Page 42 of Pretending to Love a Lyon (The Lyon’s Den Connected World)

A melia sensed Graham dragging his feet. This night was nothing she imagined it would be for her wedding, but for now, it was enough. Her head ached after that emotional ceremony. She’d smiled, and truly, she’d been weightless with happiness as Graham pledged his troth to her, but there was a chill at her back and she didn’t want this night to be left cold.

She was going to have her wedding night.

She reached her room and pulled Graham inside. He stared blankly at the space. She’d already arranged things with Fran. A bath, pails of hot water, champagne, small sandwiches, and a piece of their wedding cake. Fran had even sprinkled her bed with pink rose petals.

She stood before Graham. He was either too overwhelmed to comprehend or too anguished. Neither boded well. But she wasn’t going to give this up when they’d sacrificed so much of their special moment already. Petrov had strict instructions to alert them no matter what if Sam’s condition changed. That was all they could do for him now.

So right now, she wanted to give her attention to Graham. Her husband. The word sent shivers down her legs.

“Will you undo the back for me?” she asked as she turned around.

That seemed to shake his senses. He looked down at her, and Amelia smiled over her shoulder.

“Amelia, are you certain?”

“Yes. You’re my husband now. You can’t deny me any longer.”

He let out a sigh and swiped a hand down his face. “I haven’t—never mind. I don’t think this is the right time. We’re both torn to bits over your brother.”

Amelia turned back to face him. “Yes. But that can’t matter right here, right now, in this room. We can’t only exist for Sam. I need to be close to you, to make this real.”

He cupped her cheek. “It is real.”

“Show me how real it is. Touch me. Distract me. I need to not think about what happens tomorrow. I don’t want to know. Right now there is only the two of us. There is nothing outside this room. Can you give me this?”

He searched her face. “I will give you anything you ask of me.”

Amelia stepped in, wrapping her arms around his torso and splaying her hands over his broad back. “Then make love to me. I’m asking you. As your wife,”

A groan rose in his throat, and his green eyes darkened. “Say that again.”

Amelia smiled, her chin pressed to his chest, and she stared up at him. “I’m asking you to undress me, as your wife.”

“Again.”

“Take me. I’m yours. I’m your wife.”

His eyes shuttered closed, but he kissed her savagely, stealing the gasp from her mouth. He dutifully undid the back of her dress and stays, and Amelia squirmed out of them. He lifted her, tucking an arm under her legs, and carried her to her bed. Setting her down on her feet beside the bed, he broke the kiss, dragging his lips down her neck as he hooked the neckline of her shift with his thumbs and pushed the fabric over her shoulders.

The shift whispered down her body to the floor where Amelia kicked it aside. Cool air touched her skin and Amelia sucked in a breath. He grazed his fingers along her hips and over her derriere to cup her and lift her against him. He bent her back, and Amelia arched. He drew the sensitive peak of her breast into his mouth and sucked. Her core clenched, heat racing through her blood, and her skin prickled with cold fire. A soft cry left her lips, born of surprise and need.

He bent at the waist to lower her down, following her with his lips and tongue, his hands wandering over her body. He covered her other breast with his hand, pinching her pebbled nipple. Amelia reflexively lifted her knees up, her hips drawn to him. He did not cover her with his body yet, and she wanted it. She wanted him to cover her, so she could feel the weight of his strength and need. But he was not yet undressed.

Amelia pushed at the shoulders of his coat. He chuckled against her breasts, licking that sensitive skin as he helped her remove his jacket. Then his busy hands went right back to her body. But he was still too clothed and too far away. She wanted all of his skin against hers.

“You’re supposed to be driven senseless by my seductive ministrations, Amelia.”

“I would be if you’d remove your clothing swiftly. I’ll gladly forget my name, my birthdate, and my first pony once you are undressed, Graham.”

He smiled down at her, and she’d never seen him so... at ease. His green eyes glowed, and his face flushed. His lips were pinker and swollen from their kisses.

His gaze slid down her body, and Amelia had the peculiar sensation of warmth following and pooling low. Her core tingled, needing touch, pressure, and friction. He dragged his hand down her body, from her collarbone, down the valley of her breasts, the trembling plane of her stomach, and finally, exquisitely, to her womanhood. He paused there, his attention fixed, as he caressed her with two fingers, spreading her open to his hungry gaze. He licked his lips before his eyes flicked to hers. Holding her gaze, he pressed a finger inside her. Amelia’s body clenched, drawing him in. The way her body yearned for him was so delicious, her arousal slicking the path to her pleasure.

Holding her gaze still, he withdrew then added a second finger. Her stomach tightened as she opened herself wider for him, all sense of modesty and insecurity turning to ash under the scorching heat of his stare. This time, he swiped his thumb over the focal point of sensitivity. She sucked in a breath.

“Yes, Graham,” she moaned. “Whatever you’re touching, don’t stop.”

“This?” He did it again, shooting sparks of pleasure through her body.

She nodded while biting her lip.

Amelia sucked in a breath as he bent again to lick the length of her. Words failed her. She only wanted to feel, not think. Like he did before, he brought her legs over his shoulders and dedicated himself to the task of shattering her with pleasure.

He toyed with her body, dragging moans from deep in her throat, but this wasn’t what she wanted—not entirely, at least. She loved this and wanted this sort of attention every day—perhaps with chocolate in the mornings—but her singular goal tonight was consummation. While she was certain they would get there, Amelia had never been one for patience.