Page 22 of Her Honorable Viscount (Noble Pursuits #3)

CHAPTER 22

D ot’s attraction to Edward may have been steadily growing, but she had never before known this primal desire – for him to touch her, to feel his body against hers, to understand what it meant to become one.

As a midwife, she knew through her work what it meant for two people to be intimate, of course, but she had never actually had an idea of what that looked like.

She was about to find out.

Edward stared down at her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

“It was hard to resist you all this time.”

“Three weeks?”

“Three very difficult weeks,” he admitted, a faint flush stealing up his cheeks. “It was part of the reason I stayed away.”

She blinked. “ That is why?”

“Yes.”

“Edward… I thought you did not want to be around me. That you had too much else of importance to take up your time.”

“Nothing is more important than you,” he said vehemently. “I had business to attend to, yes, but I would always prefer to spend time with you. I was avoiding the temptation of you – and arranging your wedding gift.”

“Oh, which is…” her lips curled into a smile.

“A surprise for tomorrow. Tonight holds surprise enough.”

“Very well,” she said with an exaggerated sigh. “I shall have to wait, although I must admit I am not very patient.”

“So I understand.”

As they spoke, Dot’s eyes wandered down Edward’s exposed chest. He was a tall man, but had breadth, his muscles strong and sinewy. Dot had spent a great deal of time studying women’s bodies, but a man’s body was fascinating indeed. She looked her fill, biting her bottom lip as her gaze trailed over his chest, ribs, and abdomen until they reached the waistband of his breeches, all that was left of his garments.

She lifted her hands, tracing the line of his muscles with her fingers, reveling in his warmth and strength, noting his swift intake of breath when she touched him, demonstrating the power she held in her touch.

His body half covered hers, although he was careful to hold himself up to prevent resting his weight upon her. His hand wrapped around the back of her head as he held her in place before slowly lowering himself toward her, pressing light kisses along her collarbone, up her neck, and across her jaw.

She had never known that a man’s touch could elicit such a response within her, for the soft, barely-there brush of his lips sent fire streaking through her, had her body arching off the bed toward him, seeking out more, even if she wasn’t entirely sure what that more was.

He returned his lips to hers, parting them, and she gasped when his tongue touched hers as they rocked together, exploring one another in this way.

He was losing his restraint, opening himself to her, and she wanted all of him and more.

His hands cupped her breasts, his thumbs stroking them, eliciting sensations Dot had never known were possible.

She arched into him, seeking more, and then he leaned down and wrapped his lips around one of her nipples, stopping briefly to look up and ask if she was all right.

She moaned as she reached her hands toward him and touched him in response, her fingers roaming over his body as a hot ache grew deep within her, the desperation growing.

Suddenly, she wanted him as exposed as she was, and she reached down, unfastening the fall of his breeches before she pushed them off his body.

He stopped what he was doing, leaving her bereft for a moment, until he shucked his breeches entirely and leaned over her, completely bare.

Dot blinked.

Her mouth watered.

Her heart raced.

And she wondered just what she was supposed to do with all of him.

“Edward,” she breathed, reaching her hand out and running it over his length. He groaned as he leaned in toward her. “You are… very large.”

His chuckle was somewhat pained at her words.

“We’ll figure it out,” he said, meeting her eyes. “Together.”

“Together,” she repeated.

“You are beautiful,” he said, his eyes and hands worshipping her body. “More exquisite than I ever could have imagined.”

She closed her eyes and leaned her head into him, taking all he had to offer her, appreciating who he was and what he was doing for her. He was urgent yet took his time, rough yet tender.

His lips trailed kisses down her body, nipping here and there, making her gasp in surprise and pleasure until he reached her center, the very place where she ached for him.

“Edward,” she panted as he slid her legs open, pushing them apart to make room for him – but what he would do with that room was the real question. “Are you—but—Edward?—”

She gasped when his fingers spread her, and he lowered his head. Slowly, methodically, he brought his lips to her, kissing her most secret, sensitive place just as he had her lips.

If she had thought she was taken over before, now was something else entirely. She threw her head back, giving herself into the moment, all that he offered her, all that he was giving her.

Whatever experience he lacked, he made up for with enthusiasm.

His lips nipped and suckled her where she was most sensitive, as his fingers reached within her and provided an entirely different sensation.

Together, with the anticipation that had been building all day, she soon found the world swirling around her, and before she knew it, she was falling over the edge, tumbling over a precipice that took her unaware.

She called out his name so loudly she wondered that her lady’s maid didn’t come running, not realizing until moments later that her fingers were twined in his hair, holding on as though he was the only thing keeping her tethered to the earth.

“Edward,” she panted, “that was... indescribable. I thought you had no experience.”

He raised a brow as he stared down at her. “I make sure that I am well prepared for everything in life, Dot,” he said. “Most especially making you happy.”

“I think I’m ready for you now,” she whispered. “All of you.”

He nodded, his eyes meeting hers as he reached between their bodies, guiding himself toward her.

“Say the word, and I will stop,” he said.

She nodded, knowing there was no stopping this. Not now. She wanted it too badly.

He eased into her slowly, inch by inch. She was slick and ready for him, yet still, it took her a moment to become fully used to his girth.

He slowed, looking her in the eyes. “Relax,” he said. “Look at me. Meet my eyes.”

She did, catching hold of his gaze and not letting go, trusting him, knowing that he would never do anything to hurt her but rather would keep her safe and secure.

Once she did so, he slid home, and she cried out as he filled her, pausing as she became used to him.

“Tell me when you’re ready.” His voice was strained, and she nodded into his shoulder, appreciating that he was giving her the time she needed.

“I’m ready,” she said after a couple of minutes, and he began to move within her, rocking back and forth, slowly and clumsily at first, his pace increasing as the intensity between them built.

She knew he was trying to be gentle, but Dot didn’t want gentle. She wanted him to unleash the side of him he always held back, letting his desire ebb forward.

“More, Edward,” she cried, uncertain of how to convince him, but he seemed to understand, for he increased his pace until he let go of all restraint, throwing his head back as he thrust into her.

Soon enough, the sensations grew within her again, until they washed over her with a release of brilliant light.

As she pulsed around him, Edward found his own release, crying out as he held her close and gave her all of him.

They remained locked together for moments, as Dot never wanted this to end. She wanted to remain wrapped in this embrace, in a place where there was no outside world, where no one could touch them, where it didn’t matter who they were or what they did.

All that mattered was one another and who they had become together.

“Dot.” Edward finally broke the silence, leaning back and away from her as he ran a hand over her hair.

Would this be the moment he told her what he felt for her? She knew she was falling for him – how could she not? – but she couldn’t tell him how she felt, not unless she knew that he shared those feelings for her.

She needed to hear it from him before she shared her soul, for it would hurt far too much if she gave him the words and they were not returned.

“Are you all right?” he asked. “I apologize if I became too rough. I?—”

She flipped over so that she was lying on his chest. “There is absolutely nothing to apologize for,” she said fiercely. “That was more than I ever could have asked for. Thank you.”

“You are most welcome,” he said before meeting her eyes, and a smile grew. It continued to spread as they stared at one another until they were laughing incredulously at all that had occurred between them.

“I think I am going to like being married,” she whispered. “So far, it has been more than I would have ever imagined.”

“I never doubted it for a moment,” Edward said, “especially knowing that I would be married to you.”

“Do you think we could do that again?” she eagerly asked, and his eyebrows rose.

“Give me a minute or two,” he said, “but then I think yes, we can do it again. Many times over, if you’d like.”

“I would like very much,” she said with a smile. “Very much indeed.”