Page 44 of Consequence of One Reckless Night

She heard someone clear their throat noisily. Another person gasped as applause and loud chuckles filled the air.

“Exercise some control, brother! Will you consummate your marriage in the house of the Lord?” Leandro’s words, uttered with amusement, pierced through the sexual haze that swept her mind. But Raquel felt bereft when Alexandre suddenly pulled away from her and she swayed as she looked around, her brain taking more than a few seconds to make sense of what had happened.

“Raquel!” An exuberant Ana was immediately at her side, hugging her and kissing her on the cheek. “Your man can’t keep his hands off you!” Leaning forward conspiratorially, Ana whispered in her ear, “Are you sure he isn’t in love with you already?”

Chapter Eighteen

After a half hour sessionof carefully scripted photographs for the press, the bride and the groom set off to the reception along with the small posy of guests.

The late afternoon reception, or if one could call afternoon tea a wedding reception, was held at Alexandre’s gargantuan mansion by the sea. After toasting the newly married couple, the staff made themselves scarce as Raquel joined Alexandre on one of the many balconies facing the sea.

A flustered looking Ana sat beside Leandro, who was an education in composure. He didn’t look the least bit uncomfortable sitting beside two women, both of whom had been offered to him in marriage, only to reject him. Neither did he show any animosity toward his half-brother who had swiped his fiancée right from under his nose!

Raquel sat stiffly in her chair as finger sandwiches, mini cakes, and scones were arranged artfully at the small table on beautiful gauzy tablecloth and tea was poured into fine china cups reserved only for special occasions. After the mind-numbing kiss at the chapel, her brain cells had declared a strike. She couldn’t even hold a thought! The panty-melting kiss had all but liquified her bones and had instantly dampened the flesh between her legs. In a haze, she had posed for photographs with Ana and Leandro, but it didn’t escape her notice that Alexandre cared enough to include his staff in the photographs, too.

Another small kiss for the press had ended the photo session, but it kept her blood zinging and her heart pounding. All the reasons why she should detach herself emotionally from her new husband flew out of her mind.

One kiss was all it took to turn her brain into mush and her body into a raging inferno of need. Her breasts hardened, and the flesh between her legs clenched with shameless need. How could she want a man who wouldn’t give her an emotional commitment? Could their marriage survive on a diet of lust alone?

A warm hand clasped around hers, jerking her from her thoughts as Alexandre leaned toward her. “Dreaming of our wedding night, darling?”

She shot him an angry glare before looking surreptitiously at her sister and her now brother-in-law. The knowing looks on their faces had her blushing furiously.

“I think we should leave the newly-weds on their own.” Leandro stood up, and so did Ana. Stepping toward Alexandre, Leandro shook his hand. To Raquel, he said, “Make sure my brother treats you well. If not, let me know.”

Ana hugged her next and kissed her on the cheek before turning to Alexandre. “Take care of my sister.”

Alexandre nodded somberly beside her, and Raquel watched with tearful eyes as her sister left with Leandro.

“I need to get out of this dress,” she mumbled, hurrying toward her room before Alexandre saw the tears that spilled down her cheeks.

Back in her room, Raquel angrily yanked the hairpins out of her hair, her thick mane falling like a rumpled blanket around her shoulders. Reaching behind her, she began to remove the pearl buttons that dotted the length of her spine.

She was able to remove two buttons before her arms began to hurt and her fingers began to pinch. She would need at least another set of hands to help her out of the dress, she reckoned. If she weren’t feeling so emotional, she would have had the presence of mind to ring for one of the staff members, but she didn’t want anyone seeing her weep on her wedding day.

When Ana left her, a profound sense of loss had stabbed her. It’d felt as though Ana had abandoned her altogether, although it was silly that she felt that way. Ana hadn’t deserted her. She’d simply gone home, so she could be alone with her new husband.

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