by Ella Edon
He groaned against her lips, and that action made her blush. It showed how much he wanted her. Footsteps echoed in the hallway. She could hear it faintly, because of the noise from the ballroom, but she heard it nonetheless.
"Henry, someone is coming."
He moved away from her, slowly, as though taking his time. She instantly missed the warmth of his body and she wanted so badly to simply fall back into his arms.
Instead she placed her hands on his, and he lowered his face, while looking at her, to kiss both her hands. She shuddered at the contact.
"You are beautiful."
Her cheeks reddened immediately and her heart pounded. She wondered who it was that had been walking through the hallway.
"Thank goodness you are here, Blackmoor. It is time to introduce her." The Earl's voice broke through. Emma clenched her teeth.
Henry closed his eyes in frustration, but he replied, "of course."
Emma held on to him as they both walked down the staircase.
"I've seen Lady Allen. She's in a purple dress. Exquisitely dressed." The Earl eyed Emma’s dress. "Yours looks quite fashionable. To her taste. She will find you worthy I think."
Emma sighed. Beside her, Henry growled.
"You must engage her in a conversation as quickly as you can, Emma. Have eyes only for her. Your friendship would blossom from there." The Earl continued unpertubed.
Emma nodded curtly. Once again, the Earl had ruined something magical. She gazed up at Henry, hoping that he would be looking down at her. Instead, he was looking towards the entrance to the ballroom. His lips twitched as he did. He was angry and it was taking all his willpower for him to hide it. Emma didn't want any issues. She just wanted to get through the evening.
"Let us proceed, Henry."
He looked down at her then. And she thought she saw a ghost of a smile on his lips. It pleased her.
"Of course," he responded.
They walked, hands hooked into arms, into the ballroom. All the collected heads turned as they did. She watched as ladies tapped others and gestured towards them. Lords called on to Lords, and soon, everyone was staring at both she and Henry. Her heart began to pound again. Henry took a glass from Mr. Anders, who held a glass before him. And then, he raised it in the air.
"Good evening, I introduce my wife, Lady Emma Blackmoor."
Everyone clapped their hands as he said this. "It is from the depth of my heart that I offer my sincerest apologies that you were not able to attend our wedding, but tonight we can have a grand affair to celebrate. Enjoy the rest of the evening."
"A toast to the newlyweds!" A voice called from behind.
And the gathered crowd chorused. "A toast to the newlyweds!"
Then chattering began again. Attentions were averted. Their moment had passed.
"I shall proceed to find the Duchess,” Emma told Henry.
Henry nodded curtly. "Of course. We shall see each other later tonight?"
Her eyes searched his. What did he mean by that? "Perhaps," she decided to respond.
He smiled. It was a broad smile and it reached his eyes. Her cheeks felt hot. She had made him smile, despite his foul mood. She curtsied and turned away from him.
She began to walk through the crowd of people. She knew not one, but heads seemed to turn as she walked on. Still, her eyes searched for one person. Her target.
Emma spotted her then, by the door, her fan was out and covered part of her face. Her green eyes scanned the room.
"Your Grace." Emma smiled as she approached.
Lady Allen let her fan down and smiled at Emma. "Lady Blackmoor. How lovely to see you again."
"Likewise. I wasn’t sure you would come."
Lady Allen frowned. "Why? I did make a promise that I would, didn't I?"
"I suppose, but I wasn't certain. I thought that you might be otherwise engaged, I’m sure receive many invitations."
She shook her head. "I don’t accept an invitation lightly, I mean what I say. This is a fine ball that has been thrown in your honour."
Emma blushed and curtsied. "Thank you. Although, I saw no need for it really."
"I do understand your sentiments. I would have felt the same way too."
"I begin to think that we are kindred spirits."
Lady Allen laughed. She made use of her fan immediately. "Pardon my manners — or lack of in this case. I tend to let my laughter float in the air. Quite a shame. My mother used to tell me that a Lady should laugh lowly in public. I never did listen too well, did I?"
Emma found her funny. She chuckled. "Your laugh is just beautiful."
Lady Allen looked around the room. "So tell me who made the guestlist?"
"You were my only invitation, Henry took care of the rest, I don't know anyone else."
Lady Allen nodded. "Fair enough. I must make excuses for His Grace, he found he would be engaged elsewhere this evening."
Emma sucked in a breath, she seemed to be implying he hadn’t wanted to come. She felt strange, discussing His Grace with her. She wondered if she would have to tell the Earl about such a meaningless mention of the Duke. Emma wanted so badly for the ball to end, so she could retire to her bed chamber and leave this scheming to her father-in-law.
“You should dance with your husband. I see him making his way over here," Lady Allen whispered beside her.
Emma looked sideways. Henry was indeed walking over. His gaze didn't waver as he closed in. Her heart leaped as he stopped before her. He acknowledged the Duchess briefly. Emma giggled at this.
"May I have this dance, My Lady?"
Emma nodded. He took her hands in his, he raised them until they touched his lips, and then he led her towards the center of the dance floor.
"You look breathtaking."
Emma blushed. "You had said that I was beautiful before."
Henry nodded. "And perhaps I need to show you that you are. "
People moved aside for them. They stopped at the very center and began to dance. Emma felt self-conscious as everyone watched their every move and gesture. Being close to Henry made her feel so much at once.
"Emma, let me make love to you," he whispered when he pulled her close. "Tonight."
Emma held her breath. "I don't know... I… "
"Do you want me to touch you? "
"Henry..."
Despite her reservation, Emma felt deep inside her, the need to hold him close.
When the dance ended and applause rang throughtout the ballroom. Henry kept hold of her, even as everyone averted their eyes expecting an intimate moment.
"Let's leave, Emma. Let's leave here, please." He whispered urgently.
Emma wanted to. She wanted to take his hand and flee, but she wondered where the Earl was, what he would do if he discovered them.
Henry seemed to read her thoughts, for he moved closer to her still, nestling his head against hers, Emma heard some scandalized whispers.
"Do not worry about my father. You have done your part to perfection, our time is now our own."
Emma felt heat up rise up through her spine. Her knees wobbled, and she knew that she needed to leave with him. She wanted him. Emma looked back at where the Duchess had been, and she was shocked to see she was nowhere in sight. She was indeed released of her duty. Her heartbeat increased. She had never felt the need for the touch of man before, but Henry made her feel it. He made her that it was right for her skin to heat up whenever he was near. It was right for him to kiss her and make her toes curl. Her heart soared. She wanted this, as much as he did. She turned back to Henry and nodded once, her cheeks flaming.
"We'll leave when the ball is over, Henry. It would not be polite before then."
"You're right. But as soon as the ball is over, we leave together."
"Yes."
She saw the light in his eyes at her response. Her body danced with excitement, but her heart was afraid of what would happen and of how it would happen. When he looked back at her, she realized that she also wondered wh
at it all meant, them, together, in a bed chamber. Alone. She tried to calm her heart as he led her through more introductions, she barely found her words and certainly did not retain any faces or names. They would be together, after the ball.
* * *
The moment Henry closed the door behind him, Emma knew what was to come next. She readied herself for it. He pulled her close and kissed her. She let him do so. His lips pressed against hers, hot and wanting. She felt his need. She also had a need, which was why she kissed him back with as much fierceness as he kissed her. They broke apart, panting. Henry gestured to her dress. "Perhaps it is best we do away with that?"
Not trusting that she would say anything understandable, she simply nodded. He walked around her and stood behind to loosen her dress from her body, then letting it drop. She stepped out of it and turned so that she was facing him. She pulled him to her this time, kissing him. She let him touch her all over. He raised her so that she would wrap herself around him. He walked them over to the bed and laid her down gently.
She didn't like that he was fully clothed, so she gestured to his coat. Henry nodded. He began to undo the buttons. While he did, he watched her, just as she watched him, both with hungry eyes. He was soon done with the coat, and while he undid his inner shirt, he kicked off his boots. He began to make his way over to her, she widened her legs, so that he could come to rest between them and then he kissed her.
She moved her hands through his hair, because it fascinated her. Everything about him fascinated her. He moved his lips away from her mouth soon enough, so that he ventured down to her neck and kissing it with passion. She moaned as he did this. His hands circled her breasts, through the cotton of the chemise she wore. She felt her nipples harden at the touch, but she did not want him to stop. Her hands slipped around his waist, to pull him closer, because it felt as though she could not get enough of him.
He raised the cotton dress, and slipped his hands under, so that his hands came in contact with the flesh of her breasts . She bucked involuntarily at the touch. He bent down and sucked. Taking each in his mouth one by one. She grew wild at the dress and tossed it over her head and away.
When Henry rose from kissing both her breasts, his eyes met with hers.
"You're so beautiful."
"Make love to me."
Her head fell back, and she arched against him, feeling her breast as if she saw it with his eyes, tasted it with his tongue, felt it with his fingers. She knew with absolute certainty that in his eyes and under his hands she was perfect. A groan broke from his lips and he moved to her other breast, giving it the same worship, a devotion that bordered on frenzy.
“Oh,” Emma heard herself crying over and over. Her cries were inarticulate but sweet.
“Yes?” He rolled his hips forward into the cradle of her legs. His breath caught in his throat and he did it again, slow and teasing, and all the time his fingers played first with one breast, then the other.
Then, he slipped his fingers into her center. She moaned loudly, "I want you, inside of me."
Henry sighed. "You have no idea how much I want that as well."
Emma began to undo his breeches. He let her. Then he rose, to pull it down all the way. Her eyes widened at the size of him. He was so huge. She swallowed hard, wondering if he would fit.
As though he read her thoughts, he said curtly. "You have nothing to worry about."
He came back in between her and slipped his fingers inside her again. She moaned with pleasure. She felt his hands move with ease. He looked at her then, his eyes clouded. "This may hurt a little. But I will go slow."
Emma nodded. Henry kissed her again. She let her hands guide themselves, so that soon, they came in contact with his manhood. Henry moaned against her lips now. She guided him towards where her center was. Henry chuckled while kissing her. He moved himself, pressing against her, her hands never left him. She felt the tip of him in her. Her hands let go immediately andshe gasped.
"It... It could not fit."
Henry smiled at her. "It will fit, but it may hurt a little."
He moved further, deeper, slowly deeper until he was inside her.A stirring pain hit her and went through out her whole body. She opened her mouth to scream, but Henry covered her lips with his and kissed her. The pain eased gradually, very gradually, and Henry was still inside her. He began to move then, stroking slowly, building her towards pleasure again, and then deeper.
This time, she moaned in satisfaction. Her breasts rubbing against his chest.
"Look at me, Emma," he urged. She did smiling. He smiled as well. "I want this to be perfect for you."
"It is, Henry." Her face flushed as she said this. Above her, she saw Henry's beautiful blue eyes, and they mesmerized her, making her feel secure. Her insides bubbled with anticipation. She wanted him to keep moving inside of her. She wanted to keep feeling him. So she said to him, "make me feel, Henry."
Their passion now in sync, he began to move again and she with him. Her hands were pressed against his back, so that their chests touched as their bodies moved as one. Soon, she felt as though she were in paradise, and unending wave of pleasure coursed through her as she climaxed. She gasped, a happy feeling bubbling from inside of her. Henry pulled out, lay by her side and pulled her close to him. She buried her face in his chest and listening to his heartbeat. He wrapped both his arms around her. She wrapped her arms around him. It had been perfect. The waves of passion and ecstasy that coursed through her seemed endless, and for that, she wanted more of him. She wanted to feel him inside her again.
Chapter Fifteen
Lord Blackmoor awoke. He looked out the window. The day had broken. Emma stirred in his arms. He held her tighter, wishing for her not to awake just yet. He loved the feel of her body against his own. He loved that he had woken up to her in his arms. He wanted this, and he wanted it forever. He could not help but recall the night before. How they made love. The feel of her. She was perfect. Everything was perfect. Their bodies had molded together perfectly. She had wanted him just as much as he wanted her. He wanted to make love to her over and over again.
When she stirred into his arms again, he held her close. Watching her sleeping like that, smiling and feeling so at ease, made him never want to see her anything but happy again. He kissed her head and let her snuggle into him.
He stroked his hands through her long hair, he had it all around him. It was beautiful, and he wished she would never have to put it up again, especially around him.
Now that he was awake however he suspected that his father would send for them soon. Which was why he had left her in bed.
As he made his was to the study he could not believe that he and Emma had finally made love. He had not been thinking. He had only been feeling, and that had led him to her. He looked at his tea and thought about it some more. She had been just perfect. Although she had no experience, she had done enough to arouse him in ways she could not imagine.
"Blackmoor?" The Earl walked into the study.
Henry sighed "Father."
"I have good news. Where is Lady Blackmoor?"
"Resting, I suppose."
The Earl shook his head. "Well, send for her. I need to know how it went with Lady Allen. I need to know. If it didn't go well, then we shall throw another ball."
Henry shook his head. "No, no other ball."
"You forget, boy, that I give the orders around here!"
Henry shook his head. "We've done your bidding, Father! What more could you possibly want?"
"We won't rest until we have the Dukedom, Blackmoor!" the Earl snapped. "We have only just begun."
"Good Morning." Emma's voice interrupted them. Both men turned to the door. Emma was breathtaking.
Henry cleared his throat. "Good Morning, my lady, I trust that you had a goodnight sleep?"
Emma looked away from him. Her cheeks were red. "I suppose."
"I hope that was because you accomplished something with the Lady?" the Earl interrupted.
>
Emma nodded quickly. "Of course, I suppose. We got along well."
"I don't care about how you feel you got along. Did she say anything about Loringham?"
Emma sucked in a breath. Her chest heaved as she did. Henry could not help but think about how he had those breasts in his mouth not so many hours ago.
"Yes. She implied he didn't want to come here."
The Earl smiled. ""You really did get along well. She confided about the Duke. Good, Lady Blackmoor. Splendid!"