Page 14 of The Ruin of Miss Amelia Burrowes (The Matchmaker’s Ball #4)
Amelia didn’t know if all brides were this eager for their husband’s touch—surely some were afraid or dismayed at the thought of the intimacies of the marriage bed. Had this been Mr. Burke, God knew she would’ve had little to be happy about at this moment. But pressed against Nathan as she now was, her body warm and tingly at every point he touched, she could not remember a moment of her life when she’d been happier. She ran her hand down the smooth skin of his arm, and he draped it over her, reaching down to stroke her bottom in return.
Gasping, Amelia stared into his eyes, which had turned from cool gray to deepest black as his mouth descended once more onto hers. Lord, but she loved his kisses. Without hesitation, she opened her lips, welcoming his tongue with unabashed joy. His ministrations set her pulse to racing, her blood heating, her need for this man soaring as never before.
She moaned as he continued to stroke her derriere, pressing her against the hard part of him that prodded her stomach insistently, exciting her to be even more bold. With abandon, Amelia slid her arm over his waist, and down to his round buttocks to mimic his actions.
“Ummm.” Nathan’s reaction was swift and surprising. He rolled them so she was suddenly underneath him, his considerable weight pressing her into the mattress in a very pleasing and unexpectedly erotic manner. Her other arm suddenly freed, she swept it up his back, reveling in the smooth play of muscles. “You are a very wicked woman, Amelia,” he broke the kiss to say, before nuzzling her neck just beneath her ear.
“I am?” The brush of his tongue on her flesh just there set her to trembling all over.
“Yes, for your every touch inflames me to the point I can scarcely restrain myself.” His lips continued to stray down her neck, each flick of his tongue bringing forth goose flesh all over her body.
“Why restrain yourself, my love?” she whispered in his ear. “I freely give you my body that we may become as one.”
Nathan growled, stopping his descent at the little notch at the top of her chest. “I know, sweetheart, but this is your first time. I must have some self-control if I am to make this as pleasurable for you as I possibly can.”
“But it’s already pleasurable.” Much more of these delightful feelings and she might die.
“My love, we’ve only just begun.” He lowered his head, but instead of returning to her neck, his lips fastened on the tip of her breast.
Amelia sucked in a breath, a streak of fire shooting from the place his mouth had claimed all the way to her nether regions. She shuddered as he laved her flesh then moaned deeply when he wrapped his lips around her nipple, furling it into a tight nub. Her body throbbed each time he sucked, her legs moving restlessly. Her head lolled back on the pillow. “Oh, Nathan.”
Her breathy voice must have spurred him on, for he slid his lips down her stomach, dipping his tongue into the crevice of her navel, making her shiver, then down lower. And lower still. Amelia’s head came up when he reached the thatch of curls that covered her most intimate place. Never had she, in all her most private musings about this night, imagined this happening.
Her body tensed, and Nathan raised his face to her, his eyes large and dark. “Do you trust me, Amelia?”
Wordlessly, she nodded.
“Then lie back down. This will not hurt.”
Trembling, Amelia did as he asked, every inch of her on edge.
Scattering kisses everywhere, Nathan’s lips brushed through her curls, each caress drawing forth a moan from her. At last, he settled on a particular spot, more sensitive than any other. His tongue swirled around it, and Amelia’s cries deepened even as her hips rose.
“Easy, love.” He lowered his head once more, tenderly massaging her aching flesh, as his hand slipped between her thighs.
Past embarrassment, Amelia lay back, willing herself to simply relax and revel in every moment of this most exquisite sensation. When his finger slipped just inside her, however, Amelia gasped anew, not only in surprise but pain. “Ow.”
“Did that hurt?” Nathan stared at her, his gaze not leaving her face.
“Just a little.”
“And this?” He dipped his finger in again, and once more, the twinge of pain caught her unexpectedly.
“Yes. But you said it wouldn’t hurt.”
“Now I know your body better, it won’t.” He withdrew his hand and lowered his mouth to her once more, stroking the sensitive spot, tickling it, kneading it delicately until Amelia thought her whole body would go up in flames. A strange sensation began to grow deep inside her, spiraling as his tongue danced across her until she spun upward, out of control, her body exploding from within with wave after wave of the most incredible pleasure she’d ever felt.
After what seemed an eternity of this bliss, Amelia slumped against the mattress, her eyes staring at the underside of the blue silk canopy, heart racing, trying to understand what had just happened.
Nathan threw himself down next to her, his body still tense. At least some parts of it were. “Did you enjoy that, sweetheart?”
“Yeeessss.” Amelia closed her eyes, wanting to purr with contentment. She’d never have dreamed how wonderful Nathan could make her feel. “Oh, Nathan.” She snuggled up to him. “I have never felt such an extraordinary thing in my life.”
“And there is more to come as well, love.” He rolled her onto her back and, without pause, moved over top of her so his hips straddled hers, his member long and hot against her.
Amelia’s eyes flew open, that hard presence reminding her that, much as she’d enjoyed the encounter just past, the next one would likely not be so agreeable. She tried to smile bravely at him, steeling herself.
“Open your legs, love.” He shifted his weight, and she complied, tensing as he positioned himself against her most intimate place. “I’ll be quick about it, I promise. And the hurt doesn’t last long, I’m told.”
She nodded, hoping that was true. Then his mouth was on hers once more, filling her senses with his vital presence, focusing her attention on him alone. Sliding her arms around his broad shoulders, she pulled him to her as he suddenly thrust forward.
Amelia tensed as the flash of pain—no worse than if she’d cut herself with a paring knife out in the garden—gave way to a peculiar burning sensation, followed by the even stranger feeling of Nathan filling her up. He broke the kiss, gasping for breath, and groaned as though he’d been the one hurt instead of her. She looked at him with some concern. “Are you all right?”
“Yes,” he ground out between clenched teeth. “I need…a moment.” His labored breathing continued until Amelia began to fear something was truly wrong. Then his furrowed brow cleared as his face relaxed. “I am fine now, my dear. I feared I would not be able to control myself. I’ve been longing for this moment for weeks now.” He peered down at her, his expression full of tenderness. “In truth, for years. I wish to make it the most memorable of both our lives, but some urges are so primal I feared my baser instincts would overwhelm my true intentions.” He kissed her again, a fleeting kiss that was sweeter than before. “But I have calmed myself sufficiently that we can proceed.”
“What do we do now?” Amelia’s mother had given her a basic understanding of the marriage act, so she’d known this much at least. Mama had, however, been much vaguer about what happened after the initial pain was over. And it had subsided, thank goodness, perhaps because her concern for Nathan had proved a distraction. At least she was glad that part was past them.
He smiled down at her and kissed her lips. “Now we love one another, Amelia. Stay just as you are.”
That was easy enough. Melded together as they were, she didn’t think she could go anywhere else.
After another lingering kiss, he moved his hips, pulling backward until she believed he would leave her then plunging inward again, leaving her gasping.
“Does that feel good?” He peered down at her. “Or are you still hurting, my love?”
Amelia shook her head. “No, not hurt, just surprised.”
“Let’s see if I can make you feel good again.” Gently, he withdrew and thrust forward, over and over, until Amelia caught a rhythm to his actions. Now there was no trace of pain, the wonder of his nearness, the utter joy of knowing they would be together for the rest of their lives, made Amelia bold. The next time he thrust into her, she lifted her hips, meeting him again and again until that peculiar feeling began to grow inside her once more. That spiraling sensation that had overwhelmed her when Nathan had touched her there before.
Suddenly, Nathan grunted and quickened his pace. His hand strayed to the nub he’d caressed before, stroking it around and around…
“Nathan? Oh, Nathan!” With a suddenness that shocked her, Amelia shattered around him, waves of the most intense pleasure hurtling her higher than before. Moaning at the top of her voice, she clutched him to her even as he thrust once more and bellowed her name. The moment froze in time for her, the incredible pleasure entwined with the look of awe on Nathan’s face as he strained into her one last time, sending a flood of warmth throughout her nether regions.
He slumped on top of her, panting, his weight seemingly heavier than before but no less pleasant. Then he rolled off her, disconnecting them, and her sense of loss was unexpectedly profound. But he pulled her to his chest, wrapping his strong arms around her, cradling her as their breathing slowed.
“You are the most incredible woman, Amelia,” Nathan murmured in her ear. “An innocent one moment, and a wanton vixen the next.” He nuzzled her neck, and more tingles shot through her body. “I do hope you were pleased with your first taste of married life.”
“More pleased than I could have imagined, my love.” She snuggled against him, feeling more beloved and cherished than ever before in her life.
“That is what I hoped you’d say, sweetheart.” His hand strayed down her breast, his touch hardening her nipples in an instant. “Because I wondered if I could interest you in a second taste?”
****
Candlelight glowed all about Amelia’s chamber, giving the very air a softness and beauty she’d never noticed before. Perhaps everything would seem different now. The man lying next to her—stretched out on his back, one arm flung over his head—had changed her life in so many ways, nothing would ever be the same. She rolled onto her side once more, eager just to watch him sleep. His face in repose gave no indication of the strength, the tenderness, the passion he had given her, and brought out of her in return.
They’d made love three times, each somewhat different yet gloriously the same. And it had left her so exhausted she should’ve been sleeping right alongside him, yet she’d never been so wide awake in her life, so aware of every part of her body, for he seemed to have touched every inch. Would it be wrong of her to wake him up so he could touch her again? If she was shameless, she didn’t care. She was making up for lost time.
“Didn’t you get any sleep?” Nathan’s eyes were open, his gaze sleepily trained on her. A lazy smile touched his lips, so slight he might indeed be returning to his slumber.
“A little. I couldn’t seem to stay asleep.” Afraid she’d wake up in her bed at home from a dream too good to be true. “I hope I didn’t awaken you.”
Nathan rolled up on his side to face her, his hand straying out to tug at her disheveled hair. “Not at all. I’ve only dozed a bit myself.” His smile broadened. “Too pleasantly engaged to want to sleep.”
Her cheeks heated as she remembered the intimacies they’d shared, although they’d done nothing to be ashamed about.
“I assume you are a little sore?”
She nodded, her face aflame now.
“I am sorry for it.” His gentle voice soothed her embarrassment. “Although I’m grateful I was the one to introduce you to these particular pleasures.” He kissed her fingers, sending warmth straight to her soul. “I promise you, the soreness will fade shortly. It’s only the first time that hurts so.” He smiled and pulled her over to him. “Although repetition may indeed play a part in that as well. If you wish, we can say you are indisposed and choose to remain here in your chamber today.”
That might be very nice. A day in which to simply stay in bed and… Do what they, in fact, had been doing. “But wouldn’t people assume then that we were…”
“I believe they would indeed suspect how we are passing the time.”
“Oh, dear.” Amelia sat up. “That will never do. They cannot think that we are here, in this bed—”
“My love.” Nathan’s grin spanned his face as he drew her back down into the bed. “They know what we are doing. We are married and,” he lowered his voice to a whisper, “this is what married people do.”
“I know. But I don’t want people to know it.” That still seemed wicked, somehow.
“You will become used to being a married lady, with all the privileges thereof. Like breakfast in bed…and other things in bed.” He nuzzled her neck, making her groan with pleasure.
“Like you in my bed. Could you stay with me, Nathan?” If people already knew what they did behind their chamber door, it shouldn’t matter, after all.
“Not the entire day, my love.” He kissed his way down her neck to her chest. “I will need to visit Lady Carrington to ask why she so flagrantly ignored my instructions.” He stared at her, his brow suddenly puckering. “It struck me as extremely odd that so very few people deigned to come to our breakfast. More people than those who appeared have spoken to you at Mrs. Doyle’s and at the other entertainments we’ve attended these past weeks.” He shook his head. “I want to know why they’re still staying away.” Raising his head, he gazed into her eyes, the tenderness there so incredibly sweet. “Especially now that I know the truth for certain.”
Yes, at last one person in the world knew her innocence without doubt. “I suppose gentlemen cannot talk about such things, not even to other gentlemen.”
“Oh, we could, but it would do no good.” Nathan nuzzled his lips between her breasts then nibbled his way down to her stomach. “Even if I told every man in Christendom that you were a virgin until we married, they would simply think I was lying in order to save my honor and your reputation.”
“How terrible! I know you would never do such a thing, Nathan. You are too honorable to lie, even about something like that.” How could the ton disparage his reputation thus? Wasn’t it bad enough that they still assumed her guilt?
“My love.” He rested his cheek against her, his night beard prickly on her soft skin. “If your honor were concerned, I wouldn’t care what they said about me. No gentleman would. And all the other gentlemen know that, ergo, even though I know the truth, and can speak it all day long, I will not be believed. Therefore, I must convince Lady Carrington. If I get no satisfaction from her, later perhaps, I must meet with Marcus. He can help me plot a strategy to bring Mary Adam’s story to light in a way that will not create another scandal as we continue our bid for the return of your reputation.”
“ We must meet with Lord Haversham.”
“We?” Nathan gazed up at her, making him look funny, with his chin upside down.
“I should be with you to devise the strategy. I know Mary better than either of you two. I could suggest something you wouldn’t even think of, ...”
Rolling over so that he now lay sprawled over top of her, he kissed her navel, making her gasp. “Yes, I do. Not to mention, I do not wish to let you out of my sight.” He wiggled his eyebrows, and she burst out laughing.
“But surely we cannot do such things as this at Lord Haversham’s house.”
His stare turned hot once more. “I will only say, Amelia, that you have been married less than a day. You still have a lot to learn.”
Her breath caught as he lowered his mouth to her flesh once more then stopped and raised his head. “One question did cross my mind at some point during our lovemaking last night.”
“What was that?”
“Why did you not anticipate your wedding with Lord Carrington?” He sat up a little, his hand cupping her face. “Not that I’m not grateful you didn’t, but you were betrothed. Almost every betrothed couple I’ve known for the past five years has apparently begun their marriage before their vows were spoken.”
She drew him back down to her, until he pressed her again with his full weight. “I did not anticipate my wedding with Lord Carrington, nor would I have done so with any other man, because he was not you.”
“Not me?” Nathan had gone so still she could hear his heartbeat.
“No. No one else, even the man I agreed to marry, was you.” She’d thought about this on the day she’d accepted Jonathan. Had they married, she’d have done her duty by him, but her heart had been lost forever to Lord Ainsley. “I told you during our first carriage ride that things would have been quite different if the gentleman in question had been you. For you alone would I have given myself without my vows. A silly thing, perhaps, but since I had no choice but to marry and consummate my marriage, my only way of being faithful to you, in my mind, was to give myself to no one until I legally belonged to another man.”
“Amelia.” Nathan dropped his head back onto her stomach and kissed her. “You have given me the most precious gift, my love. Nothing I can give you will ever compare to it.”
“You are gift enough for me.” She wrapped her arms around him. “I do so love you.”
“And I you.”
Amelia pulled him up until his face hovered close to hers. “Then love me again, please, Nathan.”
“With pleasure, sweetheart.”
Nathan swiftly covered her, pressing his delicious body all over hers. The warmth he generated brought a purr from her that swiftly turned into a moan of delight as his lips skimmed down her neck. Amelia tried to draw him closer, even though every part of them was already touching.
Still, she wanted more. The more they’d been denied for so many years.
Emboldened by her wanton desires, she wrapped her legs around his hips, overjoyed when he promptly slid into her, and she sighed in bliss.
Married life with Nathan was going to be so much better than anything she’d dreamed of. It might actually ruin her for anything else. And that was just fine by her.