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Chapter Twenty-Five

Mary and Jack’s wedding reception was a glorious blur ofand bites of cake…and dozens upon dozens of stolen kisses frole and her heart race with joy Throughout the celebration, Jack alo of Mary’s hand, and as the sun fell lower in the sky, his gaze grew more heated and full of love every time she looked in wonder at the eous in his dark suit and tie, and Mary couldn’t bla--even thehim in with clear appreciation He’d re, but his jaas already covered with a dark shadow

When she’d seen hiiven out on her, and she’d had to cling to her father’s arm for support A moment later, she’d wanted to pick up her skirts and run to him so that she could throw herself into his arms

Now, as they stood surrounded by everyone in her hohtly stroke across the curve of her hips through her wedding dress, she wanted badly to tangle her hands in his hair and yank his tie off and kiss hiiven her not only a new name…but a new future, as well Sullivans were deterht that she should embark on her new future as a Sullivan, and that the children they hoped to have in the near future would grow up knowing they were loved and supported, no lad that Jack’s brother Ethan had been able to come to support Jack as they’d made their vows, even if he was an irrepressible flirt ould leave more than one broken heart behind in Italy when he headed back to London the following day After a lifetime as an only child, she couldn’t believe how blessed she was now to have a sister and four brothers, and she couldn’t wait to finally hter-in-law

With Jack’s hand in hers and the love of the friends she’d grown up with in every s and handshake, Mary worked to push away her impatience to be alone with him This celebration was extremely important to her mother and father Surely she could continue to smile and chat with everyone for another few hours without counting down every single second until she could be alone with Jack again

Taking a deep breath, she made certain her smile remained firan to walk toward them But before her friend was even halfway across the reception hall, Jack lifted Mary into his arms

Only by sheer force of will did she stop herself fro out loud Her husband--oh, wasn’t that a beautiful word?--didn’t stop to speak with anyone, didn’t say any more thank-you’s or nice-to-h the reception hall, out the front door and down the steps to the cobblestone street below

"I was hoping you’d run out of patience soon," she confessed as he practically ran down the street toward the sether as husband and wife Holding on even tighter to him, she buried her face in the crook of his neck He smelled like spice and heat and thethe cereht, she loved his dehly opened the door, kicking it shut behind theh every inch of her husband, he lowered her feet to the ground with infinite care Every inch of her body that pressed against his ached for more

"This is the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen," he told her in a voiceto rip it off you tonight is so that our daughter can wear it one day"

"I’ve gotten much better with a needle and thread this week I can stitch it back together"

His eyes flared with heat, but instead of tearing the fabric froently turned her in his arertips across her spine and shoulders as he lifted her dark hair away fro row of small pearl buttons made her shiver

He slid one of the buttons free "Beautiful" Another two came loose, and he leaned forward to press his lips to the small patch of skin he’d just bared "Sei bellissima"

Mary’s breath stuttered in her chest as he worked his way down the row of buttons with steady hands that also teased and caressed How, she wondered, was she ever going to ht seduction in one piece?

Finally--finally!--he slid the bodice of her dress off over her shoulders, and his large, strong hands stroked her, Mary shifted her torso and arms so that the dress slipped all the way down to her waist Groaning against the curve of her neck, Jack’s hands iainst his shoulder, she turned her face so that their mouths could ainst his fingertips until--thank God--he was turning her in his ar his head to her chest to take first one peak, and then the other, into his mouth Wild, sweet love poured from husband to wife and wife to husband as she arched closer

Even as his lips worked ertips made short work of the rest of the pearl buttons at her hips, and oas pooled at her feet