The Convenient Bride Read Online Free Page B

“Then we can marry whenever we like.”
    Despite herself, she felt a thrill at marrying him sooner rather than later. She liked to believe that his eagerness was because he wanted her too, although she realised that it was probably freedom from his father that he desired, rather than her.
    “All right, we will obtain a special licence, only…”
    “What?” he smiled reassuringly. “Another condition?”
    “Of a sort. I wo uld like…” Calling it a honeymoon seemed far too romantic for such a calculating marriage. “I would like two weeks on my estate, well, our estate, before we return to London.”
    “It will still be your estate.” He tried to keep the bitterness from his voice but it stung that she didn’t trust him.
    “I already explained that you will have the use of all my properties for the remainder of your life. I only wish to safeguard my property-“
    “From me.”
    “For our children,” she corrected firmly but she could see that she had hurt him. “Maxwell, you know that I would do anything for you and I am already giving up my chance of marring for love. You have an estate coming to you that you can do as you like with, why must you have control of my estate too?”
    “It’s not the lack of control which bothers me, it’s the lack of trust.”
    “I am sorry, Maxwell. In many ways I do trust you. I trust you to keep my confidence, to defend me, and to be my friend but in financial matters, you have not proved yourself trustworthy.”
    He could see on her face how making such an admission pained her and he suddenly wished that he hadn’t run from his responsibilities for so many years. As far as she was concerned, he was only marrying her because of the debt he had run up and the ultimatum his father has issued. Why would she trust him with her finances?
    Two weeks alone with her in the country was tempting though, a honeymoon of sorts. Perhaps they could spend it in bed and maybe if he was very lucky, he could thaw this cool exterior that she seemed to have developed in the last few days.
    “Very well, I accept your conditions but I have one of my own, if I may?” A smile crept onto his lips.
    Lucy’s expression hardened. “ It is you who wants this marriage, Maxwell; you are hardly in a position to be dictating terms.”
    His expression fell. “I was simply going to ask that we seal our deal with a kiss.”
    “Oh.” She blushed. “I’m sorry. I…”
    Max got to his feet and offered her his hand and although she hesitated, she finally put her hand in his and got to her feet. She felt both nervous and excited at the thought of kissing him.
    He put his hands around her waist and pulled her to him so their bodies were flush , and Lucy felt her breathing become shallow as her skin grew warm. She couldn’t look into his eyes and, hoping to get this over with quickly, pecked him on the lips.
    “Oh no,” he said, tightening his grip as she tried to pull away. “That’s not what I call a kiss.”
    She still couldn’t look at him so he took one hand from about her waist and using one finger, tilted her chin up until she had no choice but to look in his eyes. Her cheeks were flushed, her full lips slightly parted and being pressed up against him, her cleavage prominent. There was no artifice in Lucy; she just exuded sex appeal, drawing men to her like a flame draws a moth. Perhaps the sexiest thing about her though, was that she was completely oblivious to her appeal, she believed that most men who showed an interest were attracted more to her inheritance than to her.
    His lips claimed hers and he poured every inch of ardour that he felt into it.
    Lucy felt her heartbeat increase and her legs grow weak as he deepened the kiss, wishing with all her heart that he wouldn’t stop, while also terrified of what might happen if he didn’t. His tongue sought entrance to her mouth and she granted it, moaning into the kiss as he ignited the feelings that she tried her hardest to repress. She