Page 74 of The Unplanned Wedding

Her mouth drops open, and her eyes widen. "Wow, that's really something. I understand how that's an offer that'd be hard to refuse. What, you couldn't work me into the negotiation, too?" she teases.

I laugh before continuing, "Andhe promised to help me find my birthfamily. It’s something I’ve been trying to do for a while now but haven't had any luck.’

"I had no idea," she says slowly.

"It’s not a big deal." I raise my shoulder, then massage my temple. "Okay, itisa big deal. It’s not that Ihaveto know who my parents are, but it’s going to help me a lot if I do. It’s going to fill in the blanks for me, you know? It’s such a big part of my identity…" I trail off.

"Oh honey, I understand," She closes the distance to me and takes my hand in hers. "But is it worth marrying him?"

I shrug. "I've thought about it, and honestly, I don’t see why not. There are only benefits to it, not the least of which is that I get access to enough money to take care of Irene, Jillian and Ethan."

She opens her mouth to say something, but I shake my head. "I know, money isn’t everything. But I'd never forgive myself if I didn’t use this opportunity to make sure it benefits them. It'll change their lives in ways nothing else can. Also…" I turn away from her to survey myself in the mirror again. "Also, yes, I’m attracted to him. And I have a feeling when I sleep with him it’s going to be the best sex of my life."Assuming he goes against one of the conditions of the marriage which, if it were up to me, he’d break.Guess somewhere between last night and this morning, I’ve come to the decision that if I’m marrying him, then I’m going to benefit fromallof the advantages of the relationship.

I meet Zoey’s gaze in the mirror to find her smirking.

"What?" I frown.

"I hate to say I told you so, but—" She holds up her hands, palms facing me. "But hey, much as I wish you weren’t rushing into this, again, having seen how happy Skylar and Vivian are, perhaps Knox will make you happy."

I shrug. "Perhaps," I say in a noncommittal voice.

That’s when the door opens and Irene walks. I gasp.My ma’s here. Oh my God, I was missing her so much, and here she is.Tears prick the backs of my eyes.

She smiles and comes toward me with her arms outstretched. “My baby, you look so beautiful!”

“How did you find out?” I cry.

Her smile widens. “Knox called me.”

30

Knox

Yes, I invited her friend Zoey, and then her mother and her siblings, because I knew she’d appreciate the emotional support. I want her to feel comfortable at her own wedding. Besides, I feel guilty about hustling her into this agreement. It's only partially true that I didn’t want Arthur getting all up in my business and deciding to throw a spanner in the works. And maybe, I wanted to ensure I have her hitched to me so no one else can get their dirty paws anywhere near her.

Any doubts I did the right thing are put to rest when she walks up the aisle on the arm of her mother, with a small smile on her face. There’s gratitude in her eyes when she mouths,thank you. I nod, unable to take my gaze off of her. The blush pink dress she’s wearing, while demure, clings to her curves. Tendrils of hair frame her features, and my fingers itch to tuck them behind her ears. Her cheeks are pink, her brown eyes shining, and when she comes to a stop in front of me,

I’m barely able to acknowledge her mother before I take June’s hand inmine. Sensations zip up my arm. I sense her shiver in response to my touch, and once more, it strikes me how responsive she is. And when she lowers her gaze, my heart insists she’s the perfect subservient for me. My cock thickens, and I glance away, not wanting to sport a chub during my wedding ceremony.

My brother, Edward, who’s a former priest and who agreed to marry us, smiles at both of us. The ceremony is short, as I requested. When she says, "I do," it’s in a soft yet firm voice. And when I hear my own voice echo the words, I’m struck by how confident I feel about it… How right it feels to take her as my wife. I slide the ring I picked out onto her finger and am rewarded by her eyes growing wide. She looks up at me, surprise and pleasure on her face, and a rush of satisfaction fills my chest.

She slides the simple ring I picked out for myself on my finger.

When Edward announces that I can kiss the bride, she draws in a sharp breath. Apprehension laces her features. She swallows hard, then focuses her gaze on my chest, which is where she reaches. Nervousness thrums off of her. I could insist on kissing her on the lips, but her uncertainty strikes a chord.

It can’t be easy, jumping off the deep end and marrying a man she’s only known as her boss. Of course, she knows me better than anyone else, given how closely we’ve worked over the past few weeks. And I know enough about her to know I’m doing the right thing in marrying her. And that I’ll do my best to protect her and keep her safe. And that includes making sure I prioritize what she wants. After all, she’s my wife.

A thrum of possessiveness grips me. I notch my knuckles under her chin, then bend and kiss her forehead. I shift to move away, but she leans up on her tiptoes which only brings her up to my chin. She lifts her head and peers into my face, and I feel like I’m drowning in her warm brown gaze. A shudder grips me.

Something knotted in my chest releases. I lower my head and press my lips to hers. She stills. Then, like water breaking through a dam, she melts into me. I release my hold on her chin, only to grip her hip. Then, I deepen the kiss, and when she parts her lips, I sweep my tongue inside and over hers. Lust zips down to my groin. My thighs tighten. I pull her closer. A moan spills from her lips, and I swallow it down. I continue kissing her and drinking in her sweet taste. And when she sways against me, I tighten myhold on her.I’m never letting her go. Never.The thought brings a cold sweat to my forehead. I release her and step back, making sure to hold her until she finds her balance.

She has a dazed look in her eyes. Her lips are swollen from my kiss, and the flush on her cheeks has deepened. The sound of clapping reaches me. I look up to find her mother wiping tears from her eyes. I visited Irene last night and told her I was marrying her daughter. And when I explained to her that I wanted her presence to be a surprise for my wife, a pleased look came into her eyes. Now, she walks over to us and takes my wife’s hand in hers.

"You make a beautiful bride."

"Irene"—my wife swallows—"I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier."

"I won’t say that I've forgiven you for that, but your husband told me it was his idea to get married so quickly. I'm grateful you two decided to get married here, instead of eloping."

---