Free The Christmas Wife by Elizabeth Kelly Page A

the chubby dark-haired woman who stepped out of the
car.  She was wearing a dark green dress and she had both a nose piercing and a
lip piercing.  She gave him a cool, assessing look as Hattie slid out behind
her.
    “Hello, Mr. Stone.”
    “Hello, Hattie.  You look very pretty.”
    The little girl was also wearing a green dress and her dark
hair had been curled. 
    “My dress itches,” she said before scratching at her
abdomen.  “I brought my Hulk t-shirt to change into.”
    Deacon didn’t reply.  Claire had stepped gracefully out of
the car and his pulse was pounding in his head so loudly he could barely hear
Hattie.  He looked Claire up and down, his gaze lingering on the silk material
that hugged her firm breasts.  He had never seen her in anything but jeans and
a t-shirt before, and the way that silky white dress was clinging to her curves
was making his heart race.
    She had put her hair up in a simple twist with a few curls
to frame her face, and she was wearing dark shadow that made her eyes look even
more blue than usual.  He studied her mouth.  Her lips looked shiny and soft
and utterly kissable, and he wondered for a brief moment how she would taste
against his mouth.
    The necklace he had bought for her rested against her upper
chest and he had a fleeting image of her lying in his bed wearing nothing but
the diamonds.  His dick twitched in his pants and he closed his eyes.
    “Deacon?  Are you okay?”  Claire’s voice was worried and he
pushed the image of her naked out of his head and opened his eyes.
    “Deacon?  What’s wrong?”
    “Nothing,” he said hoarsely.  “You look stunning, Claire.”
    She gave him a breathtaking smile.  “Do you really think
so?”
    “Yes,” he said.  “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever
seen.”
    Her smile widened and he hoped she didn’t think he was just
acting for their friends’ benefit.  She really was beautiful.
    “Thank you, Deacon.  You look very handsome.”
    He held his arm out to her and she tucked her hand into the
crook of his elbow. 
    “We should go in.  Grandmother is waiting inside.”
    “Alright.  First though, this is my best friend, Ellen
Stanwick.  Ellen, this is Deacon Stone and,” she smiled at Jude, “you must be
Jude.”
    “I am.”  Jude, he was a large man with thick black hair and
dark brown eyes, took her hand and kissed the top of it.  “It’s nice to meet
you, Claire.”
    “It’s nice to meet you too.”
    Jude turned to Ellen and gave her a wolfish grin.  “Hello,
gorgeous.  I’m Jude.”
    Ellen looked him up and down before smiling up at him. 
“Hello, big guy.  Nice to meet you.”
    “You as well.  May I escort you into the building?”  He held
his arm out and Ellen took it with a small grin as Deacon rolled his eyes and
Claire held her hand out to Hattie.
    They walked toward the building and Claire smiled at him. 
“Thank you for the necklace, Deacon.  It’s beautiful.”
    “You’re welcome,” he said.  “I thought I should get you a
gift for the wedding.”
    She frowned.  “I didn’t get you a gift.”
    “You didn’t need to.”
    Ellen and Jude had entered the building and he paused for a
moment and lowered his voice.  “Are you absolutely sure you want to do this,
Claire?”
    She gave him a puzzled look.  “Yes.  Are you?”
    He nodded and she squeezed his arm.  “Great.  Let’s get
married.”
    * * *
     
    “I now pronounce you husband and wife.  You may kiss the
bride,” the justice of peace said.
    Deacon hesitated but Claire immediately wrapped one cool
hand around the back of his neck and tugged him downward.  She pressed her lips
against his and his nerve endings exploded in a burst of sudden lust.  She
started to pull away and he put his arm around her waist and drew her up
against him.
    Vanilla , he thought, she tastes like vanilla . 
    He took control of the kiss, nibbling at her lower lip, as
she made a soft moan only he could hear and melted