They were already kissing to seal their vows by the time the priest declared them husband and wife, and as applause rang through the centuries-old church, Jack knew that theirs was a love that would transcend time.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Mary and Jack’s wedding reception was a glorious blur of music and laughter and hugs and dancing and bites of cake…and dozens upon dozens of stolen kisses from her new husband that made her lips tingle and her heart race with joy. Throughout the celebration, Jack almost never let go 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 man who had just become her husband.

Jack was beyond gorgeous in his dark suit and tie, and Mary couldn’t blame every woman at her wedding—even the married ones—from drinking him in with clear appreciation. He’d remembered to shave this morning, but his jaw was already covered with a dark shadow.

When she’d seen him waiting for her at the altar, her legs had nearly given 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 hometown, and he moved his hand to the small of her back to lightly 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 him until they were both breathless.

Mary Sullivan. Love had given her not only a new name…but a new future, as well. Sullivans were determined and focused, loving and supportive. It was exactly right 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 matter what.

Mary had been very glad 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 who would 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 meet his parents as their newest daughter-in-law.

With Jack’s hand in hers and the love of the friends she’d grown up with in every smile and hug 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 firmly in place as one of her old friends from school began 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 from laughing 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-meet-you’s, just carried her through 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 small inn where they’d be spending their first night together 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 the man she couldn’t live without.

During the ceremony, she’d loved how sweet and gentle he’d been. Tonight, she loved his demanding passion as he slid the old key into the lock and roughly opened the door, kicking it shut behind them.

Despite the need she could feel rumbling through 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 voice made raw with emotion. “The only reason I’m not going to 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 from her in one swift move, he gently turned her in his arms so that her back was to him. The brush of his fingertips across her spine and shoulders as he lifted her dark hair away from the long 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 make it through his wedding night seduction in one piece?

Finally—finally!—he slid the bodice of her dress off over her shoulders, and his large, strong hands stroked her muscles, cherishing every inch of her skin.

Needing more, needing everything, 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 immediately slid around to cup her br**sts. Arching her head against his shoulder, she turned her face so that their mouths could meet in a heated kiss. Her br**sts felt heavy and sensitive against his fingertips until—thank God—he was turning her in his arms again with his hands on her hips and dropping 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 magic over her br**sts, his deft fingertips made short work of the rest of the pearl buttons at her hips, and moments later the beautiful silk and lace wedding gown was pooled at her feet.

“Were you—” He ran his hands over her bare hips and then the delicate white garters that held up her silk stockings. He was clearly stunned—and extremely aroused—at the realization that she hadn’t been wearing any panties beneath her wedding dress. “You didn’t—”

Though they wouldn’t be opening their gifts for each other until the following day, Mary had wanted to give herself to Jack as an early present. “Merry Christmas.”

He dragged her hard against him at the same moment that he crushed his mouth to hers. And then they were falling back onto the bed, and his mouth and hands were seemingly everywhere at once.