Page 28 of A Bride for the Wicked Duke (Claimed by Regency Devils #2)

A urelia was beaming. A smile so wide and so bright that her cheeks were beginning to hurt. But she could not force it down, nor did she want to. When one was as happy as she was, why try and fight it? Let the world see my joy, even if the consequences are likely to be a very sore face tomorrow and a few smart comments made by my husband because of it.

She still could not believe that she got to call him that. My husband … it was like a dream from which she could not wake. One she did not wish to wake from, because when the dream was this good, reality simply had no chance to compare. Married now for less than an hour and already her future was looking to be as bright as could ever have been hoped for.

“How long do you think it is until I can ask everyone to leave?” Gerald whispered from beside her.

She looked at him with surprise. “What?”

“It is our home,” he said. “And it is not as if they are expected to sleep here. What do we think? Another hour? Maybe two at most?”

“Why would you want them to leave? Are you not having fun?”

“Oh, do not get me wrong…” Gerald took her hand and gave it a wet kiss. In his eyes, she saw the love her bore for her, a look that had not faded in the two weeks since he had told her how he felt, and a look she suspected might never leave. “I am enjoying myself greatly. A most splendid day.”

“Yet you wish for it to end.”

“I did not say that.”

Aurelia found the comment surprising and not at all what was expected of Gerald on this day. Indeed, for the last two weeks, he had been nothing but the perfect groom, as involved and alert as one could hope for, helping to plan this wedding with a sense of enthusiasm that suggested it might be the best day of his life. Which it has been, I am sure. The first of many, if I have anything to say about it.

All had gone according to plan. The ceremony was gorgeous and romantic and damn perfect to Aurelia’s eyes. She was dressed in light green, a tight-fitting gown that exemplified her curves while still managing to make her look slim – the weight she lost previously had stayed off her hips, but she was not lithe or willowy, which she knew Gerald relished about her. Gerald too, looked elegant in his dark suit, a true gentleman as delicious as he was dapper. All of her family were there to watch her walk the aisle, and every single one of them were beyond thrilled for her special day.

Once the ceremony had ended, they had returned to her new home for the traditional breakfast. It was hosted in the ball room, there were two score of guests seated across the room’s breadth, most of whom were currently eating and drinking and laughing and enjoying themselves because this was a day to be celebrated.

So, again, Aurelia frowned at Gerald’s sudden turn toward waning enthusiasm, a brief moment of panic. Surely, he is not already growing tired of me?

“I…” She studied her husband closely, unable to see a hint that his feelings for her hand changed. “I expect they will remain for some time. It is still early.”

He clicked his tongue. “Yes, that is expected, but if I was to…” He shrugged. “Feign an upset tummy. Perhaps announce that we are both tired and would appreciate that everyone leaves. Surely, they could not begrudge us then?”

“Gerald…” She hesitated, not wanting to cause a scene. “What is the matter with you? Do not tell me you are already growing bored. I mean…” She laughed awkwardly. “We have been married an hour, and from what I have heard of marriages, they often stretch across several years.”

“Am I…” He frowned as if she was the one speaking nonsense, only for the realization to dawn on him. “Ah, I see.” He laughed and gave her hand a squeeze. “You misunderstand me.”

“I better be.”

“I do not want the day to end…” He kissed the back of her hand. “In fact, the opposite. In my mind, it has not even begun yet. Alas, so long as our guests are here, we will not be able to partake in what, to be perfectly honest, is one particular part of married life that I have been looking forward to now for two weeks.”

She stared at him blankly. “I am afraid you have lost me.”

“Aurelia…” Beneath the table where they sat, his hand found her thigh and he gave it a suggestive squeeze. Her eyes widened and continued to do so as that hand moved further up her thigh. “For two weeks now I have not been able to sleep. And if you think I am going to sit here for hours, knowing what awaits me when our guests leave, then…” His hand slipped between her thighs and her legs began to quiver. “You do not know me nearly as well as I thought you did.”

“Oh…” She felt her chest grow flushed. She felt her body grow warm. She felt her mind adle and all thoughts of this day melt away because now that Gerald had said it, she could think of nothing else. “I see.”

Just as Gerald had been thinking of nothing else these past two weeks, she had been much the same. Seeing as they were engaged, they agreed that it would not be right to cross that boundary until they became married. For that was proper and right and would make the event all the more special. It had sounded good at the time, but dammit if it hasn’t been a long two weeks.

“You see what I mean now, I hope?” he said.

“I…” She slipped her hand beneath the table, wrapping it around his hand and shifting it further between her thighs. “I see.”

“So…” He growled in her ear. “What say you? Should we make an excuse and –”

“There they are!” From nowhere, Aurelia’s mother appeared. “The happy couple.”

“Oh…’ Aurelia’s eyes turned wide and she snatched her hand away. She also expected Gerald to do the same, but he did no such thing. She widened her eyes at him but he simply grinned at her, his hand still very much wedged between her thighs. “M – mother. What… what are… is that cake?”

“This?” Her mother held a plate with a slice of cake on it. “Yes, well, I thought I would bring you a slice.” She placed the plate down before Aurelia. “Have you eaten anything today, dear?”

“I…” She suppressed a moan as Gerald’s finger stroked outside her lips. “I have… have not.”

“I did not think so,” her mother sighed. “Honestly, you are skin and bone, dear. You really must eat. And I know how much you love cake.”

The gesture was a kind one, and spoke to how much her mother had changed these last few weeks. She was going out of her way to repair the rift that had grown between the two, determined it seemed to remind Aurelia that she loved her and any nagging she had done in the past was borne from this love.

The cake was a peace offering, in that way, a most welcome one at that. If not badly timed…

“Th – thank you,” Aurelia managed, pleasure now rippling up her body. “That is most… most kind.”

“Aurelia… is something the matter?” Her mother frowned at her, just now noticing the way she was behaving.

“I am afraid that she has a small tummy ache,” Gerald answered at one, one hand still beneath the table as he looked upon Aurelia with concern. “It has just come upon her.”

“Oh no.”

“I am sure she will be fine…” His fingers slipped inside of her and Aurelia gasped. “But best that we keep an eye on it.”

“If there is anything I can do…”

“I will let you know,” Aurelia cried loudly, gasping and grabbing onto the table. Then she grimaced and touched her stomach as if sick. “But do not be surprised if I retire to bed early.”

“And on your wedding day,” her mother said. “But if you are feeling unwell, there is no sense fighting it.”

Gerald stroked Aurelia’s face lovingly with his spare hand, offering her a coy wink as his fingers continued to work their magic. She tried to glare at him, warning him off what he was doing. But dammit I don’t want him to stop…

They played the next hour tactfully. Gerald removed his fingers, not wanting to cause a scene, but was sure to then begin around the ballroom and inform everyone of Aurelia’s sudden illness, warning them that soon they might be required to call it a day. And once he did, each guest came to her and offered her their congratulations, while checking that she was well and wishing her the best.

Aurelia stayed where she was, doing her best to look taken with illness, her mind well and truly still on Gerald’s most wicked fingers and what else he would be doing with them, once they were alone.

It was a little over an hour after Aurelia’s mother had brought her cake that the last of the guests left. As soon as they did, Gerald took Aurelia by the hand and led her to the bedroom. He was even more eager than she was and no sooner was she through the door did he close it shut and then lock it.

“Expecting company?” she joked.

“Best to be safe…” He went to her, taking her head in his hands. “I do not expect to leave this room for some days, and I would hate to be disturbed.”

“Some days?” she gasped playfully.

“If I have my way, then yes.” He moved to kiss her, but she pulled back.

“Gerald…” She met his eyes, making sure he was looking into hers. “I just want you to know…” She smiled and laughed at how silly she felt saying it. “I love you. I hope you know that.”

“I am tempted to make a joke.”

“Please do not.”

He kissed her on the forehead. “I love you to, Aurelia. My only regret is that I did not realize it sooner. Although I prefer to see the positive.”

“And what positive is that?”

He grinned and his eyes flashed. “That now I have a chance to make up for lost time.” And that was when he kissed her.

She kissed him back. Fully. On the lips. His hands holding her face like he might never let her go. Her hands reaching for the back of his head, pulling him in as close as she could, refusing to consider the possibility he might wish to pull away. Their lips opened and their tongues played, explored, lapped and licked and sucked without remorse.

It occurred to Aurelia then that she should be nervous. This was, after all, her first time, and she didn’t know what to expect. But those nerves did not arrive, and she knew that was because of whom it was that she was with. My husband, is who. Never has anything felt more right than this, so what need is there to be nervous?

Still kissing her, Gerald lead Aurelia toward the bed. It hit the back of her knees, and she fell onto her back so that Gerald could mount her. His strong body pressed on her, his mouth moving from her lips to her neck. He began to suck and nibble and every time she felt him a prickle of pleasure erupted from her.

His hands became busy. Grabbing her thighs and then her waist. Moving to her bosom. He found the top of her dress and let forth a roar as he tore it open; her breasts spilled out and he gorged on them.

“Oh…” she moaned as his lips wrapped her nipples and sucked. “Gerald… that is… oh…” Her nipples turned stiff in his mouth and still he continued to suck.

On instinct, Aurelia’s hands moved to Gerald’s pants. His crotch was pressed into her, but he arched it up, giving her room to hastily undo the front. Already, she could feel hard stiff he was, the way that he pulsed and throbbed and she remembered the last time her hands had been here and that made her salivate.

“Tell me what you want,” Gerald growled as he kissed up her neck and began to suck her earlobe.

“You need instruction?”

“No,” he said, moving then to her neck again. His wet lips sucked and his tongue licked her and she moaned from the waves of pleasure which rippled across her body. “I just want you to have it all.”

“It all?”

He snapped his head up and looked at her. There was a fire in his eyes. The hunger that she recognized. Oh, how he wanted her. If she could not feel it in the way his manhood begged to be released, it was in those eyes. “Whatever your heart desires,” he purred. “That is what I want to give you.”

She flashed her eyes at him. “What do I want…” Slowly, her hand reached into his pants and wrapped his engorged member. He stiffened and she squeezed, delighting in the way his body reacted. “All I want Gerald, right now and forever…” She squeezed again and he groaned. “Is you.”

And that was what he gave her. Oh, how he did.

Gerald was quick to remove his pants and then his shirt. His muscular body glistened with sweat, the hairs on his chest matted and thick. She ran her hands through them, delighting in the feel of the hair through her fingers. But more than that, her eyes strayed south to his manhood which stuck out, throbbing and hard and dripping because he was that aroused by her. That I can have such an effect on him…

Next, Gerald grabbed at the skirt of her dress, lifting it up and exposing her thighs. She was still on her back, but she spread her legs for him, tempting him with her womanhood. She could feel how moist it was. How warm and how wet. No doubt Gerald could feel it too.

He grinned and lowered his head, starting to kiss up her thighs…

“Wait.” She stopped him and his head popped up, confusion in his eyes. “No, I don’t want that.”

“You… you don’t.”

“Well, I do,” she giggled. “But when I said I wanted you, I meant it.” A raised eyebrow and he understood completely. “Now, give him to me.”

Gerald’s smile was wicked, but he knew what to do. On his knees, he grabbed under her thighs and lifted her toward him. She spread her legs and arched her back. Heart racing. Nerves rising. Anticipation building like nothing she had ever experienced before. She closed her eyes and felt Gerald. His fingers tracing her thighs. His manhood stroking the outside of her lips. He teased her. Gentle as he pressed against her womanhood, dipping it in then rubbing it. Not wanting to rush the moment.

“Stop teasing me…” she moaned.

“Stop telling me what to do,” he shot back.

“Is this another lesson?” she joked, then moaned as she felt him press against her.

“No, no,” he said. “The time for lessons is over.” And that was when he entered her.

Her eyes shot open and grew wide. Her breath left her. Her body turned stiff and rigged, writhing and shaking as she felt Gerald’s member slow but surely entering her. Deeper and deeper. She opened to him. He stretched her. She moaned… bit her lip… held her breath… and still he continued to slide in deeper.

“Gerald…”

“Almost…” He breathed, still on his knees as he pushed himself in as far as he could go. When she felt his stomach against her, that was when she knew he was ready.

She could not describe how it felt exactly. Just that it was like a part of her that was always missing was finally found. She felt whole with him in her, complete in a way she hadn’t known she needed. Her breathing was heavy. Her body was shaking. But oh, how she loved it.

Gerald fell forward then, kissing her on the lips fully as he began to thrust.

She grabbed his head and held him to her, kissing him back; wet and sloppy. Gerald’s thrusts were steady at first. Slow and well-paced. Careful not to hurt or shock her. But as she grew more wet and more open, he began to increase his speed and tempo and the force behind each movement.

“Oh…” she moaned, throwing back her head, shutting her eyes, letting the pleasure roll over her. “There… yes… do not… Gerald!”

Long, deep thrusts. Hard and fast. He moved to her breathing. He kept pace with her demands. His hands were under her thighs. Then they were under her buttocks. Then they were around her breasts. He ravished her with his hands as he filled her with his manhood. And as he did, she felt it coming.

It was a pressure in her stomach that threatened to burst. It started to grow and spread. It reached her thighs and touched her heart. It swept over her body so that she thought she might explode. Her breathing increased. Her body began to shake. She could hardly stand it!

“Gerald… I am… I am… Oh… do not… keep… God!”

As she felt herself about to explode, so did Gerald begin to increase his pace. His thrusts became shorter and sharper. He stopped fondling her, burying his head in her chest as his body pressed on her.

“Aurelia… I am… are you…. ready…”

“Yes!” she cried out as the pressure took her, opened her, devoured her so that she left that room, that house, the earth it seemed. Suspended in mid-air, not of her body, it spasmed as she tried to push Gerald away, while never wanting him to leave her.

“Urgh… Aurelia… I am… urgh!” Gerald threw back his head and roared as he exploded inside her. And she felt it. His member throbbing. His seed filling her so that it spilled out of her and dripped down her thighs. She closed her legs around him, holding him there, keeping him close, and he fell on her, kissing her lips and neck and anywhere his lips could find.

And then, for a few minutes after it was done, nothing was said. Gerald remained inside of her, arms wrapped her, head rested on her chest, a silence that was comfortable and right.

“Gerald…” Aurelia said after some time as her body began to cool.

“Yes?” he lifted his head to look at her.

“I love you.” Such a simple phrase, but one that she felt needed to be voiced. Now, tomorrow, forever.

He smiled and she felt it in her heart. “And I love you.”

“And don’t you forget it,” she shot back, to which he laughed and then leaned in to kiss her.

It was done. Aurelia was married to the duke. They had lain together as man and wife. Confirmation in so many ways that they were perfect for one another. It had not always been that way, for once they were as different creatures as could be thought to exist in this world. But that was all a lie.

This right here was real. What would come in the future, it did not matter. Good or bad, so long as they were together, Aurelia knew she would be happy. Another truth. Just as she knew Gerald would be also. She had never wanted a happily ever after. Truthfully, she had never thought that she deserved one. Now that she had her own, Aurelia couldn’t imagine her life ending any other way.

The End?