His tongue softly stroked hers, mirroring the touch of his hand on her arm. He pulled back. “If I do something that makes you uncomfortable, please let me know.”
“I will.”
His tongue entered her lips again, and he wished he was entering her below, but it wasn’t time yet. He wanted to make sure she was ready.
Grabbing her hips, he pulled her closer to him. She went willingly, her thin nightgown and his trousers the only things separating them from complete intimacy. The strokes of his tongue grew bolder, sweeping across the roof of her mouth.
She answered with passionate strokes of her own, her tongue knowing what to do. It made him grow hard, the heat building in his belly. Was she feeling the spark as well? The sexual tension between them was so strong he didn’t know how much longer he could hold out without losing his mind. He groaned softly, the sound swallowed up by her mouth.
He caressed her skin, exploring her body further, slowly migrating from her hips to her bottom, and he gave her a gentle squeeze.
Her eyes popped open. “Oh.”
Holding back a laugh, he gave her another gentle squeeze. “Get used to it, honey, because I love your luscious bottom.”
He resumed kissing her, his tongue continuing to ravish her mouth. Holding her felt heavenly, but he wanted more. Groaning loudly, he pulled her nightgown up to expose her thighs. He pushed her onto her back, his body hovering above hers. “Are you ready?”
She nodded. His heart fluttered. It is time. Shucking off his trousers, he straddled her, one hand stroking her inner thigh, while the other cupped her generous breast. Lying with her would be completely different than the horizontal refreshments who trailed after the army. She wasn’t throwing herself at him for a slice of his pay; she was offering herself to him, her innocence.
“Your skin feels like silk, so delicate. Please tell me if I hurt you.” He wanted her to enjoy this as much as possible.
All his times had been with experienced women. Now, with a virgin, he’d have to restrain his passion. It would be a difficult task not to have lust override reason, but he could do it for her. He entered her tight passage with his finger and began thrusting inside her, wanting her to get use to the sensation.
She gasped. Whether it was from pleasure or shock he didn’t know, but she didn’t tell him to stop. He worked a second finger inside her passage, trying to stretch her some, preparing her for his cock. Feeling her warm, tight, moist flesh made him desire more. He groaned just at the thought of entering her.
“How are you doing, Sophia?” he asked.
“Oh. Good.” She panted.
At least she was finding pleasure in the movement of his fingers. The rise and fall of her bosom enticed him, and he wished he’d had her undress, taken in her naked beauty. Next time he’d feel all her skin. Her ample bosom tempted him and he planted a kiss between them.
She sighed and he licked the rosy bud. Gasping, she arched off the bed.
He tweaked her nipple and she moaned. Her juices coated his fingers. Her mound now slick for him, he didn’t have to wait any longer.
Sophia wasn’t going to tell Lucas how good it felt to have his fingers inside her there. It didn’t seem right, but she didn’t want him to stop. She reached out to grab his hard shoulders and he grinned.
Her husband seemed to enjoy her touch as much as she enjoyed his. That was a good thing in a marriage. She wanted to touch him, more than just his shoulders. Soon she knew he’d invade her body with more than just his fingers.
She felt herself building up to something although she didn’t know what. The tingling sensation between her thighs grew stronger and she mewled. It felt like her heart was trying to jump out of her chest.
Withdrawing his fingers, he rolled on top of her, settling between her spread thighs. His weight pressing against her, she knew it was time. He cupped her face in his hands, whispering, “I can’t wait any longer, honey.” His breath fanned her lips, increasing her desire. “I hope you enjoy this.”
Not knowing what she should do, she nodded once. She had so many questions…but it was too late to ask. Not that she could form them into words anyway. How would his manhood feel inside her? The skin looked soft, but she didn’t dare touch it.
Lucas guided her hands to his shoulders. “Grip on to me tight.”
He pressed hard against her passage, moving his manhood inside her an inch at a time. Covering her mouth with his, he plunged his tongue into her mouth deep as he broke through the barrier and sank all the way inside her.
She tried to scream, but he merely swallowed the sound. Maybe that’s why he had kissed her.
Pain seared through her and she pushed against his shoulders. How long would he be inside her?
“I’m sorry it hurts,” he whispered, “but it will get better.”
He pulled back, and she felt his manhood leave her body. Before she could enjoy the relief, he plunged back inside her. Her mouth gaped and she cried out more from shock than pain. It hurt less this time. Soon he set a rhythm thrusting into her with his manhood just as he had done with his fingers. She slowly relaxed into the rhythm, aiding his efforts, moving her hips in time with his. The feeling of him inside her quickly turned from awkward to pleasant. Oh, so pleasant!
“That’s it, honey,” he said.
She drank in his encouragement and the love in his eyes. The same sensation she’d felt earlier grew strong inside her; she was building up toward something. The tingling sensation was so strong, she thought her body would break…something popped inside her and she screamed, ecstasy washing over her.
Lucas let out a loud groan and sank inside her a final time, his body trembled and then he collapsed on top of her. They’d truly become one in mind, spirit, and now body.
“Oh, Lucas,” she panted in the midst of the aftershocks, their bodies tangled together.
“You were wonderful,” he said, and kissed her heaving bosom. “I’ve been dreaming about this moment for a long time.”
“Me, too,” Sophia said, her breathing gradually returning to normal.
Maybe, if she was lucky, they’d just conceived a baby. She wanted his horse farm to prosper with colts and children. Deep down she knew it would. Everything would be possible through their love.
Epilogue
One year later…
Sophia couldn’t believe it was their anniversary already. While most men might forget the importance of such a date—her Lucas remembered. “I have a surprise for you,” he said, grinning. “But you have to do something for me first.”
“What?” she asked, wondering if it involved taking off her clothes. She’d given him his present after breakfast. A timepiece with their wedding date inscribed on the back. She’d yet to get pregnant, so their wedding day was currently the only one worth commemorating.
“Put on your best dress,” Lucas said, the heat in his gaze all for her.
Sophia placed her hands on her hips. “My best dress is my wedding dress. I shouldn’t—”
He kissed her lips stopping her protest. “No reason for it just to hang in the closet.”
Knowing it wasn’t worth arguing about, she changed. She ran her hands over the folds of the green dress. Even hanging in the closet, it had accumulated some wrinkles. If she would have known Lucas had wanted her to wear it on their anniversary, she would have ironed it earlier.
Silently, she looked at him, an eyebrow raised. He had something up his sleeve, although she didn’t know what.
“You have to come to the barn for your present,” he said, taking her by the hand.
“The barn? What did you do, Lucas Grady, buy me a horse? You know I can’t very well ride all the ones we have now.”
He laughed. “Not a horse, I promise. Although I do recall you telling me you liked them.”
“Yes, I like all of them. It pains me when you have to sell a single one.”
He chuckled even harder. “I couldn’t keep the ranch running if I let you make every one a pet, d
ear.”
“I suppose.” She pretended to pout.
He stopped at the door, still holding her hand. “All right close your eyes. And keep them closed.”
“Lucas Grady, is this really necessary?”
“Yes. Now please close your eyes.” He kissed her cheek.
She obeyed and he opened the door. With his assistance, she carefully descended the porch stairs; she resisted the urge to peek. Lucas had a tight grip on her hand, and she knew he wouldn’t let her trip. Keeping her eyes closed, she let him lead her.
The barn smelled different, perfume and scented soap mixed in with the hay. Her heart raced; there were people here. Even without looking she could feel their attention on her.
He dropped his hand. “All right you can open your eyes now.”
When she opened her eyes, her chest warmed. The barn had been cleaned and transformed into a bright and cheerful atmosphere. Lanterns hung from the rafters and a refreshment table stood along the far side. John stood by the table, glass of punch already in hand. He raised it to them. She scanned the crowd, seeing Cole and Mason and the ladies from church. All her friends greeted her with smiling faces.
“Happy first anniversary,” Lucas said, giving her a hug.
“I…thank you.” There was seldom a dull moment being married to Lucas, but she hadn’t expected such a grand gesture. To go through all this trouble in her honor—their honor.
Her mother-in-law rushed to greet them. “Isn’t this wonderful? I’m so happy for you. You should enjoy whatever time together you have as a couple before a baby comes. I didn’t have that luxury.”
Sophia blushed, and all this time she thought she’d been letting the Gradys down by not giving them a grandchild.
“I’d like to thank you all for coming,” Lucas said, addressing the crowd. “Feel free to make yourselves comfortable, and I hope you all have a good time. But before the party begins, I hope you don’t mind if my wife and I have the first dance.”
Their friends clapped and Lucas motioned to the two men standing beside some hay bales, fiddles in hand.
“I can’t believe you did all this,” Sophia said as Lucas led her into the middle of the dance floor.
“Any excuse to dance with you works for me.”
The chords of a slow song began, and Sophia lost herself in the music and the feel of being in her husband’s arms. Toward the end she rested her head on Lucas’s shoulder. “Thank you for making me feel like Cinderella again.”
Lucas’s green eyes sparkled. “It is my pleasure. I don’t quite look like Prince Charming in my Sunday best, but I hope you don’t mind.”
“Nope,” she said. “Even if Prince Charming walked into the barn right now, I’d have to turn him down. I’m already taken.”
Lucas laughed. “Now that’s what a man likes to hear from his wife.” He softly kissed her cheek. “I love you, Sophia, and I always will.”
~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~
Haley Whitehall lives in Washington State where she enjoys all four seasons and the surrounding wildlife. She writes historical romance set in the 19th century U.S. When she is not researching or writing, she plays with her cats, watches the Western and History Channels, and goes antiquing. She is hoping to build a time machine so she can go in search of her prince charming. A good book, a cup of coffee, and a view of the mountains make her happy.
You can visit Haley at:
[email protected]
Rugged Hearts by Amanda McIntyre
Rugged, quiet, hardworking, Wyatt takes his position as head of the Kinnison family seriously. But the scars of betrayal by the women to whom he once trusted his heart now prompt his stark, simple game plan, and no one in hell is going to convince him any differently. What matters most, besides the welfare of his brothers, is to manage the ranch left to him and never risk his heart again to something as foolish as love—but after meeting Aimee, Wyatt begins to realize that a man should never say never to a determined second grade teacher.
When vivacious, resilient Aimee Worth loses her twin sister in a tragic accident, she makes the choice to live out her sister’s dream of teaching in the small mountain community called End of the Line, Montana, never suspecting she’d meet her Mr. Right in the middle of nowhere—he just doesn’t know it yet. Used to challenges, her spirit shatters the perceptions that have kept him isolated from living life beyond the ranch, proving to him that when it comes to love, the greatest risk is not taking one.
Lord Heartless by Tessa Berkley
An arranged marriage maybe the death of Lord Landon Montague who has earned his rude moniker, Lord Heartless, through the distaste of the Ton. When he makes plans to collect on a debt from Lord Charles Gilbert, by foreclosing on Holly Grove, Gilbert commits suicide. Only then does Lord Montague learn that Lord Gilbert has left his nineteen year old daughter, Juliet, at his mercy.
Lady Juliet Gilbert has suffered the stigma of suicide as best she could. But losing her home, the servants who have raised her and stood by her father's drinking would be the last straw. Unable to secure a position, Lord Montague's offer of marriage gives her hope. All she must do is produce an heir. But arriving at Broadmoor, proves more taxing than she anticipated for her dark Lord already holds an heir conceived out of wedlock.
Will this doom any hope of finding happiness and label him forever Lord Heartless or will London's society have its last laugh on Shakespeare and have a Montague win his fair Juliet?
Soldier in Her Lap Page 13