Page 36

“I do not hear any talking, Fitzwilliam?” Her voice sounded so tremulous and low, so different than what she was accustomed to.

With small steps, he steered her into the parlour.

She stumbled when he turned her away from him, but his strong arms kept her from falling into a heap on the floor.

Her entire body could have melted into a puddle when he continued his assault on her neck, his fingers trailing along her sides then up her stomach, but she stiffened her legs.

She needed to withstand the assault on her equanimity.

His palms cupped her breasts and gently squeezed while he gently scraped his teeth along her shoulder.

Her knees faltered, but his hold saved her once again.

“Fitzwilliam,” she breathed. They were going to do this. . .here?

In a second, he had pulled back, whirled her around, and was fumbling with the fastenings of her gown.

“I cannot wait and struggle through senseless conversation while I can think of nothing but holding you close. I do not want to keep my hands to myself. I want you—now.” While he had spoken, he made quick work of removing her gown and her petticoats before she spun back around and grabbed his hands.

“Then I believe I deserve to see you in a similar state before you are allowed to continue.” In the end, did it matter where they consummated their marriage?

At the moment, she simply longed for nothing more than to be as close to him as possible.

He wore a wicked grin as he unbuttoned his topcoat. While he pushed it down his arms, she started on his waistcoat. He removed his cravat while she caressed the muscular planes of his chest through his shirtsleeves. He was so strong and solid. Was it wrong that she wished to touch all of him ?

Fitzwilliam was blessed by his looks. Even though she had yet to see what was beneath his final layer of clothing, by the muscle evident under the expensive linen of his shirt, he was surely as beautiful unclothed.

Her palm covered his heart, which thrummed beneath his flesh with vigour.

The rhythm beat against her palm in a strong and steady cadence.

“You are so quiet all of a sudden.”

She shrugged and stepped back from him as she untied and loosened the front of her stays.

His chest rose and fell in great breaths while his eyes never wavered from hers.

Without hesitation, he unbuttoned the fall of his breeches and pulled out the long ends of his shirt tails before removing them completely.

He drew her chemise over her head. “I have dreamt of this, Elizabeth. I can hardly believe you are finally mine.”

She traced the tips of her fingers over his bare stomach. At the first touch of her lips to his chest, he gasped, and all movement ceased. He did not protest. Had he liked it that much? Emboldened, she trailed her lips to his collarbone and kissed him again while her palms explored along his waist.

“I am trying my damnedest to go slow, but you are shattering my resolve with every touch,” he said as he lifted her chin so he could kiss her once more.

She was frozen in place while he took her back into his embrace. Her mother had always said her body would never attract a man—her breasts were too small, and her hips were not as wide as Jane’s. Would he change his mind now that she stood here unclothed?

“Elizabeth, relax. You were so bold a moment ago. Where has my fearless wife gone?”

She forced her gaze to meet his. He was smiling at her with so much love. She inhaled a shuddering breath and hugged him tight.

“You have no need to be shy with me. ”

“I feared you would be disappointed.”

He cupped her cheeks in his palms and forced her to meet his gaze. “I assure you that I could never be disappointed. You take my breath away with your beauty. I am the most fortunate man in the world, because I am the only man who is allowed to see you thus. I love you so much.”

She rose onto her tiptoes and kissed him until her mind muddled.

Before tonight, she had not considered that she would be naked in front of him.

Mrs. Hill had explained marital relations the day before, but she had been quite vague.

The description had never prepared Elizabeth for her husband removing all of her clothing, and in the parlour no less.

He turned them so his back was to the chaise, then sat before he struggled to remove his boots. As soon as those and his breeches were tossed to the side, she could only gape at the sight before her. His stunning body was on full display, his erection pointing in her direction.

“Come.” He tugged her so she straddled his legs, his rigid length resting against her belly.

“Ignore that for now,” he said as his hands stroked her thighs.

What did he mean by that? Before she could ask, he pressed her tightly against him and began to kiss her once more. She tried to pretend that the hard part of him between them did not exist, but how was she to ignore it when it poked at her so?

His hands stroked her until she was dizzy.

A powerful ache had bloomed between her legs.

The throbbing was so intense that when his fingers began to stroke between her folds, she could have wept.

Before now, she would have found the act shocking, but in that moment, she had not one complaint.

In fact, she would have certainly protested if he ceased those attentions.

Every touch and caress sent pleasurable waves through her that only became more intense as he continued. His lips left hers and began nibbling along her jaw then her shoulders. All she could do was cling to him and allow him every liberty he wished. He would never hurt her. She was sure of it.

She gave a sharp inhale when he pressed a finger inside of her and began to move it in and out with his caresses. The initial act relieved that unbearable ache, but within moments, that need became more intense.

She was lost. She was being consumed from the inside out by the fire he was stoking inside of her.

Her arms tightened around him so as not to lose herself, but her efforts were futile.

The intensity had increased and increased until she tipped from a high peak with a loud cry.

Her fingernails dug into his shoulders while he doubled his efforts making her soar until she could do no more than slump against him in an attempt to keep from disappearing into the dark night sky.

His arm wrapped around her waist, and he lifted her some.

“Elizabeth,” he said, tipping up her chin with his finger. “You have to tell me if it becomes too much.”

Too much? She opened her mouth to ask what he meant, but when his length prodded at her entrance, she gasped just before he began to press her down upon it.

The intrusion stung a bit and stretched in a way that was not necessarily painful—though it was not exactly comfortable either.

Just before the pressure became too much, he lifted her some and started again.

He did so three times before she was fully seated.

Her breathing was as though she had been running. Would that always happen?

“Is that it?” Her forehead rested against his shoulder. Her eyes closed.

“No,” he said in a tense voice. “I had hoped for you to be accustomed to this first. ”

She pressed her cheek against his. “Fitzwilliam, show me what is next.”

The arm wrapped around her lifted her and brought her back down.

He thrust into her a couple more times before she began to use his shoulders as leverage to assist in the movement.

She drew back and met his gaze while he pulled the pins from her hair, allowing it to tumble about her shoulders.

He tightened his grip upon her, so she was pressed against him while they rocked together.

With a groan, he dropped his head onto the back of the chaise. “You are so perfect. I love you.”

She had to work to keep her eyes open as that fire within her that had burned so brightly earlier rekindled. She could not think or breathe. A current travelled through her from every point where they touched. It was all she could do not to give herself over to the pleasure.

She turned her face so it was buried into his neck while she moved faster and faster.

She faltered once or twice, but his strong arms ensured their efforts were not in vain.

Then, when she could not take much more, bright lights erupted beneath her eyelids before the dark consumed her.

Why could she not move? She was frozen and at his mercy while he continued his efforts to make her senseless.

A moment later, he let out a great bellow and struggled to move.

When he finally stilled, the only sound in the room was that of their laboured breaths. So, that was marital relations. That was certainly not what she had expected!

Fitzwilliam stared at the ceiling of the parlour with Elizabeth draped over the side of his body, one of his arms holding her close. After they had consummated their vows, he had covered them while they laid together on the chaise. Little was said before she dozed off with her head on his chest.

His fingers trailed along the soft skin of her back while she slept.

He had confessed his love for her, but she had yet to say those precious words in return.

She obviously cared for him, but they had only known each other a few short months.

Was it too soon to expect more? Or was she more guarded with her heart than he was?

Her childhood could not have been easy. Her mother resented her, and her mother’s illness made it impossible for the woman to hold her tongue.

She received his assurances of his feelings with a shyness he could not have predicted.

Was she uncertain of him? Had her mother’s derogatory statements about Elizabeth made her wary of sharing what was in her heart?

He pressed a kiss to her crown. “I hope you learn to trust me.”

“I do trust you.” She lifted her head and propped it on the back of her hand resting upon his chest. “I would trust you with my life.”

His fingers brushed her curls from her forehead. “I thought you were asleep.”

She lifted from him some. “So, are you to always speak to me of your feelings while I am sleeping?”

“No,” he said shaking his head. “Forgive me. While I do not wish to rush your feelings, I am an impatient man. I was considering your relationship with your mother and that perhaps you do not trust easily.”

“I do not put my faith in most people at a first acquaintance, but we have been connected for my entire life. We have experienced each other’s most profound emotions and had visions of each other’s happenings and futures.

Since I had only dreams of you before you came to Hertfordshire, in which I had no knowledge of your identity, I have been forced to face what has occurred between us all these years.

Whenever I believe I have come to terms with it all, I have a new vision of you or come to understand an old vision or connexion I had not recognised in the past.”

He cradled her cheek in his palm. If he had been in her position, would he feel the same? “I had not considered how overwhelming this has all been for you. I—”

She pressed a finger to his lips. “Do not apologise. You have been all that is patient and kind, and I am fortunate to call you husband. I do care for you, but I require some time to regain my equanimity and to understand what is in my heart.”

He kissed her finger then opened his mouth and lightly bit the tip, making her gasp.

“You will not require me to keep my hands to myself or sleep in a separate bedchamber, will you?” Now that they had been intimate, she could not expect him to return to the almost chaste kisses and behaviour, could she?

“No,” she said before nibbling at his collarbone.

“We need to be united to face whatever evil is coming. Our marriage was blessed by the moon and the earth, and I do not know if you have felt it, but we have gained power through our union. We would dishonour the gift if we held back from each other.”

“I noticed the surge when we said our vows. Another burst of power ran through me when I placed the ring upon your finger and when I signed the register; however, I was not sure if the effect would last.”

“Perhaps we should practice on the morrow. The back garden is hidden by the enchantment. We can cast spells without alerting anyone to what we are about.”

His hands stroked down her back until he grasped her buttocks and pressed her against him. “What shall we do in the meantime?”

“Why, I do not know. What do you suggest?” She grinned while her tone was that of feigned innocence. Why did that heat his blood further ?

She squealed when he rolled her under him. They had a great deal of time until morning, and he intended to make the most of it.