Chapter 45
The wedding breakfast dragged on for Evan. Any other time, he would be happy to host a gathering for his closest friends and family. But at this moment, all he wanted was to be alone with Joanna.
However, his bride’s happy smile as she talked with her sister was enough reason to stay behind.
He also enjoyed it when Peter half-jokingly suggested teaching Aurelia and Penelope to fence.
Both ladies were thrilled at the idea. The viscountess and the dowager duchess were both scandalized at the thought.
Despite the merriment, he was relieved when the breakfast was over.
He let his mother and brother bid farewell to the guests and escort them to the door.
He grabbed Joanna and pulled her away from the crowd.
“Come along, little mouse,” he whispered in her ear.
“I am tired of waiting to claim what is mine.”
“Should we not say goodbye?” She had a mischievous grin on her face as she fell into step beside him, and he knew she was teasing him.
“They will understand,” he said. He stopped walking only to scoop her up into his arms.
She let out a small shriek of surprise, which quickly dissolved into giggles.
He carried her upstairs to his bedchamber—their bedchamber. He nudged the partially ajar door open with his shoulder and went inside, kicking it closed behind him. He lightly tossed her on the bed, where she bounced slightly while she laughed.
He gazed down at her. “You are so beautiful, my love,” he said. “All wrapped up for me like a present. I will enjoy opening you up.” He yanked off his cravat and tossed it to the ground before making quick work of his jacket and waistcoat.
Joanna watched him with hungry eyes as he undressed. She bit her bottom lip as he started to unbutton his shirt. While he undressed, she reached up to take off her veil, which she was still wearing.
“Don’t,” he said. “I want to undress you, and you are not going to deny me of my fun.” He had been fantasizing about her in his bed all morning, and now that he had her, he intended to take his time.
Joanna folded her hands in her lap and arranged herself so she was sitting primly on the edge of the bed, a slight smile playing on her lips.
He finished undressing, tossing his clothes carelessly on the floor, before advancing on her.
She didn’t move from the bed, instead looking up at him as he towered over her.
Evan smiled and gently reached up to unfasten her veil.
He folded it carefully and set it aside before using two of his fingers to beckon for her to stand up.
Joanna hopped to her feet. “I never thought I would see the day when you would become my lady’s maid.”
He smirked as he put his hands on her hips and turned her around so her back was facing him.
“Believe me, I am not.” He kissed her neck, right below her earlobe.
She sucked in her breath as goosebumps covered her skin.
He grinned, loving the sight of it. “I am merely toying with you, little mouse. Hawks toy with their food sometimes.” He unbuttoned her dress slowly, revealing the chemise she wore underneath.
His fingers brushed against her back, only separated from him now by her undergarments.
The dress fell to the floor. He picked it up and set it carefully to the side, just like the veil, before he took off her undergarments with a little more urgency. Despite his intention to go slow with her, the anticipation was killing him. He needed to see her naked now.
Finally, she stood before him, completely naked. His eyes raked over her body, from her curvy breasts with pert nipples to her luscious hips and smooth, creamy thighs. Her legs were closed, so her sex was only visible by the patch of soft, dark curls between her legs.
She looked up at him, her eyes dark with desire. “Do you like what you see?”
“Of course,” he growled. “But was there any doubt about that?” Before letting her respond, he grabbed her hips and picked her up effortlessly before tossing her onto the bed. “Spread your legs,” he commanded.
Joanna grinned and widened her legs to expose her sex. He knelt between her legs, taking his time to look at her. “So beautiful,” he muttered as he touched her sex. He grinned as he felt how wet she was. “So eager for me, aren’t you?”
She blushed. “Yes, I want you.” Her voice was surprisingly small. “Will it hurt?”
He paused. Her innocent question was a good reminder for him to go slow and gentle with her.
After all, she was still a virgin. Despite all of her bravado and mischievous demeanor, she was still quite innocent.
“It will,” he said softly. “There isn’t any way to avoid that.
But I will be gentle with you. I will make it feel good. ”
She gave him a shaky smile and nodded. “Forgive me. I suppose I am just a little nervous.”
“That’s reasonable. It’s your first time, after all.
” He teased her tight entrance with the tip of his index finger, tracing circles around it without actually pushing in.
“You don’t have to apologize for anything, my love.
Not here. Not with me.” He leaned down to kiss her gently.
All the possessive mischief left him now that he was reminded that this was her first time.
All he felt was a deep, aching tenderness and a longing to take care of her.
“I don’t want to disappoint you,” Joanna said. “Imagine going through the trouble of marrying someone only to find they bring you no pleasure in bed.”
He chuckled. “There is no possibility of your disappointing me. Don’t worry about that.” He leaned down and captured her lips with his own once more, before he started to trail kisses down her body. “Just relax, sweetheart. I will take care of you.”
Her skin was covered with goosebumps. Every kiss from him sent a delightful little shiver through his body, which only made his shaft ache with the need to be inside of her. But he restrained himself, determined to go slow with her.
He kissed her breasts. As he licked her nipples, she gasped softly. They hardened almost immediately under his tongue, which gave him a rush of pleasure. He kept going, pressing his lips against her stomach.
She whimpered a little, and her fingers threaded through his hair.
“So good for me,” he mumbled against her skin. “So beautiful and sweet.”
She was practically shaking as his mouth was on her. But as he started to tease her with his tongue, he slowly pushed his index finger inside of her.
Oh, she was tight. Her body stiffened up from the intrusion, and her grip on his hair tightened.
“It’s all right, sweetheart,” he said, looking up at her. Her face was flushed, and she panted hard as she looked at him with dark eyes full of desire. “Just relax for me.”
She nodded and leaned back against the pillows as he slowly pushed his finger in and out of her while he licked her sensitive little bud. He pushed the finger a little deeper every time, but she slowly relaxed.
After a moment, when she was ready, he added a second finger, careful to stretch her out and prepare her for him.
Her body started shaking from pleasure, and he knew she was about to climax. Just before she went over the edge, he pulled away from her.
She whined in response, and he chuckled. “I want you to come while I am inside you, my love. Not before.” He straightened up and positioned the tip of his shaft at her entrance as he gazed down at her.
Her eyes were slightly glazed over, and she bit her lip as he prodded at her entrance slightly. He searched for any sign of hesitance or reluctance and could not find any. He smiled down at her. “Are you ready for me, sweetheart?”
She nodded. “Please, Evan.”
Carefully, he pushed himself into her. She was still so tight, and she felt like absolute heaven. He groaned, restraining himself from completely burying himself in her.
Joanna gasped and grabbed at the blankets underneath her to ground herself. She winced a little, and he leaned forward to kiss her forehead, whispering reassurances to her.
“You are doing so well, my love,” he said, kissing her temple. “You are so perfect for me.” He captured her lips with his own and waited for her to relax again. Soon, the pain inside of her subsided, and he started to move his hips, thrusting into her over and over.
Joanna gasped. “Evan,” she cried out, her voice hoarse with need.
“Bloody hell,” he whispered. His voice sounded broken to his own ears. He kissed her neck as his thrusts sped up, unable to stop himself from chasing his own pleasure with her. He reached between them to play with her again. “Come for me,” he commanded. “Let go for me, sweetheart.”
Her body shuddered as she came, her eyes going wide with ecstasy. Her inner walls squeezed him, which was enough to send him over the edge. He inhaled sharply and buried his face in her neck as complete bliss overtook him and he came inside of her.
For a moment, they clung to each other as they returned to reality. The hazy bliss slowly cleared from his mind, and he eventually had enough wherewithal to pull out of her and roll onto his back.
Joanna curled up against him, shivering.
“Are you cold?” Quickly, he pulled the blankets over them both. “Are you all right, my love?”
Joanna nodded and kissed her chest. “That felt amazing,” she said. “I didn’t know it could feel that good.” She smiled up at him. “Although I suppose I would not have enjoyed it as much with any other partner.”
He grinned down at her, feeling a rush of satisfaction. “At least we know we don’t disappoint each other in bed.”
She giggled. “I knew you would not disappoint me. I was only worried about my own skill.”
“You were perfect, my love. But I never had any doubt about that.” He reached out to playfully tap her nose. “You are by far the best prey I have ever hunted.”
She grinned up at him. “And I am glad you are the one who hunted me.”
He leaned down to kiss her again, tenderly, as affection swelled inside of him. “I love you, my duchess,” he whispered softly. “I will love you for all eternity.”
She smiled up at him, her eyes already expressing her feelings, even as she opened her mouth to speak. “I love you, too, my duke. Forever and always.”