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She lifted her head to look up at him. “Is it always like that?”

He laughed, shaking his head. “It is different for different people. I know how it was forme, and it seemed to me that you enjoyed yourself. But I cannot know what you felt unless you tell me.”

“I do not have the words to tell you. But perhaps you can tell me how it was for you.”

“Mmm. Well for one, it was very intense. All consuming. The strength of my desire surprised me. It has been years since I let myself go to such an extent. It was a little frightening.”

She nodded vigorously in agreement. “Yes frightening and intense. My body is still shaking.”

“Ah, the aftershocks.”

“So, that is a normal thing?”

“Yes, for women it is quite normal to have more than one climax and experience aftershocks. Our biology is different in that way.”

“I feel as if I will never be the same again. Am I still a virgin?”

He chuckled into her hair. “Yes, my dear. You are still one. I thought it was best to go slow tonight. Besides, I am happy to have given you pleasure.”

“I cannot wait to tell Selina. She will be so envious.”

“Envious? Why?”

“Well…no, I cannot tell you. It is a secret.”

“A secret?”

“Yes. Hush. Stop asking me. Tell me something else.”

“Is it what you told me, about her being a virgin?”

Georgiana swayed slightly—she hated that she had told him her friend’s secret.

How could I have betrayed her like that?

She waved her hands about in denial. “We are not to speak of that. Change the subject.”

“Of course, what would you like to speak about?”

“Is it different when you… take away my virginity, or is it the same as what I experienced?”

“Hmm, they say that a woman experiences pain. I have no personal experience of this, and it is generally not spoken of, except by mothers to daughters. I expect the experience will differ for you, but hopefully, you will still feel pleasure.”

A clap of thunder had her clinging tighter to him and he murmured soothing nonsense into her hair.

“You are very protective,” she murmured.

“Am I?”

“I am certain that you know you are. I like it. I have never been protected before.”

He held her tighter. “Well, you can let yourself get used to being protected from now on.”

She buried her face in his chest to hide the slow trickle of tears that ran down her face. “Thank you.”

He smoothed down her hair. “Go to sleep.”

She expelled a breath. “I will try. My head is still spinning, and the thunder is not helping, but I will do my best.”