“Can I help?” she offered, feeling a strong need to put her hands on him.
“Not if you want to do this half-dressed,” he warned. “You’ve made me wait too long.”
“It’s only been—”
He cut in with a smoldering look, “Too long, when I want you every minute of the day.”
Hearing that, she had to deal with some impatience of her own. She sat up and yanked off her shoes, stockings, and anything else that would just slip off. She unfastened the back of her dress, too, as far as she could reach, then turned her back to him so he could finish it for her.
“I hope you didn’t like this dress,” he said as he ripped the rest of it open.
She laughed. “No, what would give you that idea?”
He knelt on the bed behind her, his lips moving from her neck to her shoulder as he pushed the sleeves down her arms, then lifted the dress and chemise off over her head. Whatever pins remained in her hair after that he pulled loose, then ran his fingertips along her scalp.
She leaned her head back against his chest so she could look up at him behind her. He kissed her like that, but it wasn’t a satisfactory connection, so he flipped her over and then under him, to do it right. God, it was so right, giving her just enough of his weight so she could savor the feel of his body, his mouth slanting across hers at a perfect angle, the kiss deepening, igniting those incredibly delicious sensations again that began to course rapidly through her.
She was being so selfish, to let this happen, to not tell him she’d help him find a way around the king’s orders. She couldn’t say the words, not after he’d just convinced her that he did want her. Like this. They would at least have this. . . .
He did some savoring of his own with his hands. At least, it sounded as if he was getting a lot of pleasure from caressing her. She’d had no idea she had so many sensitive spots on her body. Maybe she didn’t and it was just his touch, his fingers lightly stroking her, that made it seem so. Even his golden hair, brushing against the top of her breasts when his mouth closed over them, made her shiver with pleasure while his mouth drew forth a hot sensation from deep within her.
The muscles of his back and shoulders rippled under her fingertips, too. She even thought she felt him tremble once. She wanted to touch so much more of him, but she wasn’t quite bold enough to push him onto his back so she could. She didn’t think it would be long before she lost that shyness, but at the moment she was loath to give up the press of his body on hers, his heat surrounding her, and the awe of what was happening inside her. She had no control over it, didn’t want to try to control it. She just let it carry her along, aware this time of what this swift buildup of passion was leading to.
Then he gathered her close, so close, his hands in her hair, his mouth back on hers, and he slid so exquisitely into her, filling her with such thick heat. Having him there was such a fulfilling feeling, almost as if her body had always been missing something, but now it was complete. But there was something else, too. She noticed it this time, his touching something so deep in her that it escalated everything she was feeling. Her eyes flew open wide in wonder, her breath froze, her hold on him tightened, waiting, waiting, and then his next thrust found that perfect place again and shot her over the edge.
She cried out, she wasn’t sure what. He thrust once more to join her in that sweet ecstasy. She was filled with so much emotion she nearly cried. She smiled instead, couldn’t help that upward turning of her lips. He wore the same smile. It was so beautiful! She saw it just before he kissed her tenderly, then carefully took his weight from her.
But he wasn’t leaving. He draped her legs over him, made sure she was comfortable, then put his arm around her so she couldn’t leave! As if she wanted to move. As if she didn’t feel so utterly content right where she was.
Chapter Fifty-Four
ALANA COULDN’T BELIEVE IT was her wedding day! It was amazing how quickly the time flew. She had only seen Christoph once since that wonderful night they’d spent together.
Last night was the traditional dinner for the families of the bride and groom so there would be no doubt both sides were in complete accord over the happy event. It was the last opportunity for any of the family members to express reservations about the match. Alana had actually feared Christoph might say something, but he didn’t. Her only disappointment in the evening was that Poppie wasn’t there to be included as part of her family.
She did mention to her father when she found a moment alone with him that Leonard and Henry should have been invited. He didn’t exactly answer her, but his expression had been poignant. She understood. He might want to thank Poppie if they ever met for his devoted care of her, but she didn’t think Frederick would ever forgive him for keeping her from her real family.
Christoph’s mother came to her rooms this morning to help her prepare, the queen by her side. Both women were ecstatically happy for their own reasons, Nikola because the future heir to the kingdom was no longer her sole responsibility.
With the men not there to hear it, Ella felt free to confide, “Geoffrey and I had begun to despair that Christoph would never marry. He felt his job wouldn’t allow him time for a wife and family of his own, and he considered his job far more important.”
“Then a more perfect solution couldn’t have been found for him,” Nikola agreed.
“Exactly,” Ella said with a laugh.
Job and wife in one, Alana got it. Did Christoph see it as a perfect solution for himself, too?
Alana wished she hadn’t been told that. She’d been feeling happy and excited about today. After the other night, she’d stopped having second thoughts. After the other night, she’d caught herself smiling for no reason—a lot. Now, she was feeling misgivings again, and they grew stronger when Christoph’s grandfather stopped by with Wesley on his hip.
Ella took her son from him and asked what was wrong. The boy just smiled at her. Hendrik confessed, “The men were putting him to sleep. They’re too solemn. They view this undertaking so seriously. I knew we would find laughter and cheer here with you ladies.”
Nikola saw Alana’s worried look and said, “Of course they’re solemn, they have Frederick with them! He’s only just found his daughter and already he’s giving her to another man. It will be a while before he can laugh about it.”
Was that all? Or was Christoph finally having second thoughts?
But Hendrik soon had the ladies laughing again, and the maids blushing. When the summons came at the door that it was time to leave for the royal assembly hall, where the wedding would take place, he asked if he could escort Alana to her father, who would be walking her down the aisle. She already had an escort, her eight guards, the dozen maids it took to carry the long train on her mother’s gown, the queen, and her soon-to-be mother-in-law, but the old man’s offer pleased her. It almost felt as if he were her grandfather, too. She knew she was going to be blessed in marrying into Christoph’s family, already liking them as she did.
Her father was waiting for her at the entrance to the long hall. He didn’t look solemn now. He was smiling and shaking his head in amazement at the way she looked. The gown was so grand, the veil so thin it hid nothing of her face. It was fit for a queen, the queen who had last worn it.
