He rocked against her and he was commanded by his orgasm, by their shared pleasure.

Then his head dropped forward, and he took ragged breaths. “Heaven,” he muttered. “Fucking you is like touching heaven.”

She giggled. “We must get ready. You are to be the best man, at the groom’s side.”

“And you are maid of honor. Though not a maid much longer.”

“What do you mean?” She frowned.

He winked, then left the daybed. He returned with an ewer of cool water and a cloth, and he cleaned her studiously. But he didn’t untie her.

When he finished, he tossed the cloth in the porcelain pitcher but still left her wrists bound.

“Won’t you let me go?”

“I’d like to keep you my captive a little longer. To do this—”

Long strides took him to his clothes, lying across the arm of a leather chair. He searched the pocket of his tailcoat. Holding something in his palm, he returned.

He approached the daybed from the side. She wriggled her fingers, now feeling more anxious. Time was ticking past, and she refused to be late for the wedding of Harry and Frederica. “Raven—”

“Ophelia, will you marry me? I am deeply, passionately in love with you, and I want you to be my wife forever.”

The words poured out in a rush. Her commanding vampire blushed. Then he held out his hand. Between his index finger and thumb he held a ring bearing a huge, heart-shaped ruby. A bloodred ruby.

Leaning over her, he slipped it on the ring finger of her bound left hand.

“I haven’t answered yet,” she pointed out.

“I didn’t want to give you the chance to say no,” he muttered.

“Say no? You truly thought I might? After everything we have been through, you thought there was any chance at all I might refuse you?”

He nodded. “I did take you prisoner, after all, and I—”

“My answer is yes!” she broke in. “Yes, I love you. Yes, I want to be with you forever.”

A second later, he kissed her, a lush, long, breathtaking kiss. His hands tore through the cords holding her wrists, and he undid the ones teasing her quim.

“Now, can we go to the wedding?” she breathed. “Though I do have one more surprise for you, Raven.”

He looked so surprised, she giggled. “I am enceinte, Raven. We are going to have a child.”

He closed his eyes and rocked back. Then he grinned. And let out a whoop of joy. He drew her into his arms, lifting her off the bed, and spun her around.

“I never believed I could be so happy,” he whispered against her ear.

“Nor I. Now, we must hurry. We have a wedding to attend.”

“The next one will be ours. Ophelia, my love, my heart will be bound with yours for eternity.”

He kissed her again, and Ophelia knew her dress and hair were going to be done rather hastily for the wedding, for all she wanted to do was make love to her fiancé.

Again and again and again.