Page 39 of Craig

"Please don't," she whispered.

"We have to." Bending his head, he brushed his lips over hers and felt the tremors.

His body reacted immediately. Suddenly it wasn't about who was watching.

The guests and the surroundings faded into nothing until it was just the two of them. Her lips parted involuntarily, her breath mingling with his.

She tasted sweet, the scent of her coursing through his body and making him dizzy and completely aware of her.

His hand curved around her neck, fingers drifting over the smooth skin. He felt the madly beating pulse, causing desire to spin into him like a stormy sea.

His fingers tightened around her neck as he tilted her face upwards. His tongue traced the outline of her glossy bottom lip.

Need raged through him at the speed of lightning. He felt the control slipping away, the fog of desire blurring his vision.

Regina's knees went weak, and the idea of pushing him away subtly, or turning her head so that he could kiss her cheek, dissolved along with all the other rational thoughts that should have been processing. She couldn't think, couldn't feel anything except the intense pleasure running through her vulnerable body.

Her hands curled into fists on his chest, fingers digging into the soft fabric of his shirt.

Craig wondered what he would have done next if someone hadn't called out that they should wait for the honeymoon, and the applause and laughter. Those things seeped through the fog and had him lifting his mouth from hers.

His eyes, darkened by the tumultuous desire, stared into her. What he saw there did not help the situation that was threatening to leap out of control.

Her eyes were bright with passion, and her lips were wet and swollen.

"We should--"

"I don't--"

They both started speaking at the same time but were interrupted by the amused voice behind them. "It's safe to say that I now present the newlyweds, Mr. and Mrs. Craig Muldoon."

He retained a firm hold of her hand, even though she tried to pry it loose. They made their way through the throng of people who offered their congratulations.

They endured the gentle teasing and ribbing from the few friends they had invited and used that to distract them from what was really going on.

The resident chef and the staff had set up tables under canopies for the guests to partake of the sumptuous meal. A three-tier raspberry and chocolate cake with buttercream frosting resided on a table, surrounded by macaroons and pastries so delicate and light, it simply melted on the tongue.

A larger table was heaped with delicious and varied dishes, including chicken Caesar, several different cheeses, a huge fruit bowl, canapés, caviar, foie gras, and a shrimp bowl. Someone had put music on, something soft and bluesy.

Guests were wandering around, talking, laughing, and grabbing plates of food.

"You should eat something," he murmured, guiding her to the table.

"I-I'm not hungry." She wished he would just leave her alone so that she could settle.

With him holding her hand, she could barely function.

"You need to keep up your strength."

The words had her turning a blazing look at him. "Why?"

His brows lifted at the sharp response before amusement filtered into those fascinating eyes.

"For the journey ahead. What did you think I meant?"

"Nothing." He was flustering her and she wasn't used to being flustered.

"I just--Dylan!" she almost wept with relief as her brother approached them.