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She laughed and flung herself into his arms as happy tears escaped her eyes and ran down her cheeks.

“Yes, I’ll marry you!” she cried. “I love you, too.”

He laughed and hugged her fiercely. When she finally calmed down, she realized she was all but straddling him.

“Oh. I…” she trailed off, trying to climb off him, but he just gave her a naughty smile and pulled her closer. “Richard, we can’t. We’re in the street. Anyone could see us.”

Any minute now, a helpful footman could open the door and catch them in a compromising position.

“Let them.” Richard smiled, leaning closer. “We’re getting married, after all. They will only help speed up the process.”

She giggled despite herself, surprising them both by placing a chaste kiss on his lip.

“We really are getting married?” she asked shyly.

He pulled her close and took her lips in a deep kiss that had her panting. It was one of those kisses that were full of dark promises, and she wondered if he’d fulfill them right then.

Her hands went into his hair, and she let out a moan when his hands pulled her even closer. Her groaned against her mouth, and she decided it was the best sound she had ever heard.

“Richard…” she begged, not knowing what for. “Please.”

Her words seemed to snap him into awareness. He opened the door, took her hand, and led through his house past gaping servants, and finally to his chambers.

Catherine did not have time to appreciate the decor because he was on her with his hands and lips, and she couldn’t complain.

He touched her purposefully, his hands undoing the stays of her dress and undergarments till she was fully naked before him. She lifted her hands to cover herself, but he stopped her.

“You are mine now, Catherine,” he told her, palming one of her breasts. “I have a right to see you as you are now. You would not deny your husband his rights, would you?”

She gave him a lopsided smile that visibly stunned him.

“You’re not my husband yet, Your Grace,” she pointed out, burying a hand in his hair. “And I believe marriage also means I have a right to your body. Would you deny your wife her pleasure?”

He groaned and pulled her to him, kissing her deeply.

“Have I said I love you yet?” he groaned against her lips. “You complement me beautifully.”

She smiled as she watched him undress, each piece of fabric falling off his body making her aware that she was about to embark on a journey with him that would make or break her, but she was not afraid. He had kept his word to her from the start, and she knew he would keep his promises to her.

When he led her to the bed and lay atop her, his eyes shone with admiration and what she now knew to be love.

“You are so beautiful, Catherine mine,” he murmured.

“You are too, Richard,” she told him, running a hand over his powerful shoulders and arms.

He kissed her deep and slow and made her see the stars with his tongue and fingers, climbing over her again once she came to herself.

“Are you afraid?” he asked her as he guided himself to her entrance.

She looked into his eyes, seeing their future clearly in the cerulean depths, and shook her head. “With you? Never.”

“This might hurt a bit,” he warned.

“I trust you,” she told him, and she meant it.

Richard had been a confidante from the beginning of their friendship and had kept his word to her at every turn.

He gave her a look acknowledging her trust in him and then claimed her in one thrust. Her body shook at the unfamiliar fullness, but he was right there with her, soothing her into pleasure with sweet words.