Free Catharine & Edward by Marianne Knightly

won’t have you scolding her, especially when she’s clearly upset about it.”
    “Exactly right, Alex,” Cat agreed fervently. “Besides, Mama, we’ve already found another dress. Everything is perfectly on track again.”
    “And that’s another thing. You found another dress without me?”
    “Mama,” Alex said shaking his head. “Do we need to remind you – again – that this is our wedding? Rebecca does not need your approval for a dress.”
    “Alex,” Rebecca said softly.
    “No, darling. It’s not right.”
    Genevieve pursed her lips. “This is a major event. If we weren’t royals, you know I wouldn’t fuss so much, but we are. Most weddings aren’t for the bride and groom, but this one really isn’t. There’s a lot at stake here, what with all the heads of state and important officials that will be in attendance.”
    “We’re not unaware of that fact, Mama, trust me. And trust Rebecca. She understands duty, almost better than us.”
    Rebecca’s face paled at that; Cat once again wondered if something else was going on.
    “Of course I know that. Rebecca, though you may not officially be my daughter yet, in my eyes, you already are.”
    The tension in the room melted into something soft and warm.
    “You’ll find out from my other children, if you haven’t already, that I’m nosy, opinionated, and pushy. If I’m like that with you, it just means you’re one of the family, and you are.”
    “Thank you,” Rebecca said in a low voice, then her face crumpled and she burst into tears. “I’m sorry. Excuse me.” She leapt from the table and ran from the room; Alex got up barely a moment later and followed her.
    Genevieve frowned. “Should I go, too? I didn’t mean to upset her.”
    Gabriel took his wife’s hand. “I think everyone knows she wasn’t angry, my dear.” He gave her hand a kiss. “Let Alex see to her. You can talk to her later tonight. We will all be in the bunker together, after all.”
    Genevieve nodded. “All right. Let’s get on with dinner then; I’ve a lot to see to before midnight comes.”
    “Yes,” Nate agreed. “I also think it’s best if we wait to discuss any more details about the threat until we get to the bunker. We could all use a break from it right now.”
    Everyone agreed, and not just because Charlie’s face was awash in worry.
    But because everyone’s was.
    Cat gave Edward another furtive glance; his eyes were boring into her, his body still at attention, ready to strike against any harm that may come.
    She wanted to be in his arms again, feel them around her, feel his cheek against her hair and the tremble of his low voice against her skin.
    After dinner, she’d try to get what she wanted.

    * * *
    E dward followed Catharine down the hall to her apartment. After doing a quick sweep inside, he gave her a nod and headed for the front door.
    “Wait,” she said. Her voice was soft and breathy, just as it always was after a glass or two of wine.
    And damn it, his cock responded every time.
    “I need help with my necklace again.”
    Danger . His mind knew it. His body, however, decided to ignore his mind and went to her. He swept her hair to one side and his fingers brushed her nape as they undid the clasp.
    Her hands lifted to her throat to grab the necklace, so he let go.
    However, she didn’t catch it in time.
    The necklace fell into her lush cleavage, the two ends of the clasp barely peeking out. “Oops.”
    Sense had Edward stepping back, even while his hands itched to reach for it.
    He’d hold back, however, even if it killed him.
    Heat blasted through him when she plunged her own hand into her dress and began to wiggle in a vain attempt to reach it. She could have easily pulled it out, he supposed, if it weren’t for her current inebriated state.
    He watched her teeth bite her bottom lip in concentration. Her right hand shifted inside the dress, while her left hand tried to manipulate the beads – and, by proximity, her breasts –