He frowned. “Painful?”
Tears rimmed her beautiful eyes as she nodded. “Yes. There was always so much pain. Louis said it was because I was frigid, that there was something wrong with me.” She started to draw away from him.
Blood pounded in his ears. Of course. Why hadn’t he realized? The monster Louis had been would have enjoyed causing his wife pain instead of pleasure in the bedroom. Emily was a warm, loving woman. As far as he was concerned, there were no frigid women, just clumsy, selfish men.
How he wanted to show her what intimacy was like between two people who cared for each other, who wanted to please each other. Would he ever stop wishing Louis were still alive so he could beat him to death?
Hunter smoothed her curls back from her forehead and pulled her close again. “Honey, I promise you will feel no pain. None. I swear.”
When she continued to cast wary glances at him, he asked, “Will you allow me to prove to you a man can make sex extremely pleasurable for a woman?”
Her answer was quick and firm. “I don’t think that’s possible.”
“Trust me that I will never hurt you. Nor will I ever allow anyone else to hurt you.” His lips moved against her forehead as he spoke. “Relax. Let me show you what true lovemaking is. If I do anything that causes you the least little bit of discomfort, tell me and I’ll stop. I promise.”
Emily closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I do want to. Very much. But I’m afraid you will have quite a job. I have horrid memories to erase.”
He was forced to tamp down the anger that threatened to rise again. He needed to be loving and gentle. Making love to Emily would be harder than a first time virgin. Not that he’d had any familiarity with virgins. Always in the back of his mind he’d known when the time came to make love for the first time to the woman he loved, he would take into consideration her inexperience. Never had he expected to have to overcome genuine fear left behind by another man.
He started slowly, kissing her moist lips, easing his hand beneath her nightgown to give her time to get used to his touch on her bare skin. Her initial reluctance faded as her body relaxed under his hand. As he felt her trust increase he kneaded her breasts, plucking the nipples, bringing a sigh from her lips.
“Let’s get this off.” He used both hands to whip the nightgown up and over her head before she could protest. He ran his palm down her body, marveling at the silky skin, slight curves, and milky thighs with a nest of blond curls at their center. “You are so beautiful.” He whispered the words as if paying homage.
A slight flush to her cheeks and her reticence told him she was not comfortable with his eager scrutiny of her body. Wrapping his arm around her waist he brought her tight against him and distracted her with a deep kiss. His hand wandered down her back, massaging her bottom, stroking its plumpness. He thrilled at her response as she kissed him back, the innocence of her building desire causing his member to stiffen and grow.
So many things he wanted to do to her, to show her how exciting and enjoyable lovemaking could be. For now, just getting her to trust him enough to complete the act would be a step forward.
“I don’t like being the only one dressed. Don’t go anywhere, sweetheart.” He rolled over and stood, making quick removal of his clothing, dropping the garments onto the floor. She smiled shyly at him as he climbed back onto the bed, his body obviously ready to join hers.
“Now where were we?”
As his mouth hungrily covered hers, her small hands moved up his chest, tugging at the hairs, smiling against his lips as he groaned. It had been a long time since he’d had sex, and with this woman in his arms, he wasn’t going to last. He’d better give her the pleasure he promised before he lost complete control and slammed into her body like a randy youth with his first whore. Wouldn’t that go a long way to soothe her fears?
Her center was slick and warm against his fingers, increasing his desire to join them together. She gasped as he circled her pearl with his thumb, his finger sliding in and out of her tight entrance. Her breathing picked up and she began to move her hips, her eyes closed, a slight smile revealing her pleasure. The sight almost had him climaxing right then.
“I feel so funny. So . . . I don’t know.” She whispered the words as she pressed against his hand, seeking her fulfillment.
“Let go, honey. Don’t tense, just relax and it will come.” He took her breast into his mouth and sucked hard. She moved her legs restlessly, pushing her center against his hand. Her soft whimpers as she took her pleasure from his touch filled him with satisfaction.
She held his head close to her breast, running her fingers through his hair. “That feels good. I like that,” she whispered. He used his tongue to lick at the tip, circling the pouting nipple, teasing it. Her breathing sped up and she continued to thrash. Within seconds her body stiffened and she cried out his name, pulling his head toward her mouth. He covered her lips with his and continued his attentions to her pleasure, pressing hard on her bud to keep the contractions going. Slowly her body relaxed and her thighs slackened.
Her eyes opened, dewy and half lidded. He groaned her name as he spread her legs wide and moved between them. Braced on his elbows, he cupped her face as he entered her, slowly, inch by inch. “Is this all right, honey? Am I hurting you?”
She shook her head. “No. It feels different, full. But no, it doesn’t hurt.”
Allowing her moisture to ease the way, he slid in to the hilt until their bodies touched.
He’d come home. No other woman had ever possessed his very soul like this. As he moved in and out, clutching her shoulders, whispering words in her ear, he knew this was forever. He needed her like air and food.
And he loved her.
He grinned at her yelp when he flipped their positions. With his hands on her ribcage, he urged her to sit up. “That’s it, baby. Ride me.”
It didn’t take long for her to pick up his rhythm. She looked like a goddess with her pale skin, firm rounded breasts swaying with her movements, and her hair falling over her shoulders. Her hands anchored on his chest, she leaned over to kiss him, her silky locks falling about them like a curtain. He tangled his fingers into the mass of curls just as he shoved upward one final time and climaxed.
Emily collapsed onto his chest, both of them fighting for air as if they’d run a race. After giving them time to calm down, he wrapped his arms around her, and with a quick roll, they both lay facing each other. He traced her lips with his finger. “That was wonderful.”
“Yes,” she gasped. “Wonderful.”