She stepped back into his arms and whispered, “I love you too. It’s because I love you that I was so unhappy before.”
“Can we leave this party now? This is the most insipid evening. I need you to tell me everything you want for our wedding. You shall have the decision-making power. All shall be as you desire.”
“Truly? Won’t your family be upset if I say I wish to marry in the chapel at Kingsdene as my sister and brother did?”
“If they complain it shall be too bad. Your wishes are paramount.”
Sapphira grinned at him. “Then mayhap it’s time to return to Grandmama.”
Chapter Five
Their wedding was the talk of the town for months to come. All the Upper Ten Thousand returned to Town for the event, leaving Brighton, Bath, and country house parties denuded as even those who were not invited came to the cathedral for a glimpse of the most beautiful bride in many a year.
Sapphira’s gown was a shimmering concoction of lace and silver-blue silk, embroidered all over with pearls and forget-me-nots. Her two sisters were her bride’s maids, both dressed in the blue of their eyes and carrying bouquets of white flowers.
After the service, one hundred guests sat down to dine and the Prince Regent even came to clap his hand on the earl’s shoulder and steal a kiss from the bride.
“What a shame Deborah didn’t bring the monkey. We could have given it to Prinny,” joked Sapphira as their coach pulled away from the party chased by Micah and Joel and being pelted by dozens of old shoes thrown by the guests.
“Indeed yes.”
The earl reached across the seat between them and pulled her closer to him. “Now that we’re married, you must call me Zethan. May I kiss you?”
Sapphira’s breath hitched. Grandmama and Georgina had both talked to her about what came next, and she was more than ready for the physical side of marriage. But for now, kissing would be nice. “Oh yes. Please.”
Gently he turned her body to face him then held the back of her head with one hand as his lips descended over hers. As before, they were soft and sweet, yet firm and possessive. This time she was ready to move faster and opened her lips immediately, wanting his tongue in her mouth, wanting that flash of searing heat through her body.
He turned his head to a slight angle sideways and thrust his tongue deep into her mouth, lighting sparks of fire wherever he touched her. She wiggled closer to him, needing more, needing his body against her aching nipples.
Eventually, they broke apart, their chests heaving with the need to drag in air, and he untied the riband on her bonnet.
“This is a very pretty bonnet, but at the moment somewhat de trop,” he said, gently laying it on the seat opposite them. Then he reached across to close the window blinds in the carriage, drew her onto his lap, held her in his arms, and whispered, “Where was I again?”
“Here,” she said, lifting her face to his and snuggling deeper into his arms.
Despite the many layers of fabric between them, she could still feel the heat from his body, the warmth of his hand on her neck, of his arms around her.
For the first time, she sucked on his tongue, thrilled with the way he responded to her maneuvere, loving the sense of power it gave her.
His hand left her neck and rested on her breast. Her breasts were so heavy and turgid, the nipples hard little points, so she pressed herself into his hand, loving his touch on her.
He broke their mouths apart and, using two hands, unbuttoned her jacket, then slid a hand inside her gown to cup her breast. Instantly her inner cream flooded from her, making her very glad she had several petticoats on to absorb the dampness. His hand felt so good. Warm and gentle as he stroked her skin and touched her nipple.
She clutched his shoulder and pressed her breast into his hand, loving what he was doing to her and wanting more of his touch.
“You like that?”
She blushed and nodded.
More forcefully he pulled the top of her gown down and exposed both breasts. Drawing her closer to him, he used both hands now on her breasts, cupping the globes, stroking her skin, tweaking her nipples. When he bent his head down and sucked a nipple into his mouth, she gasped with surprise, then with the wonderful feeling that shot through her. Never had she imagined such pleasure from a mouth on her skin.
With one arm wrapped around her body holding her close to him, he licked and sucked one breast then the other, tonguing her nipples, laving between her breasts then tasting huge mouthfuls of her flesh.
Her breath was coming in pants now, her insides in turmoil. She felt so on edge, so in need of more, yet it was so very good.
Zethan seemed to understand. One hand buried itself under her gown, finding its way through the maze of skirts and petticoats to her body. His hand ran up her thigh and to her core. His fingers started stroking her most secret place as he took her mouth again in a passionate kiss. Without breaking the kiss, he sent his fingers delving inside her, twisting and turning, searching out that one particular spot which led to bliss. Then he found it, stroking it with exactly the correct amount of pressure.
Pleasure raced through her body, far stronger than she’d ever felt before, as she shook in his arms. Zethan stroked her for a short time after she stopped quaking, then withdrew his hand. His eyes fixed on hers, he sucked first one of his fingers, then another. “You taste very good. Have you ever tasted yourself?” Surprised, she shook her head. He placed his third finger at her lips and said, “Sample yourself then. Know how much I enjoy touching and savoring you. Tonight I’ll put my tongue there and lick up all your cream.”
She shivered with delight at the wicked things he was saying, then something Georgina had said made sense. Hesitantly she touched the huge bulge in the front of his breeches. “And may I taste you too tonight?”
He pulled her tight against him, letting her feel the long, hard ridge of his manhood. “Oh my darling, I hope you’ll want to. But it doesn’t have to be tonight. Just the knowledge that you’ve even suggested it is enough to make me a very happy man.”
He sighed then said, “We must make you tidy again. The servants will want to meet you before I can take you to bed and thoroughly make you mine.”
****
It was some hours later when Sapphira’s maid finally left her alone. Her hair had been brushed out to lie in gleaming gold ringlets on her shoulders. She was wearing an almost indecently transparent gown and robe made by Madame Giselle and ordered by the Dowager. It was in the palest of blues and had a froth of lace over her bosom. Having seen some of Georgina’s wedding lingerie, also ordered by the Dowager, Sapphira could only assume the two elderly ladies knew what men liked, because even wearing it made her blush, far less seeing herself in it.
She heard Zethan moving around in his room next door. He’d dismissed his valet but was walking back and forth. Sapphira started to feel nervous. Surely he wasn’t regretting marrying her already? It didn’t sound as though he was pacing the floor. But why would he be walking around?
Finally there was a knock on the connecting door between their rooms and Zethan appeared in the doorway. He was wearing a heavily embroidered robe, but no shirt or breeches showed underneath it. Could he be naked? Oh my!
“So beautiful,” he said softly approaching her. “You’re so very beautiful.” He caught her into his arms and kissed her mouth, then picked her up and returned to his room.
Sapphira gripped his shoulders tightly. This wasn’t what she’d expected at all. Then he placed her in the center of his bed. It was covered in rose petals, many handfuls of them. Red and pink and yellow and orange and white. They were soft, silky, and sweet smelling, and surrounded her.
He lay on top of her and began kissing her forehead, cheeks, eyelids, jawline, even her ears. He learned up on his forearms long enough to say, “I love you, Sapphira. I want tonight to be the first of night of the rest of our lives. Let me love you the way you deserve to be loved.”
She pulled his head down to hers a
nd replied, “I love you too. Thank you for the rose petals. Every time I see them and smell them I’ll remember this night.”
He grinned. “Well I’d better get started making it something really good for us both to remember then.”
The End
www.berengariabrown.webs.com
Other Books by Berengaria Brown:
Three for the Road
Feels So Good
Strung Tight
Turning Up The Heat
The Vicar's Virgin
Almost A Virgin
Evernight Publishing
http://www.evernightpublishing.com
Promising Virgin Page 6