Dangerous Joy (48 page)

For Miles.

The color suited her, and the simplicity of the cut lent her dignity. The delicate lace veil muted the strong black of her hair. Today, she was not a warrior-queen, and she hoped never to have to fight again.

Certainly not to fight against Miles.

The Castle chapel was not big enough to hold all the guests, so the ceremony was to take place in the ballroom. As she entered, Felicity smiled to see Kieran in a fine silk suit holding a cushion bearing the ring. Beside him sat a small black cat with a white ribbon around its neck.

And beside both of them was Miles, smiling back at her as if she were the most wonderful creature in the world.

No woman deserved to be so loved.

Except that she loved him just as much.

Though she was trying hard to be demure, she couldn't help the enormous grin that stretched her face. Though she tried to walk with slow dignity, the old wildness surged in her and she picked up her skirts and ran into his arms.

As the congregation burst out laughing, he swung her around in a great swirl of perfumed silk and lace.

When he put her down, she hid her face in his shoulder. "I'm never going to be a suitable Countess of Kilgoran."

He tilted her chin so she met his smiling eyes. "You're going to be a perfect Countess of Kilgoran. Let's take the first step."

And her smile broke free again. They had suffered their trials, won their battles, and deserved this triumphant moment.

The dignified clergyman's lips were twitching as he performed the service. The choir's songs seemed to truly be a paean of joy. When the minister gave Miles permission to kiss the bride, Miles took it to heart and kissed her most enthusiastically. After they'd signed the register, they led the party to the reception in the drawing room.

Though the earl hadn't felt able to attend the ceremony, he was at the reception on a daybed. He blessed their union, then settled to talking politics with all his old cronies.

The three visiting Rogues all kissed the bride enthusiastically, but then there were just` many, many hours of smiling at strangers before Miles and she could be together in sanctioned bliss.

But she could wait.

Finally, he was hers.

Hers, for eternity.

It wasn't midnight, but darkness had long since settled by the time Felicity could go to her room and prepare for bed. It was a new room, one adjoining Miles's suite and decorated in a strongly Chinese style. She didn't care about decor, however, only that Miles come to her soon.

She hurried her maid through the undressing, but then found herself having to wait, trembling slightly, dressed only in a fine silk nightgown.

The trembles were not fear, but need.

Biting her lip, she realized Miles was probably waiting, too, making sure she had long enough.

How ridiculous.

She thought of going to him, but really, just once, she should act the proper lady. And anyway, how could she know he wasn't involved in some strange male rite? A fine scene it would be for her to walk in on the Rogues when dressed only in transparent silk.

She looked at herself in the mirror.

Truth to tell, she looked enticing. The fine silk only veiled her body, and her hair was a dark cloud. Her eyes were deep dark with desire, too, and her cheeks flushed with it.

She suspected, however, that a bride was supposed to be pale with apprehension rather than rosy with lust.

When Miles came in, she said, "Do you mind that I'm not a virgin?"

He laughed. "What?"

She was in his arms. "A man deserves a virgin bride."

"As punishment for his sins?" He threaded his hand into her hair and made her look up at him.

`A muirnin, I'm anticipating a night of pleasure I would never even contemplate with a virgin bride."

She surrendered to his searing kiss, tangling her hands in his hair to hold him close for her own possession.

Mine.

He slid his hands down her back and cupped her buttocks, pulling her hard against him.

Mine.

"Sure and silk is a marvelous fabric," he murmured, sliding it over her skin.

She dragged open his robe to press hand against flesh. "You'll have to dress in silk for me then."

He laughed against her neck, nibbling her. "For you, mo chroi, anything."

She pushed off his robe and stood back to study him, aware of the way her breathing wavered.

Aware of his.

Hand to muscular chest-rising, falling- down over belly, over navel...touch his full erection, lightly, gently, teasing the leashed power.

"And isn't it interesting," she murmured, delighting in the way he quivered under her tormenting, "that what we are about to do is blessed by God and man?"

"Fair warning," he said, brushing an unsteady hand equally lightly over her sensitive nipples. "Some of it might not be."

It sent a shiver through her, but she still didn't go into his arms, wanting to see how long, after such long waiting, he could wait.

She wandered behind him, trailing her fingers around his ribs.

"Mine." This time she said it aloud. She ran her hands up over his beautiful back and down over his tensed and powerful buttocks.

"Mine."

She could hear his breathing now, feel his body move with it.

"In this I am a virgin," she said. "In this frightening knowledge that we have a lifetime..."

"Don't be too sure of that. At any moment, I might explode."

Laughing, she kissed him in the warm hollow of his spine between his shoulder blades, then collapsed down, trailing her tongue to the cleft, sliding her hands forward to grasp him.

"Will you look at this," she said, resting her head against his buttocks, "you've finally brought me to my knees."

He tore out of her arms. "If I remember, Sweet Joy, that's when you're most dangerous."

He pulled her up and tossed her on the bed. "Remember this place? It can be remarkably comfortable."

Seething with excitement at his desperate need, Felicity rolled to sit on the coverlet. "You seem to have more experience of beds than I, husband dear. I'll let you take charge."

"Wonders will never cease." He pulled the sheets and blankets from under her, tipping her flat on her back so the silk rucked up.

Then he covered her, entered her.

Felicity squeaked with shock and pleasure, then held him tight, tighter as he began to move.

"In a hurry are we?" she gasped.

"We've had a whole damn month of foreplay, and you've finally driven me stark, staring mad..."

And she could see it was the wonderful, delicious truth. She locked her legs around him and set to making him lose his sanity entirely.

It was astonishingly easy.

Later, hand tracing love-patterns on his chest, she said, "Perhaps, we should try a month of foreplay again sometime."

He laughed, drawing her into a ferocious hug. "Not on your life, sweet Joy. Not on your precious life."