Page 16 of A Marriage of Necessity

But she said, “Then you are in luck,” with more emphasis than intended, and cursed her temper. “I have a family to care for. That is why I married you. You needed an heir—and your father wanted another title. A perfect match.” She regarded him. “Why did you allow your father to choose your bride?”

“He wanted me married immediately and I had no preference.”

“How sad,” she murmured.

“Do you think so?” he said. “Should a man always be in love?”

Anne shook her head. This time she had offended him. “A man needn’t be in love to have at least one friend he might be able to choose as a wife.”

“Perhaps I take more seriously the task of choosing a wife than you did a husband.”

“On the contrary, I put a great deal of thought into the sort of husband I need.”

“Your only requirement is that he have enough money to support your ancestral homes.”

Was he trying to make her angry? For once in her life, she couldn’t be riled so easily. She gave a slow nod. “Aye, I had but one requirement: he must have money. But it seems you had no requirements.”

“That is where you are mistaken, my sweet. My one requirement was that my father approved.”

“Perhaps you and I are not so different,” she said. “A man of your rank and wealth, would allow his father to choose his wife for only one reason. Did he threaten to cut you off?” She couldn’t help but smile. “Have no fear, my lord. I admire a man who knows what he wants and isn’t afraid to pursue it.”

* * *

Kennedy stared at his wife for a moment in surprise, then threw back his head and laughed. “At least I will no’ be bored with you, my dear.” His amusement vanished. “Perhaps my father did me more of a good turn that I realized.”

Her brows shot up. “Never say that is a complement, sir.”

He chuckled. “A man must give due were due is deserved. I believe I might keep that to myself, however. My father need not know.”

“When will I meet him?” she asked.

“Good God, never, if I have anything to say about it.”

“Surely, he will want to meet me,” she said.

“If he were a normal father, aye. But he isn’t. He will want to see our son when he is born.”

Her cheeks pinked prettily, and he realized they’d better get on with the business of the evening. She dark hair tumbled past her shoulders. He took the two steps to her side, then gently removed the shawl from her shoulders and tossed it aside. She wore a practical linen nightshift that didn’t quite hide the rose-colored tips of her breasts. His cock began to rise. Aye, he would have no trouble bedding this woman. When he slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her close, she leaned away from him.

He looked down at her. “Husbands are often known to show their gratitude with jewelry.”

Her mouth parted in surprise, then her eyes narrowed, and he realized his mistake. “How very kind of you to show your gratitude to your wife with jewelry. Do you mind if I show mine by selling it?”

He blinked in surprise, expected anger, but had to laugh again. “Are you always so delightfully honest?”

“Aye,” she said without hesitation, and he laughed harder.

Kennedy was forced to release her or laugh in her face. Perhaps the laughter was a delayed response of hysteria. Or perhaps she was simply funny.

How was he supposed to make love to a woman who kept him laughing?There was only one answer. He stepped, closer yanked her against him, and kissed her. She gave a squeak of surprise. He thought for an instant he would laugh again, then she melted against him and the laughter vanished. She grasped his shoulders as she had when he kissed her at the ceremony, but this time, the heat of her fingers penetrated the thin fabric of his silk robe. When she squeezed the hard muscle, he wondered what her fingers would feel like around his hard length.

He flicked his tongue against her lips. She hesitated, then opened for him. Kennedy slipped his tongue inside her mouth and her tongue cautiously touched his. A jolt of desire tightened his bollocks. The woman could easily bring a man to his knees. A thought struck. She said that her desperation to marry stemmed from a need to care for her family, but what if it was something more? What if she was carrying another man’s child?”

He wanted to laugh again, only this time the humor was dark. It would serve his father right for Kennedy’s heir to be another man’s offspring. Kennedy, however, wasn’t so certain he liked the idea. He brushed off the thought. If she was already pregnant, that only meant Rose would return home soon.

Kennedy slid his hand down her back and over the curve of her firm buttocks. She drew a sharp breath as he gently undulated his erection against her belly. He broke the kiss and slid his mouth along her cheek to her ear. When he took her lobe into his mouth and nibbled, she wiggled in his grasp, and he realized he wanted her—badly.

He swept her into his arms and crossed to the bed. When he laid her on the mattress, her hair fanned around her face just as he’d imagined that first night. She really was lovely. He couldn’t blame her if she carried another man’s child. Hadn’t he told her that a woman had just as much right as a man to see to her pleasures?A woman in her position, however, might find it prudent to bear her husband an heir first. For all he knew, that had been her plan. Perhaps she’d been engaged, and the man jilted her. Whatever the case, he could have done far worse.