Page 49 of Bad Duke

THREE WEEKS LATER

“It’s been three weeks and everyone's still talking about what happened to Lord Talbot.” Lady Folley flaps, as me and Alex stand at the entrance to our home and welcome our wedding guests to our reception. My eyes drift across to my husband who, of course, smiles dashingly at the old woman without a scratch on his conscience. “He was a ghastly man, I don’t know why people are so up in arms about it,” she continues, as the woman accompanying her tries to move her along the line.

“You look exquisite, Your Grace.” She compliments me before doing her best to usher the old woman on.

“Congratulations, Alex.” A short round man wearing all tweed takes Alex’s hand and shakes it vigorously. “Did you hear about Talbot, poor old chap? It comes to something when a man is not safe in his own home. Still, I’ll bet the thieves were disappointed when they found that they had nothing to steal.” His belly shakes when he throws his head back and roars with laughter.

It takes nearly an hour and a half to see everyone through the door, and once the last guest has passed us into the marquee on the lawn we both look at each other exhausted.

“Is it over yet?” Alex asks.

“You were the one who wanted the big wedding,” I remind him before he quickly drags me into the alcove under the stairs.

“And now all I want to do is take my wife upstairs, rip her out of this dress, and taste her pussy.” He kisses me hard before we hear the wedding planner calling for us.

“Stay quiet and she might go away,” he whispers.

“Trust me she won’t.” I drag us both out into the open and Naomi smiles when she sees me.

“Your guests are all currently being seated, the master of ceremonies will announce you in ten minutes,” she tells us, before heading back towards the marquee.

“Ten minutes, do you know what I could do to you in ten minutes?” His strong hands wrap around my hips and slide down my thighs.

“Alex, the way my hormones have been these past few weeks you could probably do it twice,” I inform him. “But I refuse to be introduced to a room full of people as the new Duchess of Hatherly with flushed cheeks and a guilty conscience.”

“Your conscience will always be clean, you leave all the bad shit to your husband. Mine was ruined years ago.” He kisses me and pushes me back into the alcove.

* * *

The day passes much faster than I expected it to. Will does a great speech that has the room roaring with laughter. Marina throws me looks of boredom from the table where she is seated with Elizabeth and her husband, but happy as I am to be Mrs Stanley, when I look around the room I can’t help wishing that my brother was here. It’s been months now, and Alex still hasn’t been able to find him. It doesn’t shock me. I saw how scared Jamie was before he left. I just wish I could get the message to him, and let him know he’s safe. Strange as it would sound to him, he and Alex are family now and I know Alex would never hurt anyone I cared about.

It’s past midnight when the last of our guests leave and while the band packs away their equipment, Alex picks me up in his arms and carries me towards the stairs. I’ve seen a change in him these past few weeks, he’s been jittery and erratic. I know he worries about me and the baby but he really has taken it to the extreme. He barely lets me leave the house these days and if I do, he insists on coming with me and bringing an entourage of his security. He’s been on edge today too which makes me wonder why having such a big wedding was so important to him.

“Did you enjoy today?” I ask as he carries me up the stairs to our room.

“Of course, I made you officially mine.” He kisses me.

“You just seemed a bit edgy.”

“I wanted you to myself, that’s all.” He smiles but it doesn’t convince me. There's something troubling him and I want to know what it is. When we get to our room he sits me down on the edge of the bed and kneels between my legs. He’s got a handsome smile on his face as he slowly lifts up my dress and when his tongue slides over the white lace panties I’m wearing I lie back on the bed and enjoy the attention he gives me.

“I like these.” He crawls up my body and hooks his finger inside the lace, pulling them taut, then making me jump when he releases them with a snap against my sensitive flesh.

“It felt like a con wearing white, I’m not a virgin anymore, but you wanted traditional.” I buck my hips and will for his hand to touch me there again.

“You were a virgin for me, and that's all that matters. I’m going to be all you’ve ever known, Olivia Stanley.” He stands back up and drags me onto my feet, spinning me around and attacking the back of my dress. He fumbles with the ribbons at the back, trying to unbind me and when it finally comes loose, he forces it off my body and spins me back around to face him. I chose the white underwear set I’m wearing especially for him and I know I got it right when his tongue rolls around his cheek as he admires me.

His eyes trail down my body and when they pause and widen, I quickly look down to see what's got him so mesmerised.

“You're showing.” He smiles wickedly as he focuses on my stomach.

“No, I’m not. I ate and kept down a three-course meal.” I giggle, not wanting to discuss my waistline right now. I’ve waited all day for this man, who is now my husband, to get me upstairs.

“Liv, I mean it.” He grabs my hand and drags me into the bathroom so we're standing in front of the mirror. “I have been studying every inch of your body since the day we found out you were pregnant, looking for a sign of it, and there is definitely something there.” He spins me sideways and, sure enough, just below my belly button is a distinctive, little ridge that I haven't noticed there before.

I slide my hand over it and smile to myself.

“This is the perfect wedding gift.” Alex places his hand over it too. “You look so sexy with a popped-out little tummy.” He keeps his hand there as he kisses me, his tongue dancing around mine as he lifts me up and lands me on the basin unit.

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