautiful.  And what’s that?” she then asked pointing.

Thomas leaned over her to look out.  “What?” he asked not too sure what she was pointing at.  They were still pretty high up.

“That!” she exclaimed again still pointing.  “It looks like a canoe.”

Thomas laughed at her now.  “They call them gondolas.  This city is built on several canals and is the most beautiful place in the world.”

“I believe you,” she replied finally looking back toward him.  “Are we gonna ride in one?”

“Absolutely, now buckle your seatbelt before you get us in trouble,” he chuckled out.

The plane finally made a smooth landing and Lia couldn’t seem to get off of it fast enough. 

“Slow down would you?” Thomas urged from behind as they made their way through the airport.  “I don’t wanna lose my wife this soon,” he then teased.  Finally he grabbed her hand and held it tightly so he could slow her down.

At last she admitted, “I am getting rather hungry.”

Thomas grinned.  “We’ll be at the hotel in a few minutes,” he informed her as they made their way out front with their luggage in tow and he waved down a cab.

Lia’s eyes scanned every building and admired the architecture of this gorgeous place that seemed to be made of stone.  Her body nearly ached she was so ready to tour all it had to offer.

The car finally pulled up outside of their hotel and she thought it to be the most beautiful building of all. 

“The other side of this hotel fronts one of the most beautiful canals in the city, The Grand Canal,” Thomas then told her as the valet loaded their bags on the cart and made their way inside.