He loved his name on her lips. He kissed her shoulder, her neck, overcome with hope for their future. “So very beautiful, and all mine.”
“And you’ll be mine too.” She captured his face and pulled him in for a kiss. Her behavior was a little startling since she usually waited for him to act. He couldn’t say he didn’t like her wanting him, but there was an order to his amours.
He leaned over her a little farther and sank into their kiss. Her fingers wormed between them, and she unbuttoned the fall of his breeches. She eased them down over his hips until they bunched at his thighs, and he was too shocked to utter a word of protest. Too excited to slow things down. William rid himself of the garment and returned to Matilda, expecting to talk honestly about her change of heart.
Except she caught him in her hand and stroked his length until he was unbearably aroused and very nearly incapable of coherent thought.
The very thing he’d been secretly longing for since they’d met, acceptance of his nature and affection from his wife, had become his most gratifying experience. His Matilda was the strongest, most forgiving, bravest person he’d ever met. By God he loved her.
He drew back a little, staring at her lips. “I don’t deserve you,” he whispered, “but I will treasure every moment we have together.”
“Make me your wife,” she asked, eyes huge and trusting. “Make me feel you want me for myself and not just as a means to keep others from having you.”
“I do want you, Mattie. I always have.” He eased into position between her thighs, fighting his instincts to claim her immediately. But she was so untouched, so truly pure, that he feared no matter his hesitance that he would cause her pain. To keep her as his wife, and William wanted nothing else but that, he would have to be very careful not to disappoint her again. “This might hurt.”
“No more than I expect.”
She was warm against him, and he held her close as he made love to her mouth and body, trying to prepare her. She was restless beneath him, but he would not be rushed.
He slipped his hand between her legs, discovering warmth and moisture between her lower lips. He teased her, sliding over her clitoris and the entrance to her quim. He’d never had a virgin. He’d heard all manner of things could go wrong though. Nothing could ever go wrong between them again. Matilda had to enjoy this too. He wanted her to love everything they did together. He wanted her to love him.
He carefully inserted his fingertip into her tight sheath and pushed in.
Matilda gasped.
“I’ll go slow,” he promised, easing his finger back out immediately.
He moved back to her clitoris and swirled his fingers around. She was used to his touch there, and her body relaxed again. He returned to her opening, teased and toyed with her until she grew accustomed to his invasion. When he had two fingers gliding in and out of her body, when Matilda’s breath was coming in short little pants, she tightened her arms about his neck and rubbed her nipples against his chest with a happy little moan.
He eased down the bed and lightly suckled her breast, flicking his tongue over the hard point as Matilda twisted and moaned on his fingers. “Oh, William. That feels so strange.”
He raised his head enough to ask, “Good strange?”
“Yes.”
He shifted downward, lapping her belly and bestowing firm kisses over the flat surface. He moved lower to the nest of curls that protected her core and buried his face there, flicking out his tongue to tease her clitoris too. He loved her taste.
Matilda held his head, tugging at his hair in her distress and arousal. “Don’t make me wait.”
He withdrew his fingers, rose up to stare down at her. “I choose the manner we come together, or have you forgotten?”
“No, but… I’m afraid you might stop before I’m truly a wife.”
He turned her hips a little and slapped her bottom. “Impatience will only lead to pain.”
“I like your pain. I want it. I need it, William. Please.”
William flipped her over to her back and joined with her before she could issue any more demands or doubt him again. They belonged together.
Her shocked cry and tight confines brought out every fear and secret longing as he pressed deep. She hadn’t been ready. He should have taken more time.
He should have gagged her so she couldn’t goad him on.
He held still as the idea made him quake. He had only ever gone so far with women, but there were more opportunities for dominance with a wife than his imagination could conjure up. Binding Mati
lda would be so wonderful. Exciting for both of them too.
He kissed her lips before he thought too much about that, thrusting his tongue into her mouth the way he wished to take her sweet body. Her fingers moved on his chest delicately, and he drew back. Tears slid from the corner of each eye and disappeared into her hairline. She offered a tremulous smile.