Chapter 20
Peter wok? slowly as dawn’s light crept in through the window.
They had fallen into bed exhausted the previous night after spending the whole day getting Cousin John to the local magistrate and giving their sworn testimony and tying up all of the loose ends before they finally returned home after dark.
The only thing Georgie had been able to tell him before they both fell into an exhausted sleep was that her rakhi had re-appeared in the otters’ coop.
The only explanation they could think of was that it had fallen off in the bedroom while she packed, and the otters had found it and hidden it in their basket to play with later when she had not been paying attention.
He looked down to where she rested in his arms, cuddled trustingly against his chest, and he tightened his grip. Before God, he would never make her feel unwanted or alone ever again.
She murmured a little before her eyes fluttered open. For a moment, she seemed puzzled by his presence. “Hello.”
“Good morning.” He brushed a soft kiss across her full lips, and she sighed.
“The otters… ?”
“Are safely ensconced in the drawing room for now. Robby is fascinated with them and has been saving kitchen scraps in the hope you will allow him to help feed them.”
“Perhaps I will.” She snuggled closer, breath warm against his sensitive throat.
Her hand skimmed across his chest, and she reached up to cradle his stubbled cheek.
As she pulled his head to hers for a more thorough kiss, he held back for a moment.
He was already aching for her, hard and ready, but he could not go further without making his apology.
He had already hurt her once by not speaking to her. He never wanted to do it again.
“Georgie, you must know how sorry I am. I’m sorry I made you feel unwanted, or abandoned. I was selfish. And… and thoughtless.”
“You were.” She contemplated him for another moment, and her solemn expression made his heart sink. Perhaps she was not ready to forgive him after all.
And then a slow, sultry grin spread across her face, and he knew all would be well.
“Show me how sorry you are,” she murmured.
She tugged his head the last inch toward hers and kissed him, a luscious, warm kiss that shot straight down his spine. He pulled her against him, reveling in the feel of her through her fine lawn nightgown, letting his hands roam over her as they both tugged the garment up and off.
He had never seen her in the daylight, and he could not stop staring. Her skin glowed like autumn leaves in the light, breasts crowned with darker brown nipples that began to harden as he watched.
Swallowing hard, he sat up to pull off his own nightshirt, eyes still feasting on her, unable to look away, pushing the covers down so he could see all of her. She squirmed, and he leaned down for an apologetic kiss.
“You’re so beautiful. I can’t help but stare.” He lay a series of kisses along her skin that glided from her mouth to her throat to her collarbone. She arched against him, purring and gasping as he worked his way down to her breasts.
He already knew from their week of treacle moon how much she enjoyed his attentions there, so he doubled what he had done before, licking, suckling, nibbling as she writhed beneath him.
He slid lower, smoothing his rough cheek over her soft belly before gliding his mouth over her again. He wanted to devour her, consume her until she was fully a part of him, flesh of his flesh.
He moved lower still. He kissed the border between the silky skin of her abdomen and the rougher curls that shielded her most sensitive parts, breathing in the scent of her arousal.
Georgie’s scent. She reached a hand down to tangle in his hair, turning his face up to her. He could see she was puzzled.
He had only read of what he wanted to do in books. Millie had laughed at his expression when she had described it.
But now he understood the appeal of wanting to unselfishly pleasure one’s wife.
“There is something else we can try,” he said. “Something lovers do. Something I was too nervous to try before.”
“Too nervous?”
“Yes.” He kissed her belly again, punctuating his words with kisses, and she writhed. “Even though we were learning together, I still felt I needed to lead. To pretend I knew more than I did. To not ask what you might like because I might not know how to please you. And now...”
His lips skimmed past the place he ached to explore. He planted a kiss on each hip. Glided his fingers and then his mouth down her thighs, teasing and exploring spots he had not encountered before. Watching her in the morning light allowed him to see every gasp, every quiver as he touched her.
“You’re so beautiful, Georgie.”
He nudged her knees, urging her to spread her legs wider as he moved to prop himself up on his elbows between them.
She half-raised her head from the pillow, eyes dazed. “What …”
He slid his palms up her thighs and spread her with his thumbs, marveling at how beautiful she was here. How beautiful she was everywhere, to him. He leaned down and inhaled, drawing her intoxicating scent into his lungs.
“I don’t know what to call this,” he said, letting his breath wash over her. “This place here. All the words I know are too harsh for such beauty.”
Before she could reply, he leaned the last small distance and licked the secret flesh he had revealed.
Her moan was more of a shriek, and her hands lifted to tangle in his hair.
She seemed unsure whether to stop him or urge him on, so he settled the matter by running the flat of his tongue over her, delicately exploring this new territory.
He cupped her bottom in his hands and followed what her cries and her body told him she liked, pressing a little harder here, sucking gently there, creating a rhythm that was echoed in her flesh, quivers growing stronger until she cried out, a rush of liquid against his tongue as he slowed his movements.
She tugged at his hair and he kissed his way back up her body. His cock ached to thrust into her, but he still paused to play with her breasts again until her hands grew more insistent and pulled him up for a searing kiss that shook him to his very soul.
He cupped her face in his hands and her eyes fluttered open.
“I love you, Georgie.”
Her only response was a wicked grin.
And then, to his shocked delight, she pushed at his shoulders, rolled him onto his back, and climbed atop him, straddling his body.
Panting, Georgie looked down at her husband. Everything that had divided them fell away for her in that moment. She felt wild and free, an animal enjoying her mate. Knowing she was safe with him, that he would always protect her even above himself, only aroused her more.
She kissed him until he groaned against her mouth. She slowly ground herself against his erection, her body gliding against his. She could taste herself on his tongue.
She pulled back a little, and he grinned at her from his position beneath her, his face flushed with passion.
“Did you look at the book again?” he said with a teasing grin.
“Perhaps.” A little of her bravado faded, and she said, “I’m not… I don’t quite…”
“Shhh. We can puzzle it out.”
It took some fumbling and laughter, but at last the right spot was found, and they both gasped as the head of his cock pushed into her.
“Yes. There.” She pressed down harder, tilting her hips at different angles until she suddenly slid down his length and their bodies met. They both gasped, and Georgie braced her hands against his chest, fire racing up her spine at the feeling of him so deep inside her.
“I don’t know what to do,” she said plaintively, and opened her eyes to look down at his avid face, his eyes burning as they roamed over her.
“Do whatever feels best for you,” he said hoarsely, his hands stroking her hips without directing her. “Anything you want.”
Taking a deep breath, Georgie began to move.
Slowly at first, and then more quickly as he groaned beneath her, hips bucking against hers.
Their movements turned into an effortless glide of pleasure, giving and taking in equal measure.
Her hands braced on his shoulders as she soared higher and higher, a tight spiral forming itself in her abdomen until she shattered with pleasure.
She cried out even as he rolled her to her back and thrust frantically until he gushed into her.
His head dropped to the hollow of her shoulder and she held him fiercely, wrapping her arms and legs around him.
She was astonished and moved by what they had just experienced.
She had lost herself in seeking out her own fierce pleasure.
With that pleasure ebbing, she feared he would reject her for being too bold.
At last he raised his head, and she saw that his eyes brimmed with tears. He rolled them to the side, their bodies still connected, and kissed her again.
“Never leave me, Georgie. Please. It would destroy me. Even one night away from you was torture.”
“Never,” she vowed, and kissed him.