Page 38 of Toni and Addie Go Viral

Addie

The fact that Addie’s heart swelled at the thought of marrying Toni was daunting.

In those few brief moments when Addie thought it was a real wedding, she’d had zero hesitation.

Would she have done it for real? Hell, yes.

She was increasingly certain that whatever else was going on, the connection between them was as real as they were.

But the wedding was fake. Without a marriage license, a wedding couldn’t be real. It could be a commitment ceremony, but that was all. And for them it wasn’t even that.

The vows were fake.

She doesn’t love me.

This is pretend.

She looked terrified at the thought.

Addie had to repeat reminders in her mind a few times because the way Toni stared at her in general felt awfully real.

The way Toni stepped up repeatedly to rescue Addie—whether from lecherous strangers or the lack of a room of her own—was real.

The way she confided in Addie and listened to her? Still real.

So Addie sat perfectly still while strangers fastened roses in her hair. Pink and red roses. The scent of them was dizzying… or maybe that was the corset she needed with this dress— the dress I wore when Toni was under my skirts.

The weight of the dress and the tightness of the corset made sitting less comfortable than standing. Addie sat in a stiff chair while her hair was done.

“We could pin it—”

“Loose. She wanted it left loose,” Addie insisted. “So no.”

On set, they did her hair and makeup before she was laced into a too-tight corset.

Here, she was already dressed. The effect of which was that her breasts were already lifted up like they were on a serving tray.

The fact that Toni spent half of dinner glancing at them and then at the ring made Addie feel confident that she wasn’t alone in her feelings.

Toni was in denial, but that didn’t mean that she couldn’t see what was happening between them.

The fact that Toni spent an equal amount of time catching Addie’s eye made her feel something else. Something softer, fragile, and altogether wonderful. Toni might not use the words to say so, but her actions made it quite clear that she felt something more than desire.

Not that she lacked that.

Thankfully.

“All set, my dear.” Lady Dove stepped back. She held up a mirror so Addie could see the delicate roses in her hair. Several flowers were braided into long but narrow braids that met at the back of her head. “Might I take another photo or two?”

“Same rules, Lady Dove,” Addie said firmly. “Nothing posted without studio approval.”

“Of course, dearie.” The older woman nodded, and then she took a series of photos. “Up you go. Pretty little thing, aren’t you? No wonder that one stares at you like the wolf spying an innocent lost in the forest.”

“I would strongly recommend not speaking ill of her,” Addie warned. “I’m not unlike a rose, Lady Dove. I might look sweet, but I have thorns aplenty. I also have enough influence to make you extremely unhappy, which I will do if you insult Dr. Darbyshire.”

Lady Dove looked stunned. “Well, excuse me for calling you an innocent.”

“Not that part. Don’t ever insult Darbyshire, and we’ll get along beautifully.” Addie smiled sweetly. “I’m simply a vicious sort when someone I care about is insulted.”

“So you knew her before the show?” Lady Dove gave her a sly look. “Were you friends or dating her then? I’d think you’d need to be if you’re wanting to share her room.”

Silently, Addie straightened the fall of her skirt, weighing the questions.

What are we? Addie wasn’t even sure. “Dating” was the wrong label, but so was “just friends.” She was increasingly hopeful about what was growing between them; she couldn’t imagine it possible to fall in love after a few brief conversations and a few orgasms.

Although the conversations were so personal.

And the intimacy felt like everything.

And we spoke for a year over email. We aren’t really strangers.

And in all my life, she is the only person to touch me.

What they already had might eventually blossom into love. Perhaps it was blossoming already.

If so, this wedding is a dress rehearsal!

Addie decided to ignore the questions. She smiled at Lady Dove. “Let’s go out there. She’s waiting.”

“That she is, Miss Stewart. That she is.” Lady Dove pulled back the curtain separating them from the rest of the ballroom, and Addie saw Toni standing at the front of the room.

She’d stared at Toni as she’d dressed earlier in the suite. This brilliant, beautiful woman in her custom-tailored suit was hers right now. Addie felt like this was a lot closer to real than she could admit, even to Toni.

And seeing the vulnerability in Toni’s eyes only highlighted that.

Addie had seen Toni mostly un dressed before that.

She’d felt Toni under her skirts, and then on her knees again but this time to slip a ring on Addie’s hand.

Somehow, though, seeing her waiting in front of a minister with all the guests watching was different.

There was a tightness in Addie’s chest that she was unprepared for.

I want this. Her. Us. For real. I want her looking at me with that sort of wonder, and I want this wedding to be real.

Music began, and Addie faintly realized that there was a cello, a harp, and a piano in the corner to the left of her.

“Go on then,” Lady Dove urged.

An adorable young girl, no more than eight, skipped forward spreading rose petals everywhere. She tossed handfuls of them toward guests, and Lady Dove sighed and muttered. “My granddaughter is a menace.”

Addie said nothing. Her gaze—unlike those of the guests, who were now watching the rose-flinging child—was fixed solely on Toni.

The fact that the gorgeous woman in front of her wanted to even fake-marry her felt outstanding in ways Addie couldn’t, shouldn’t, admit.

“Go on, girl.” Lady Dove again motioned her forward. “She’s waiting.”

Addie took as much of a breath as the corset allowed, and then she started walking toward Toni—who now watched her walk forward like this was real.

The anticipation was raw and evident on her face, and whether or not Toni admitted anything, there was no way Addie could believe that she was the only one moved by what was happening here.

This is a fake wedding, Addie reminded herself. It’s a ploy to share a room.

Then Toni smiled, and Addie felt like she had to blink away tears.

I’d have said yes for real.

Veilless, Addie walked toward Toni as slowly as she could. She half expected that the roses twined together as a crown atop her loose hair would fall, that the whole moment seemed silly to the audience, but the look on Toni’s face made the rest of it all matter very little.

She looks like someone just gave her a gift.

Like I’m the gift.

Briefly, Addie ducked her head to hide the joy she felt. She didn’t want to scare Toni with how excited she was.

Addie’s hair fell forward over her shoulders.

With her braids loosened, her hair had a wave to it, and she could smell the wafts of the few stray flowers tucked into those waves.

Someone had carefully cut the thorns from roses and twisted the thornless stems into the circlet that now sat precariously in her hair, even though Addie had her eyes fastened on the petal-strewn floor.

When she reached the front, Toni’s hand was there, extended to take Addie’s hand in hers.

Addie looked up as Toni touched her cheek with her other hand. “Okay?”

“Yes. Very.”

“Still ready to marry me?” Toni teased quietly.

The minister cleared his throat as Addie simply stood and stared at Toni.

Addie managed to say, “Yes, please.”

Then the minister started in with the very modern, “We are gathered here tonight, last minute, to join these two people, Miss Madeline Wight and Lord Toni Darbyshire, in matrimony.”

He had managed to get both her first and last name wrong.

“ Adelaine Stewart,” Addie whispered.

“Right.” The minister swayed, and Addie caught a whiff of gin.

She wasn’t sure what was accurate and what wasn’t, but a last-minute wedding by a drunken minister made her have to resist a giggle.

Maybe that was how women could have gotten married in the 1800s?

Drunken ministers. She bit back another giggle at the thought and looked at Toni.

Toni was staring at her like this was as real as it felt to Addie. “You’re sure?”

“I am. I would. I do.” Addie took a quick breath and added her actual truth, “You’re The One for me, Toni Darbyshire.”

Toni looked panicked at that, but they both said their official— but fake! —vow of “I do.”

The minister hiccupped loudly after Toni took Addie’s hand and made her vows, causing a ripple of laughter in the room. But Addie was certain Toni had been trembling in that moment.

In a few short moments, the minister said, “You can kiss her now. You’re all wed. Legal and proper. Why else would anyone do that if not to get the reward?”

It was a cold, drunken statement, but Addie shrugged it off because Toni had her arms around Addie before “now” was even out his gin-soaked mouth.

For a moment, Addie leaned in, forgetting their audience, forgetting that this was to be something they could use later and explain away as a publicity stunt if they wanted. Then Lady Dove cleared her throat loudly.

“The guests are retiring to their drinks and gossip.” Lady Dove rested her hands on her stomach and looked between them. “Most creative solution to rooming problems I’ve seen in all my years…”

Toni’s arm slipped around Addie’s waist, and Addie could swear that the palm of her hand was fire through the dress and underlayers. She bit the inside of her lips to keep any inappropriate noises in her mouth.

“I had a few of the photographers here,” Lady Dove added. “Since you couldn’t look away from your bride, I wasn’t sure you noticed, but I’ll send photos to the studio and your publicist on Monday, Darbyshire. They can decide if they want to use any of the images or not.”

She glanced at Addie but had no words to go with the curious look she gave her. Then she was off, leaving Toni and Addie alone in the ballroom.

“Take me to our room, Toni.” Addie stared up at her. “If I’m your bride the next forty-eight hours, I believe I deserve a fake honeymoon.”

Toni chuckled. “It just so happens that I have a suite at a manor house.…”

“Lead the way.” Addie paused before adding, “I’ve been in corsets for weeks because of you. It’s about time you removed one.”

“With pleasure.” Toni motioned her forward. “Better to follow you up the stairs, love, in case you topple backward.”

“I would like to be naked before you topple me backward,” Addie said in her primmest voice. “I have wifely duties, and I cannot manage them with this damned corset.”

They reached the suite door a few moments later, and Toni said, “I feel like I ought to carry you over the threshold.”

Addie laughed and stepped around her. “How about we skip that, and you start freeing me from this costume? Unlike yours, mine isn’t cut for comfort.”

Toni locked the suite door behind them, silent as she stalked toward Addie in the dimly lit room.

Trying not to react, Addie looked around. She saw her trunk had been delivered and set to the side, noted that the bed had been turned down, noticed the rising moon outside. She swallowed against nerves that made no sense. This wasn’t their first night together, and the wedding wasn’t real.

Publicity stunt.

Fake.

Then why does this feel so real?

Toni didn’t say a word as she unfastened the bodice of Addie’s dress.

She took a moment to stare as she removed the bodice.

She paused, looking at Addie’s chest. “You have the most perfect breasts I’ve seen.

” Toni sounded almost reverent. She kissed the overflowing swell.

“For all that I write about the 1800s, I cannot imagine the challenge of seeing such sights and being told loving women was wrong.”

Toni let the skirt pool at Addie’s feet and removed the tiny bustle—leaving Addie in only a corset over her underwear.

“Loving me isn’t wrong,” Addie whispered. That was exactly what Addie wanted: Toni’s love, forever and always.

“Thank heavens.” Toni stepped behind Addie. “You are a vision.”

Addie glanced over her shoulder at Toni, whose arms now wrapped around her. Toni slid her hands over the swell of Addie’s breasts. Even though removing these last layers had seemed essential for hours, Addie moaned at the position she was in.

Briefly, Toni’s eyes closed as if she was praying for mercy. Her lips ghosted over Addie’s neck as she unlaced the corset with one hand. Her other played over Addie’s nipples like they were an instrument to be plucked.

By the time her undergarments were stripped from her, Addie was shaking with need, but she pulled away. “Fair play, Toni. You don’t always have to wear the metaphorical pants.”

Toni said nothing, still, as Addie stripped away her elegant cravat, jacket, vest, and shirt. However, Toni was clearly not used to being passive; she reached for Addie a few times, tracing her hips and sides.

Addie didn’t resist, and Toni got bolder by the moment.

Addie divested her of her shoes, trousers, and very modern underpants. Then she pointed to the edge of the mattress. “There. Sit, please.”

When Addie knelt on the floor, Toni tossed a pillow down, ever considerate woman that she was. Addie slid it under her knees, and then she leaned forward. Gently, she bit her fake wife’s inner thigh, sucking to leave a bruise that only Toni would notice.

“What are you doing to me, Adelaine?” Toni murmured as her hands tangled in Addie’s hair.

“Making love to my bride,” Addie answered before leaning to lick the moisture beading on Toni’s sex. Addie gripped Toni’s thigh tightly, thumb on the bruise she’d just left, and Toni moaned.

Addie’s suspicions had been right. Toni’s prior remarks on liking it rough extended to a bit of bruising in soft places.

“Tell me what you like, Toni.” Addie looked up at her. “I’ve never done this.”

Toni let out a shuddering breath.

“I’m an innocent on her wedding night, yours to debauch.…” Addie trailed her tongue slowly over Toni’s slick flesh. “Teach me how to please you, Lord Darbyshire.”

This might be only a fake marriage for the weekend, but Addie wanted to prove to Toni that she someday wanted to make it real.