Page 95 of Falling Into Bed with a Duke
“I have your head for business.”
“But you have her backbone. Are you sure you want to marry him?”
“Very sure. I love him, and he’s not going to like this, but I want my dowry back. I was so busy searching for someone to love me, to prove he loved me, that I didn’t realize it was enough that I loved him. I don’t want him to have to sell his treasures or be burdened unnecessarily because his investments didn’t pan out. I know he loves me with or without my dowry, but more importantly, I love him. I want him to have the funds you promised.”
“They’re already in his bank account. It’s your wedding present. I intended for you to find out in a few days when his man of business pays him a visit to give him a report on his finances.”
In spite of the fact that she might wrinkle her gown, she wrapped her arms around her father’s shoulders and hugged him tightly. “I love you so much.”
“Always remember, Minerva, I was the man who loved you first.”
“I know.” The tears fell, and she didn’t bother to stop them.
“Don’t cry. I can’t stand it when a woman cries.”
With a laugh, she shoved away from him. “I know that as well.”
He turned away, but not before she saw dampness in his eyes. “Let’s get on with it,” he said. “It’s not every day I give my daughter away.”
“You’re not giving her away. She’s still yours.”
With a smile, he glanced back. “That she is. That she will always be.” Reaching toward her, he lowered her veil over her face. “Lucky man, him andme.”
Lucky girl, she thought, to have the love of two incredible men.
THE wedding was grand, more than Minerva had ever expected. The church was packed, the reception following well attended. Ashe had looked so handsome standing at the altar. The expression on his face as she neared—how had she ever thought that he didn’t love her?
Now she waited in her bedchamber for him to come to her. The gaslights burned low, chasing away the shadows. She wore a silk nightdress, the gold around her ankle, and—
The door opened. Her breath caught at the sight of her husband in a silk dressing gown. He looked at her. Laughed.
“Oh, no, we’re not having that.”
She couldn’t stop herself from smiling as he strode across the room. Reaching behind her head, he untied the ribbons and tossed the mask aside. “That’s better,” he murmured, just before taking possession of her mouth.
They’d managed to sneak in a handful of kisses during the past month, but she had wanted to wait for more until their wedding night. Now they would have all the time in the world to be in each other’s arms. He peppered kisses over her face, along her throat. She sighed, whimpered.
“My wife,” he murmured.
“Your wife.”
He stepped back, untied the sash on his dressing gown, and shrugged out of it. Her breath caught at the sight of him, her mouth went dry. “I’m going to learn how to use your camera.”
He grinned. “Not tonight.”
He walked over to the bed, climbed onto it, and sat back against the headboard, his arms behind his head.
“What are you doing?”
“Take off the nightdress ... slowly. I want to watch the light touch every inch of you.”
“Do you?” she asked, as she sauntered nearer to the side of the bed. She was amazed she could be this comfortable with him on her wedding night. On the other hand, it wasn’t as though she was a virgin. Very slowly, she released a button. Then another, another, watching as his eyes darkened into a smoldering haze, his body tightened, his breathing shortened. When the last button was released, she skimmed her finger along her torso between her breasts. His breath caught.
Oh, she liked having this power. She eased the cloth off one shoulder, slipped it off the other. The silk slowly glided down.
He growled, low and feral, before moving swiftly, capturing her, and rolling her onto the bed until she was on her back, and he was pressed against her side, raised up on an elbow, gazing down on her. “You have no idea how badly I’ve wanted to see you in light. When we go to the estate, I’m going to take you out to a field, where the sunlight can shine down on you, and I shall make wild, passionate love to you there.”
“Outside?”
