Page 92 of What A Rogue Wants
“So are you.” She tried to concentrate as the priest spoke, but her heart drummed against her ribs, and each time Grey rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand, she forgot to listen. Disbelieving she was actually about to be married to the man who had her whole heart, she kept looking at him until the priest cleared his throat with a pointed look at her.
As Grey repeated his vows, she listened to the words of commitment, honor and trust, understanding with a deep instinct he would never break a single oath. He slid a heavy gold band on her finger and pledged his love.
At the end of her vows, Madelaine placed Grey’s wedding band on his finger before the priest pronounced them husband and wife. Grey enfolded her in his arms and he gave her a passionate kiss that ended only when cheering and clapping broke out around them. A blush heated her cheeks and neck, but she didn’t care. She no longer cared about anything but loving Grey.
Madelaine was shocked to see the queen stand from the pews, all the ladies-in-waiting rising behind her. When the queen and Grace smiled at Madelaine at the same time, all she could do was stare in wonder. Grey pressed his lips close to her ear. “Aunt Helen spoke with the queen and was able to convince her of the error of her ways in her treatment of you. And as you know, the ladies-in-waiting follow the queen’s lead.”
Madelaine didn’t have time to do more than nod at the astonishing revelations before the queen was before her. “Congratulations.” She extended her hand for Madelaine and Grey to kiss. “I would like to offer you a wedding gift. I had one of my personal chambers made into a wedding chamber for you.”
That was likely as close to an apology as Madelaine would ever receive. “Thank you, Your Majesty. I hope we can return such a generous offer someday.”
“There is no need.” The queen beamed. “Go and enjoy being young, healthy and in love. I took it upon myself to have all your belongings transferred into the bedchamber. So off with you both.” The queen waved them away.
“Slow down.” Madelaine giggled as Grey nearly ran with her down the aisle and scooped her up to deposit her into the carriage. He clambered in and gave a clipped order to go.
She looked out the window with a grin at the frowning guests filing out of the chapel with rice bags in hand, and then she turned her gaze to her husband. “That was unpardonably rude of us.”
He yanked off his cravat with one hand while he grasped her arm with his other and pulled her nearer to him. His powerful thigh brushed her, and his masculine scent surrounded her. He licked his lips, his eyes sparkling. “I’ll tell the coachman to turn around and head back to the chapel, if you wish it.”
“Don’t you dare.” She pressed her hand against his chest then slid it down to rest on his leg near the top of his thigh. His muscles jerked under her touch. “All I want,” she said, kissing his neck and then lower at his open collar where hair peeked from his shirt, “is to have you take me in your arms and love me forever.”
“Oh, I’ll take you,” he promised, nipping at her ear until she moaned. “And I’ll love you forever and beyond.”
Grey studied Madelaine’s face as they entered the bedchamber and she took in the rich red and gold silk of the heavy bedding with the mounds of soft inviting pillows. For him it invoked images of the two of them intertwined and naked. Was it the same for her? “What do you think?”
A smile curved the corners of her mouth, and her eyes grew slumberous. “It’s too wicked to say, so I shall say this—I think the king should use your aunt in future negotiations. She obviously has a talent for convincing people of things that would have never entered their mind.”
He chuckled as he slid his arms around Madelaine’s waist and closed the door with the toe of his shoe. “I would have liked to have seen how Helen persuaded the queen she’d been wrong while somehow managing not to rile the queen’s temper.”
“Me too.” Madelaine leaned her head back against his chest. “That particular talent would be helpful when it comes to you.”
He inhaled the scent of fresh flowers that wafted from her hair and tightened his grip around the soft curve of her waist. “I’ll tell you a secret.” He swept her hair off her neck and kissed the long, elegant slope. His blood went straight to his groin.
Her answer was a moan followed by a ragged, “What?”
He trailed his fingers over her collarbone, then slid them lower to rub gently over one hard nipple that strained against the material of her wedding dress before lavishing the same attention on the other. She twisted to face him, her face flushed pink with desire. When she licked her lips, his blood strummed in his ears to join the throbbing in his groin.
“What’s your secret?” Her husky question made him want to forget talking, rip off all her clothes, and show her how weak with need she made him just by simply being near.
He slid his hands around her back to the exquisite curve of her delectable bottom and squeezed the inviting flesh. Her eyes rounded, but she did not lean away as he pulled her against his hard groin. “If ever you want to convince me of something, just appear naked, and I vow my temper will not be roused, no matter the request.”
She cocked her head to the side, her pink tongue darting out to wet her lips once more. “That’s good to know, but that may spark some interesting talk among our household staff.”
“True.” He massaged her bottom while enjoying watching her pupils dilate. The ache in his groin had grown painful, but he would take things slow with her tonight. He’d promised himself tonight was about pleasing her, giving all to her. “I suppose if you want to convince me of something without my temper coming to play then make sure to do it in the bedroom.”
“Or lock the door of the room we’re in.” She grinned wickedly. “I believe I would start like this.” Her hand slid down his chest, leaving gooseflesh in its wake, coming to rest on his shaft. She squeezed with slight pressure that tore a ragged groan from his throat.
“God, I crave you.” He swooped one arm beneath her legs and picked her up. A growl escaped his lips as her soft body pushed harder against his aching staff. When she touched his face with her fingertips, a shudder coursed through him.
She pressed a velvet kiss against his lips. “I crave you too.”
That was all the invitation he needed. His mouth came down upon hers, the fierceness of his need to be inside his wife stunning him. She met each stroke of his tongue with her own as her hands slid up to his neck and delved into his hair. When her nails raked over his scalp, desire shot from his head, down his body and propelled him toward the bed. He set her on the edge and kneeled in front of her. His hands shook with need as he attempted to undue the rows of buttons that fastened her dress. “Damnation,” he swore, frustrated with all the fasteners.
“Let me.” Her strained voice revealed the urgency she felt.
Coming to her knees, she unhooked her dress, and as she worked, he kissed her neck, massaging the tender skin with his lips until she moaned low. The shimmering material slid off her shoulders, down her arms and fell at her knees. He laid her back gently and ran his fingers up the smooth skin of her legs before bringing his hands back down again and slipping the dress off her feet to deposit it in a heap on the floor.
With nothing covering her but her stays, which thrust her breasts upward, she lay before him. “Beautiful temptress.” He glided a finger down her taut belly, her sharp intake of breath music to fuel his desire. “You’re flawless. Amazing.”
