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Rule forged on. They reached the elevators and one rolled open as if on cue. He pulled her in there, pushed the button for the fifth floor and the doors slid shut.

“Whew,” she said, laughing a little. “Looks like we’re safe.”

He just looked grim. “I should have known they would spot us.” A moment later, the doors slid open wide. They got off and a group of men in business suits got on. Rule had her hand again. They were headed for the breezeway. Halfway across it, Joseph caught up with them. “Is it handled?” Rule asked low.

“Too many cameras.” Joseph spoke softly, but his face looked carved in stone. “And they refused to deal, anyway. They got away with the shots they took.”

Rule swore under his breath and pulled her onward.

On the High Sierra side, they took an elevator up to their floor. When the elevator stopped and the door opened, Joseph stuck his head out first. “We’re clear,” he said and signaled them out.

They walked at a brisk clip down the hallway to their suite. Rule had the key ready. He swiped it through the slot and they were in as Joseph entered the room next door.

The suite was silent. Trev had been put to bed hours ago and Lani must have retreated to her room. She’d left the light in the suite’s granite-tiled foyer on for them.

Sydney sagged against the door. “Wow. That was exciting.”

Rule braced a hand by her head and bent to kiss her—a hard, passionate kiss that slowly turned tender. When he pulled away, he whispered, “I’m sorry …”

“Whatever for? I had a great time.”

“I knew it was unwise, to take you out on the casino floor and then stay there for hours. We were bound to be spotted.”

She touched the side of his face, brushed the backs of her fingers along the silky, beautifully trimmed hair at his temples. “It’s not the end of the world, is it, if our pictures end up in some tabloid somewhere?”

“In my family, we prefer to control the message.”

“Meaning?”

“I was hoping we could keep our marriage private for the next few weeks, until I had you with me in Montedoro. From there, a discreet and carefully worded announcement could be made. And pictures could be taken by the palace photographer to send to the press, pictures of our choosing.”

“What? A candid shot of you and me racing down a hallway with our mouths hanging open in surprise isn’t discreet enough for you?”

He laughed then. But his eyes were troubled. “No, it’s not.”

She smoothed his lapel, straightened his collar. “Well, no matter how bad it is, just remember how much fun we had. As far as I’m concerned, I had so much fun, it’s worth a few ugly pictures in some scandal sheet. Plus, I won almost two thousand dollars, about which I am beyond thrilled. I never win anything. But all I have to do is marry you, and suddenly it’s like I’ve got a four-leaf clover tattooed on my forehead.”

He was looking at her in that way again. The lovely, sexy way. The way that set small fluttery creatures loose in her stomach and had her feeling distinctly sultry lower down. “There is no four-leaf clover on your forehead.” He kissed the spot where it might have been.

“Oh, it’s there,” she said softly, breathlessly. “You just can’t see it. I was clever that way. I insisted on an invisible tattoo.”

“Wait. I think I see it, after all.” He breathed the words against her skin. And then he kissed his way down between her brows, trailing that wonderful mouth along the top of her nose. He nipped her lips once and then kissed her chin. “And I’m glad you enjoyed yourself.”

“Oh, I did.” Her voice was now more breath than sound. “I really did …”

He covered her mouth with his again. Luckily, she had the door at her back to lean against. She stayed upright even though her knees had gone deliciously wobbly. And as it turned out, she didn’t need to hold herself upright much longer anyway. Still kissing her, he scooped her up in his arms carried her through the open archway to the central room of the suite.

The busman had kept his promise. On the dining table, she saw the large cake box, her veil and bouquet and also Rule’s boutonniere. She smiled against his lips as he turned and carried her through the open door to their room, where the lamp by the bed had been left on low. Also, on a long table against the wall, a pair of crystal flutes flanked an ice bucket holding a bottle of champagne. The covers on the king-size bed were turned invitingly down.

She stretched out an arm to push the door shut behind them. Rule carried her to the side of the wide bed and set her down on her feet. They shared another kiss, one that went on for a lovely, endless space of time.

When he lifted his head, he guided her around so her back was to him. She read his intention and smoothed her hair to the side. He lowered the zipper at the back of her dress.

She took it from there, easing her arms free, pushing the dress down. Stepping out of it, she bent and picked it up and carried it to the bedside chair, where she took time to lay it down gently, to smooth the white folds.

“Come back here,” he said, his voice rough with wanting.

“In a moment …” She sent him a teasing glance over her shoulder as she returned to the door long enough to engage the privacy lock. From there, she went to the dressing table on the far side of the room. She took off her shoes, her bra, her white lace panties and pearl earrings. And after that, she removed the single strand of pearls her grand

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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