“Aye, sir.” The driver gave him a pleasant smile and then Luke joined his bride in the carriage intent upon telling her his plan.
The evening light was fading to dusk, decorating the interior of the hackney in a pink light. Her skin glowed and her smile was free and easy. He couldn’t help himself. As he stepped in, he leaned over to kiss her.
Her lips were soft and so inviting beneath his. One kiss blended into another then a third until the hack jolted to a stop in front of the inn.
Sweeping her out of the carriage, they hurried to their room. His hand near trembled as he made to light a single candle. His moon goddess moved to the window. “Our wedding night,” she murmured, her skin radiant in the semi-darkness of the room.
“Yes it is, my little moon goddess.” A growl rumbled deep from in his chest. He felt predatory looking at her like that. The closeness without being inside her had been a delicious torture, but now it was about to come to an end.
He dropped his shirt from his shoulders before he even reached her and as his lips crashed down on hers, his hands expertly plucked the clothing from her body.
Once she was naked, he trailed his lips over her body. She tasted as sweet as she looked. It was strange, he’d never found a woman so pleasing to all of his senses. “I could taste you forever,” he whispered against her belly.
Wrapping his fingers around her thigh, he pressed lightly between her legs. He heard her gasp then moan and he smiled as her legs started to give, unable to support her. Nudging her back till she rested against the wall, he let his mouth drift lower till he was spreading her legs, nudging her thigh onto his shoulder.
She loved the feel of his tongue, he knew she did, and he’d never grow tired of giving her what she loved. As her moans grew needier, he increased the pressure, sliding a finger inside of her.
She crashed around him and then wilted against the wall. “I thought tonight you made me your wife in full,” she gasped as he picked her up and carried her to the bed.
“I intend to, my love.” He kissed her even as he held her with one arm and removed his breeches with the other.
“Can women only enjoy a man’s mouth?” she asked. He could feel the heat radiating from her cheeks. She was embarrassed by the question but he loved her innocence nearly as much as her enthusiasm for their bed sport.
“No, my love, they enjoy the act as well. Most of them, at least.” He lay her down, taking in the sight of her naked, perfect round breasts accentuated by her tiny waist and flat belly and the flare of her hips. A patch of red hair pointed him exactly where he needed to be.
“Then why did we just do that?” Even in the dark he could see her blush as he climbed on top of her.
“It will soften you for the first time,” he whispered. “I would not hurt you for anything.”
“I trust you.” She held her arms up to him and his chest swelled with love and pride to have earned this woman’s trust.
Spreading her legs, he positioned himself at the opening. “Slow or quick?” he asked wanting to know how she’d prefer this be done.
“Do it quickly,” she gasped and he could see her tense.
Leaning down, he placed his mouth over hers, kissing till she responded, softening in his arms and then he pushed himself inside of her.
Crying out, her arms grasped his biceps and he stilled, allowing her time to adjust. “Are you all right?” he pushed out through gritted teeth.
She looked up at him and her face relaxed. “I’m wonderful. How are you?”
He had to stop himself from shaking his head. Only Tabbie would be worried about him. “Perfect.”
Slowly, he beg
an moving inside her. Her arms laced around his neck, fingers twined in his hair. As he moved, she whispered words of encouragement, affection, and then desire. Never had a woman wrapped him in a web such as this.
He was spinning toward the end, crashing into love. His love was deepening and strengthening as they spiraled toward bliss. His lips found hers and kissed her between words, wanting to touch every place on her body that he could.
Never had it been like this. This was not a physical act, but an emotional one. If he thought himself bound to Tabbie before, making love to her sealed his fate. He could never be without her. He was hers, forever.
That thought pushed him over the edge, he lost what little control he maintained just as she cried out his name, her body spasming around his.
Rolling to the side, he pulled her against himself. He kissed her hair, her cheeks, her neck. His hands traced every curve, as though he was imprinting this memory forever.
“I might never want to leave this bed,” she murmured, tucking her face into the crook of his neck.
He gave a little laugh, tracing his fingers down her spine. “I am in complete agreement. But we’ll be boarding a ship in the morning.”