Chapter 1.30 #6
His gaze rested upon her curves—revealed through the thin sheet—remembering the feeling, the taste, and the form of every inch of her naked skin.
He had touched her, kissed her, tasted her, caressed her as he had never done before in his life—nor had he ever imagined he would do so with any woman, at least not before meeting Elizabeth.
He could recall precisely the day that he started to dream about her.
It was an evening at Lucas Lodge when she refused to dance with him.
Since then, countless times every night, she was present in his dreams, and he had loved her in every dream.
What a poor imagination he had and how easily the reality had surpassed it!
This night had proved it beyond any doubt.
And it was only the beginning; he was certain of that.
There was still so much he wanted to offer her and so much he could receive from her—so much passion and pleasure for them to share.
His eyes returned to her face, and he stroked it tenderly with the back of his fingers.
His thumb slightly brushed her lower lip.
It was swollen and bitten; she had done it in that wonderful moment when she reached the edge of her pleasure.
He licked his lower lip and felt a little mark there too, where she had bitten his lips at that same moment.
As if sensing he was staring, she moved, turning half on her back, offering to his greedy eyes the splendid view of her breasts—creamy, soft, and perfect in their roundness, their pink centres slightly hardened, begging for his touch.
Unconsciously, before his mind understood what happened, his hand lowered and his fingers brushed around them in tantalising circles, and he released a groan so loud that he was afraid he would wake her.
She sighed and then moaned softly under his caress, but in the next moment, she resumed her previous position, her breast pressing against his chest as she clung to him tightly.
He chuckled, and a smile of delight spread over his face. She looked so young, so innocent, so…sleepy that his tenderness overcame his passion. He kissed her hair, and she smiled in her sleep, whispering his name, her hands and legs circling him tighter.
His thoughts returned to more than a month ago—their first night together after the dreadful fight with his aunt—when she finally had fallen asleep in his arms after generously and lovingly forgiving him for his unfair behaviour.
That night, he had not believed it possible that his love, passion, and happiness would grow each day.
Yet grow it did, and it reached the highest peak that night.
How is it possible for a man to feel so much for a woman?
∞∞∞
A forceful thunderclap and rain hitting the window with increasing intensity startled Elizabeth, and she opened her eyes, a little confused about where she was.
A moment later, all the wonderful memories of the night flooded her.
She sighed deeply with an inner smile spreading over her lips, and her cheeks turned hot and crimson as she felt her naked body under the covers.
Then she remembered: she did not put her nightgown back on simply because after…
after he took me as his wife, they remained united, closely embraced.
He had only pulled the bedclothes over their bodies.
She had fallen asleep with her head on his bare chest, and she blushed again, remembering how wonderfully strong and warm his chest felt.
Not just his chest—all of him. He is so warm and strong and yet so tender…
my husband! Astonishingly, the sensations made her tremble as she recalled the exquisite feeling of having him inside her, and her body suddenly, shockingly burned and ached with her desire for him.
His arms, his hands, his lips, his tongue…
his entire body…that part of his body…different from what she knew, from what she imagined but so amazingly, so wonderfully suited to her…
inside her. My husband…Elizabeth stretched her arms and turned on the other side to be closer to him, but the bed was empty and cold.
He went to his own room, she thought, and a cold sense of loss and disappointment made her shiver.
She could not help calling him in a low voice. “William?” though she knew he could not hear her from his room. Why had he left?
“Yes, my love?” His voice was light and full of joy, and her heart pounded as she sat up, pulling the sheet around her.
He was there in the dark, kneeling before the fireplace, naked, the firelight dancing on the firm planes of his body. Her eyes opened widely, and she desperately struggled not to allow her gaze to fall below his waist.
“The fire died, and I was afraid the room would become too cold by morning. It will be ready in a moment.”
Mesmerised, she watched his strong, tall figure, lit only by the fire, move closer to her until he reached the bed and leaned over her, embracing her gently.
“I am sorry I did not cover myself. I thought you were sleeping. I hope I did not embarrass you too much.”
She put her arms around him, whispering with great effort to sound as light and teasing as he did. “No…not too much. I think I can bear it well enough.” Then her tone became grave, and she tightened her grip on him. “I thought you had gone.”
“Gone? Where would I have gone?”
“To your room.”
His fingers tipped her chin so he could search her eyes. “Do you want me to go to my room?”
“No…”
“Then I shall not. I shall never leave you as long as you want me beside you. I shall hold you in my arms every night, and your beautiful face will be the first thing I see when I wake up each morning.”
“We shall sleep together every night?”
“Not just sleep, my beloved. We shall make love every night until we fall asleep in each other’s arms…and then we shall wake up and love each other again as many times as we want.”
Her eyes held his, and he did not fail to see the change in her expression as he spoke. He could not hide his amusement and hurried to reassure her, as he thought he could understand her distress.
“My love, that is how I would like for it to be if you approve: to share our beds and our rooms. I told you as much long ago when we spent our first night together and the next morning in my letter with the roses. However, if you are displeased with this arrangement, I would gladly do as you wish. As for what I said about our lovemaking, you must not be frightened. I hope you know I would never force my will upon you, nor would I do anything without your consent.”
Her fingers pressed his lips, silencing him, as her eyes laughed at him. “Do I look displeased, Mr Darcy? Or frightened? Or do I appear inclined to refuse you my consent in anything?”
Her face was glowing, and her eyes sparkled with unconcealed delight, her cheeks slightly flushed under his intense stare. Her lips—intensely red from their shared passion—were twisted into a bright, teasing smile. His hands slid through her hair, framing her face so he could admire her fully.
“No, Mrs Darcy, you do not look displeased or frightened. You look beautiful…and quite happy.”
Her fingers moved and found their way into his hair, mirroring his gestures while she leaned even closer to him and the sheet slipped down from around her.
“That is because I am happy, Mr Darcy. I dare say I am the happiest woman in the world.”
Darcy leaned back against the pillows, pulling her with him. Her body was warm and daring, emanating passion and unconcealed desire. She moved until she laid atop him, and in an instant, his arms and legs imprisoned her.
“I cannot disagree with that, my dear wife; however, I believe that you cannot possibly be happier than I am.”
Elizabeth lowered her head until it was a few inches from his. Her eyes deepened into his adoring gaze, their hearts beating together in perfect rhythm while her lips whispered warmly only a moment before he captured them.
“It is settled then, my dear husband: we are to be the happiest couple in the world.”