Page 40 of A Rakish Duke's Rules for Love

Anastasia took Gabriel’s hand, his eyes glowing with pride, and she felt no less delighted.

“Husband,” she whispered.

“Wife,” he replied smartly before kissing her chastely then he whispered in her ear, “The proper kiss will come later, I promise you.”

She giggled, “I know.”

Turning, they made their way down the aisle where Theodora hugged Anastasia tightly, kissing her cheeks with watery eyes, and her father shook Gabriel’s hand.

Victoria hugged her warmly. “I told you it would work out, did I not?”

“You did,” Ana smiled then looked over her friend’s shoulder to spot Lord Gladhame, “And one day, I will be saying the same to you.”

Her friend reddened, “That is not going to happen, but thank you for the good wishes.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Anastasia grinned when David shot a long possessive, heated look to Victoria’s back. “Miracles do happen.”

Afterward, with her hand tucked inside her husband’s, they made their way to his carriage. Gabriel had managed to politely decline her mother’s repeated invitation to stay the night with them but settled on having the wedding breakfast at their house instead.

Ana boarded the carriage utterly euphoric, knowing that from that moment on, they would forge their future together. Nothing could have made her happier.

As the vehicle approached her old home, Gabriel turned to her with a nostalgic smile. “Now that we’re married, shall I start looking for a country home around these parts? It looks like a nice place to have a holiday away from the hustle-and-bustle of London.”

“Yes!” Anastasia exclaimed. “I would love that.”

Gabriel’s eyes roamed over her for a long while, “I am tempted to leave this breakfast and go to our inn, my love. I want to stay a day and a half in bed with you.”

“’ Tis our wedding day.” Ana’s cheek flushed as she remembered the feel of him driving into her that night after she had agreed to marry him—and now she’d wanted him to make love to her again and again.

“Let’s take a bite of the cake, and then we can make our exit.”

His brow arched. “You’re sure?”

“Very,” she said as she leaned in for a long, breathless kiss. “Every day for the rest of our lives.”

“Every night?”

“Every breath I take,” she replied,

He wrapped his fingers about the reins and glanced over his shoulder at the empty road. “I can park this carriage around the next corner if you’d prefer not to wait for a proper bed.”

She grinned wickedly, “As much as I would love that, I do not want to abuse Richard’s sensibilities.”

Gabriel laughed. “My dear, Richards has been eradicated of his sensibilities regarding me. Well, he was before this, and he was the one who demanded to be the driver even though I have footmen galore who could have done it instead. I have been without your touch for the last month, and I will not let any opportunity pass by where I can have you.”

“The carriage is moving, Gabriel,” she replied. “The window is open. When have your sensibilities grown sorisqué?”

“I’ve always been daring, love. Remind me to tell you about that time at the trapeze at Vauxhall.” To the window, he ordered, “Richards, take the scenic route to the cottage, my good man.” He dropped the curtain. “There, now come here.”

They arrived twenty-five minutes later for their wedding breakfast with broad smiles, her dress rumpled, his cravat missing, and a few buttons from his shirt torn.

Aweek and a half later, the stars of the night sky of Florence, Italy, glimmered down on them from the window of their room in the inn. Next to the bed, Gabriel had only to turn his head to the left, and a field of red tiles lining the rooftops bloomed before him.

Anastasia was catching her breath after their spirited third round of lovemaking, and with his arm around her shoulders, he held her right over his heart.

“You’re an insatiable beast,” she mumbled.

“You’re welcome,” he replied, sliding a hand down her arm, pressing her in a little, so her soft, plump breasts pressed into his side. “You are coming on well too. A month ago, three climaxes would have made you insensate.”

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