Page 43 of Bryson

Forcing himself to be led, he sat next to her.

"It was," he agreed.

Lacing her fingers through his, she lifted their hands and stared at their rings. "The vows meant something." She raised her head to look at him. "When I first saw you at that party, I told myself that there was no way I would ever get involved with you. I knew who you were of course and you were with some brunette."

"You were also with someone." His lips curved in memory.

"Brian. He was always my date when I found myself unattached."

"You refused to dance with me at first."

"I tried to resist, told myself I could, but I was fooling myself."

"I was dazzled from the very first time by your beauty." Loosening the grip of her fingers on his, he lifted his hands to slide up and down her soft skin. She smelled like a cross between heaven and something highly exotic. And he wanted to bury himself deep inside her. "And I knew I wanted you. You balked at the idea of leaving with me."

"Of course I did. I wasn't a skank," she retorted and made him laugh.

"You made it plain that you were not the type of woman to be taken in by money."

"You offered to take me to Paris."

"And you frostily told me that you'd been to Paris and if that's the best I can do, I should just go and try that tired line on someone else." He was sliding off the skimpy bosom of her gown, his breath strangling inside his throat at the sight of her bared breasts with their puckered nipples. "I knew I had to try harder." His voice dropped to almost a whisper as he cupped and weighed the flesh in his palms. "The first time I held you in my arms, I knew that once would never be enough." He peeled the flimsy material off her and tossed it aside. His hands drifted to her flat stomach.

"Now you're all mine." He was already as hard as steel. Letting go of her, he shrugged out of his robe and reached for the glasses of wine, handing one to her.

"A toast."

"To us."

"To you, darling," he corrected huskily. "The one and only woman I've ever loved. The woman who makes it all worthwhile."

"To you, my husband, the most beautiful man I've ever seen."

They drank and put the glasses away.

"Later," he promised, when she glanced at the cake. "Right now, I just want to touch you." He laid her back on the soft pillows and eased in next to her. "You were the most beautiful bride I had ever seen. You almost knocked me on my ass when you came walking in."

"You cleaned up well yourself. You even got a haircut."

"Just a little bit off the front and sides. I wanted to look presentable for you." His fingers skimmed over her ribs, loving the fact that he could make her tremble. "I feared that you would have changed your mind about coming to me at the chapel." His lips brushed over the silky skin of her cheek. "I told myself that I would hunt you down if you left."

"I cannot believe you would think that." She slid her hands up and down his chest, cherishing the feel of the dark hairs covering the flesh. "I'm hooked. And now we're joined together in holy matrimony."

"My wife," he whispered against her lips before using his tongue to trace the fascinating outline of the lush bottom one. "My love." He nibbled, feeling the familiar jolt of electricity at the taste and texture of her. Her scent filled his nostrils and every part of him. "My heart and soul." His hand cradled her throat as he lifted her chin so he could have his fill of her mouth.

She moved into him, hands sliding over his chest and around his neck. "Bryson," she breathed, parting her lips so he could taste her tongue. "Bryson."

"My sweet." She was intoxicating, that was what he had thought, when he first kissed her that night in the garden and knew that he had to have more. Plunging his tongue in, he deepened the kiss, his hands drifting down her back and to her firm buttocks. Bringing her closer to him, he allowed her to feel his raging desire and how much he already wanted her. She melted in hisarms, his fiery kisses already sending heat streaking through her body.

She surrendered completely, her arms wrapping around his muscled body as if she could forge them together.

"Wait," he gasped when she nudged his thighs open with her knees. "Just give me a minute." The rest of the words were cut off with a groan when she reached down to cup him.

"I can't wait," she told him achingly. "It has to be now."

"I don't want to hurt you," he rasped harshly.

"You won't."