Colorful Flemish tapestries and large paintings of ancient and notable Wychcombes decorated the walls. The furniture was ornate, original, high Elizabethan décor. Dark rich colors of garnet, sapphire and emerald were used in the upholstery throughout. Colorful carpets broke the solid white marble of the floors.
When they sat for their wedding celebration meal at the long, massive table, the group felt more at ease, despite the news of Brown Coats on the property. The couple was toasted. The conversation remained lively. After the luscious cake was served and eaten, their party mingled in the expanse seating area of the Great Hall.
While speaking with some of the gentlemen, Micah gazed longingly across the expanse of the hall to where Rowena and Libby now sat conversing with Matthias Halfknight, Lord Sinclair, and Charlie. He noticed Libby’s hair already slipping from its pins. He ached to thread his hands through her hair and shake out those pins. He watched his lovely, smiling wife, wishing they could leave the celebration and go upstairs.
Harry pulled him to the side several minutes later. He leaned close to Micah and whispered, “Rowena will take Libby upstairs shortly, Micah. We decided you and your new wife need some private time. Your meals will be brought to your rooms. We will see you again at dinner tomorrow evening,” Harry said with a broad smile.
Micah grinned as he watched Rowena and Libby stand and make their way toward the arches in the paneled gallery. “Thank you, Harry.”
Rowena whispered as she pulled Libby along with her across the white marble floor, “I’m to escort you upstairs, Libby. We all decided you two need your privacy. So you will be served dinner in your rooms this evening along with breakfast tomorrow morning, and we don’t expect to see either one of you until tomorrow at dinner.” Rowena gave her a knowing smile.
Libby blushed. “Oh,” was the only response she could manage. Yet, her heart soared at the knowledge that she and Micah would be alone for a time.
Libby sat alone on the large bed in her chamber, dressed in a very sheer nightgown and wrapper that Lady Bingington included with her silvery wedding gown. She sat with her knees up, her arms clasped around them. Butterflies danced in her stomach. She was nervous, only because she did not know exactly what to expect in the marriage bed. Libby did know she had nothing to fear from Micah. She extended her arm and admired the sparkling wedding ring her husband placed on her finger during the ceremony. It was a large, oval, blood-red garnet surrounded by lustrous seed pearls, set in dainty gold filigree.
“Do you like your ring, Libby?”
She looked up, smiling at him brightly; unaware until that moment he had entered her bedchamber.
“It’s beautiful. I love it, Micah.” She grinned happily.
She watched as he removed his coat and started to take off his waistcoat.
“It was my mother’s wedding ring. She would have loved you Libby and wanted you to have it, I am certain.”
“I wish I could have known your parents, Micah.”
“So do I, Libby. I knew your father, but I never met your mother.” Micah talked as he removed the onyx and diamond studs from his shirt. “I wish I could have known her.” He smiled at his wife. “I have the feeling you take after her.”
“So my father said.”
After removing his shirt, Micah sat on the edge of the bed.
She allowed herself to feast upon his broad shoulders and watched the hard muscles of his back ripple as he bent over. Libby heard the thunk of his boots as they hit the floor. He turned toward her. The silver of his eyes had darkened to a stormy gray.
Libby raised a brow, “Do you not need to take off your trousers, husband?”
He flashed his wife a devilish grin. “Then I would be naked and you would not. Do not worry, sweetheart. My trousers will come off very soon, as will that heavenly nightrail.” Micah kept reminding himself Libby was an innocent. He could not rush their union though he longed to bury himself inside her at that very moment. He lunged playfully at his wife. He caught her arms and pulled her against him.
Before Libby knew it she found herself enfolded in his arms. Her wrapper was peeled from her quickly and expertly by her husband. It wafted to the floor. Micah gazed at her body through the transparent, filmy fabric. Gently, as if she were made of porcelain, he lowered her to lie back upon the pillows. His hands caressed her body through the thin fabric. His mouth moved to her breasts, suckling her. Wet spots were left on the fabric when he moved upward to kiss her. Micah’s hands and mouth on her body did strange and wonderful things to her. Liquid heat coursed through her. The sensations heightened and centered down low. Oddly, she felt unusually damp in that area. As he kissed her, her husband’s fingers moved to her hem. Their kiss deepened, and Libby felt herself becoming lost in the passion that flamed and grew between them. She felt the thin fabric of her nightgown scrunch up as his hand slowly moved up her leg.
Micah’s hand glided up her silky smooth leg to the place he most wanted to touch. His fingers gently probed her tender folds and gently caressed her. He lifted his head and studied her lovely face, noting her expressions as he tenderly gave her pleasure.
Libby sucked in her breath as Micah’s fingers moved with more determination. A hot, yearning pooled at the juncture of her thighs and began building. She felt wet there.
Micah stopped suddenly and brought her up to a sitting position. He quickly removed the sheer nightgown, pausing to dip his head and suckle each one of her breasts. “You are beautiful, Libby,” he breathed, “so beautiful.” He began taking down her hair. He made fast work of removing the pins. He placed the white rosebuds on the table beside the bed along with her pins. He threaded his fingers through her silky, sable hair that her maid curled for their wedding day. Her gorgeous hair seemed thicker and fuller with the waving curls. Micah urged her down on her back again. He moved to the edge of the bed, stood and dropped his trousers.
Being already fond of Micah’s muscled chest, back and broad shoulders, Libby admitted to herself, she was mesmerized by the sight of his muscled legs and buttocks. She thought her husband much more beautiful than the statues she admired in museums. An ugly, red scar on the back of his upper thigh caught her interest. She remembered he was shot last month in Glastonbury. Micah’s lean muscular body reminded her of a Greek statue. Apollo? Mars? Zeus?
When he turned around, she realized he was infinitely better endowed than any Greek statue she remembered seeing. His engorged manhood was quite large and standing straight up. She felt momentarily shy. She noticed the angry scar on the front of his thigh. “Is that where you were shot? There’s another on the back of your thigh. Did the bullet go through?”
“Yes. It’s much better now, Libby.” He grinned. His wife saw him naked for the first time and she was more interested in his scar than his manhood. But he could see she was nervous. Not frightened, it seemed more that she was unsure of what was to come. He was the first man to kiss her, and would be the one to claim her innocence. He guessed no one told her about what happened between a man and a woman. Her mother died long ago. Her aunt was a spinster. He told himself he must go slowly and be gentle with his lovely, innocent wife.
Micah lay beside her and pulled her into his arms. They kissed one another. He would kiss her. She kissed him back. On their sides, facing one another, Micah allowed one hand to roam free, exploring the silky softness of her body while his other arm held her against his long muscled length. It felt like heaven holding his naked wife against his completely naked self.
Libby felt the hardness of him graze her thigh. He deepened their kiss, his tongue plundering her mouth. She returned his kiss, matched his movements, his passion. She became lost in the rhythm of their entwined tongues. Her hand moved over his back, to his side, over his ribs. Downward to his hip and then over to feel the hard muscles of his buttock. She gently caressed the scar on his thigh.
Micah’s hand moved to her bottom. He pulled her closer against his groin. She felt his hardness against her belly. Now curious,
she slipped her hand into the space between them and ran her fingers from his abdomen down lower to touch him. Libby wondered at the soft silkiness of his tight, rigid manhood as she caressed him softly. She enclosed her hand over the soft tip, squeezing lightly. Micah groaned.
“Oh, Libby. Your touch feels so good, sweetheart.” Never, not once in the four years he was married to Lucy did she ever touch him. Anywhere. Certainly never there! He deepened their kiss. Micah thanked God and the angels, one in particular, that he was so blessed in his second marriage.
Emboldened by the fact Micah was receiving pleasure from her touch, Libby continued caressing him. She ran her fingers up and down the length of his hardness.
Micah knew he wouldn’t last if he allowed her to continue. When he took her questing hand in his and entwined his fingers with hers, he whispered, “There are more pleasures I wish to give you now, Libby. Lie on your back, sweetheart.”
Libby rolled onto her back. She watched curiously as he slid down the sheet toward her feet. He bent each one of her legs so her knees were up, and situated himself to a kneeling position between her thighs. His fingers began to massage her mound again. He parted her tender folds and found the place that brought her so much pleasure. She became so lost in the hot sensations his touch aroused, she realized her legs were now parted wider. Had she done that on her own, or did Micah push them open? She watched as his head dipped down then cried out in pleased astonishment as his mouth covered her. His tongue teased the sensitive nub between her folds.
Her breathing increased when two of his fingers entered her. His lips and tongue continued their tender assault while his fingers stroked her need into a burning flame.
Libby realized her hands tightly gripped the sheets. She writhed beneath Micah’s mouth. “Oh, Micah!” She felt a wondrous feeling that seemed to concentrate and tighten in the center of her abdomen. Pure, sweet pleasure seemed to course through her veins. She panted; moaned, realized she wanted something. She did not know what. When his tongue entered her, Libby felt something not unlike an explosion. Wave after wave of sweet pleasure coursed through her. She called out his name. “Micah!”
Her release complete, Micah slid upward over her and kissed her.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes,” Libby nodded, “I’m perfectly fine. It was wonderful, Micah.” She smiled at him.
Micah loved Libby’s smile. Seeing her brilliant smile always made his heart constrict. Her smiles never failed to bring instant happiness to him. He returned her smile, moved to place tender kisses upon her cheek, her eyelid, her temple. “You are so beautiful, Libby.” His feathery kisses continued along her jaw, down her neck.
“I think you are beautiful, Micah.” Libby whispered.
“Do you?” He asked huskily before he claimed her mouth again.
She nodded as he kissed her hungrily. Libby’s arms wound around his neck, her fingers laced through his thick dark brown hair. She rained sweet kisses across his broad shoulder, chest and neck as his lips moved to lave and suckle one breast. “Libby, I want to come inside you now.”
“It will hurt?”
“Only for a moment, sweetheart and then you will feel like you do when I touch you and kiss you there. I promise.”
“Come inside me now, Micah.” Her voice was silky. She smiled up at him.
Once again seeing her smile caused him to melt inside. Micah felt so fortunate to have Libby for his wife! Grinning with the euphoria of the happiness he felt, he placed another quick kiss to her luscious red lips before guiding himself to her opening. She was so wet! He entered her slowly, watched her expression as he began to fill her. When he reached the barrier, he whispered to her, “I have to push through your maidenhead, Libby. That’s where the pain will come from. Ready?”
She nodded.
Micah drew his hips back and quickly pushed into her. In mere seconds he was completely imbedded in her wet heat. “Did I hurt you, Libby?” he asked thickly.
“No,” she said breathily. She smiled up at him. She felt a slight pinch. But now she felt quite wonderful. Full. She and Micah were joined.
He bent to give her a lingering kiss. He began to move slowly inside her. “Do you feel any pain, sweetheart?” he breathed into her ear.
“No, no pain. It feels good, Micah.”
“Sweetheart, you feel good. So good,” he whispered against her ear as he began to move slowly inside her. His voice was deep and husky.
“What should I do? I want to make you feel as good as you make me feel, Micah. I don’t know what to do,” she whispered back. Her sapphire eyes met his silver ones as he lifted his head to regard her.
“You are already giving me immense pleasure, sweetheart. But let me tell you what will help you feel more pleasure. Lift your hips to meet me when I thrust into you.” He slid his hand beneath one globe of her firm bottom and lifted it as he thrust inside her, showing her what he meant.
Libby did as he instructed. It did feel better. She could feel him deeper inside her. She easily found the rhythm.
“There, Libby. That’s it. Does that feel good, sweetheart?” It certainly felt good to him. So damn good.
A breathy, “Yes,” was his answer.
Micah bent to kiss her again as their slow sensuous rhythm continued. Libby’s hands framed his face as they shared kiss after passionate kiss. They loved each other slowly for a long time.
Libby was so sweet and so sensual. She wanted to give as much pleasure as he gave her. She was so hot. So tight. So wet. Micah placed his palms on the bed sheet and lifted his torso up above her. He bent his head and teased her breasts, laved them, nipped, suckled them until the rosy tips were hard and pebbled.
Libby arched beneath Micah as he continued to tantalize her breasts with his mouth. She increased the pace, taking Micah deeper with each thrust. She moaned softly. Her fingernails dug into Micah’s shoulders as she rose up to meet each thrust.
Micah lowered himself to cover her again. As the pace increased, their bodies grew slick with sweat. Micah moved one of his hands back and lifted one of her long, slender legs to wrap around his back. Libby moved her other leg around him on her own. He dreamt of having her long legs wrapped around him. The reality of it was pure ecstasy.
Micah groaned from the sheer pleasure he felt. This time he increased the pace. He did not want to hurt her, this being her first time and her being tender, but he guessed by her little pants and moans that she was ready to come again. He wanted to bring her to climax once more. He needed release! He watched her face, took in her every expression. He thought Libby beautiful anyway, but decided the sight of her eyes heavy-lidded with her passion, the blue of them so dark it resembled the night sky, her cheeks flushed, her lips parted, and her glorious sable hair spread about them and between them in wild disarray was the most erotic experience he’d ever known. His balls tightened. He willed himself to hold back until she came.
“Micah. Oh, Micah!” Libby moaned as liquid heat exploded through her limbs once more, rushing her headlong into the euphoria of her powerful release. She soared. And Micah came with her. She felt him go rigid, his muscles rippled beneath her fingers and legs as she clung to him while he thrust powerfully into her. She felt the warmth of his seed fill her.
Micah lost himself in the deep sapphire of Libby’s eyes as he reached the point of release. Scorching heat coursed through his veins as he surrendered, and let go. He exploded. He saw a brilliant, blinding white light as he closed his eyes and rode the waves of ecstasy. His body tensed and shuddered.
Micah moved inside her for long moments after his seed spilled. He lay atop her for several minutes, alternating between kissing her and catching his breath. He rolled to the side and pulled her against him. He kissed her lingeringly, allowing his hands to slide slowly up and down her back.
Eventually their breathing returned to normal. They lay in each other’s arms, sated and peaceful, sharing whispers, soft kisses, and tender caresses.
Mic
ah remembered to thank Archangel Michael for helping him to find the perfect woman and wife for him. His lovely, passionate Libby.
Chapter Eight
Dusk was upon them when Micah and Libby woke from their nap. Micah rose from the bed and walked to the table where he poured some water from the pitcher into a bowl. He retrieved a clean, soft cloth and returned to the bed.
“Let me clean you, sweetheart.”
Libby looked downward and noticed a streak of dried blood staining the inside of her upper thigh as well as a small dark spot on the sheet beneath her. She allowed her husband to clean her. Libby decided she was a fortunate woman to have Micah for a husband. He was so dear to her. Her heart swelled with pride and emotion.
“Dinner will be brought to us soon. I suppose we should cover ourselves,” he paused to kiss her temple.
He rose and brought her a less transparent nightgown and wrapper than the one he removed from her earlier. He put on his own wrapper of dark burgundy. He moved to the fireplace and started a small fire. “I won’t make a large fire for the day has been warm, but I find a fire quite relaxing and hypnotic,” Micah informed her. And fires were romantic! That’s what he wanted for Libby. Everything about this precious time they were alone together should be romantic! He wanted her to know just how much she meant to him. A wide, high backed chaise was situated before the hearth. Micah motioned for Libby after she exited from behind the screen. “Join me, sweetheart.”
He sat up resting against the tall back, his legs stretched out upon the long chaise. He lowered one leg and allowed Libby to slide into his embrace. He settled her between his long legs, leaning her back against his chest. One arm rested about her waist. His free hand captured hers. They watched the fire and talked while they waited for their dinner.
The knock came a half an hour later. Micah rose and admitted two servants who left two trays and a bottle of wine on a small table. He purposely ordered a cold dinner so they could nibble throughout the evening at their leisure. Micah brought one tray and set it before the fire on the thick rug. He went back, retrieved the other and the bottle of wine. He sat cross-legged on the rug. Libby joined him, sitting across from him, crossing her legs as well. She picked up a grape off one tray and popped it in her mouth. Micah picked up another and brought it to her lips. He followed with a piece of cheese and a small bite of beef.
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