by Pamela Lynne
“Elizabeth, have you had enough dancing?” His voice was low and raspy.
She turned and looked into his eyes, which had somehow become an even deeper shade of blue. “I believe I have.”
“Come.” They exited the room quickly and quietly, clinging to each other as they ascended the stairs to their chambers.
********
On the stairs, Darcy was overcome with a sudden burst of giddiness. He scooped up his bride and carried her the rest of the way, both of them wearing broad smiles.
The sound of Elizabeth’s laughter rang through their room as Darcy twirled her around. “You are making me dizzy, Fitzwilliam. Put me down!”
He complied, dropping her on the bed then landing on top of her with an oomph.
He laughed and pushed up onto his elbows, looking down upon her. “I did not hurt you, did I?” Concern broke through his playfulness. She shook her head, unable to speak when those dimples were showing themselves so beautifully. He drew his elbows in close to her shoulders and gently pushed back the curls that had come loose.
“Good.” He leaned in and kissed her, gently nipping at her lips before covering her mouth with his in long, sweet strokes. He moaned when she arched up into him, running her fingers through his hair.
“You are so beautiful, Lizzy, so very lovely,” he whispered into her skin as he kissed his way down her neck to the curve of her breasts and then back up. “I cannot believe you are mine.”
“My heart was yours long before I ever realized it.” She brought her hands to his face and looked into his eyes with a need that went far beyond mere desire. “I love you. How many times did I say that word when I had no idea what it meant?” Tears stung her eyes as she spoke.
His heart swelled at her words. She was so full of love, so giving, so caring. Her heartache was his own, and he knew that by helping her heal, he was helping himself. He felt incredibly blessed that he would spend the rest of his life with her, cherishing her, giving her children, caring for Pemberley, and together, growing it for the next generations.
Too overcome to speak, he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and rolled them onto their sides as he continued his attention to every bit of flesh that was exposed. She tasted so sweet and felt so soft under his lips, but it was not long before it was not enough. He stood up and took her hands, pulling her up with him and into another kiss. His hands left her body to pull off his outer layers, and then he broke the kiss just long enough to remove his shirt.
Elizabeth ran her hands down his back then moved around to his abdomen and lower to help him with his trousers.
Darcy smiled into her kiss. His Elizabeth had become accustomed to his body since their night at the inn and had not been shy in expressing her desire or her curiosity.
He stepped out of his shoes and trousers then sat on the bed and removed his stockings. He held out his arms, beckoning her to come to him. She slid into his embrace, and as she leaned her forehead on his and ran her hands over his shoulders, he reached around her and unbuttoned her dress. He nearly growled in frustration as he worked the small buttons with his fingers. After long, agonizing moments, he finally unfastened the last button and pulled the dress down from her shoulders, watching as it pooled onto the floor. She kicked it aside along with her slippers, and he quickly removed her corset and then her petticoats, leaving her only in stockings and a short chemise.
With his eyes never leaving hers, he brought one leg up and rested her foot on his thigh. His hand moved up the length of her leg and caught her garter, bringing it down with her stocking. He repeated his actions with her other leg then pulled her down to his lap with her back pressed against his chest. He cupped her breasts in his large hands, teasing her nipples while his mouth moved along her neck to her ear. She could feel his erection against her bottom, and she began to move against it. She was panting hard, and the feel of her soft bottom rubbing against him was almost too much. He moved a hand to her hip to still her motion.
“Relax, love. Try to be still, and let me give you pleasure.” One hand moved from her breast and made its way down to her center. He palmed her slowly, inciting a moan as her head fell back against his shoulder. She pulled his head down for a kiss, and as their tongues dueled, he slid his middle finger inside her core. He caught her gasp in his kiss as he continued to work her body into a frenzy, building that sweet pressure that would seemingly never come. When it finally did, it was nearly blinding in its strength.
While she caught her breath, he pulled the pins from her hair and ran his fingers through the curls that fell down her back. When he was sure she could stand, he guided her up and turned her to face him. He placed his trembling hands on her hips and ran his thumbs over the fabric of her chemise. They were now leaving the familiar. In their previous times together, he had never seen her fully disrobed. Part of her body had always remained covered, and dim lighting had always kept his eyes from entirely taking her in.
Now, in the full light of day with nothing to stop them from going further, he feared his desire would overcome his reason. He had to keep his wits about him or he could hurt her badly. Their first night together, he had begged her to relieve the tension that had been building between them. Everything they shared had been beautiful, but the truth was, it had done very little to alleviate his suffering. He desperately needed to make her his, and the only way to do that was through pain.
He rested his head on her shoulder and tried to regulate his breathing. His hesitation confused her, and she stepped back slightly to look at him.
“Will?”
He kissed her gently and spoke softly, “I do not want to hurt you.”
She shook her head. “I am not afraid of the pain, Fitzwilliam, but I am afraid I might die if you stop now.”
Her words drew him back into the moment, and he looked at her. Her hair was slightly wild, and her beautiful eyes had grown wide and dark. Her cheeks were flushed, and, like him, she was trembling slightly. She held the look of a woman who wanted her husband. Reason melted away under her gaze, and in one swift movement, the chemise was discarded, leaving her fully exposed in front of him.
“Elizabeth,” he sighed as he reached out for her. She was a work of art, a tribute to her maker. Round and full and perfect. “I have never seen anything so beautiful as you, my love.” He had thought her a goddess before, and now as his hands glided over her smooth skin, there was nothing for him to do but worship.
He ran his hands from her neck to her shoulders then to her breasts where his fingertips teased her nipples into hard peaks. He leaned forward and took one in his mouth as his hand continued its assault on the other. Elizabeth moaned and held his head to her, not wanting the pleasure of his touch ever to end. When he turned his attention to her other breast, she reached between them and stroked him with her flattened palm. His response was to nip at her tightened bud, causing her to breathe in sharply.
He pushed against her, encouraging her to step back slightly as he fell to his knees in supplication. Her fingers ran through his hair as his mouth continued its reverent caresses down her torso and his hands roamed over her curves. She tried to maintain her courage when she realized his destination, but her shaky legs gave way to her nerves, and she nearly collapsed onto him.
He held on to her hips to steady her and looked up into her eyes, wordlessly pleading to allow him continue. She caressed his face and smiled gently. She could deny him nothing, not even in her uncertainty, and so she pressed against him, giving him permission to love her.
He resumed his ministrations, pausing briefly at her curls to take in the scent of her arousal. He slid down to sit flat on the floor, bringing his mouth in contact with that most sacred of places. He ran his tongue over her, opening her up to his touch. She arched her back as he lapped her gently and traced every fold. This was completely new to him, and all he could do was follow instinct and her reaction, hoping that what was so enjoyable to him was pleasing to her as well. He placed his mouth over her, movi
ng his lips against her as his tongue entered her, gently licking inside her. She grasped his hair tightly as he moved over her, and when she cried out as he nipped her pearl, he knew he had found the right place.
She held on to his head with one hand and leaned on the bed with the other. She writhed against him as his movements brought the tension to an almost insufferable height, finally sending her over the edge with a flick of his tongue.
He brought her down to straddle his lap and pulled her in close to him, rubbing her back in comfort as she recovered from the intensity of his love. After some moments, he stood, lifting her with him and returned to a sitting position on the bed. She leaned into him heavily, draping her arms over his shoulders. He pulled her back to look into her eyes and then down to where his erection was pressed into her belly. He moved his hands from her buttocks down her thighs and back up again, his touch quickly reawakening her desire.
He trailed kisses along her cheek then whispered, “Elizabeth, I need you so desperately.”
She nodded then captured his mouth in a long, slow embrace.
One arm came around her bottom to lift her while his other hand positioned his throbbing member at her entrance. He gently pushed up and then held her hips, guiding her down, allowing her to set the pace. This was no easy task as his body was screaming for its own release. She was so tight and wet, and it took every bit of his Darcy control not to impale her.
She slid down upon him almost effortlessly until she reached the point of resistance. She grabbed his shoulders, wincing slightly as the sharp pain dulled the pleasure that had been building, but she did not stop until she felt his thighs under her.
“Elizabeth. Are you well, love?” Darcy’s breath was ragged, and his fingers were pressed tightly in her flesh. He needed to move but had to be sure she was not hurt.
She was no less affected by the feel of him inside her. She looked at him wide-eyed and nodded. “I am. There was pain, but it is over now. Fitzwilliam, please.”
He held her tightly to him and stood, turning around to lay her on the bed, never breaking the connection. He leaned over her, resting himself on one arm while the other brought her hips up to meet his as he pulsed inside of her. He kept his strokes short, barely leaving her core as he ground into her. His breath was hot in her ear as he whispered words of love and praise of her exquisite body. When she learned to match the rhythm he had set, he released her hips and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, bringing his chest in contact with hers. The smell of her skin, the sound of her breath hitching with every thrust, and the feel of her moist, silky flesh wrapped around him sent his senses reeling, driving him deeper inside until he reached the pinnacle of mind-numbing pleasure. He moaned her name into her neck as the waves of release wracked his body.
Some minutes later, he rested his back against the headboard as he held Elizabeth’s spent body close to him. When he had regained his senses after their shared passion, he tended to her most carefully. He brought cold cloths to soothe and cleanse her, and he massaged the muscles of her inner thighs, hoping doing so would limit any soreness from their exercise. He wanted to talk to her, to gage her reaction to their lovemaking, but she was too exhausted, choosing instead to curl up on his chest and fall into a deep slumber.
Darcy could not sleep. He was too exhilarated from the morning. Marrying Elizabeth and taking her to bed had been like a rebirth for him, and his energies could not be quelled after only one round of loving her. He ran his fingers through her dark tresses as he replayed scenes from their joining, remembering the touches she reacted to the best. His erection had returned not long after he gathered her to him, throbbing harder than before now that he fully knew the pleasures of her body. His eyes were dark, and his breathing labored, and as he looked down at her, he wondered how long she would need to rest before he could take her again.
Chapter Twenty Five
* * *
He is so handsome standing there waiting for his bride. I have never seen him looking so well, even if that stray lock will not behave. Kate Reynolds looked around at the other seated guests. Various shades of blonde filled the seats, Fitzwilliam and Gardiner alike, leaving her to wonder if Elizabeth had felt as out of place among her family as Mr. Darcy had among his. She looked back to him. She could still see traces of the boy within the man as he stood there composed and perfectly still, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. He has seen so much sadness yet never complained when he suddenly bore the weight of the world after his father’s death. He shall finally have comfort. Her heart warmed when she saw his eyes grow wide and his rarely seen dimples appear. He sees her. I shall be devoted to her for the rest of my days for bringing that smile back. My dear boy, you are blessed.
********
Damn, stupid Fitzwilliams and damn, stupid Porter, whoever the hell he is, and his damn stupid whiskey. I barely made it down the aisle with Lizzy. I hope I did not offend her very much. The bath this morning did not do much to dispense the smell of the whiskey bath from last night. What the hell possessed me to imbibe? Right. Damn, stupid Fitzwilliams and their bloody talk of inexperience and positions and something about a sketchbook. “Darcy needs your help,” they said. “You are the only one who has experience with a maiden,” they said. Nonsense. They only needed an excuse to brag and tease Darcy. Why am I allowing Elizabeth to marry into that family? “I will.” He looked upon his niece’s glowing countenance as she said her vows to Darcy, and he remembered the impression Darcy made last night, standing in contrast to his drunken, overly experienced cousins. He was a good man, and she loved him. Right. That is why: they will be happy. He turned and saw Mary sitting with Viscount Hedley. He rubbed his head as it throbbed. What was it I said to Hedley about Mary? Whatever it was, he better take heed if he wants to retain the use of his legs. He shielded his eyes as a sudden burst of sunlight filled the room, increasing the throbbing in his head. Damn, stupid Fitzwilliams.
********
She is so pretty. Bingley sighed inwardly as he looked at Jane, who was sitting next to him, wearing what he thought was her loveliest smile. She has not seemed herself lately, but this morning, she is utterly charming. I should offer for her before we return to London. His stomach lurched. London. Caroline is in London. She will not be pleased. I wonder if she would try to stop me from marrying Jane. The new connection to Darcy may be enough to appease her. He looked to Darcy, who was saying his vows to Elizabeth. Doubtful, considering she has been banned from his society. He closed his eyes tightly in an attempt to remove the images of Caroline’s probable fit when he tells her about Jane. She will be impossible to live with until the wedding…and after the wedding. But Jane is so sweet and so calm. She will be good for Caroline. He reached over and took her hand. She looked up at him, and he believed for a moment that she would be sick again. But it was over quickly enough, and she smiled. Poor thing. She must be ill from the journey. He gave her hand a comforting squeeze and returned his attention to the ceremony as a tender-eyed Darcy kissed the ring he had just placed on Elizabeth’s finger.
********
I have a sister! Georgiana looked on as Elizabeth and Darcy received a final blessing from Mr. Grimes. Fitzwilliam is so happy. He deserves no less. Elizabeth is beautiful. With the gold in her dress and the flowers in her hair, she looks as if she is from another world, one of fairies and sprites. She will fit so perfectly at Pemberley. Georgiana wiped a tear from her cheek as she looked over to Richard, who was standing up for her brother as she was for Elizabeth. Perhaps he will be the next to find happiness. She looked to Anne, who had a peculiar expression on her face as she looked at Richard. Ugh, I hope he has not done something stupid. Her attention was drawn to a slight movement in the back of the room. Mr. Porter is here! I know Fitzwilliam will not let me dance with him, but perhaps he will speak to me. He is so handsome, and the kilt is very becoming. She let out a small sigh as the service ended, and she took Richard’s arm as they left the makeshift altar. She smiled up at him, but his eyes
had not left the young woman who was seated in the front.
********
While the thoughts of all those surrounding her were focused primarily on the dear couple, Anne sat with her eyes focused on the best man. She took him in, head to boot, following every line slowly down and then back up, with one word echoing in her mind: more. He had come to her room two days prior, finding her hidden under the coverings of her bed. They spoke of her fears of disappointing her mother further and of her capabilities as a wife and mother. He did his best to comfort and reassure her, which led to Richard taking her then, and many times throughout the night. Her fears were still there, but they were well hidden beneath the thick fog of lust he had awakened in her. They would still have to deal with her mother, but there was no doubt that she would soon be his wife.
********
“Why is my uncle scowling so much? I would think he would be happy.” The wedding had progressed beautifully, and the party was now seated to breakfast.
“Well, Miss Mary, I believe two things are causing your uncle’s discomfort: the copious amounts of whiskey we consumed last night and me.”
Mary was somewhere between offended and curious, a state she was in often when in the company of the viscount. She decided to forget the whiskey remark and focus on the latter.
“Why are you causing his discomfort?”
“Because, as he quite forcefully reminded me, I am not a good man.”
Mary looked at him disbelievingly. “Why would he think that?”
Sebastian looked at her sadly, knowing he had reached the limit of how honest he could be with her, so he spoke in generalities. “Let me just say that he has cause. I have rarely said no to any indulgence my class has offered me. I never gave any thought to the consequences of my actions until recently when I had no choice. I have put my family in dire straits, and it is a situation your uncle knows all about. He accused me of pretending to be a gentleman in your company and believes my real self will reemerge, resulting in your disappointment.”