"And these things you’ve done," she said hesitantly. "You’ve done them before with lots of other women?"
"No, I’ve done a few of them before with a couple of women. The rest is special to us because you’re my wife and we’re building a life and a history together. Memories we are going to look back on and cherish. Also gaining knowledge. I want to learn all about what pleases you. In turn you can learn about me.
"As you’ve already learned, I adore all the foods we’ve eaten. You’ve learned about the colours I like, the furniture. I hope you forgive me for presuming to decorate our rooms with no input from you, but I wanted to create something in balance and harmonious. I want this room to be full of sensual delights. Feel free to change or add or take away anything you don’t want."
"No, it’s perfect. You’re perfect. Look how magnifient you are," she said, and touched him intimately at last.
"I’m all yours now, darling," he breathed, his eyes glowing. "You can do what you like with me. I’ll just lie here and you can play as much as you like."
Ash had some cause to regret his words, for she was indeed most curious about him, and all of the deep even breathing in the world could not stop him from growing painfully hard and desperate to contain his surging climax.
"Darling, I’m going to reach my zenith if you do that again. Can we bring it back down to a simmer?"
She toyed with the idea for a moment, but when she watched him gathering himself up tensely for the finale, she decided she wanted to see the conclusion.
"Oh, gods above!" he gasped, and grabbed her other hand to cover him lightly like an umbrella. She could see him juddering in great wrenching bursts, and he begged, "Please kiss me," through clenched teeth.
She drew her shoulders parallel to his and he grabbed her head in both hands and ravished her mouth with his tongue until at last he quietened.
He stroked his hand down her shoulder and back, and sighed. He tugged open the drawer of the small bedside table and pulled out a handkerchief and wiped her hand and his stomach as she watched in fascination.
"My essence, which will make you with child if we do not take steps to prevent it. I’ll teach you about that some other time when we need to worry about it. For now though, you can taste it if you like."
She looked at him curiously from under her long lashes.
"Is that why I get damp?"
"In a way. I’ve heard women do something similar with different intensities of orgasm, as it’s called. I’ve never actually seen anything like it myself, but then I haven’t got nearly as much experience as some of the people I’ve studied Tantra with. Or my mother, who tried, if you can believe, to give me advice about my wedding night." He laughed. "Well, it was advice for both of us really, for she wants you to be happy, not frightened of me."
"No, I’m not frightened," she said as she nestled against him more closely and sucked one finger thoughtfully. "I might be a bit confused and uncertain, but never frightened. You are a very kind and gentle man. It tastes well, I think it tastes like asparagus."
"And do you like asparagus?
"I do indeed. And I love you."
"I’m so glad, Ellen, for I most certainly love you."
She looked at him in surprise, hardly daring to believe it. "You’re just so calm, still, sure of yourself. I wish I could be more like that. I let my fears get the better of me at times."
"What do you fear, dearest?" he asked tenderly.
"Loss of things which are important to me," she confessed.
To her relief, he seemed to understand what she meant at once. "Then it’s a question of either placing less importance upon those things, or conquering your fears. The material world is fleeting. We can’t take anything with us when we die, after all. The only things eternal are our souls and our love. Attaining nirvana, we shall be as one forever with the Brahman."
"And with each other?"
"Yes." He held her close, stroking down her back with long soothing caresses. "But now I think we need to sleep. While there are a million things I would like to do with you, we have all day tomorrow, and I wouldn’t like to keep you from your rest. And don’t worry, there are plenty more evenings ahead of us like this. I don’t want you to think I’m just going to throw you on your back and have done with it."
"Why not?" she asked impishly. "I’m sorely tempted to do it to you myself."
He shook his head gently. "I want to savour every moment. I want to know everything about you, what pleases you, darling."
"And what if I said it would please me now to continue, that I’m not in the least sleepy, and desperate for you to explore me further?"
"Then I would have to say I’m not sleepy either. But tell me if you get that way, or if I worry you."
"You don’t worry me. I just want you to be happy, though."
"I am. You?"
Ellen nodded. "I am. It’s magical. You're a remarkable man, darling." She smiled. "If you’re not too tired, can we have more berries and champagne like last night?"
"With pleasure."
"And some cheese and crackers for food."
"I shall feed them to you like a bird her nestlings."
"So long as it’s not worms."
He grinned. "Never, my love. Unless you want to make disparaging remarks about my manhood at rest, and can’t stand the thought of it anywhere your mouth."
She stared at him, and blushed. "Do women really?" she whispered.
"Yes. Me to you, and you to me. But only if you want to try it. But most certainly not now, so no need to look so worried. Right now we’re only talking about eating food. Everything delectable and tasty you want is yours for the asking. We can even go down and raid the kitchen if you like."
"No," she said, shaking her head. "I don’t want to leave our little haven. Cheese and crackers for now. But if you don’t mind, I’m going to wash my hands and investigate all the joys of this suite. I still haven’t got used to the beauty of it all."
"Can I come too, or is it private?"
"No it’s not private," she said looking at him for a long moment and wondering what he had in mind.
She looked in admiration again at the lovely black and white marble tub, the black marble floor, the huge sink and long double washstand with multi-coloured inlays. Huge towel rails hung with linens flanked the vast tub.
She saw he had not been exaggerating when Ash had said he had done his best to provide everything she could have wanted. So far all the rooms she had seen were so luxurious she felt like a fairy princess, not plain old Ellen Jerome. Ellen Paignton now, she reminded herself with a happy sigh.
She opened the door and wandered into the next room, which had been completely fitted up as a nursery. Her heart lurched in her chest at the sight. It was decorated in a soothing shade of hyacinth blue with white accents, and had all of the essentials such as a crib and bassinet.
She stammered for a moment before managing to gasp, "Is it not supposed to be bad luck to-"
"No bad luck, ever. Not for us. I’ve only done the minimum. The rest we can do together when the time comes."
"If this is your idea of the minimum, darling, I hate to think what this house would look like if you went all out."
"Only the best for you, my love. Anything you don’t like, we can change."
"No, it’s all perfect. Thank you. I feel like I’m in some sort of fantasy land."
He smiled down at her warmly and kissed her on the cheek, tantalisingly close to her mouth. "I’m so glad. Come, let’s finish the tour."
The opposite door led them back to their official bedroom, and she smiled. "It’s is just too wonderful. I can’t believe you managed to get so much done."
"I’m just sorry if you thought I had neglected you this past fortnight. I never want to leave you alone so much again."
"I wasn’t alone. I was working downstairs with your mother, Martin, your aunt and uncle. I just wish I could surprise you with something special."
"You alway
s do. You surprise me every moment I’m with you with some new aspect of yourself, and I love you even more."
He kissed her warmly, and they went back inside the room and he put his robe on. He began to lay out the food on a tray, which he put down on low table in front of the sofa.
She put on her robe again as well and snuggled into him, her head on his shoulder. Somehow it seemed as though she had always been there, as if it was the only place in the world where she belonged.
As Ash fed her, he asked her about her favourite food, books and what she wanted to do tomorrow.
"More of the same. After all, we’re on our honeymoon."
"Would you not get tired of doing this all the time?" he asked.
"Never."
"Wonderful."
After a time he said, "But sometimes one can have too much of a good thing. I mean, I love seeing you naked, but I can really appeciate your ample curves in that robe."
"Is that why you put yours on as well? So I wouldn’t take you for granted?"
"Partly. That and the fact that there’s nothing like catching an alluring little peep every so often. Life is all about contrasts, hard and soft, male and female, desire and fulfillment."
He gave her a long slow kiss, then took another sip of wine. She placed her mouth on his to take it from him and then gave it back. He passed to it her again and she swallowed, letting her tongue fizz against his as she moved her tongue in and out.
"You’re the most wonderful kisser," he practically purred.
"Thank you. But you don’t have to say these things. I’m not jealous of your past, and you know you have no reason to be jealous of mine. To tell you the truth, I was beginning to wonder what was wrong with me, reaching my ripe old age of twenty-two and never having met anyone whose kisses, or even attempts to kiss me, didn’t fill me with disgust."
"I’m so glad. And relieved I don’t disgust you either," he said, nibbling at her throat.
"I’m getting all fired up for another zenith as you put it. You’re just too good."
"I’m glad you’re happy," he murmured as he worked his way down to the hollow at the base of her throat.
"I would be even more happy if you would touch me more. I don’t want you to always be fearful that I’m going to compare you to that swine Bridges. I adore you. I would never—"
He raised his lips then to look her in the eye. "Just because we’re married does not give me the right to take you for granted as mine. It’s your gift to bestow upon me, now and always. Your whole body, but most particularly your yoni, your sacred space or sacred temple, is your gift, and yours alone. That which I shall one day worship within as well as without."
"And what is your, um, called in Hindu?"
"Lingam, remember? The wand of light. Martin told you when we were discussing the myths that night we were first together."
"Oh yes, of course. I thought Martin was just trying to shock me."
"Not at all. He’s been a most adept Tantric pupil, according to my mother. I shall teach you how we can massage each other without coitus to release all of our energies and possibly even achieve orgasm if we want to let it go that far."
"Why wouldn’t we?" she asked curiously as she ate.
"To keep up the pleasure, prolong it for hours if we wish."
Ellen gulped. "Hours?"
"Certainly." He grinned, his eyes sparkling. "I did it for a whole day once, with only a couple of breaks. By myself and with some help. Ladies only. Though some men like the feel of harder contact."
"Have you ever tried?"
"Not apart from non-intimate contact, no. Massage, well a lot of that when I was ill. But then that isn’t really sexual in itself. That is just a healing aspect which can become sexual with the right person. And you are most definitely the right person."
He took her hand and led her to the final door in the room which she had taken to be a closet. He removed his robe and waited while she took hers off as well. Then he took up a candle and went into the room and closed the door as her eyes adjusted to the light, she realised the entire room was covered with mirrors from floor to ceiling.
"Oh my," she breathed as she caught sight of them both him and herself from every single angle.
"You can watch the way we move together. See how lovely you are. See all sides of me at the same time. I’ll just go get the oil."
The floor of the room was one large mattress, wth a variety of cushions in all different shapes and sizes. He handed her a wedge shaped one now to insert under her bottom and then she was completely open to his hands and gaze. He coated his hands in oil and began to massage her most intimately.
"Just breathe, and hold it back, breathe and hold it back."
She discovered her ability to hold back was negligible, however. She soared, thrashing her head from side to side, certain her whole body was turning inside out. She sobbed, moaned and pleaded, fulfilled, yet knowing there was still so much more to share. The prospect was almost terrifying.Yet she would have hurtled straight toward it if Ash had permitted.
After six orgasms he gave up trying to teach her how to hold back. He was delighted she had failed; he had never seen a more rousing sight than Ellen taking her pleasure from his hands and finally his tongue. He lay down beside her, and held her close, kissing her so deeply she was sure she was going to explode all over again.
"It’s too good, Ash."
"Easy now, love."
She stroked his velvety steel and he climaxed against her stomach and at last lay still. Spent from the depths of the emotions she evoked within him, Ash lifted her and brought her out of the mirrored room.
He brought her to their regular bedroom, where he laid her down on the bed. A blissful somnolence swept over them, the sleep of satiation. Wrapped in each other’s arms they slept.
Chapter Twenty-five
The Paigntons’ honeymoon continued on with their familiar pattern of regular meals and beautifying their new home, reading, attending their correspondence, and talking to each other about their memories of childhood, their hopes and dreams.
Ash gave Ellen a new wardrobe of Indian clothes to try on. Donning or removing each piece provoked a new display of ardour.
"This of course is the choli, your little top to wear with the sari. And this is your kameez, your tunic, to go with your salwar."
"Trousers!" she gasped.
"But so baggy no one will see your legs. And this is the orhna, your scarf to wear over the kameez."
"They are lovely, thank you. Look at the colours, and the jewels, the gold."
"I adore you in blue."
"I adore you in black or white, but I think I like you best bare," Ellen admitted with a laugh.
"Your wish is my command," he said, tossing his silk robe aside and allowing her to gaze at him freely while she grew less and less shy, more and more bold as she modelled the clothes for him.
Ellen never once had cause to repine being married to Ash. Every day was a new revelation of just what a remarkably warm, loving and principled man she had married.
The nights were the best part, though, as she looked forward to seeing her husband in all his naked glory as he relaxed in their special room like a pasha in his harem.
She allowed him to touch her in the most seductive ways, and cherished him with her hands in nights of bliss with no beginning and no end.
The third night he gave her a full body massage. The fourth night he worshipped her legs and feet, using his hands and the honey. Only the fifth night he let her run his hands over hers as she explored herself so he could discover what she wanted and needed.
The very next night he gave her another yoni massage so powerful she climaxed repeatedly and fell asleep within ten minutes.
On the seventh night he explored the whole of her back. Ellen was sure there was no part of her body he had not touched, kissed and caressed worshipfully, yet still one look from him was enough to set her pulses racing and make her limbs lambent.
At l
ast, on the eight night she realised she was being selfish.
"It occurs to me now that so far it’s all been about me. I’ve never once asked you what you want. I’m sorry."
He smiled then. "It’s all right. I understand. You’re learning all sorts of new things. I’d really just like us to relax here and see if we can hear each other’s thoughts."
She shook her head. "That’s not possible."
"Oh, I think you’ll find a lot of couples share it. It’s being so in tune with each other that they can actually finish each other’s sentences. We can try by looking at each other."
The Rakehell Regency Romance Series Boxed Set 5 Page 60