Chapter Eighteen
Evan
Evan’s heart flipped at her words. She wanted him. Him. Did it mean she also had feelings of love for him?
“I want you, too, more than anything, love.”
With a giggle, she cupped his balls. “I could tell.”
He let out a low, guttural sound of pleasure as their lips pressed together again.
Their heated embrace continued as he backed her toward the settee by the fire.
The flickering flames cast a warm, golden glow that danced across their entangled bodies.
With a strong yet tender hold, he lifted her effortlessly and settled her onto his lap.
As his lips trailed from her mouth to her jawline and collarbone, he nipped her and ran his tongue along the places to soothe them.
“I’m releasing your hair,” he murmured, his voice husky and filled with anticipation.
He tugged at the ribbon that held her hair captive, allowing her luscious locks to cascade down her back. The silky strands tickled his fingertips as they cascaded through his hands.
She tugged at his cravat and discarded it, the fabric floating through the air before landing behind them.
Shifting her hand underneath his coat, she pushed it off his shoulders.
He helped her to rid him of it and his short coat.
As she trailed her tongue up his neck, the faint scent of vanilla from her hair intoxicated his senses and his cock throbbed.
She captured his earlobe between her teeth, eliciting a low growl from him.
His head tilted back, exposing his neck to her eager lips.
Her fingers skillfully worked the buttons of his shirt, the anticipation building.
His voice, rough with desire, broke through the haze. “Please tell me I get to undress you.”
“Good things come to those who wait.” Kissing his neck, she pushed his shirt down his arms and soon it joined the other garments.
He groaned, and she slid her fingers down his chest and stomach until she reached his falls. He put his hand over hers.
“My turn.”
His desire to see her and touch her was overwhelming.
In response, she leaned in and kissed him, their mouths melding together as she massaged the muscles on his chest.
Breaking their kiss, he set her on her feet.
Evan rid himself of his boots and socks as fast as he could before taking her in his arms. He pushed her dressing robe off her shoulders and let it fall to the floor.
He kissed her left shoulder and pulled the ribbon ties of her night rail strap with his teeth.
The one side fell and exposed her ample breast.
He cupped her and ran his thumb over the tight bud, pulling a moan from her lips. “Yes, Evan.” He dipped his head, his tongue flicking her nipple before he greedily took it into his mouth, a loud cry escaping her lips.
“You must be quiet, love,” Evan whispered.
With delicate precision, he focused his attention on the other strap of her night rail, his tongue teasingly tracing circles around her nipple.
The soft fabric of her garment slid down her hips, revealing her supple form in all its naked glory.
As it pooled at her feet, Evan grasped her hands, his eyes glistening with desire, and took a step back to appreciate the sight before him, illuminated by the fire’s warm flickering glow.
“I know you don’t like compliments,” he said, “but I assure you that you are the most beautiful, perfect, captivating woman there ever was or will be. I can’t believe you will be mine.” To curb any attempt to argue with him, he kissed her again, then urged her to sit on the settee.
He knelt to the floor, positioning himself between her parted legs. Her breath quickened as she leaned forward to meet his lips in a passionate kiss. When he broke their kiss, his tongue and lips began their sensual exploration of her body.
Starting with the delicate skin of her neck, he left a trail of warm kisses and gentle nibbles, eliciting soft moans from her lips.
Moving down to her breasts, he caressed them with his mouth before shifting her torso back to rest against the back of the settee.
This new position granted him full access to her stomach, which he lavished with tender kisses and teasing licks, savoring the taste of her skin.
Continuing his journey downward, he inched ever closer to his destination.
Pushing her legs open wider, he flicked her delicate pearl with his tongue. She moaned and clasped her hand over her mouth. “Shall I continue?”
She nodded.
“Good to know I can render you speechless.”
He didn’t tease her any longer and returned his attention to tasting her.
Licking and circling her pearl before dipping his tongue inside her while she shook and stifled her moans.
The moment his finger entered her, her body responded immediately, her hips moving rhythmically.
She was so wet and ready for him, and he was unable to resist any longer.
Evan stood before her and pulled her to join him. “We should move to the bed.”
She licked her lips, and his cock jumped.
“I don’t want to,” she said.
“What do you mean? Do you not wish to go further until we are married?” He panicked. Was this not what she intended? He would stop, of course, but he wanted her more than he wanted to breathe.
“That’s not what I said.” She kissed him and shifted him so that his back was to the settee, then pushed against him. He fell onto the cushion, and she straddled him.
“I don’t want to move to the bed,” she said.
This vixen was going to be the death of him. He needed to make this good for her and not think about how much he enjoyed her body on top of his.
“Marina, it’s your first time. You’d be more comfortable on the bed.”
“Why don’t you let me decide what I want for my first time?”
“Marina, I—”
“Do you want to argue about this right now, or would you like to see what I want?”
She had him there. Why should he argue? He would much rather find out what she had planned.
“What is it you want? I would give you anything.” If he didn’t have her soon, he might explode.
“I need you to remove your breeches, though. So, I think you will need to stand.”
He was back on his feet in less than a second and shifted his hands to his falls, but she stopped him.
“Let me.”
She worked the buttons, and every touch of her hand taunted and teased him. She slid his breeches over his hips and knelt before him as they fell to the floor.
“Marina…”
“It’s only fair,” she said, gazing up at him. “It’s been far too long.”
This woman wasn’t just a fiery vixen, she was a siren. A goddess. Most importantly, she was his.
He couldn’t speak to argue with her, especially when she was stroking his cock with her hand. She encouraged him to step out of his pant legs and she tossed them away.
The next thing he felt was her tongue running along the head of his cock before she took it into her mouth, sucking on the tip.
“Oh God, Marina.”
She took him deeper into her mouth, using her tongue with skill that he would question how she possessed if he didn’t know he was the only one who had seen her thus.
Instinctively, his hands shot into her hair, guiding her movement up and down his shaft.
He exercised restraint to keep from pumping himself in and out of her mouth until he came with her lips wrapped around his cock.
But not that night. Not when he wished to experience their climax together.
He glanced down at her, and she was enjoying herself.
She had slipped a hand between her legs, pleasuring herself while she tasted him.
He growled and pulled back, or else he would explode.
“Marina, I need you. May I take you to the bed now?” He pulled her to stand and placed a few kisses along her jaw.
“No.” She placed her hands flat against his chest and pushed him back, so he plopped onto the settee again. She straddled him, his throbbing cock jutting up between them. “I want you like this.”
“It may hurt more like this. It is going to hurt your first time.”
“I don’t care.”
“Marina…”
She licked and nipped along his collarbone, and he couldn’t think straight when she did so.
“Arguing again?” she asked. “I should warn you that I won’t relent.” She slipped her hand around his cock and stroked him. Then she stopped. “Unless you don’t want to.”
“I want to very much, love. We must go slow. You will need to adjust to me.”
She nodded and came up on her knees so she could position herself over him. He guided his cock to her opening and encouraged her to let herself take more of him. Only the tip of him was inside her, and it was already exquisite.
“Take more of me as you feel ready to. It will never hurt again after this time.”
She sat lower and lower on his cock and his head rolled back from the combination of pleasure and torture. The anticipation was maddening, yet it was the most tantalizing thing he’d ever experienced.
It had never been like this before, and he knew this was the only woman for him, as long as he lived. He felt her tense when he broke through her maidenhead.
“Are you all right, love?” he asked, concern evident in his brow.
“Yes. It only hurts a little.”
He kissed her, attempting to distract her from the pain.
Slipping his fingers between them, he swirled light circles around her pearl.
She moaned into their kiss and deepened it before fully seating herself on his shaft.
Massaging her tongue against his, she rocked her hips against him.
As she intensified her movements, her head arched backward, granting him unrestricted access to her breasts.
He eagerly took advantage, suckling on her nipple and kneading her breasts while she straddled him.
He grabbed her hips and aided her in her movements.
“Yes, Evan. God, yes. Just like that.”
Evan smiled, relishing his name on her lips, begging for more. He continued shifting her up and thrust upward inside of her. He would never tire of her and wanted every day of their marriage to be just like this.
She took him hard and deep with each thrust, which increased in speed. They were both panting, and sweet moans escaped from her lips.
“Evan, I’m going to…”
“Yes. Come for me, love. I can’t until you do.” It might kill him, but he needed her to shatter first.
Her head fell back, her long hair hanging behind her, and he fought not to spend from the sight of her. She lowered her chin and caught his gaze, the intensity shone in her expression. “Tell me you are mine,” she whispered.
“I am yours. I have always been yours,” he replied, leaning forward to kiss her, increasing the pace of his thrusts.
He knew the moment her orgasm came, when she tightened and convulsed around him. She cried out, and he silenced her with his kiss, exploding inside of her as she milked the climax from his body. They both stilled, and she collapsed against him.
Stroking her hair, he kissed her forehead and wrapped his arms around her to keep her close. After a few moments, she shivered.
“May I take you to bed now? So, I might hold you and warm your bed.”
“Yes.” She flashed him a sweet smile.
“Finally. You are going to be the death of me.”
“You love me.” She nuzzled his neck.
“I do,” he replied. “You’re right.”
He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. He opened his mouth to ask her if she loved him, too, but she removed herself from his lap and he shut it again.
Evan followed behind her. “Wait a moment. I must help you clean up. There will be blood.” He found her wash basin and a couple clean cloths. He wet them before he turned toward her. “Let me help you.”
With a gentle touch, he cleaned her most delicate place. Once he was satisfied that he got everything, he cleaned himself.
“I hope your maid is discreet. There will be no doubt what occurred,” he said.
“Millie won’t say anything. Mama suspected you would visit tonight.”
He laughed. “So your mother knew I might bed her daughter, and she didn’t object? I think I like this family.”
Marina shrugged. “She said it was the way of love matches.”
Did that mean she loved him? She had to love him. If only she’d say the words.
She climbed into her bed and left him plenty of room. She patted the spot next to her. “Are you going to join me?”
“Nothing could keep me away.”
He slid into bed next to her and pulled the covers over them. She settled against him, laying her cheek on his chest.
“I must be out before the sun comes up,” he said.
“I know. But you aren’t climbing down that lattice again. I won’t risk you injuring yourself.”
He knew better than to argue with her. He would lose every time, and if their efforts that night were an indication of the consolation prize he’d receive for his loss, he would live a contented life.
“Are you sore, love?” he asked.
“A bit, but I’ll be all right. At least I won’t be sore for our wedding night now.”
“That’s my smart and beautiful vixen.” He kissed her forehead. “I hate bringing you any pain. Take a hot bath in the morning. It should help.”
“If only you could join me.”
“Indeed, love.” He turned his head so he could see her face. “How did you know to do all of those wonderful things tonight? Don’t tell me your mother told you that, too?”
She laughed and playfully patted his chest. “Of course not. Diana found a book that showed many positions and ways that a man and woman could be together. I remembered a few especially interesting things.”
“What else did you learn from this book?” he asked.
“Good things come to those who wait,” she repeated.
She kissed his chest and said nothing else. Once they married, they may not leave their bedchamber for several days if he could help it. Perhaps weeks.
Her breathing slowed and followed a steady rhythm.
The sight of her asleep on his chest and her hair splayed out behind her filled him with emotion.
She was exquisite. As he listened to her, he cherished the sensation of having his arms wrapped around the woman who would be his forever.
He closed his eyes, and within seconds, he drifted off to sleep.