The Bride Tournament (Hexed Hearts Book 1)(59)

“Shush everyone, she’s here,” the queen tossed over her shoulder and snapped her fingers.

A trio of harpsichords began to play. Gerard took one last glance over the chapel.

The balcony doors were open to let in moonlight and the soft fall breeze. A display of gold roses, fashioned with his magic, twirled over the railing and down the center pews. Pierce, Ellie’s friend Rufus, and the butler James stood at his side. Rachel positively pranced at the other end of the altar and the queen joined her side.

The clock tower struck midnight and his bride walked down the aisle.

Stunning.

His abs clenched at the confident sway of Ellie’s hips. At her smile, so assured, so genuine, so loving. The gown, a feminine concoction surely made to torture men, dipped low between her breasts and hugged her slender ribs. The gossamer silk was tinged with aqua blue and highlighted her piercing eyes. It was the same gown she’d worn at The Ball and he loved it even more tonight.

He lost track of time. The king prattled on but all Gerard registered was Ellie’s softly whispered “I do.” He mumbled through his own vows, entranced by his bride.

Suddenly they were kissing. The assembled crowd roared with glee and his gaze never strayed from hers.

Pierce tapped him on the shoulder. Growling, Gerard pulled away from his wife’s soft lips.

“What?”

“It’s Lady Olivia.”

“What about her?” Ellie said and tucked into his side. He gripped her tight, not wanting to lose contact with her warm curves.

Pierce looked down at his new sister-in-law with a faint smile. “You did a good thing stopping her.”

“I didn’t succeed in time.” Ellie patted Pierce’s arm, pain in both their gazes.

“It is not your fault.” There was no bitterness to Pierce’s voice.

“What about Olivia?” The king leaned in, dark beard streaked with gray.

“Oh, yes, what Ellie revealed was true. Dame Lange’s four other daughters have been found in a rental room in the square, where they were keeping some of their more nefarious spell books and conduits.” Pierce cleared his throat. “We also found a lot of paperwork. It seems they’d been faking deaths and births for decades. We’re not even sure the ‘husband’ existed, the forgeries are that good.”

His brother winced and Gerard waved him on. “The sisters, um, were as she said. Corpses. Dead bodies dredged up for dark magic. Decomposition seemed to have already begun by the time the guards got there.”

“And we’re done with this conversation.” Gerard shooed Ellie into Rachel’s squealing embrace.

“Sorry, poor timing, I know.” Pierce shrugged.

“Thanks.” Gerard cringed. “Well, on that sour note on such a happy occasion, I do believe it’s time to retire. We’ve had much excitement today.”

His brother offered him a sly grin. “And, I do believe your wife’s beat you to it.”

He turned around. Sure enough, the hauntingly gorgeous backside of his wife disappeared around the corner. With a backward wave, Gerard went in search of his woman.





Chapter Seventeen



Ellie struggled with the buttons on her dress. Rachel and two other women had gotten her into it, and now she stood alone in Gerard’s suite unable to divest herself of the stunning garment.

Someone cleared their throat. She turned to find Gerard standing in the doorway. “Would you like help, wife?”

The last word came out predatory. Possessive. Her knees rattled. She managed a nod. All that pent-up desire came flooding back. That yearning, that wanting. That needing. The door clicked shut and he made a point to lock it.

His posture straightened as he sauntered to her side and brushed her hair back from her throat, baring her skin to his gaze.

“Do you know how long I’ve tried to hold my cool, keep my hands from learning every inch of you?” Prickled stubble rasped her check as Gerard stood behind her. His fingers trailed the column of her throat.

“Not too hard,” she moaned as his mouth followed his hand’s path.

“Hmm?” Gerard nipped at her nape.

She trembled. “You touched me, before.”

“True…but I wanted to do so much more.” Gerard’s scent, sandalwood, clouded around her, tugged her in deep. She burrowed into his hold, feeling protected.

“More?”

“Like kiss you where my fingers have been lucky enough to venture,” her husband said and pulled back, jaw twitching.

Her heart skipped a beat. “You can do that?”

“Oh yes.” Gerard winked.

“Dress, off. Now,” Ellie ordered.

“Yes, milady.” Gerard spun her around and made quick work of the buttons. Soon she was clad in only her soft shift and wool stockings. Gerard tsked as he pushed her back onto the bed. “I’ve told you how I feel about wool stockings.”

His warm fingers slid her shift up to bare her thighs and the beginnings of said stockings. Gerard yanked them off her legs.

“But they’re ever so practical,” she whimpered. Calloused palms slid up the inside of her legs and Ellie felt like swooning, despite the fact she lay horizontal already.

Candlelight and soft moonlight bathed Gerard in a warm glow as he stripped off his own tunic.