Chapter Seventeen
Hawk cupped Lizzie’s breast and circled his thumb over the nipple. She sighed softly and pushed further into his hand. He loved how responsive she was, and the incredible beauty hidden under her clothes. Although she hadn’t believed him, it was true she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever bedded.
Even before he had become steeped in dissipation after Monica’s death, he had never formed a relationship with a woman before taking her to bed. That was the reason, he told himself, why Lizzie appealed to him so much, and why he found her more beautiful and desirable than any other woman.
He had come to know her. Her intelligence, personality, her quirks, her likes and dislikes. She had cried in his arms twice and shared her fears and sorrows. Due to the situation she was in now, she depended wholly on him for protection, and that was a heady—albeit frightening—feeling. She was not merely a lovely body to enjoy for pleasure, and then let go, but a woman who had captivated him long before this encounter in bed. She was what he’d been missing.
The question remained—was he good enough for her? Could he take care of her and not disappoint?
Pushing those doubts aside, he wanted to make this the absolute best experience for Lizzie, which would be a challenge with her being a virgin. He’d never bedded an innocent before and had never expected to do so until his wedding night.
Now that was a thought to push aside.
He allowed his hand to wander over her curves. Soft skin, silky, scented with something both sweet and spicy.
“I love how you feel under my hand. I could spend days just looking at you and running my hand over your curves, kissing every sweet spot on your body.” His hand moved lower, and he rested his palm on her hip, drawing her against him. “Time for more kisses.”
Her welcoming smile hardened him further. Her small hand rested on his chest, where she swirled her fingertip in the hairs there, tugging on them gently. He nibbled on her lips, sucked, soothed, and kissed her again. As much as he wanted to proceed further, he enjoyed kissing her too much.
Another surprise.
He’d always made sure his partners were well satisfied, but kissing had never been a priority. With Lizzie he could spend hours on her mouth alone. But it was time to move along since she was shifting her body, pressing her sex against his leg, telling him in her innocence that she needed more.
Lowering his body, he spread her legs and settled between them, taking her breast into his mouth, sucking hard on the dusky pink pearly nub. He scraped his teeth over her nipple. Lizzie drew in a deep breath. “You like that, do you?”
“Yes. Oh, yes.”
He grinned and moved down further, despite her plea not to stop. He had other, more interesting ways to pleasure her. He kissed the skin below her breasts, swirled his tongue in her belly button, and continued down. She rocked against his body, pressing her core against him. When he finally reached his destination, his eyes scanned her body to see her eyes snap open as she shifted to prop herself up on her elbows. “What are you doing?”
“Relax, sweetheart, I’m going to take you on a ride. Hold on, lie back, and relax.” He spread her legs wider, then his mouth sought her center, his tongue licking, his lips sucking.
Lizzie’s hands fisted the sheets as her head thrashed back and forth. “Oh, my. I’m not sure if this is proper, but it does feel quite good.”
He could not help his grin at her response. So fresh and honest. Another first for him, since his partners of late had been jaded widows and well-worn opera dancers, pretending enthusiasm.
“Goodness, something strange is happening, Hawk.” Lizzie’s legs stiffened, and she thrashed even harder, pressing against his mouth.
“Come for me, darling. Let go, I will catch you.” He shifted and draped her legs over his shoulders so he could see her face, enjoy her as she found her release. “That’s it, my love. Enjoy the journey. There’s more to come.”
A low keening sound came from her throat as she closed her eyes tightly and pressed up against his mouth. “Hawk!”
He continued until her body stopped shuddering and all her muscles relaxed.
He eased her legs down. “Now it is my turn.” He crawled up her body and brushed the damp curls off her forehead.
The smile she cast him did something strange and wonderful to his heart. Ordinarily, that would frighten him, drive him from the room. But since he’d never seen a more amazed and contented expression on a lover’s face, he merely pushed that thought to the back of his mind. Instead he kissed her. Knowing she was tasting herself on his lips stirred him even further.
“You were a joy to watch, Lizzie.”
She played with the hair at the back of his neck. “What about you?”
“Oh, don’t worry, sweeting, we are not finished.” He scattered kisses over her damp face, loving how she’d allowed him to introduce her to lovemaking. An honor.
His hand cupped her face as he studied her. “Since you had no mother, has anyone told you what to expect?”
“My chaperone attempted to dissuade me from walking in dark gardens with a gentleman by warning me coupling was painful.” She frowned, her sweet face tense.
“Yes and no.”
She tilted her head and studied him.
“The first time will be painful, but only for a very short time. Merely seconds as I break through your maidenhead. I promise you pleasure afterwards. Again, you might be a bit sore later, but nothing that a warm bath won’t cure.”
Lizzie turned her head to the side, her face flushed.
“What is it, sweetheart?”
She chewed her lip, looking adorable. “It’s a bit embarrassing to have a man explain that to me.”
Instead of chuckling, which he was wont to do, he turned her head to look at him. “No matter. It is not your fault you haven’t been instructed. Let me show you how much more there is to enjoy.”
Before she could think too hard on the slight pain she would feel, he kissed her and, rising on his elbows, placed his cock at her entrance. Slowly, he eased forward, the way made easy by his earlier efforts.
…
Lizzie tensed as Hawk nudged her center with his member. When he had first undressed, she’d doubted it would fit inside her. But then she became mesmerized with it and had to touch it. It was certainly an odd thing. Springing upright from a nest of dark curly hair, it had soft skin, hard underneath with a spongy sort of top. A slight drop of liquid like a small pearl had been at its center. Odd. Although, since Hawk had lived with it his entire life, he probably didn’t think too much about it.
The time had come to see if it really did fit. Admittedly she was a bit concerned about the pain part of the process. Hopefully, her chaperone had been exaggerating to impress upon her the necessity of purity, and Hawk was right that the pain would be minimal. Considering some of the other things Miss Wallace had told her, she would wager Hawk’s explanation was closer to the truth. Or perhaps she just wished it was so.
She had no more time to think on it as with one quick movement, Hawk surged forward and entered her completely. She jumped at a small pinch and sucked in a breath. Tears stung her eyes.
Hawk stopped and studied her face. “Are you all right, darling? I really hate to hurt you, but nothing could be done for it.” The concern in his eyes warmed her heart.
“A slight nip was all.” She took a deep breath, glad that part of it was over. “Are you finished?”
Her body shook when Hawk laughed. “No, my dear, I am not finished. We have a way to go yet.” He bent his head and covered her mouth with his lips, which soon had her forgetting about the bit of pain.
Bracing himself on his elbows, his hips began to move back and forth, his thickness sliding in and out of her opening. The feelings were strange at first, having another person’s part inside her own body, but soon turned into something quite pleasurable. He moved his tongue in and out of her mouth in the same rhythm as his hips.
She closed her eyes as all her attention gathered at her center. Wonderful feelings were taking over. Her breathing increased as Hawk pulled away from her mouth to scatter kisses along her jawline and under her ear. He murmured words of her beauty, his desire for her, his joy in their coupling. His hand found her breast and squeezed the nipple, increasing her pleasure.
Every bit of her focus was on what he was doing, his movements and thrusts, and how good it had begun to feel again. She fisted her fingers in his hair and brought his head down to her lips. “Don’t stop. Please. Don’t ever stop.”
He covered her mouth with his, nipping, kissing, sucking until she was wound so tight she could barely take in a breath. She grew closer to that wonderful feeling again.
Hawk groaned. “My love, I am so sorry, but I cannot hold out any longer. I have wanted you under me, writhing and panting, for too long.”
She wasn’t exactly sure what he meant, but her body immediately lost control at his words and wave after wave of pleasure washed over her, like the last time, but stronger. Before she could fully appreciate it, she lost his warmth when Hawk thrust one more time, then withdrew, spilling himself on her belly.
He rested his head on her shoulder, his deep breaths matching hers. Lazily, she ran her fingers through his dampened hair. This lassitude felt wonderful. Nothing was important right now. Not the Home Office, not the person out to harm her, not the threat of prison. She was warm, safe, and in the arms of a man she could love.
A dangerous thought, that. She needed to remember he was also the man ordered to bring her to London to be questioned—and possibly placed in prison.
Within a few minutes, he stirred and rested on his elbows. “I will get a cloth to clean you.”
Despite their intimacy mere minutes before, she was uncomfortable at him wanting to clean her. She shifted to hop up. “That is all right. I can do it.”
At her nudging, he moved the arm he had wrapped around her and she slid off the bed. Then she wondered if it was not more embarrassing to be parading around naked to the wash basin and cloths on the dresser. She certainly had no idea what the proper conduct was for such a situation. Miss Wallace had not shared that bit of information.
Luckily, the room had a dressing screen, so she slipped behind it and cleaned herself up, noting the smear of blood on her thighs. Then, dreading the return to the bed naked, she called out, “Um, could you close your eyes?”
“Why?” She swore she heard a chuckle in his voice, the dratted man.
“Because.”
“That is a splendid reason, sweeting. I shall close my eyes.”
Lizzie scurried out from the screen and made a dash for the bed. On the way, she scooped up her nightgown and slithered into it. The bed bounced as she landed next to Hawk.
Who had his eyes open, with a wide grin on his face!