24

When Jonathan placed her on the bed, Marilyn refused to look at anything but him. He was her focus, the man she loved. She could feel it. That crackle of energy that seemed to take over the entire room. The one that was building as she watched him remove his jacket and then his shirt. Keeping on his jeans, he moved toward the bed.

Instead of reaching for her, he sat on the edge. “Please come here, Marilyn,” he said in a low, husky voice.

She moved to him and he kissed her again before pulling her onto his lap. “Thank you for trusting me.”

She wanted to tell him that the reason she trusted him was because she loved him. But she couldn’t. She’d overheard too many of her brothers’ conversations over the years. She’d learned that men didn’t like women confessing their love, that a smart woman waited for a man to say it first.

So she would wait.

Instead of saying anything in response, she reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. This time, she initiated the kiss, trying to put all the moves he’d shown her into it. It didn’t take long for her to see her attempts were working. She heard the growl emitting from deep in his throat, and his hand was moving over her, touching her in places he’d never touched before. When she felt his hand ease beneath her dress to touch her bare thigh, she broke the kiss and held her breath.

“Breathe,” he instructed, speaking softly against her wet lips.

She drew in air through her lungs and inhaled his scent in the process. That’s when he began undressing her. He stood and pulled her to her feet as he began removing every stitch of her clothing. She wanted to feel shy with having a man see her body for the first time, but with Jonathan, she couldn’t. Instead she felt emboldened. She knew that what they were about to do was right. Her love for him was giving her the encouragement she needed.

“You are beautiful, Marilyn.”

He spoke the words as she stood before him naked, feeling warmth flow through her body. Then he swept her into his arms and placed her back on the bed while he finished undressing. She watched as he unzipped his jeans and slid them down a pair of masculine thighs. When he stepped out of them, he was dressed only in his briefs. And he was definitely aroused. She felt a spike of heat in her stomach at the thought that she’d brought him to this point. And he had no problem with her seeing him naked, proving the point when he eased the briefs down his legs.

Wow! She blinked, suddenly feeling a sense of panic. How on earth was she supposed to…?

“Breathe, Marilyn.” She swallowed upon hearing those words from him again, and she took deep calming breaths.

“I was made to mate with you, so it will be okay,” he said, as she watched him slide a rubber over his erection. “I won’t lie and say there won’t be any pain, but I’m going to make it worth it.”

She believed him. No matter what happened after tonight, she would have memories of this. She pushed back the thought that maybe she should wait to do this…with the man who would one day be her husband. However, when he began walking toward the bed, his dark eyes filled with intense desire, she wanted to believe that Jonathan might one day be that man. She could hope. She could dream.

He slid into the bed with her and reached for her. She went eagerly into his arms.

“Tonight, Marilyn Bannister, I will cherish you.”

She had no idea how he planned to do that. But she was ready to find out.

* * * *

Jonathan needed to taste Marilyn again. Everything within him needed this kiss. She’d seen his body’s need for her. Now with this kiss, he wanted her to taste it as well. He wanted the heat running through him to overtake her, as well. This would be something they would share together.

He joined his mouth with hers and immediately felt a blazing sensation overtake him in knowing what they were about to share. He intensified the kiss, tasting her and letting her taste him with an urgency he’d never done before. She was his and he was hers and he was communicating possession in this kiss. He was also expressing something else as well. It was a need that went deeper than any he’d ever experienced before. A need that would finally be satisfied.

Moments later, he pulled back from the kiss. Taking the tip of his finger, he slowly caressed the line of her jaw and traced a path around her lips. More than anything, he wanted to tell her how much he loved her, but he knew it wasn’t the time. He wanted to court her some more. Romance her. Introduce her to passion in its richest form and prove that he was the man for her. The man who would one day give her all those babies she wanted. Build a life with her. Make her happy. The man who would be her partner in life.

“Marilyn,” he whispered, his breath warm against her lips. “I want you.”

A smile touched her lips. “You have me, Jonathan.”

A huge grin widened his mouth and he scooted back as his gaze roamed over her entire naked body, from head to toe. “What are you doing?” she asked.

He glanced up and met her gaze. “Trying to decide where I want to start.”

“There are different ways?”

“Oh, yes. I think you have pretty breasts. And I want to taste them. I also want to taste you here,” he said reaching out and letting the tips of his fingers slowly trace along the folds of her womanhood. She closed her legs, capturing his hand between her thighs. He knew it was an instinctive reaction, since she’d never been touched there by a man before. He wondered how she would handle being kissed there.

“Umm, since you’ve locked my hands between your thighs, you know what that means, right?”

“No,” she said, opening her legs slightly to free his hand.

“It will be the first place I claim as mine,” he told her.

“Yours?”

“Yes, mine.” And to show her what he meant, he moved toward her, and used his hands to widen her legs and lift them on his shoulders. Then, he buried his head between them.

* * * *

“Jonathan!”

Marilyn screamed his name the moment she felt his tongue slide inside of her. She had heard girls in college whisper about guys doing this to them, but she’d never actually thought…

And then when Jonathan’s tongue went deeper, she couldn’t think at all. She was too filled with sensuous sensations that were building with every flick of his tongue. He was holding her hips down with his hands, keeping her still. Otherwise, she was certain her body would become a ball of sexual energy that moved of its own volition.

Hot blood rushed through her veins, making her moan out his name. She felt herself shuddering as her body started to throb. Then suddenly, something began to happen. Her body seemed to explode into a billion splinters of sensation, making her whimper while writhing beneath his mouth. She couldn’t control her actions and her body began shuddering uncontrollably. But he wouldn’t stop. His tongue kept going and going.

Before the last sensation left her body, Jonathan pulled up and straddled her body. “What you’re giving me is a precious gift, Marilyn, and I feel honored that you feel I’m deserving of it.” He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. She inhaled sharply, actually tasting herself on his lips.

He smiled at her reaction. “You’re pretty juicy down there now, baby. Delicious.” Then his smile was replaced with a serious expression. “Your first time is still going to hurt a little.”

He showed her just what he meant when she felt him ease inside of her. Although her body expanded for his size, she felt a sharp, sudden pain. She dug her fingers into his shoulders.

“Look at me, Marilyn.”

She looked into his gaze as he continued to slide into her, going deep. “Breathe in slowly, baby. I’m almost there.”

She took long deep breaths and he moved deeper. Moments later, he stopped and she knew he was embedded inside of her. Then he began thrusting, slowly sliding in and out, back and forth. And she felt him, every inch of him, while he moved. He felt big and her body felt tight, but what she felt more than anything was the heat of him, penetrating her, creating new sensations within her.

Then it happened again, an explosion of gigantic proportions. He hollered her name at the same time she screamed his.

At that moment, the only thing going through her mind was that the man she loved had given her intense pleasure, not once tonight, but twice. And she had a feeling this was only the beginning.

* * * *

Marilyn slowly opened her eyes when Jonathan left the bed. She figured he had gotten up to dispense with the rubber. But when she heard the sound of water running in her bathtub, she figured he wanted to take a bath before leaving.

She closed her eyes and moaned as she relived what she and Jonathan had just done and how enjoyable it had been. There had been some pain in the beginning and she was even feeling somewhat sore in places now. But the terms of endearment he’d used, baby and sweetheart, had stroked her senses and made her feel like she truly belonged to him.

“Ready?”

She reopened her eyes to find a naked Jonathan standing beside the bed. “Ready?”

“Yes, for your bath, baby.”

“My bath?” She didn’t want to sound like an echo but she was having a hard time comprehending him. “I heard the water running but I figured it was for you.”

He shook his head. “No, not for me. I’m perfectly okay going home with your scent all over me.”

Marilyn didn’t know what to say to that. One thing she discovered about Jonathan tonight was that during intimate moments, he felt comfortable talking openly about how he felt and what he was experiencing. “I might want to keep your scent on me for a while, too. So why would I need a bath?”

He chuckled. “Your body needs to soak in warm water. You used muscles tonight you’ve never used before. A bath will help eliminate some of the soreness you’ll feel tomorrow.”

She broke eye contact with him and studied the designs on her bedspread. He might feel comfortable talking so openly about what they’d done but she wasn’t sure she was. “I will take care of things after you leave.”

“As your man, I want to take care of you before I go.”

As her man? She looked back at him. Was he her man? That question must have been evident in her gaze because he added, “I’m yours, as you are mine.”

Before she could ask him to further elaborate, he leaned over, pushed back the bedcovers and gathered her into his arms.

“Jonathan! Put me down.”

“I will when we reach the bathroom.”

Her nostrils picked up the scent of her fragranced bubble bath. The one thing she liked about her bathroom was that it was roomy, which was a good thing, since it seemed Jonathan planned to hang around. He proved her right when he eased her body down into the warm bubbly water. Then he knelt beside the tub. “You okay?”

She wasn’t sure if she was okay or not. She’d never had a man give her this much attention; especially like this. “I’m okay. You can leave now. I can handle things from here.”

“You don’t have to handle things on your own. I take care of what’s mine, Marilyn. Always remember that.”

Before she could rationalize what he was saying, he took her washcloth and began to gently lather her up. She closed her eyes and moaned, loving the feel of him massaging the soreness from her aching muscles.

“How does it feel?”

She opened her eyes and met his gaze. She could tell him that any time he touched her, she felt wonderful. But instead, she said, “It’s lovely. Thanks for caring enough to do this.”

“Serving you will always be my pleasure, sweetheart.” And then he leaned in and kissed her deeply. Thoroughly.

Moments later, he helped her out the tub and wrapped her in a big towel. Then, gathering her up in his arms, he took her back to her bedroom and placed her by the bed. “Where are your pajamas?”

It was bad enough he’d given her a bath. Did he think she would let him dress her for bed, too? Undoubtedly, he did, she thought, as he reached to open the drawer where she kept her panties and bras. Ignoring the soreness between her legs, Marilyn hurriedly grabbed her nightgown off the back of the chair. “Here!”

By the time he’d turned toward her, she had quickly pulled the baby-doll nightgown over her head. “Done.”

He smiled over at her. “No, sweetheart. When it comes to us, this won’t ever be done.”

She wondered what he meant, as she watched him dress.

A part of her was glad he hadn’t asked to stay the night. Robin would be by in the morning to take her to school and it would be awkward if he was just leaving when she arrived. “I’ll stop by later to check on you.”

He would? She was used to him asking permission before he came over, but his words sounded pretty commanding, as if he was telling her what he would do. “Jonathan?”

He glanced over at her while buttoning his shirt. “Yes?”

She opened her mouth but closed it when he eased into his jeans. It was hard to think while watching him get dressed, so instead she said, “Nothing.”

He lifted a brow. “You sure?”

“I’m sure.”

He nodded as he slid into his jacket. “I’ll call you before I come, to see if you need me to bring you anything.”

“Anything like what?”

He shrugged. “Anything.” Then he crossed the room and swept her into his arms. “Time to let me tuck you in,” he said, placing her on the bed. “There’s no need to see me to the door. I know my way out.”

Knowing he wouldn’t leave until she did as he asked, she scooted beneath the covers. He leaned over and brushed a kiss across her lips. “I’ll see you later. Promise me that you’ll call in sick if you’re more than a little sore today.”

She shook her head, thinking that she’d been out two days last week. She couldn’t take any more time off. Besides, she could handle a little soreness. “I’ll be fine.”

He gazed at her for a moment and then nodded. “I’ll see you later, baby.”

And then he brushed another kiss across her lips before straightening his tall form to walk out of the bedroom. “Remember what I said, Marilyn. If you hurt, don’t go into school today.”

And then she heard the door opening and closing behind him. She snuggled against her pillow, inhaling the scent he’d left behind on the sheets, and drifted off to sleep.