Anyone observing them must believe that theirs was a true love match—that their wedding had come about because they couldn’t bear to be without each other. How surprised they’d be if they knew that the ceremony had been instigated out of a purely practical desire to help each other out.
Hurriedly jettisoning the thought—because for today at least she wanted to imagine that Seth did love her—Imogen endeavoured to engage with their guests and keep to herself the fact that their supposedly ‘convenient’ marriage had truly become the most important event of her life...
When they finally departed for their suite she was almost certain that she would suddenly wake up and find herself back in her flat, alone. The charismatic Seth Broden was just a figment of her imagination... He had to be, didn’t he?
‘At last I’ve got you all to myself Mrs Broden.’
Seth’s warm breath tickled her nape as his strong arms went round her waist. He’d captured her from behind and her senses were flooded by his sexy, classy cologne and the irresistible natural scent of the man himself.
‘So you have...’ she murmured softly.
‘You’re trembling,’ he said, breathing against her hair.
‘I know...’ There was no point in denying it. The dreamlike events of the day had been overwhelming. Now, alone with her new husband and nervous about what might be following, could anyone blame her for trembling?
Seth turned her in his arms and his compelling blue eyes stared into hers. A sexy half-smile played across his lips. ‘Do you want to make love with me, Imogen? I need to know now, before I venture any further.’
Staring back into his eyes, she felt any doubts she might have held on to melt away. Because he’d asked her, hadn’t just presumed they would make love, she was more than reassured that her agreement to go ahead was the right one.
‘I do, Seth. I want to make love with you very much.’
He released a long, slow breath. ‘That’s music to my ears, baby.’ The smile he gave her was nothing less than heartfelt. ‘And there’s no need to be nervous. We’re going to take things very slowly. I know it’s your first time and I want you to enjoy it.’
‘Maybe...maybe I should go and take a shower first?’
He surprised her with a distinctly predatory glance. ‘Are you crazy? Taking a shower is the last thing I want you to do. The natural scent of your body turns me on.’
She was already tense with anticipation of the event to come, and his frank remark stunned her to silence. The cool lace of her beautiful gown suddenly became too hot where it glanced against her skin, and inside the fitted bodice her breasts ached and surged.
Swaying against him, she lifted her face. There would be no more words...provocative or otherwise. Instead, Seth’s lips came down on hers, hungrily, insatiably, as though he couldn’t bear one more second to pass without tasting her. His hands cupped her face and Imogen dizzyingly pressed herself against him, knowing that she wasn’t likely to be taking things slowly any time soon. Desire was like a raging river inside her that wouldn’t be quelled—not until she was intimately acquainted with his body in the fullest sense possible...
As if echoing her feelings, Seth lifted his mouth from hers, breathing hard. ‘I don’t want to tear your dress, sweetheart, but if I don’t strip it off you soon I’m liable to go crazy.’
Standing on tiptoe, she greedily stole another kiss from him, loving the way it took him by surprise, and felt him eagerly reach for her dress fastening to undo it.
Stilling his hand, she said shakily, ‘No. Let me do it.’
As the garment drifted lazily down to her feet it resembled the dying petals of a delicate ivory lily. Stepping out of it, Imogen kicked off her shoes. Next to go was her very feminine and pretty headdress. All she was left wearing was a flimsy ivory-coloured chemise, with white stockings and a matching bra and knickers.
Although she felt incredibly exposed, she also had a sense of being surprisingly free—free from the self-imposed strictures that had so often stopped her from enjoying her life to the full.
Witnessing Seth, sucking in a breath, she watched him breathe it out again slowly. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. Then, with a distinct economy of effort, he smoothly removed his jacket and tie. Even the rustle of the material was seductive. It was like watching poetry in motion, Imogen thought excitedly. Everything he touched seemed drawn to do his bidding.
She opened her mouth to ask if they should go into the bedroom, but before she could utter the words he lifted her high into his arms and took her there. Carefully setting her down on the luxurious bed, he began to disrobe. Now it was Imogen’s turn to feast her gaze.