“SHOULD I CARRY YOU over the threshold?” he asked.

She found this early twentieth century tradition refreshing. “If you like.”

Then she felt her body being lifted from her chair as he whisked her through their home. It was like flying through the rooms on a swift tour of the luxury surrounding them.

“This is my bedroom,” he said, setting her down next to an enormous bed adorned with opulent dark velvet linens.

We won’t share a bedroom?” she asked.

“That will be your choice. I find either arrangement acceptable.”

Having yet to share his bed, she refrained from saying so, but she didn’t care for the idea of sleeping alone, unless she discovered a good reason to do so. The idea of separate bedrooms did not bode well for an intimate marriage.

“That is thoughtful of you,” she said in an attempt to frame his comments as considerate rather than cold.

“May I take off your dress?”

A shiver of anticipation ran up her spine. “You may.”

The warmth of his fingertips pressed ever so lightly against her back. She heard the zipper and felt her dress unfurl and slide to the floor. A light breeze blew through the room, and goose bumps rippled across her skin.

Behind her, he whispered, “You are so very beautiful, my love.”

It felt odd to hear a stranger called her his love, but she would adjust to this new role in time, and so far it was not unpleasant.

“Thank you.” She could not return the compliment of course, because she had no idea what he looked like.

“Climb on the bed and open your legs for me.” His words gave her a twinge of excitement and she scrambled onto the bed. She couldn’t help but feel modest as her own nudity was on display, and his was not. With a gulp she rolled onto her back and took a deep breath in an attempt to slow her rapidly beating heart. Hoping this didn’t mean he planned to dispense with foreplay, she slid her legs shoulder-width apart.

This movement was met with a groan from him, and she felt a gush of moisture pooling between her legs. As crazy as it was, something excited her about the mystery of her invisible partner. Her breathing grew shallow and her nipples pointed at the ceiling, hard little buds begging for attention.

“Wider,” he said gruffly.

She opened them farther apart.

“Now raise your arms above your head.”

She did as he asked.

“May I turn off the lights now so that I might be myself with my bride?”

A flicker of excitement jolted through her belly. “Yes of course, husband.”

She wanted this man no matter what he looked like. She wanted to feel the weight of him on top of her, wanted him inside her, devouring her. If he needed darkness to be who he truly was, she welcomed it.

With a clap, the room became black as pitch, without the slightest glimmer of light. It was as though she wore a blindfold, and each of her other senses intensified tenfold.

Then he lay upon her, his entire body covered hers. The heft of him filled her with pleasure. She longed to throw her arms around him and hold him close to her, but she dared not move without his permission.

“May I touch you?” she asked.

“Not this first time. Not with your hands. Feel my skin on yours. I want you only to imagine what my flesh will feel like under your fingertips.”

A slight groan fell from her lips.

He laughed softly. “Am I frustrating you, wife?”

“Yes, husband. If this is what marriage is going to be like with you, I’m not sure how I will enjoy it.”

“Then I’m not doing a proper job of loving you. I don’t want you to doubt me, ever. Making you a happy bride is of the utmost importance to me.”

His head dipped between her legs. He kissed the insides of her thighs, and she trembled with desire.

His mouth sought her core where he licked her lower lips up and down. Then what felt like his fingers toyed with her as well, moving in and out of her dripping channel. Stroking. Sucking. Pressing all the right buttons until she shattered under that most intimate kiss, sending her over the edge into the abyss of ecstasy.

He paused to let her catch her breath. “You’re not a virgin, are you?”

As she lay there panting, she considered lying, but decided not to. “No, husband, I am not. I’m sorry if that disappoints you.”

“No need to be sorry. I appreciate your honesty. But if I’m not to be your first, I want to be your most memorable, as well as your last.”

No one had ever wanted that from her before. In the past men had always wanted her beauty. They’d treated her like a prize to be captured, consumed, then discarded. Could he really want her for herself? And what about the long term—when her beauty faded? Would he still love her then?

Before she had too much time to ponder these sorts of things, he covered her with his body again. This time his mouth found hers.

Since she couldn’t touch him with her hands, she let all her passion for him come through her mouth. Taking his tongue deep in her mouth, she joined his in an intimate dance. Hungrily, she opened for him, pressing her lips hard against his. At the same time she raised her hips, letting him know how desperately she wanted him to claim her.

She could feel the length of his erection pressing against her pelvis, and she strained against him with a fervent need.

“You’re amazing,” he whispered in her ear as he filled her with his cock.

As he moved in and out of her, she clenched her muscles tightly around him, rocking her body in time with the rhythm he set. Her every nerve felt as if it were on alert, and every thrust brought her a wave of pleasure so exquisite she couldn’t help but cry out.

He made love to her with all the strength and power of a god. And he worked her body, driving her to orgasm after orgasm with an endurance that couldn’t possibly be human. Until finally she was completely spent. Her limbs felt like they belonged to a rag doll, and she struggled to keep her eyes open.

The last thing she remembered was her husband folding her into his arms and holding her tight.

“I think you’re the one who’s amazing,” she said with a yawn.

He gave her a squeeze then kissed her hair. “My beautiful Psyche.”

Just before she fell asleep, she realized there was no other explanation for all she’d witnessed on her wedding night. She had to conclude that her husband was no mere mortal.