Wife by Wednesday (17 page)

“You don’t like?” she teased, knowing he more than liked what she was doing. She wanted to finish him as he’d done to her.

“Another time,” he said, before reaching for his wallet and removing a condom.

Samantha helped him with the thin latex and then crawled over his body. She kissed him fully on the mouth, their tastes mingled as he pressed inside her. Slick with desire, he filled every inch of her, stretching her. Blake rose to meet her body, retreated, and plunged again. His fingers tangled with her hair and held tight as her body responded to his with renewed passion and need.

Samantha couldn’t get enough of him. Her breasts scraped against the soft dusting of hair on his chest, his heartbeat pressed past his ribs and into hers. As much as she told herself their time together was for a physical release, a mutually satisfying sexual experience, tiny slivers of her heart melted into his.

They moved together, straining like strings of a violin until she unwound and shattered. Muscles strained on Blake’s arms as he held her close and moaned his release into her ear.

Samantha knew, as the world stilled and Blake said tender things in her ear, that she was in trouble. Falling in love with her husband was not part of their plan. Voicing her concerns, in the honesty that was their relationship, didn’t seem wise either.

As their breath slowed, and the heat from their bodies drifted into the air, Samantha forced herself away from his arms. Her stomach growled at that moment, giving her the perfect escape. “I’m starving.”

****

Albany Hall filled with people, all wanting to get a glimpse of the new Duchess, the woman Blake finally married.

People would whisper, that Blake knew, but none would dare show anything but respect to him and his bride.

Blake caught Samantha at the far end of the room, talking with Gwen and the couple standing beside her. Samantha wore a stunning ivory silk evening gown that dipped to the small of her graceful back. He’d placed an emerald pendant around her neck with matching earrings to adorn her ears. The four-inch heels peeked out from under the silk through a slit that went the length of her thigh.

His wife was magnificent. Poised with elegance that couldn’t be taught, and beauty that wasn’t skin deep, Blake felt truly proud to call her his wife.

Carter, who had flown in for the reception, stood by his side. “I can’t get over the transformation of your wife,” he whispered so only Blake could hear.

“She is beautiful.” Funny, Blake wasn’t surprised with the changes. Samantha seemed to be blossoming before his eyes, every day a little more light and ease in her steps.

“It’s more than that.” Carter’s gaze cut away to one of the Parker lawyers across the room. “How is everything else going?”

Blake wasn’t about to talk about any details with a room full of ears. “Perfectly. We’ll be going back to the States in a few days. Gwen wanted to come back with us, but I convinced her that Samantha and I need some time alone before we started entertaining family.”

Carter laughed. “Did that work?”

“Of course.” Why wouldn’t it? Half the family noticed them arrive from their ride to the cottage the previous day. After making love, eating lunch, then finding a sunny spot of grass to make love a second time, their clothes were rumpled and hair was a mess. There was no mistaking their actions.

“Careful, Blake.”

Blake lifted his glass with his drink in his hand and stared over the rim at his friend. “Careful about what?”

“Something about you feels different. Be careful.”

Blake squared his shoulders. “I’m always careful.”

Samantha was walking toward them, a smile on her lips.

Blake set his glass down and slid an arm around her waist. “You remember Carter?”

“How can anyone forget Carter?” Samantha leaned forward when Carter kissed her cheek. Although his best friend didn’t threaten him in the least, Blake didn’t like seeing her eyes light up when they looked at his friend. “Is
Hollywood
calling you yet?”

Carter laughed. Samantha had made a joke about his
Hollywood
good looks landing him a job on a movie set if he ever got tired of pursuing a career as a politician.

“Not yet. I’m still waiting, though.”

Blake’s arm tightened around her frame.

“Your mother suggested we move into the ballroom to start the dancing. Seems no one will begin until we spin around a couple of times.”

The thought of Samantha pressing close to him motivated his feet. “If you’ll excuse us.”

Carter nodded as they walked away.

“Have I told you how lovely you are tonight?” Blake whispered close to her ear.

“You did. You clean up well yourself.”

Enjoying her compliment, Blake smiled. He wore a tux, and why not? They didn’t have the opportunity to dress for their wedding, so this would have to do.

The entered the ballroom where a string quartet played in one corner. When they spotted the two of them, they ended the song they were playing and started another.

The moment the music began, he led Samantha to the center of the room and swung her into his arms. Her hands lifted to his shoulders as they swayed to the music. Samantha’s cheeks blossomed with color. “People are staring.”

Blake fanned his fingers along the edge of her dress to the small of her back and pressed her close. “That’s what they do for the bride and groom’s first dance.” And because he felt her stiffen, he teased her. “They want to see me trip.” Blake spun her around, their bodies close.

“They might be waiting for awhile, you seem to know what you’re doing out here.”

Blake removed one of her arms from his neck and led her into another swing before bringing her back. “I’ve danced a time or two.”

“Or three or four.”

She followed his lead, easing into his arms. By the time the dance ended, he was staring into her eyes. He lowered his lips to hers for a small taste.

Cameras flashed and several people clapped as the quartet picked up another song. This time the dance floor started to fill.

Samantha lifted her lips to his ear. “Was that kiss for the cameras?”

His lips lifted. “That kiss was for you. But this one…” He dipped her low, arching her back and taking her mouth to his again before bringing her back up. “Is for the cameras.”

Samantha chewed on her bottom lip as she smiled. “Jeeze, and I thought the English frowned on such public displays of affection.”

Blake tossed his head back with laughter. “And we both know how much I long to be English.”

Laughing, they spun around until Blake felt someone tap his shoulder. He twisted to see Carter grinning. “Mind if I cut in?”

Blake almost told him to bugger off. Instead, he tilted his head to his bride and let Carter dance with her.

His gaze followed them around the dance floor wondering what Carter was saying to make her laugh.

“Easy, big brother,” Gwen cooed beside him. “They’re just dancing.”

“What?” Blake blinked and looked down at his sister.

“Dancing, which I was hoping you’d do with me.” She tugged on his hand until he conceded.

“I really like her.”

Blake had to spin Gwen to see his wife. “She likes you, too.”

“She’s a lot nicer than any of the girls you’ve been dating. I can see why you married her. Not to mention she’s American, which dad would have hated.”

Blake forced his attention to his sister and her words. “I didn’t marry her to spite our dead father.” No, he’d married her because of his dead father.

“But it doesn’t hurt that he wouldn’t have approved.”

Was he so transparent that even his sister could see his demons? What if he was going through all this effort, all the lies, to tick off a dead man? What happened when Blake let go of all the animosity and pain from his past?

“Don’t frown, Blake. People will think we’re fighting.”

Blake turned his sister and forced a smile to his face. “What about you, Gwendolyn, had you ever thought of going against the man?”

“No.” She shook her head. “Mother needed me here. Can you imagine being left with him by yourself?”

Blake actually blinked with his sister’s words. “I can’t, but I don’t think our mother would want you to give up your life for her.”

Gwen patted his arm. “I know. We’ve talked about me traveling, seeing more of the world without her by my side. I suppose now that you’ve settled down, mother will focus more on you and your family.”

“It’s just Samantha and I.”

“Please, I have eyes. It won’t be long before there are more of you.”

The song was fading to an end, and luckily the finish of their dance. “We haven’t even cut the wedding cake, Gwen. Let’s not start talking about birthday cakes.”

But his mind was already there, had been ever since Mark polluted his plans and mind with another block.

He and Gwen parted and Blake turned to search Samantha out. Unfortunately, his aunt cornered him for a dance, and Samantha was already in the arms of one of his sly cousins.

The party went into the early morning hours. Out of town guests stayed in several guest rooms at the estate, while those that lived local went home.

Back in their room, Samantha removed her heels at the door and sank into the carpet with her toes. “Oh, that feels good.”

“I didn’t think some of the guests would ever leave.”

“Leave? Some of the men retired to the blue room for cards and cigars. You’d think they were English gentleman of the eighteenth century the way they spoke.”

Blake loosened his tie and toed off his shoes. “What do you mean?”

“One guy, I think his name was Gilbert…”

“Gilabert,” he corrected, instantly picturing the man in his head. Old money, like his father, with his ways set in stone.

“Silly name for a grown man, but whatever, Gilabert waved off one of his ‘poker friends’ wives when she asked if she could join them for a game. ‘Oh, no, ladies aren’t allowed.’” Samantha had dipped her voice low and forced an English slant to her tongue.

“That sounds like him.”

“If he’d said that to me, I’d have sat at the man’s right hand side just to annoy him.”

Blake would like to see that. “Imagine that tenfold and you may be able to picture my father.”

Samantha stared, horrified. “I’m so sorry.”

“Me, too.”

Shaking her head, she stepped into the walk-in closet and Blake started to pull his shirt from his pants.

“We’re a mess, you and I,” Samantha said from the other room.

“Really? Why’s that?”

“Our dads did a number on us. Yours is reaching from the grave, still calling the shots, and mine had me questioning every man whoever walked into my life.”

Blake flung his shirt to the back of a chair before unzipping his pants. “You don’t seem to question me.”

“Oh, I did, in the beginning. Those first few days anyway. But you’ve grown on me.”

He smiled into the thought. “Really?”

“You’ve been nothing but honest from the beginning. I admire that.”

He hesitated. He should say something now, about the new, tiny problem the lawyer brought up. But Blake’s mouth went as dry as a desert.

“I was shocked when some of your colleagues told me how ruthless you are in business. I guess I’ve not seen that side of you.”

He was all that and more. Blake didn’t lose. His eye never left the goal until it was met. “Was someone badmouthing me?”

“Oh please, Blake. Like I would have allowed that. No, not badmouthing. Just informing me. It was strange, even the lawyer… what was his name?”

Blake’s heart slammed into his chest. “Mark Parker?”

“That’s it.”

He had to sit down. Good thing the bed was at his back.

“He said your father and you held the same merciless way of getting what you want. I had to laugh. I kept thinking of you sitting at the restaurant in
Malibu
telling me everyone had a price. Mark seemed like he wanted to add something, but I kept giggling. I think he got irritated with me before walking away.”

A long-winded sigh hissed from Blake’s lips. Mark kept his mouth shut. Thank God.

It wasn’t as if Blake would keep the new portion of the will from Samantha forever, just that he needed more time to find a loophole, something, so that he could keep his inheritance and Samantha.

Well, for a year anyway.

Less than twelve months.

Samantha cleared her throat from across the room where she stood leaning against the doorframe.

She’d slipped into a white lace teddy with barely-there panties that covered nearly nothing. Her hair that had been piled high all night fell to her shoulders in a beautiful auburn cloud.

In her hand was an empty condom box. “Please tell me you have more of these?” She waved the box in a circle.

“And here I expected you to be too tired tonight.” Him, too, for that matter. But his body sprung to life as she walked toward him, her hips swaying in time to the beat of his heart.