Chapter 23

23

Mira

I expect his kiss to be cold and biting and hard, and it’s all of that, and so much more. His hold on the nape of my neck. The assuredness in his grasp, the way he hauls me to him with complete confidence, how he slants his mouth across mine, thrusts his tongue inside my mouth to dance over mine, how he then…slows…slows… Like we have all the time in the world, like we’re not in front of our friends and his family, like he’s not my arranged husband, like I’m his real wife… Wife. I’m his wife. A shudder runs down my spine. He must sense it, for his hold on the nape of my neck tightens. He runs his tongue across the seam of my lips, and my nipples tighten. My heart drops to the place between my legs. My core throbs. He softens the kiss even further, until his lips barely brush mine, until we’re sharing breath, and his gaze, which hasn't wavered from mine since he captured my mouth, intensifies. Sparks of gold and silver light up his eyes. It mirrors the million little sparks bursting under my skin. I’m burning up from the inside, melting into a puddle at his feet. My knees give out. I sway, and he wraps his other arm about my waist and pulls me into his chest. My arms are around him. He tucks my head under his chin. I close my eyes and draw in a breath of pure, unadulterated Edward. The tension in my muscles fades; the throbbing between my legs increases. The sound of our friends clapping reaches me. Oh god, I forgot where we were. I try to pull away, but he doesn’t let me. He holds me in place and rubs soothing circles over my back. A sigh of relief leaves my lips.

"Better?" he rumbles from somewhere over me. When I nod, he finally steps back, but continues to hold me about my waist.

Then he notches his knuckles under my chin, tips up my face, and surveys my features. Whatever he sees there must satisfy him, for he nods, then turns, guiding me to face the room and the group.

He leads me up the aisle, and our friends surround us.

Summer reaches me first. She clasps my shoulders and kisses me on both cheeks. "That was beautiful!" she sniffs.

Karma is next. Her swollen belly between us, she squeezes my shoulder, then leans in and whispers, "I hope both of you will be very happy."

Then it’s Penny, then Abby, and finally, Gio. She holds out the wedding bouquet, and I take it from her. "Since most of us here are married, you might want to hand this over to Rachel. She’s the only one not married."

I nod.

She leans in and kisses my cheek. "That was a very convincing kiss."

I feel myself blush, then nod.

"Is he taking you on a honeymoon?"

I blink, but before I can reply, there’s a woof. Then Tiny pushes his way between Gio and Rick, who’s congratulating Edward.

"Hey, baby, you played your role so well." I bend and rub him behind his ear. He woofs again and wags his tail with such force, he brushes against G-Pa who’s walked up to congratulate us.

Gio steps aside, and G-Pa takes my hands in his. "That was beautiful." He blinks the tears from his eyes. "Edward is very lucky to have you in his life."

"I’m lucky to have him in mine," I murmur.

My husband must hear my words, for his muscles stiffen. He continues to accept the felicitations from his friends. Then, it’s his half-brother Knox’s turn. He jerks his chin toward Edward. "Congratulations."

Edward nods. "Thanks."

"Just because you’re married and fulfilling the terms of Arthur’s agreement doesn’t mean I accept you as the CEO."

Silence descends as, one-by-one, people stop talking and train their attention on the exchange.

G-Pa slowly releases my hands. He looks between the two half-brothers but doesn’t say anything. Apparently, he wants to see how this exchange will proceed.

Knox shoves his hand in his pocket. "I won’t make it easy for you during your honeymoon, either."

"There is no honeymoon," Edward drawls.

G-Pa stiffens.

Gio gasps.

I’m not sure what I expected, but I think a part of me, somewhere, assumed there’d be a honeymoon. Isn’t that what people do when they get married? But this is a fake wedding. And that’s my fake husband. Let's ignore that he kissed me so I felt it all the way to my toes; it was all pretense.

Knox looks taken aback. "No honeymoon, huh?"

G-Pa looks at Edward with something like suspicion in his eyes. "You’re not taking your wife for a honeymoon?" His forehead furrows.

"I’m the newly appointed CEO. I can’t take time away from the job."

"Don’t forget, you continue to stay CEO only if you consummate the marriage," G-Pa snaps.

"What?" Edward’s usual mask-like features unwind enough for the shock to show in his eyes.

"What?" I squeak.

"Why do you seem surprised?" G-Pa looks at Edward steadily. "Were you planning otherwise?"

"I’m surprised because I didn’t expect my grandfather to interfere in my personal life to this extent."

"Welcome to the family," Knox says drily. Then he steps toward me. "I assume it’s okay to kiss the bride?"

Without waiting for Edward’s response, he bends and kisses me, not on my lips, but so close, he might as well have.

There’s a growl from Edward, and the next minute, Knox is shoved away. "Get away from my wife." Edward wraps his arm about my shoulder and pulls me close.

Knox’s lips twist. It’s not a smile so much as a grimace. Then he glances at G-Pa. "You have your answer; he has feelings for her."

"Did you plan this?" Edward growls at G-Pa.

"Give me some credit." G-Pa scowls at Knox. "You will apologize to your brother?—"

"Half-brother," Knox sneers.

"And his bride," G-Pa thunders.

Knox glowers at G-Pa, then clears all emotions from his features. When he looks at me, he’s wearing a mask that rivals Edward’s. They might protest at the fact they’re related, but clearly, they are, given the trait of masking emotions runs in the family.

"I’m sorry if I embarrassed you, Mirabelle." He smirks. "Though I’m not sorry I kissed you."

There’s a low snarl, then Edward shoots out his fist and catches Knox in the side of the jaw.