He turned his head to glance at her. It was no surprise that she was grinning, doing her best to keep up with his swift pace. She was as anxious as he was to commence this marriage the way it should have been long ago.
"Hugh, I must warn you," she said, her words coming out in little puffs of air. "If you continue at this pace I might be too winded to embark on this venture—"
The words made him halt in his tracks. She plowed into the back of him. But being Felicia, she wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her luscious breasts into his back. He merely stood there for a moment so that he could enjoy the sensation of her passionate body against his.
But his spiking desire nearly drove him mad. He spun around, holding her by her upper arms. "Felicia, we have had too many false starts. I cannot abide another one."
She gazed at him with rapt attention. She nodded once, and then her tongue darted out to moisten her lips. "I was merely teasing you," she said. "I was out of breath—"
He began walking at a more circumspect pace. "I can guarantee you will be out of breath for a great deal of the next few hours."
Her response was a delightful tinkling laughter. The sound was so erotic to him. It shot through his entire body, arousing him beyond belief, making it nearly impossible to walk.
Thankfully they had reached his bedroom door. He yanked it open, holding his hand against it so it did not slam into Felicia as she walked past.
She strolled into the room while Hugh leaned against the closed door, allowing her a moment to change her mind, praying with every fiber of his being that she would not.
She walked towards the massive tester bed, her fingers tracing the rich mahogany posts, glancing at him over her shoulder in an extremely inviting way. He pushed away from the door, forcing himself to slow his gait, not wanting his urgency to frighten her.
But his wife did not frighten easily. She rounded the furthest corner of the bedpost, trailing her fingers across the silk counterpane, continuing to learn everything possible about him by the trappings of his room. He could see how much she enjoyed the sensuous materials. It aroused him, her reaction to the world around her, her curiosity, her heightened senses.
He closed his eyes briefly, to regain control. It would be the height of irony for this to end before either of them had even disrobed.
"I can call your maid, if you like."
Felicia shook her head, and in the next instant she pulled pins out of the topknot, letting her hair fall in gorgeous waves around her shoulders. Her eyes gleamed. The minx knew how he loved her hair when it was falling freely.
"Would you like to ring for your valet?"
"I would prefer you to be my valet."
"Then you can be my maid."
She rushed over to stand in front of him, eager to commence the seductive proceedings. It took all his strength to not tear at her clothing, ripping it aside so that nothing separated them.
She made it difficult for him to recall how to conduct a proper seduction.
Her fingers reached for the buttons of his waistcoat. "Perhaps we should have planned this better," she said, smiling. "We could have waited until we were both already in our nightclothes."
"And where would be the enjoyment in that?" he teased.
She concentrated on unfastening each button, doing it so slowly he wondered if it were deliberate. When she glanced up at him, her eyes twinkling, he knew for certain she was taunting him with the lack of speed.
He grit his teeth, praying it would pass for a smile, sucking in his breath each time her fingers brushed against him. When she finally—finally!—removed the last button, he lifted her fingers, kissing her knuckles. Now it was his turn to drive her slightly mad, as she had done for him.
He lifted her hair, moving it to drape over one shoulder. He leaned forward and kissed the bare skin of her other one. She shivered, tilting her head as if to skitter away from the sensations. He brushed a fingertip across the front of her bodice. Her nipples were hard, and she started, still becoming accustomed to the sensations he produced.
"Your body responds so deliciously to my touch."
This time she shuddered, but he did not give her time to question anything. He turned her, gently, so that her back was facing him. Instinctively she tilted her head downwards, so he could reach the fastenings of her dress.
"How can I resist?" he murmured. He had resisted his irresistible wife much too long. It was a wonder he had managed it at all.
His lips traced the line of Felicia's neck, then dotted little kisses along her spine. He reached for the back of her dress, intending to begin the laborious task of getting her rid of the garment. But it was as if his hands had a mind of their own, for they cupped her breasts instead, and his thumbs rubbed over her taut nipples.
Felicia's head dropped back against his chest. He nibbled on her exposed neck, continuing his passionate assault while she moaned and moved against his hands, doing her best to get even more of his touch.
She arched her back, putting her curvaceous buttocks against his very hard erection. Yet she did not flinch. Instead, she uttered a sound that could only be described as delight. His heart thundered when she rubbed against him more intently.
"Felicia, you are going to drive me mad," he confessed.
"It is only fair, since I am halfway insane now."
"Shall I call a halt then?" he teased. He dropped one hand to her stomach, pulling her even more tightly against him. His other hand lightly pinched her nipple.
"If you call a halt," she said, her breath erratic, "I shall be forced to—"
"Pinch me?" He tweaked her nipple at the same time he suckled her skin where her neck dropped into her shoulder. Her skin reacted with goosebumps, and she shuddered, her knees nearly giving way beneath her.
Hugh could not wait any longer. He scooped her into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down for a kiss so filled with passion he was glad they were merely a few steps from the bed.
"We are not very competent valets or ladies' maids," Felicia said.
"No, we are most definitely not qualified for those roles. Remind me to quadruple their salaries on the morrow."
He laid her gently on the bed, the same way he had done thousands of times in his dreams, only this moment was even more exhilarating than his paltry imagination had been able to conjure up.
Unfortunately Felicia was still fully clothed, and he was most of the way dressed too.
Her eyes twinkled, for she had apparently seen the stricken look on his face when he realized their dilemma.
"Hugh, I have numerous dresses, so there is no need to worry if something were to happen to this one."
"I am not some brute," he began, but that set her off into peals of laughter, not quite what he had planned for this passionate interlude.
"No, you are not a brute. Nor are you much of a ladies' maid." She got up on her knees, turning away from him. "But you will have to do your best."
He gulped. He wanted her completely free of clothing. He was not about to make love to her any other way. He lifted his hand to begin the process of removing every layer, and to his surprise, his fingers trembled.
He managed to undo several of the fastenings, inwardly cursing the amount of time it took, even though it gave him a much needed opportunity to calm himself. However, he did not want Felicia's ardor to cool down too much. He stroked her neck, depositing an occasional kiss, murmuring naughty suggestions into her ear.
When her breasts heaved with her impassioned response, he retreated, returning to the business of undressing her. At last the dress was loose enough that it could be dragged off her shoulders. It pooled at her waist, until they both tugged at it, removing it entirely.
"I have aged a decade waiting for that to be gone," she muttered.
"I am nearly in my dotage as well."
She giggled. "Then make haste with the ties on my chemise."
He made fast work of those as well. "It is a wonder anyone is
able to make love with their spouse," he marveled, "without setting an appointment weeks in advance."
"I agree," she said. "And we have yet to undo your layers of clothing."
Hugh barely heard her words, for he was enthralled with her beautiful expanse of skin. Her back, with its delicious curves swooping down to her buttocks, was one of the most beautiful sights he had ever beheld.
She turned to see why he had not responded to her remarks. If he had expected maidenly squeals and wild attempts at modesty, he would have been disappointed. A more confident, determined woman likely did not exist.
Felicia rose up on her knees to remove the rest of the clothing hanging around her. When she was completely bared, he could see her lush breasts swaying, as well as the curves of her hips, leading his eyes down her exquisite thighs.
Her lips parted, her breath became uneven, and her cheeks were tinged a delightful rosy shade to match her nipples.
How could he resist her? Why had he ever thought he should? Felicia had been designed for him, created so that he might demonstrate how much he loved and desired her. And the need to show her was nearly too much to contain.
Hugh tore at his shirt, ripping it and nearly choking himself in his haste to get it away from his body. He would have made short work of the breeches, but Felicia reached her hand towards them, looking up at him.
"Permit me," she said in the most seductive voice he had ever heard. His erection was likely to spear through the fabric, but he stood in place, watching the fascination flit across her features as she slowly unbuttoned each side of the breeches. The front fell and her eyes lit up with obvious delight at what awaited her.
Her hand wrapped around him, and Hugh's breath caught. His knees would have buckled were it not for the bedpost nearby. He clutched it until his knuckles turned white, but he was not about to stop her delightful explorations.
She stroked him slowly, her fingers possessed of some sort of magic because it seemed he had little control left. He bit his lip, took several deep breaths in a row, and closed his eyes in an attempt to regain control over his body once more.
But he had to open his eyes when she intensified the speed of her movements. A proud smile danced about her lips when she saw the increase in his size.
The minx was going to kill him before this night was concluded. He was certain of it. He had to stop this intensely wonderful pleasure before he died, smiling, with Felicia unaware of the passion he held for her.
"Felicia, love," he said, bending to kiss her. "I adore your hands on me, more than you can possibly know."
"Hugh, I am fairly certain I know." She squeezed him, gently, to make her point. "You have given me a great deal of evidence."
"Then it is only fair that I should reciprocate."
"You cannot do so at the same time my hands are on you?"
He growled, but it only made her laugh. He gripped her upper arms and then kissed her with such passion, she let loose of him. He was both dejected and elated by that fact. In the next instant, he lowered her onto her back, lying next to her.
"You are much too impertinent," he said. He smoothed his fingertips over her skin. She shivered, delicately, and twisted to get closer to him. "Are you cold?"
She shook her head, and her eyes reflected her puzzlement. "I am quite heated," she answered. "I hope I am not coming down with a cold."
He grinned. "No, you are coming down with something else entirely." He raised himself on one elbow and continued to stroke her stomach, down to the top of her thighs. On the way back, his fingers skimmed higher, and she started.
He leaned over to give her cheek a kiss, for reassurance, but she was intent on moving his fingers over her sensitive area once more.
"Do you like that?" he asked with a satisfied smile.
"Yes," she said, though the word was barely audible.
"Do you want more?"
"Oh, yes. In fact, I shall pinch you within an inch of your life if you even consider halting."
"You are such a greedy thing."
"I am," she said, and she would have said more if she had not started moaning. He stroked the delicate spot between her legs a little more firmly, treasuring her sounds, as well as the evidence of her arousal.
Her arms reached for him, entwining around his neck to pull him down for a kiss. He continued the movements, stoking her body's passion to what was intended to be an unbearable level. When she began to writhe, he slipped a finger inside of her.
She halted, her mouth on his. He started to retreat, but her hand gripped his wrist, tightly, keeping it in place. "Do not even dare think of moving away."
"What if I were to do this instead?"
He began stroking inside her again, and she released his wrist, moving her hips in time with his rhythms. She closed her eyes, sliding her arms above her head in a sinuous movement, lost to the sensations.
Hugh dropped his mouth to the top of her thighs, his lips surrounding the knot of sensations.
"Hugh!" Felicia lifted up, her eyes wide, her mouth open with shock. When he did not halt, she dropped back to the bed, moaning and writhing as if trying to get away, while gripping him tightly at the same time. Hugh grabbed her leg, bending it so he could hold her close, and continued the passionate onslaught.
"Hugh," she cried, over and over. Her breathing sped up. When she could no longer gasp his name, she clutched at his shoulders, and then his hair, ensuring he could not move away.
"Mmmm," he murmured against her, relishing her taste, and her sounds, and visible demonstrations of her passion. The vibrations from his mouth finally sent her over the edge. She grasped the counterpane beneath her, pinching it so tightly Hugh muttered a silent prayer of thanksgiving that he was at a distance from her hands.
In the next instant she screamed, and then moaned. He pressed deeper, determined she would find the most delicious release.
Felicia shuddered, grabbing for him, almost frantically. His body hardened with every beautiful shiver and moan she delivered, an intense succession of them.
At last she pushed, half-heartedly, at his head, and then cradled it on her stomach when he relented.
"Hugh," she attempted, but her voice had disappeared.
He lifted his head and smiled. "If I had only known this was the method to ensure some peace and quiet from you—"
She tried to swat at him, but her arm did not cooperate. He ducked before it caught him anyway with its errant flailing.
"I have never experienced anything so, so—"
He settled himself next to her, brushing her hair away from her eyes. "You are so beautiful," he said.
She blushed, and then tried to cover her nakedness, unaccountably shy. He knew how fragile such a moment could make a person.
"Let me show you how delectable you are," he said. She twisted her lips, apparently waiting for him to tease her, but she would wait forever for that to happen. He trailed a finger across one cheekbone. "Your skin is glowing, with a delightful rosy shade."
His finger traced its way down her neck, to her chest. "And your skin is the color of roses here as well, flushed from your excitement."
She watched him, rapt by his descriptions of her aroused body. He skated his finger over the curve of her breast, circling the nipple, watching as it puckered up once more. "This is one of my favorites," he said.
"Why?"
He glanced up at her, and wondered if she could not see why it was so tempting. Her lips tilted up into a secretive smile. The little minx was getting aroused by his descriptions. It excited him that he could affect her in such a fashion.
"Why is this one of my favorites?"
"Yes," she breathed. "Tell me."
"Because it is a perfectly ripe berry, a sweetmeat like no other." He flicked his tongue over it, then blew his breath against it. Felicia sucked in her own breath. Then she surprised him by plucking at her other nipple, rolling it between her fingers, showing him how she liked it to be touched.
He pulled the ha
rdened knot between his teeth. Her chest rose and fell in a faster rhythm. He could not believe how wonderful it was to play with her in his bed. He had known instinctively they would be perfectly matched lovers, yet he had fought off the notion, for far too long.
He nearly regretted the time they had wasted, but then he tossed the thought aside. The important thing was they had the rest of the night. They had the rest of their lives, to play, and discover every passionate thing about each other.
He bit a little harder, and Felicia moaned.
"Oh, do that again," she whispered. Her hand slid down to where his mouth had been earlier, with no trace of embarrassment. Hugh bit just a little harder, turning slightly so he could watch her caressing herself.
Each bite made her stroke herself a little harder. "Hugh, how can this feel so good? After you just—"
He could not take his mouth away to answer her. She did not really want words at this point, he knew that. She was in thrall to the passion rising, so quickly, and was singlemindedly pursuing it to its conclusion.
He had in mind a different ending, however. His body throbbed with need. As soon as she was at a fever pitch, he would sheath himself in her. The mere thought of it was enough to make him start moaning.
It increased the vibrations against her skin, and she moved to get closer, rubbing herself more intently. She twisted until her body was hard against him, her hand between them to increase the pressure, and the sensation. He kept biting and nibbling at her nipple, knowing she was feeling all of it deep inside of her.
He could not hold back any longer.
"Felicia," he murmured, but she was lost to the heat they had created. He wanted to warn her, but did he really care to break the spell? Perhaps this would be better.
Hugh rose to his knees, stroking her and himself at the same time. Her eyes blinked as she saw the size of him. He wavered, waiting for her protest, but it was not there. To his relief, and amazement, she wriggled to get closer, and he began to press himself inside her.
He halted at her body's natural resistance. He had a moment's gratitude at the proof Felicia was indeed a virgin, despite her scandalous elopements. He pushed, slightly, doing his best to move slowly, to ease himself in.
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