Page 33 of Rogue of My Heart

She placed her hand in his and allowed him to help her to her feet. Once she was standing, she met his gaze. “I do not wish to skip that part either. It is important to me as well, though I suspect we have different reasons for wanting this wedding to happen.”

“I must disagree,” he said thoughtfully. “I believe we share the same reasons, but that can wait. The wedding will take place first, then we will discuss the rest later at our leisure.”

“Perhaps,” she agreed. “But I find I don’t much care what your reasons are as long as we’re married. The rest is only details and probably not as important as you might believe.”

He didn’t wish to argue with her about any of it. Matthew wanted the wedding to happen, and if she was in agreement on that much, he wouldn’t push her on the rest. At least not yet… After she was officially his wife, he would have plenty of time to explore everything with her. “Then I suppose we should get that tedious part over with. I’m certain saying the vows will not be as painful as you believe. I promise you being my wife will not be a chore you must endure. It’ll be quite pleasant.”

Cesca rolled her eyes. “I do not need anything of the sort from you.”

He winked. “But I do need that from you.” Matthew had been dreaming about her, and having her underneath him, ever since the first time they’d been together. He would not abstain from bedding her once she was his wife. It was his right to take her over, and over again, and damn it, he needed her. She was the only woman who haunted him. Edith had never made him feel this much, and he now knew he had never loved her.

Cesca though…she owned him.

“Lady Violet Keene, and the Marquess of Merrifield,” the butler announced.

They both entered the room after the butler announced them and they were practically snarling at each other. There was something there between them, but Matthew didn’t care to find out. At least not now before his wedding… “Merrifield?” He lifted a brow. “Why are you here?” He never had asked his friend to act as a witness to his wedding. A mistake that can be rectified now.

“I didn’t realize I was unwelcome,” Merrifield drawled. “The more important question is why is she here.” He gestured toward Lady Violet. “And her,” he nodded at Cesca. “What exactly am I interrupting?”

“My wedding,” Matthew replied casually, and Merrifield flinched a little at his announcement. He’d explain it to him later. “Since you’re here you can stand as a witness.” He turned toward Cesca. “I assume you invited your friend?”

“I did,” she confirmed, then turned to Lady Violet. “I’m glad you could come.”

“It wasn’t easy,” she said, then frowned. “Iris and I had to draw straws to see who would come. I won.”

“I’ll make it up to her later,” Cesca said in a soft tone. Then she turned to Matthew. “We should start.”

He nodded. “The vicar is waiting.”

Matthew led her over to the vicar. Merrifield and Lady Violet followed behind them. The vicar began the ceremony. They each promised to love, honor, and cherish each other all of their days. The wedding went by in a blur and he said his vows without thinking about them. They were a means to an end, and when it was over, he could have Cesca all to himself. He needed to kiss her something fierce.

“I now pronounce you man and wife,” the vicar said. “What God has joined together may no man put asunder.” The vicar smiled. “You may kiss your bride.

Matthew almost didn’t wait for permission. He’d been tempted to kiss her before the vicar finished speaking. He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. She gasped and he slid his tongue inside her mouth. This would be no chaste kiss. He wanted to set the parameters of their relationship from the start. They would have a real marriage, and later that night, their vows would be consummated.

He pulled her closer and deepened the kiss. She moaned and kissed him back with equal fervor. This was how it had been between them from the first touch. A fire blazed between them that was undeniable, and constant.

Someone somewhere cleared their throat. Matthew blinked through the haze of passion and managed to pull back. He met the vicar’s gaze, and the man winked at him. “It’s good to bring two people so much in love together. Since my part is done, I bid you both a good day.” With those words the man left them alone. Well, almost alone. Merrifield and Lady Violet were still there, but they could easily be dispensed with. The hell with waiting until later, Matthew wanted to make love to his wife now.

Eight

It was done. Francesca had said her vows and now she was Matthew’s wife. Her baby would never know the stigma of being a bastard. There might be talk, but it wouldn’t matter. When her child was born it would be within the bonds of matrimony and the date it had been conceived wouldn’t matter. Let the whole world talk. She didn’t give a damn.

If only she could forget that kiss at the end of the ceremony. Matthew did have a way of making her desire him, and he had not failed there either. The first touch of his lips against hers had sent spikes of desire throughout her. She should have stopped the kiss before the vicar had, but she’d been consumed by him. Matthew was her greatest weakness, and she feared he always would be.

She turned to her friend, Violet, and said, “Thank you so much for being here. It wouldn’t have been the same without at least one of my friends to witness the ceremony…what little of it there was to see anyway.”

Violet frowned. “I think he loves you.”

Francesca shook her head. “I don’t believe Matthew knows what love is.” She sighed. “I have no doubt he feels desire. That he does understand and uses it like a weapon. He’s quite good at it.” She placed her hand on her belly. “I know that all too well.”

“But you do love him, don’t you?” Violet asked in a soft tone. “The way you look at him…”

There was no denying the truth. “Most of the time he makes it quite easy to love him. He can be sweet and attentive.” Except for the times he was a complete arse and said all the wrong things. “But it’s not enough.” It would never be enough… “I’ll try to be happy and content with what he can give me. My child has the protection of his name now and that is the only reason I married him.”

“I’m sorry,” Violet said. Her tone was full of pity and Francesca hated that. She pulled her into her arms and hugged her tight. “Do you want me to go with you to speak to your parents?”

She shook her head and pulled away from Violet. “No, I need to do this myself. I’m going to go now. Would you walk with me?”