The Earl's Outrageous Lover Page 0,51

endured through stoic aversion.

He’d never seen her this still. She was always moving, always smiling and turning her head to see what someone else was doing. Her curls bounced around her pretty face and her lush body moved with sensuous grace as she took in the world around her.

But not on her wedding day.

He sighed and pushed all thoughts of their marriage to the side, thinking about the business deal he was working. He was just about to pick up the phone to tell Tim to take them home instead of the hotel he’d arranged for the night when he felt her move beside him.

He was stunned when she settled her adorable little bottom on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck and looking at him with a slight smile. “The flowers are amazing,” she whispered. “Thank you.”

He couldn’t stop his hands from coming up and holding her in place. It was like her body was water and life and he’d been in a desert for years with no sustenance or liquid. Every time he saw her he wanted to touch her, to feel her and make love to her. And now she was his wife and she was touching him first. He wasn’t one to ignore this kind of invitation, especially when her lush breasts in the strapless gown that could barely contain their fullness were so close his mouth.

“You're welcome,” he ground out, waiting to see what she would do next. He’d seduced her into their previous intimacy, was she going to take the initiative this time? And would that ease his guilt over railroading her into this marriage? Probably not, but when her slender arms wrapped around his neck and she leaned against his chest, he groaned and took advantage of what she was offering.

Jessica leaned over and kissed him, not sure how to initiate the kind of kiss she wanted, especially when he looked so grim. But she wanted to try, she wanted to make him feel better and make up for the sacrifice he’d made for her.

She kissed him with all that she was feeling, all the sweet and passionate emotion that was welling up within her and she was overwhelmed with his response. He took her breath away and made her dizzy so she didn’t even realize when the vehicle stopped. Tim was opening the door before they pulled away from each other.

Edward lifted her up and set her onto the sidewalk, then took her hand and led her through the brass doors of a strange building. “Where are we going?” she asked, skipping to keep up with him.

An older man was standing in the middle of the marble lobby, an ingratiating smile on his face as he handed Edward something. “Everything is as you requested, my lord,” he said with a slight bow. “And may I say….” He was still talking when Edward stepped into the elevator and took Jessica into his arms, kissing her just as the doors closed.

Jessica was only vaguely aware of the elevator ride taking them to another level of what she now suspected was a hotel, but while Edward was kissing her, she couldn’t think about anything other than him.

The doors opened with a soft swish and he lifted his head, smiling at her dazed expression. This one was similar to what she looked like after their wedding, but this expression had a different feel to it. He knew that she was looking like this because of the way he could make her feel and not because she’d just gone and done something monumentally stupid like marrying him.

He led Jessica out of the elevator straight into the penthouse of the hotel and waited for her reaction. The limousine had only been the beginning and the hotel manager had done an excellent job.

Jessica looked up at Edward, wondering why he wasn’t taking her back into his arms. She stepped forward, not willing to wait any longer. When he was touching her, everything felt right and wonderful. But when he stopped, she felt cold and the insecurities starting infiltrating her mind. She didn’t want to worry today since it was her wedding day. She wanted to celebrate and pretend like everything was going to be wonderful for the rest of their lives.

Standing on tiptoe, she reached up and kissed his jaw, her hands sliding up his shirt and reveling in the feeling of his muscles underneath her hands.

Edward wanted her to see his surprise, but the way she was