When Passion Rules

by Johanna Lindsey

  Then he gathered her close, so close, his hands in her hair, his mouth back on hers, and he slid so exquisitely into her, filling her with such thick heat. Having him there was such a fulfilling feeling, almost as if her body had always been missing something, but now it was complete. But there was something else, too. She noticed it this time, his touching something so deep in her that it escalated everything she was feeling. Her eyes flew open wide in wonder, her breath froze, her hold on him tightened, waiting, waiting, and then his next thrust found that perfect place again and shot her over the edge.

  She cried out, she wasn’t sure what. He thrust once more to join her in that sweet ecstasy. She was filled with so much emotion she nearly cried. She smiled instead, couldn’t help that upward turning of her lips. He wore the same smile. It was so beautiful! She saw it just before he kissed her tenderly, then carefully took his weight from her.

  But he wasn’t leaving. He draped her legs over him, made sure she was comfortable, then put his arm around her so she couldn’t leave! As if she wanted to move. As if she didn’t feel so utterly content right where she was.

  Chapter Fifty-Four

  ALANA COULDN’T BELIEVE IT was her wedding day! It was amazing how quickly the time flew. She had only seen Christoph once since that wonderful night they’d spent together.

  Last night was the traditional dinner for the families of the bride and groom so there would be no doubt both sides were in complete accord over the happy event. It was the last opportunity for any of the family members to express reservations about the match. Alana had actually feared Christoph might say something, but he didn’t. Her only disappointment in the evening was that Poppie wasn’t there to be included as part of her family.

  She did mention to her father when she found a moment alone with him that Leonard and Henry should have been invited. He didn’t exactly answer her, but his expression had been poignant. She understood. He might want to thank Poppie if they ever met for his devoted care of her, but she didn’t think Frederick would ever forgive him for keeping her from her real family.

  Christoph’s mother came to her rooms this morning to help her prepare, the queen by her side. Both women were ecstatically happy for their own reasons, Nikola because the future heir to the kingdom was no longer her sole responsibility.

  With the men not there to hear it, Ella felt free to confide, “Geoffrey and I had begun to despair that Christoph would never marry. He felt his job wouldn’t allow him time for a wife and family of his own, and he considered his job far more important.”

  “Then a more perfect solution couldn’t have been found for him,” Nikola agreed.

  “Exactly,” Ella said with a laugh.

  Job and wife in one, Alana got it. Did Christoph see it as a perfect solution for himself, too?

  Alana wished she hadn’t been told that. She’d been feeling happy and excited about today. After the other night, she’d stopped having second thoughts. After the other night, she’d caught herself smiling for no reason—a lot. Now, she was feeling misgivings again, and they grew stronger when Christoph’s grandfather stopped by with Wesley on his hip.

  Ella took her son from him and asked what was wrong. The boy just smiled at her. Hendrik confessed, “The men were putting him to sleep. They’re too solemn. They view this undertaking so seriously. I knew we would find laughter and cheer here with you ladies.”

  Nikola saw Alana’s worried look and said, “Of course they’re solemn, they have Frederick with them! He’s only just found his daughter and already he’s giving her to another man. It will be a while before he can laugh about it.”

  Was that all? Or was Christoph finally having second thoughts?

  But Hendrik soon had the ladies laughing again, and the maids blushing. When the summons came at the door that it was time to leave for the royal assembly hall, where the wedding would take place, he asked if he could escort Alana to her father, who would be walking her down the aisle. She already had an escort, her eight guards, the dozen maids it took to carry the long train on her mother’s gown, the queen, and her soon-to-be mother-in-law, but the old man’s offer pleased her. It almost felt as if he were her grandfather, too. She knew she was going to be blessed in marrying into Christoph’s family, already liking them as she did.

  Her father was waiting for her at the entrance to the long hall. He didn’t look solemn now. He was smiling and shaking his head in amazement at the way she looked. The gown was so grand, the veil so thin it hid nothing of her face. It was fit for a queen, the queen who had last worn it.

  “So beautiful you are, and so like your mother,” he said as he gathered her close for a hug and a kiss to her brow. “I wish she could see you now.”

  “Maybe she’s watching,” Alana said softly.

  “Maybe she is,” he agreed. He took her arm, but he didn’t move into the assembly hall yet. “We are breaking tradition today. Well,” he added with a chuckle, “we’ve been breaking a lot of traditions lately. But this one I think will please you—that we have agreed to both give you away.”

  She didn’t understand until a hand touched her other arm and she turned to see Poppie standing there offering her his bent arm, dressed formally in one of his best English suits. She gave a glad cry as she hugged him, then turned back to her father to hug him, too. Tears of happiness were in her eyes. Frederick couldn’t have given her a better gift.

  “Thank you so much,” she said with great emotion in her voice.

  Frederick smiled. “I thought it only fair since he did raise you. I had to send out criers into the city to find him. There was a chance he wouldn’t believe he was invited to the wedding.”

  “Whether I did or not,” Leonard added, “nothing could have kept me away.”

  “Shall we begin?” Frederick said, formally taking her arm again. “Christoph is nervous enough. Let’s not keep him waiting any longer.”

  Christoph nervous? She didn’t believe it. But she was smiling now as both men escorted her down the aisle, her real father, and the father of her heart. Only one thing could complete her happiness with the day: if the man she was walking toward loved her as much as she loved him. But seeing him now waiting to receive her into his care, those misgivings snuck up on her again. He did look solemn, maybe even a little shocked that this wedding was actually happening.

  But, oh, God, he looked so handsome standing there in his formal uniform. She suddenly felt like crying. Why couldn’t . . . ? She didn’t finish the thought. Come what may, they were going to join their lives here today. Unless . . .

  “What’s wrong?” Christoph asked the moment he took her hand to help her up the last step to the dais.

  How did he know? Darn veil, it wasn’t thick enough to hide her feelings, or let her lie. She had to say it—for him. “Are you sure you want to do this? I can run away, so my father won’t blame you.”

  He carefully lifted back her veil. He was making sure he missed no nuance of expression when he asked, “What are you saying? You don’t want to marry me?”

  She cast her eyes down. “Actually, I do—but I fear you don’t.”

  The priest cleared his throat, ready to begin the ceremony. Did it look as if they were ready?! Christoph put up a hand to stay the man, then brought that hand to her cheek. The gathered crowd was beginning to stir. This wasn’t exactly the time for them to be having a conversation.

  “I knew I should have told you this sooner,” he said. “I thought you understood that I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to be. I didn’t expect to love you, you know, not so soon. I didn’t expect this need to have you in my sight at all times, within my reach, to know where you are every minute of every day.”

  Had he just said he loved her? Alana wondered. She wasn’t sure! But the rest sounded like a complaint. “You take your job too seriously. You don’t have to watch me constantly.”

  He shook his head. “I’m not talking about my job, Alana mine. I’m talking about what comes from here.” He put
a fist sharply to his chest. “I’m not sure I like it.”

  Her breath froze. “No?”

  “It feels a little obsessive,” he admitted with an abashed look. “Something that would beset a frantic old woman.”

  She let out a sigh of relief before she choked on a laugh. Carefully she asked, “You think that’s a bad thing in a marriage?”

  “If only one of us feels it, yes, it would be.”

  “What makes you think I don’t feel it, too?”

  “When you’ve made it clear you feel rushed into marriage by your father?”

  “I thought you were simply following the king’s orders. You didn’t ask me to marry you, so I thought—”

  He abruptly went down on one knee. Some gasps came from the crowd, a few chuckles. What he was doing was rather obvious, so they were probably thinking this part should have been covered before the ceremony.

  He took one of her hands in his. “I love you, Alana mine. Will you agree to share your life with me in marriage?”

  Tears burst from her eyes, but her smile was so brilliant he couldn’t mistake they were tears of joy. “Nothing would make me happier.” She bent forward to cup his cheeks in her hands. “I love you so much. I only doubted that you felt it, too.”

  “You’ll never have doubts again. I’m going to spend the rest of my life making sure you know just how loved you are.”

  She grinned at him. “Then marry me before I think I’m dreaming.”

  “I like your dreams,” he said sensually as he stood up. “I like when you let me share them with you.”

  With a blush she turned toward the priest. Some sporadic applause came from the guests, then some laughter because of it and quite a few hushes. But the bride and the groom were in complete accord that this unusual wedding—unexpected, rushed, with a proposal at the altar—was perfect—for them.