by Hunt, Brenda
Dulcey shook her head slightly. When he kissed her palms, it sent shivers all the way down to her toes. “There is too much against us. No, please let me finish. You are an Earl, and I am---------”
Nate put his fingers across her lips to stop her. “You are the granddaughter of an earl, the niece of a baron, your blood line is as acceptable as any.”
"But I am also a witch. Should that come out, it would hurt you,” she argued. At first, it had been the fact she was beneath him that had discouraged her. But now, that was no longer the problem. She needed to make him understand about her being called a witch. Hadn’t that been the ultimate reason her parents were killed. That would put him in danger.
“You are not a witch. No, listen to me,” replied Nate when she tried to interrupt. “Having the gift that you have does not make you a witch. It makes you special.”
Dulcey shook her head. “You heard your mother. Others will think just like her.”
Nate sighed, his mother. She had to have her say and in the process made things worse. He hoped his talk to her had made an impression. She knew his ultimatum. She knew exactly how serious he was. “Mother has been set straight about this. She will not repeat such words again. She knows this. She also knows why I am here.”
She had to ask. “Why are you here, Nate?”
“I am here to bring you back to Brandanlyn. It is where you belong. It is where you have always belonged.”
Dulcey shook her head. As strong as these feelings for him were becoming, she knew it was best they part now before it became too painful, no unbearable.
“I want you there as my wife, Dulcey. I do not plan on leaving here until you agree.” It was not exactly how he planned on this but he needed her to know, he was very serious. More so now, than ever before. They were meant to be together. He knew it, he thought he always knew it, from the moment when he first woke up here days ago and saw her.
Dulcey gazed at Nate with such a longing, aching need. Before her sat everything she had so longed for, dreamed of and firmly believed was unattainable. Lord James had made it possible with his revelation of her birthright. But could she?
She closed her eyes. Nate still held her hands in his. She took a deep breath and opened her mind, her heart, opened herself to the influences of the spirits, the forces around her. She drew on the forces that surrounded Nate, to see his future. She took another deep breath and let it out slowly. Her vison was hazy but she could see his future. She was Nate’s future, just as he was hers. The forces decreed it so. She had learned years ago they were reliable. She knew this is where her destiny lay. She could no longer stand in the way of the inevitable.
She opened her eyes. Nate was watching her closely. The love she saw shining in his eyes, she knew what she needed to do. He was her destiny, just as she was his. She was fighting a losing battle, a battle if she was honest with herself, she had lost the moment Nate walked through that door from the snow storm. The forces had just told her, she was his future, just as he was hers. Accepting that fact, allowed the forces to begin to clear, to show her, his future, her future, how intertwined they were.
Dulcey let go of the fear and allowed his love to flow to her like a raging river washing over her. She smiled and let the peace of her forces guide her, knowing there was only one decision she could make. “Yes.”
Nate let out a deep breath of relief. He had not realized he had been holding his breathe until that moment. He smiled and rose to his feet pulling her to her feet as well before him. “Yes, what?” He had to be sure.
“Yes, I will be your wife,” she said as she stared into his eyes. The relief of having made the decision, left her open to an array of feelings that bombarded her from every direction. The mists that had surrounded her, clouding the forces for the last few days, evaporated like the rising sun dispersed the mists over the moors. His love was her sun, warming her from the inside out.
“I was prepared to be more persuasive.” His lips claimed hers. She tasted like sweet honey. He pulled her tightly against him till he could feel every part of her. He urged her lips apart till his tongue met hers. When she met his tentatively at first then more boldly, he knew it would not stop with just a kiss. She would be his tonight. He wanted her as he had never wanted a woman before. She was a part of his heart. He wanted her to be a part of his body. He needed to make her his, to bury himself deep within her till nothing mattered but their joining.
He trailed kisses across her cheeks and tasted the salt from her tears. No, he would turn them to tears of joy. He raised his head for a moment, looked deep into her eyes and said, “I will stop if you tell me to, though it will be the hardest thing I have ever done. I do so want to make love to you. To make you completely, totally mine. To show you the delights between a man and a woman. But if you need the blessing of the church, I will------.”
Dulcey placed her fingers across his lips. The love she saw shining brightly in his eyes she knew, “I have the blessings of fate and the forces about me. They have decreed, we are the two halves that make a whole. I need nothing else to tell me, I am yours and you are mine. I want to be whole with you, now and forever.” Dulcey knew she wanted him with an ache deep down within her. She wanted to know all there was between a man and a woman. All the delights he promised her. She wanted, no, she needed with every fiber of her being to become a part of him.
Nate smiled and took a step backwards.
Dulcey looked at him confused for a moment.
His fingers began to slowly unlace the front of her dress. “I plan on unwrapping you, my love, slowly. I want to savor every part of you I unveil to my eyes.” He pushed her dress from her shoulders till it fell at her feet. He placed a kiss at the top of each mound of her breast that showed above her chemise.
Dulcey stood perfectly still, afraid if she moved, she would collapse in his arms. She felt her nipples tightened and that place deep within tighten and ache with such a need.
Nate’s eyes devoured her. She was more beautiful than he imagined. He slowly untied the ribbon that held her chemise and pushed it from her shoulders until her breast were bare. He bent to push it down passed her hips but stopped for a moment, to pay homage to each nipple with his tongue. He heard Dulcey’s sudden intake of breath and smiled.
She stood there in the firelight with nothing but her stockings and garters on. He knelt down before her, undid the garter then slowly rolled down one stocking placing a kiss at the top of her inner thigh. He felt her quiver. He placed his hand on her hip to steady her as he removed the stocking from her foot. She placed her hands on his shoulders. He began his assault on her other leg, placing another kiss on that inner thigh. He heard the soft moan that escaped Dulcey’s lips and her hands tightened on his shoulders. With the second stocking removed, she stood before him naked. Never had he seen such a beautiful sight. He placed her discarded clothes on the chair by the table.
His kissed one thigh leaving a trail with his tongue and then the other one. His fingers parted her till he found the bud and lightly rubbed it, only to replace his fingers with his tongue softly flicking back and forth.
Dulcey moaned deep within her throat. She clung to his shoulders feeling that any moment her legs would give completely out from under her. Her whole body tingled with such a burning sensation and a need for more. When she felt his tongue at the bud of her womanhood, she didn’t know how much longer her legs would hold her.
Nate sensed her inability to stand for much longer, gently pushed her back till the back of her knees hit the edge of the bed. She fell backwards her legs open to him. Once again, he licked and sucked at the bud. He tasted her juices and had never tasted anything sweeter. One hand held her open to his tongue while his other hand found her breast, teasing the nipple, gently rolling it between his thumb and forefinger, knowing it would send her close to the edge. He increased the pressure. His body pulsed with the need for her, but he was determined to savor every precious moment of instructing her in the ways of passion.
Dulcey felt like her body was sensitive to everything about her, the coolness of the air against her heated body. The heat in her body raged within her till she thought she would burst like the embers in the fireplace. Just when she thought she could not survive a moment longer, she did burst like the embers shooting into every direction at once. She thought her heart would beat out of her chest. Mary had never said it was this intense.
Nate felt her release. Oh, how sweet she tasted. After he had tasted his fill, he lifted her legs onto the bed so she lay in the bed. He watched her slowly open her eyes, a look of contentment on her face. He sat at her side and touched her cheek. She covered his hands with hers. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her palm.
For that brief moment, she felt like she was floating, but his lips and tongue on her palm immediately sent quivers deep within her making her ache for something more. She smiled up at him and licked her bottom lip. She wanted to feel his skin, to feel it against hers.
She reached up and undid his cravat and began undoing the buttons of his waistcoat. “My lord, I do believe you have too much clothes on.” All she could think of was seeing all of him, no needing all of him.
Nate chuckled. “I can remedy that situation quickly.” He removed his jacket, waistcoat, and shirt and placed them on top of the pile of her clothes on the chair. He quickly pulled off his boots and removed his pants.
Dulcey smiled.
Nate saw her smile and raised an eyebrow in question.
“Abby and I had more trouble than that, the other day. You were of no help.”
Nate smiled. “It’s easier when they’re not wet.” He stood in just his linen drawers, his manhood making it tent out. “I have been haunted by dreams of your body under mine. It has felt so real.”
“I have been.” When she saw the question in his eyes, she explained. “That first night, you were feverish. I gave you your medicine and you pulled me down on top of you, kissed me then turned so I lay under you. And then you fainted.”
As she explained, Dulcey reached out and untied the ribbon of his drawers and pushed it down. She took in a shaky breath at the sight of his erection. She raised her eyes to meet his. It was larger than what she had believed.
Nate sat down on the side of the bed. “I do not plan to faint tonight, my love.”
“Mary says it hurts the first time.”
Nate nodded. “I promise you I will be gentle, but it will hurt only for a moment.” He lay beside her and gathered her in his arms. He kissed her softly, teasingly and felt her relax. He began a deliberate assault on her senses. He trailed kisses down her neck, tasting the area where he could feel her heartbeat. He paid homage to one nipple and then the other. He slipped one hand to open her legs and rubbed the bud of her womanhood. It was still sensitive from his earlier ardor. He could feel her response.
The fear Dulcey first felt when she saw his erection quickly vanished. The feel of his skin against hers, his lips and tongue tracing circles around her nipples made her move under him. She moaned in need.
Nate eased the tip of his manhood against her opening. He could feel the wetness. It took every ounce of his control. He wanted her so much. Slowly, he pushed forward.
Dulcey felt him and let her body take control. She wanted him, she wanted to be joined to him. She raised her hips pushing against him just as he pushed forward. She felt him enter her in one swift thrust. The pain was sharp but brief. The feel of him deep within her was what she wanted, what she had ached for.
Her sudden intake of breath and the resistance he felt as he entered her halted him. He lay still, allowing her to adjust to him. He licked her bottom lip as his hand teased a nipple. He felt her slowly move under him. He began to slowly withdraw and thrust, meeting her movements. He allowed her to set the rhythm.
Dulcey felt him move in and out of her. She met his every thrust, wanting more and more of him. The tightening of her insides was almost unbearable, yet at the same time, it grew stronger. She wanted more. She grabbed his buttocks to hold him tightly against her. She met his strong thrust and her world about her, exploded into a myriad of stars of every color. And then she was floating amongst the stars. She felt his last strong thrust and then his quiver within her, as he emptied his seed deep within her. She felt complete.
Nate rested on his elbows, not allowing his full weight against her. His breathing was ragged. When she grabbed his buttocks and held him tight, he nearly lost it. But he managed to hold on enough to send her over the edge before he came. Never had it felt so good, so intense. He kissed her lips lightly and her eyes fluttered open.
“Mary never said it was so intense.”
Nate rolled to his side, “Who is this Mary?” pulling Dulcey to lie at his side.
Dulcey smiled. “Mary works at the tavern in the village and she explained how it happens between a man and a woman. But she never said anything about how strong the feelings are. I can see now why she likes it so.”
Nate laughed. “You, my love are adorable,” and he kissed the tip of her nose. “So I take it my love, you like it?”
Dulcey smiled, turned and kissed him, teasing his tongue with hers. “If it is like this every time, then yes, I like it. I like it very much.” Just having his skin against hers, feeling his body next her, knowing all the things he could make her feel, made her hunger again for him. How could that be when only moments ago she felt so satisfied, so satiated.
She laid her head on his chest. The light brown splattering of hair on his chest felt soft under her cheek. His nipple was just inches away. She turned her head slightly and traced it with her tongue. She felt his sudden intake of breath and smiled. His were just as sensitive as hers. Interesting. She did it again only spent more time on it.
Nate took a handful of her hair and gently pulled till her face was turned to his. “Be careful what you start, my lady.” How could his body be responding to her again so soon? But responding it was.
Dulcey licked her lips and looked at him. Her hand lowered and felt him responding to her touch. She liked the feel of it, as it grew larger in her hand. She also liked the fact, she could affect him as he did her.
Nate groaned. She lowered her lips to his nipple again and began her assault, as he had done to hers just moments earlier.
She felt him stiffen in her hand. He placed his hand over hers and instructed her how to move her hand up and down along his shaft. She liked the feel of him in her hand, full hard.
Nate pulled her to face him and kissed her deeply. He wanted her again. He felt her move closer to him. Never letting go of her lips, he grabbed her hips in his hands and pulled her on top of him.
She broke from his kiss and stared at him, her hands on his chest to steady her. He raised her hips until she straddle him. Slowly, he lowered her onto his waiting shaft and watched as her eyes widened in surprise.
“This way too?” Dulcey asked curious. She felt him wiggle under her, sending different sensations through her. She closed her eyes and moaned.
“Sit up, my love.”
She sat up as he instructed her. She felt all of him within her, filling her more than before, if that was possible. He moved under her, raising her hips till she felt herself go up and down on him. When she felt his lips on her nipples, first one than the other, she thought she would just melt on top of him. Her arms could barely hold her up
but she refused to let herself fall. She wanted that sweet release she knew would come. She moaned as she climbed higher and higher. It was there just out of reach. She grabbed hold of it and it burst within her. Her arms could no longer hold her. She collapsed on top of him floating down from the highest precipice. She felt his shudder. His heartbeat pounding in her ear, his breath rasping as well. Was it Nate’s or was it hers echoing in her ears? She didn’t know, she didn’t care.
Nate held her close to his chest, his hands gently rubbing her back, a feeling of contentment the likes he had never known. Marriage to Dulcey would be everything he wan
ted marriage to be. He felt her breathing become even.
“Dulcey?” he said softly. He smiled. He reached and pulled the covers over them as he moved Dulcey to his side. She murmured. “Sleep, my love.” Nate closed his eyes and let sleep take hold of him, as well.
Chapter 12
There is room in the smallest cottage
For a happy loving pair.
Friedrick Schiller
Dulcey woke slowly and stretched. She felt muscles she never knew existed. She was also naked under the covers. Memories came flooding to her mind and she smiled. The contentment that surrounded her was like the warm quilt that covered her naked body. She turned her head and watched as Nate went about setting the table with food Cook had sent with him. He wore just his pants, bare footed and bare chested, a grand example of the male specimen. He was hers.
She remembered everything from earlier. He had asked her to marry him. He was to be her husband. No, he was her husband, in every way, except for the blessings of the church. That would come in time. She had seen it so.
He had made her his, as the forces had showed her. She blushed but smiled, remembering how delicious those feelings were of being his. With Nate as her husband, she had the rest of her life to enjoy these feelings. The forces around her were clear and bright, the mists were gone.
Nate turned and found Dulcey awake and watching him. The smile on her face and the love reflected in her eyes made his heart sing. “Get up woman. I am half starved to death. It seems this fairy princess I know has taken all my strength. I need nourishment if I’m to keep her satisfied.”
Dulcey laughed and swung her legs off the bed and stood up. The admiration she saw in Nate’s eyes made her ache for him again. But he was right. She needed nourishment, as well.
“There’s some water in the pitcher by the fireplace to wash up,” he told her.
Dulcey nodded. She did feel sticky. She walked to the pitcher feeling Nate’s eyes watching her every movement. She washed with the warm water in short time. She grabbed Nate’s shirt and put it on. She liked the smell of him on his shirt surrounding her.