Page 53 of Prettiest Little Thief
Lucas and I stood before the officiant, a pretty woman with blonde hair and sage-colored eyes. Eyes that kept wandering up and down my husband-to-be with pure lust. But Lucas didn’t seem to notice, his gaze stayed on me. The fact that he hardly acknowledged her sent a surge of satisfaction through me and set a shit eating grin across my face. He arched a brow in curiosity, humor dancing behind his eyes.
“Does anyone here wish to object to this union?” the officiant asked. She glanced around Fox and Evie. The latter looked about ready to gouge the blonde’s eyes out. “Anyone?” She grinned at Lucas.
Rude.
“Get on with it,” he growled at her. All boss and not the man I had come to know.
Her smile dropped, and she swallowed hard at the demand before she finished her speech.
When it came to our vows, Lucas surprised me when he slid a gorgeous ring onto my finger as he recited the vows theofficiant fed to him. The pear-shaped diamond glittered in the light as the twisted, rose gold band warmed against my skin.
“I… I don’t have anything to give you,” I said softly.
He looked down at me, his face unreadable. “I didn’t expect you to, Mrs. Knight.” My heart twisted in my chest, and butterflies burst through my belly with how thoughtful he had been. And maybe a little bit at my new name.
“I still have a few more moments of being Miss Whitlock, thank you very much,” I quipped.
Lucas’s shoulders shook with a chuckle. “If you say so.”
“The ring isn’t another tracking device, is it?” I asked. “Because I’m still wearing my bracelet, and it’s unnecessary.”
Again, Lucas laughed. This time, though, it ended in a cough as he tried to hold himself back. I peeked at the officiant, and she was looking up from the book she held in her hands, an eyebrow arched as she peered at us.
“Sorry,” I whispered to her as I pursed my lips together and tried to hold in my own giggle.
Lucas cleared his throat, his smirk still in place.
“You may kiss your bride, Mister Knight,” the woman finally said, a look of jealousy on her face.
There was a moment of a fleeting pause, staring up into Lucas’s face. His jaw flexed, his smirk no longer gracing his devastating face, and those butterflies in my stomach soared to new heights. Even if we had kissed before, this was different. I was hiswifeafter we sealed it with a big wet one.
The hesitation must have been a moment too long, because Lucas grabbed me by my hips, pulling me flush against his strong body, the heat of his form warming more than just my skin. My entire being ignited. That electrical feeling pulsed through me—between us, sending a flame scorching its way down my spine.
I was hot. Too hot from the torch of flames Lucas had used to set me alight. His tongue swept into my mouth, drawing an involuntary moan from me. He moved his hands from my hips to my chin, cupping my face and gently running his thumbs over the skyrocketing pulse in my throat. The uproar of exhilaration continued to unfurl within me at his tender touch. The feeling of his hands on me… on my flesh, propelled me into action.
With needy hands, I reached up, running my fingers along his silky tuxedo jacket. I gripped the fabric roughly and tugged him harder against me. With no space between our bodies, I could feel a prominent bulge against my belly. A growl rumbled through Lucas, sending a salacious vibration straight to my core.
Fox and Evie cheered, reminding us that we weren’t alone, and Lucas withdrew his mouth from mine. Those piercing eyes full of something I couldn’t quite place as he stared into my very soul.
His hold loosened, and I broke the death grip I had on his jacket, smoothing my hands down the front of my dress. The heat of his hand pressed into the small of my back as we made our way out of the courthouse. And when I glanced up at him once again from beneath lowered lashes, it hit me. I was married. Lucas Knight was my husband.
My husband.
Chapter Thirty-One
Monroe
Fox had taken Evie home, leaving Lucas and me alone. We entered his ridiculous mansion with nothing but quiet wrapping itself around me.
I rolled my lips and looked to Lucas as if somehow he would guide me through what happened next.
Did he want to consummate our marriage?
“I have something for you,” he said, jerking his head toward the hallway that led to the kitchen.
“Okay, lead the way.”
“Mrs. first.” Lucas swept out a hand to gesture to me to get a move on, his lips tipped up on one side.
