Chapter Thirteen #4
Katiana lowered her gaze coyly. “She has already given me sage advice,” she said. “She is very kind.”
“What did she tell you?”
“To relax and let you do the work.”
Titus fought off a grin. “She was right,” he said. “But if you have any questions, I am more than happy to answer them.”
Katiana’s expression took on a mischievous cast. “I cannot imagine that you’ve done this before,” she said. “How would you know anything? You’ve never been married, so surely not.”
Titus let out a guffaw, which sounded like a choke, and he coughed a couple of times as he headed over to the bed. “I should send for some food,” he said. “Neither one of us has eaten. Are you hungry?”
Katiana could see that he was obviously trying to change the subject, but she wasn’t so willing to let it go yet.
“I am hungry,” she said. “I can just as easily send for the food. Mayhap you would like to sit down in front of the fire and remove your boots? We can discuss what is to happen tonight, since I’ve never had a husband and you’ve never had a wife.
Mayhap we really do need Dacia to come back in here and give us some advice. ”
“I do not need any advice,” he said, though he was heading over to the chair next to the hearth. “Stop jesting. You are embarrassing me.”
“Why?”
“Because you are trying to force me into a confession I’m not yet ready to make.”
“What confession is that?”
He turned to look at her, sharply, only to see that she was verging on laughter. When their eyes met, she burst out into giggles, and he smiled weakly.
“I see,” he said. “You are trying to embarrass me.”
Katiana shook her head. “Not really,” she said. “I just find it ironic that women are supposed to remain untouched and unkissed until they are married, but men… There are not the same expectations. And I certainly do not expect that you have remained untouched and unkissed.”
Titus sat on the chair, a smile tugging on his lips. “Men are animals,” he said simply. “They have needs that women do not, but in truth, I think it is better that men experience those things before they are wed.”
“Why is that?”
“So they can perfect their skills for their wives,” he said, holding out a hand to her. “I want you to think I am so very perfect, Katia.”
Katiana went to him, sliding her hand into his. “You are my champion,” she said, a twinkle in her eye. “Of course I think you are perfect. I always have.”
He kissed her hand. “And I think that I am unworthy of you, but here we are,” he said. “Do you want to eat first?”
Katiana shrugged. “I will do whatever you wish.”
He glanced over at the bed. “I think you know what I wish.”
She chuckled and let go of his hand, kneeling down in front of him. “Then let me help you with your boots,” she said. “I will not let you into our marital bed with your shoes on.”
He watched her as she fumbled with his laces. “You are not afraid of what is to come?”
She shrugged. “Afraid is a strong word,” she said. “I am curious, I suppose. It must be done, so whether or not I am apprehensive is immaterial.”
“A remarkable way to look at it.”
With a shy smile, she began to unlace his boots.
He leaned forward to help her, but she pushed his hands out of the way and took them off herself, both of them.
Unfortunately, his feet smelled horrible, and she burst into laughter as he cringed in embarrassment.
The basin of water was still on the table where it had been brought to Katiana earlier in the day, so she quickly brought it over, setting it down on the ground by his feet before going in search of her lavender soap.
All the while, Titus protested.
“You do not have to do that,” he said, watching her bustle around.
“Truly, love, I can just as easily summon a bath and do this myself. It’s simply that I’ve been traveling for weeks and months, and bathing…
I admit it, I’m much like a child who hates to bathe.
I hate to take the time, and it is only me smelling my own stench, so I do not bother. ”
“No longer,” Katiana said as she brought her soap over to the basin. “Now, I have to smell you also. Put your feet in the water, please.”
“But…”
“Titus de Wolfe, put your feet in the water or you will be sleeping in the stable tonight.”
His feet went into the water. As he sat there, horribly embarrassed, Katiana washed his feet with her lavender soap.
Truth be told, he was only embarrassed until he realized how lovely it felt for someone to wash his feet.
He watched Katiana’s lowered head as she scrubbed his toes and thought himself the most fortunate man in the world that such a beautiful, accomplished woman would think enough of him to do such a thing.
It was a humbling gesture, and a kind one. So very kind.
That was when he realized that he loved her.
So very much.
“There,” she said softly. “All washed and rinsed. I’ll see if I can find a cloth to dry them with.”
“No need,” he said, standing up with wet limbs from mid-shin down. “I have a feeling the rest of me is going to be just as offensive, so I think I should wash… everything.”
“If you wish.”
“Go sit on the bed and turn your back.”
Katiana did as she was told. She could hear the water splashing as Titus went to work washing the smell away, something she thought was very sweet of him.
It may have been a small gesture, but it was a considerate one in her eyes.
Not that she would have cared, more than likely, because smelly bodies were part of their world, but the fact that he didn’t want to offend her on the wedding night with his overwhelming odor was a thoughtful gesture.
She sat there with her back turned and a smile on her lips.
“How far is Berwick from here?” she asked.
Titus was in the process of getting the entire floor wet as he washed between his legs and under his armpits.
“We’re still at least five days away,” he said, running wet hands over his face. “It depends on how good the roads are and how quickly we can move. And I think that we should send your aunt’s servants back to London. There is really no need for them any longer.”
“True,” Katiana said. “And I suspect that Aunt Ethyl will be pleased that we married. She’s tried to marry me off for two long years.”
“Thankfully, she did not.”
“Thankfully.”
More splashing sounded behind her. Katiana was about to ask him again if he needed something to dry off with when the bed behind her suddenly gave way. Startled, she fell back into a very big, very wet body.
“There,” he said, putting his wet arms around her and nuzzling her neck. “I am clean for you, wife. Remove your clothing and join me.”
Chills ran down her spine as his hot breath caressed her ear.
Turning in his arms, she fixed her lips to his, and Titus responded fiercely.
He became the aggressor, and she gave herself over to him completely.
No fear, no reserve. She’d trusted the man her entire life and she would trust him now, when it meant the most. She was still wearing the dark red dress, which wasn’t meant to be wet, and his dampness was causing the dye to bleed.
Quickly, they separated, and Katiana was forced to turn around so he could untie the stays on the back.
Once those were loose, Titus pulled the dress over her head and tossed it onto the floor.
“Titus!” she gasped. “That belongs to Lady Doncaster. It must not be on the floor!”
Titus used her distraction to pull her shift over her head, tossing that on top of the red dress. “I’ll pick it up later,” he whispered.
His arms went around her again, pulling her down onto the mattress.
His big, damp body covered her, his weight bearing down on her, but Katiana hardly cared.
Fears for Dacia’s dress were erased as he kissed her firmly, pulling the coverlet over them both, hiding their nakedness from the world.
At the moment, it was a privilege of discovery for just the two of them.
The more he touched, the more Katiana responded.
She was eager to know all of it.
Titus didn’t keep her waiting. As his lips feasted on hers, he closed a big hand gently over her breast, feeling the silken texture against his palm.
The action startled Katiana, but she didn’t pull away from him.
She came to like it when he began tugging at her nipple, toying with it, and when his mouth left hers and he began nursing against that nipple, she gasped in surprise.
But surprise turned to ecstasy. Every suckle sent bolts of excitement shooting through her body and between her legs, and something began to spark.
It was something that sent her pelvis wriggling, moving against him, as if someone else was in control.
Very quickly, the situation overheated.
Titus could feel her squirming, and he knew exactly what she needed.
As he worked her breasts hungrily, his fingers sought out the curls between her legs.
Katiana was already wet, her body preparing itself for his entry, and he pushed a finger into her tight, wet sheath simply to introduce her to what was about to take place.
He expected resistance at the very least, but when Katiana groaned and opened her legs to him, instinctively, Titus could wait no longer.
He was on fire.
Carefully, he positioned his enormous phallus at her threshold, pushing into her slick and waiting body.
He was so big that Katiana’s passion was somewhat doused as she felt his big body mating with hers.
She tried to move away, trying to ease the sting of possession, but Titus held her firm.
She wasn’t going anywhere. Coiling his buttocks, he thrust into her once, twice, a third time before seating himself fully.
He broke her maiden’s barrier, claiming this woman for his wife as he’d never claimed anyone in his life.
No one had ever meant this much to him before.
Katiana became his, body and soul, and he would kill anyone who tried to separate them.
Ansel de Edington included.
She belonged to him, forever.
Carefully, Titus began to thrust, gathering her up tightly against him, her chest to his, the feel of her soft breasts against his flesh feeding his lust. Beneath him, Katiana groaned and gasped at the new sensations, splaying her legs wider for him, silently begging him to thrust deeper.
It was purely instinct, her body responding to his, as her nails dug crescent-shaped wounds into his shoulders.
They were badges of honor as far as Titus was concerned.
He could feel the sting, and it spurred him onward.
His body pounded into hers, and she accepted all of him, moving with him, thrusting her pelvis against his.
It was a magical moment as his manhood buried itself in her wet folds, and he tried to hold back his seed because he simply didn’t want the moment to end too quickly.
But the de Wolfe seed was waiting to take root impatiently.
When Katiana’s hands moved from his shoulders to his buttocks, timidly gripping him, Titus could no longer control himself.
His hot seed exploded into her womb, and Katiana felt him shudder as he released.
He kept moving within her, however, his hand moving to the junction between her legs, stroking her until she, too, experienced her first release.
Gasping as wave after wave of pleasure rolled over her, Katiana had little idea of what had just happened.
All she knew was that Titus had put some kind of spell on her, and she had loved every moment of it.
Relax and let Titus do the work.
She had.
As the ripples of pleasure died down, Titus remained buried in his wife, kissing her gently, showing her with his actions his growing feelings for her.
He wanted to say something to her, something eloquent and appropriate for the moment, but he simply couldn’t find the words.
For a man who was never speechless, it was a surprising reaction to the moment.
It had meant more to him than he thought it would.
Feelings were running deep.
When Titus finally opened his mouth to speak, he was interrupted by gentle snoring.
Shifting slightly, he could see that Katiana had fallen asleep in his arms, and he smiled faintly, laying his head down next to hers simply to watch that glorious woman sleep.
The words he’d spoken to her when he’d first proposed marriage, and when she’d finally agreed, came flooding back to him.
You are the easiest decision I have ever made.
And she was.