Chapter 30
Nash’s whole body blazed when she pressed her lips softly to his. His head buzzed like a hive. She was his at last, even if only for the afternoon. Well, if so, he’d damn well make the most of it.
He seized control of the kiss, deepening it, letting his tongue run wild inside her. She would have no doubt that he meant to keep his word, especially about the passion. Perhaps afterward she would desire more. And he would be oh so willing to give it.
Placing his hand on the small of her back, he swept her out of his office and toward the grand staircase. He resisted the urge to pick her up and run with her as he had that day in September, when they had driven each other mad with passion and denial. No such foolish notion stood between them today.
Once in his bedchamber, a fire crackling cozily in the grate, he pulled her to him and stared into her face. The flickering light revealed her beauty, bone-deep, and the emerald green of her eyes, a wonderful sign. Best of all, they shone with trust. His heart soared.
“I have waited so long for this, Charlotte.”
She ran her hand down his arm, leaving fire in her wake. “We did not even meet properly until August, Lord Wrotham. That is not so very long.”
“I have waited for this moment all my life.” He had. The perfect woman in his arms. Even before the title, he’d wanted one woman to cherish and care for and make happy for all his life. What his father and mother had had for too brief a time.
“I’m not worthy of that,” she whispered, tears starting from her eyes.
He grasped her chin and forced her to look at him. “You are more than worthy, my lady. You are my vision of happiness and I will not be gainsaid.” He seized her head, pressed her lips against his, tilting her face, melding them into one. Hunger erupted in his groin. Appeasement finally to hand, he broke the kiss and made short work of her gown and stays. Her wrap had been abandoned in the office, giving him one less layer to tear through.
At last she stood before him, like the birth of a new Venus. Her pale skin glowed in the firelight, a perfect splash of cream save for her rosy cheeks, the dusky pink of her nipples, and the dark chestnut of the curls above her thighs.
Sight of her created havoc in his breeches.
She glanced down at him and laughed softly. “We must hurry a bit, don’t you think? We wouldn’t want you to suffer any more than necessary.” She drew two pins from her head and the mass of her rich, dark hair cascaded around her shoulders, over her breasts, to curl at her waist.
“No, he has suffered enough at your hands, my lady.” Nash tore off his cravat, then began to tug at the buttons of his shirt. Too many of the damned things, to be sure. He glanced down. Damn, his boots were still on. He plucked them off and dragged his shirt over his head. He dropped his hand to work on his fall.
“Well, let him be soothed by me, then,” she said, slipping her hand inside his waistband.
Her long, soft fingers wrapped around his cock.
Dear God. Nash groaned, caught between the ecstasy of her touch and the torture of his need. He wanted to go slow, to pleasure her again and again before taking his ease. That plan would have to be abandoned. They’d be lucky to make it to the bed at this rate.
“Charlotte.” He pried her fingers from around him. “Let me see to you first. I want to give you the pleasure you deserve. But if you continue this way, we may end up too fast and frantic.”
“Oh.” Her face lost some of its joy. “I wanted to—”
“And you will.” He bent to nuzzle her neck. “I will beg you to pleasure me.” Finally, the blasted breeches and drawers were kicked away. It took all his self-control not to heft her up and impale her immediately on his rock-hard shaft.
Instead, he gathered her to him, pressing his hard heat against her smooth belly. Her gasp turned into a moan that inflamed him that much more. Christ, he would have to hurry. Perhaps their second time could be leisurely.
He raked the covers back, then picked her up and lay her on crisp sheets in the middle of the huge oak bed. Her hair fanned out across the pillows, a dark swath against the stark white. Dear Lord, he hoped she was ready for him.
He climbed up onto the bed, stretching his length alongside her. With a slowness that cost him agonies below, he slid his hand over her breast, watching as first one, then the other dark nipple furled themselves into tight buds. They called to him like sirens. He lowered his head and touched his tongue to the nearest one.
Charlotte sucked in her breath and shifted beneath his hand.
He laved the little peak thoroughly, then blew gently across the moist surface. The skin of her breast pimpled and the nipple contracted even more tightly, jutting up like the tiny stem of his pocket watch. Could he wind her even tighter? He sucked the nipple into his mouth and let his teeth scrape along the hardened tip.
At the same time, he reached her curls. He squeezed the plump flesh and slid one finger inside.
“Owww. That hurt, Nash.”
Shame stopped him cold. “I’m so sorry, Charlotte. I must have bit too hard.” He peered into her eyes, cursing himself for causing her any pain.
“Not there.” She frowned and shifted her bottom. “I didn’t think it was supposed to hurt after the first time.”
“Hurt where the first time?”
Her cheeks pinked. “Down there.”
He smiled. “I haven’t done anything down there yet, love.”
Charlotte frowned. “You have. I can . . .” Her voice lowered, as if someone else could hear. “I can feel you, Nash. It hurts.”
What the devil did she mean? “But that’s only my . . . I mean, I haven’t put myself inside you yet.”
“Well, there’s something there.” Her eyes flashed.
Could she still be sore from lying with Kersey? “Does this hurt?” He wiggled his finger inside her. She did seem awfully tight.
“A little. Not like before.”
Perhaps another try. He slid a second finger inside.
“Owww. Yes, yes, that hurts.” She stared accusingly at him.
Christ Almighty. Very gently, he removed his fingers and sat up. “Charlotte, do you remember anything about your encounter with Lord Kersey?’
She puckered her brow and bit her lip. “Not much. I was quite foxed.”
“Did you feel a hurt, just as now? Were you sore there the next morning?”
“I don’t remember feeling anything that night. And the next morning my head hurt so abominably I have no idea if anything else was sore.” She looked up at him, sudden hope in her eyes. “So you don’t think he . . .”
Nash shook his head and ran a finger down her luscious body, from neck to the silky curls where he had lately trespassed, and delighted in her shiver. “I don’t know for certain. But it’s beginning to seem doubtful. Was there blood on the sheets the next morning?”
She shook her head. “I have no idea. I was so ill, I didn’t think to look. Rose would know. We’ll have to ask her when we get to Lyttlefield.”
Never letting his gaze leave her face, he stretched out next to her again, running his fingers through those tantalizing curls. Slowly, he pushed her legs apart. “There’s another way to find out.”
Her eyes grew large before narrowing to slits. “So, if it hurts badly this time and there is blood, then he didn’t . . .”
“That’s right. He didn’t . . . and I’ll be your first.” God, he hoped that would be true. He cupped her face, caressing her cheek with his thumb. “Will you mind that very much?”
In answer, Charlotte growled in her throat, sending a primal shiver down his spine. She grabbed his shoulders and dragged him over top of her. She pulled his mouth down to hers, pressing her tongue inside. A kiss sweet beyond belief. Made more exciting because she had taken the lead.
His already stiff member swelled to more painful heights.
“Love me, Nash. Love me now.”
He’d wanted their first time together to be slow and pure pleasure; that, now, had changed. Perhaps best to provide some quick pleasure to distract from the pain. He slid his mouth over her nipple, teased it to a point, then nibbled at it.
She moaned and pressed his head against her. Her legs moved restlessly.
Good.
He eased off her and reached again for her opening. Slipping his finger inside, he sighed with relief to find her wet and ready. That would make it somewhat easier when the time came. Gathering some of her essence, he moved to the little button just above and began to massage it.
“Oh, Nash.” Charlotte began to moan and writhe the moment he touched that special spot. He smiled against her breast and began to draw on her nipple. She had always responded to his touch magnificently; this time he expected fireworks. As he sucked, he circled around her nub with his finger, coordinating the motions. It shouldn’t take her—
“Oh . . . no. Oh . . . Nash. What’s . . . what’s happening?” Her panted words rose to a high pitch. “Oh, oh, oh. Naaaash.” She grasped his head as her body shook with her first climax.
Nash rested against her now lax body, satisfaction akin to orgasm flooding him. He’d given her the ultimate pleasure, the first man to do so. It filled him with joy that he could do this for her after she’d endured so many empty, passionless years. He raised himself so he could see her happiness and found her cheeks wet with tears.
“Charlotte! My dear, did I hurt you?” Christ, that shouldn’t have been painful.
She shook her head, tears still streaming, and clutched him anew. “I . . . I never knew . . . that I could feel like this. I thought it must be w . . . wonderful because of what the others hinted at. But I couldn’t have imagined this.... I’m just so glad it happened with you.” She burrowed into his shoulder and his heart lurched so hard she must feel it.
“Shhhh, love. It’s all right. I am honored to have been the one to give you such pleasure.” He stroked the beautiful head and pulled the covers over them, lest she grow cold.
Charlotte had always overwhelmed him, never more so than now. How could he not be humbled by her confession? He desired nothing more than to love and cherish her for the rest of their lives. Yet now, bound by honor, he could not ask for the privilege. He sighed and held her closer.
“Charlotte.” Nash kissed her brow. He couldn’t seem to touch her enough.
“Hmmm?”
“There is more, love, if you wish it.”
She rolled away from him and ran her hand down his chest. “Yes, there is more.” Her hand continued down over his stomach.
He sucked in a breath when she rested it at last on his still-aching cock.
She stared into his eyes, hers two pools of dark desire. “Will you show me?”
* * *
She wanted more. Even though she still throbbed with the aftermath of that delightful explosion, yet the ultimate experience still awaited her. With Nash and no other.
A fool. She’d been as bird-witted as any woman seduced by a handsome face and a fast reputation. Only she’d been enticed by a promise of freedom that had ultimately fallen short. Had she a grain of sense, she’d have abandoned her independence and latched onto Nash after their first kiss. She should never have left the library until they were betrothed. Stubborn goose. She really didn’t deserve him.
At least her first lover would be one who truly cared for her. She couldn’t hope for another offer from him; he’d sworn not to ask. But she had him for now, and there was so much more of him she wanted to experience.
She ran her hand down his hard chest, loving the feel of his smooth skin. Best be bold. Faint heart never won fair gentleman. Continuing down over his taut stomach, she reached his member, jutting stiffly at attention. A stroke along that heated flesh and moisture pooled between her thighs. She gazed into Nash’s dark eyes, willing him to see her desire. “Please show me.”
He growled and pounced, covering her instantly. His mouth pressed against hers, his tongue driving inside, taking her breath away.
She wrapped her arms around his neck. He continued kissing her until her whole body throbbed with need and she pulled back to ask, “What should I do?”
“Hold on to me.”
She tightened her grip as he rose up, his knees between hers.
He spread her thighs and bent her knees, stretching her wide, then pressed his heat against her opening. He breathed deeply and said, “This will hurt.”
“I hope it does.”
His eyes widened, then softened. “I love you.”
Her breath stopped, her head reeled. She couldn’t take it in. The pressure between her thighs increased, his outer heat seeking her inner warmth.
He thrust his hips and pain shot through her body, twenty times worse than what she’d expected.
She tried to muffle her moans, but the hurt intensified as he continued forward.
“Charlotte? Is it that bad?” His concern endeared him to her even more.
She nodded, swallowing against a sudden ill feeling. “But that’s good, isn’t it? It wouldn’t feel like this if—”
“No, it wouldn’t. Until a moment ago, you were untouched.” He kissed her forehead.
So sweet.
“I’m glad.” It came out through gritted teeth. She didn’t truly feel glad at the moment. It still ached.
“So am I.” He smiled and brushed her hair back. “Try to relax, love.”
Much easier to give that advice when your insides weren’t burning. She let out the breath she’d been holding and the tension eased a trifle. “Nothing has been easy for us, has it?”
“It hasn’t at that.” He pushed forward a little more.
She tensed, but the hurt didn’t increase. When she relaxed, he slid deeper, filling her completely. Without the pain, the fullness inside her and the closeness of their bodies overwhelmed her.
“Is it better yet?”
“Oh, yes.”
He gave a little groan and began to move, slowly at first.
The sliding sensation started heat building inside her.
His thrusts picked up speed.
“Push against me, love.” The husky tone of his voice sent tingles through her as she lifted her bottom and dug her heels into the mattress. His rhythm steadied as he drove in and out, now deep, now shallow. New tensions began to build within, like the ones before that had given her so much pleasure. She moaned with delight.
“Now that’s a sound I love to hear.” He seized her mouth again, plunging his tongue into her, even as he did the same below. The movements coincided and the tension rose higher and higher until she exploded once more, moaning into his mouth, squeezing him as she released her pent-up passion.
He continued to stroke into her, pounding so hard she cried out when yet another climax swept through her. Nash gave one final thrust and a cry as he spilled himself within her. His heart hammered against her chest as he slumped onto her, then rolled away, panting like her team after a long run.
Her own heart gradually slowed to normal. A delicious lethargy stole over her. She rolled toward Nash, a smile on her lips.
He stared back at her, a deep frown over pensive blue eyes.
“What’s wrong, Nash?” She must have done something she shouldn’t have. But what? Everything he’d told her to do she’d done. Perhaps she should have done something else but hadn’t. Because she didn’t know to do it. Why hadn’t he told her?
“Charlotte.” He turned toward her, the distress in his eyes still evident. “I am about to do something dishonorable.” He took her hand and kissed it. “Please, forgive me.”
She began to tremble all over, as with an ague or illness. What could he do that would dishonor him? Did he intend to abandon her now? A sick dread twisted her stomach and she pushed the thought away. Perhaps he would tell her some confidence now that they were lovers. But what revelation would compromise his honor? Nothing that concerned her, surely. Still, an icy foreboding filled her, so devastating her vision wavered. At long last she had found the love and passion she sought, only to lose it within a span of minutes. She took a deep breath, summoning courage, and tried to smile at him. “What is it, Nash?”