An Unsuitable Match

by Glint, Chloe

  As she released another shaky sigh, Kale kissed her hip gently. She trembled, though she tried not to. He gently petted her stomach.

  "Camille?" Kale said.

  She opened her eyes and saw her husband gazing at her with burning affection. He kissed her hip again.

  "Yes," she whispered.

  "You don't have to do this tonight, you know." Kale gently touched her thigh, causing her skin to be covered in goosebumps. "I want to, but there is no rush. We have a lifetime together to do this."

  The words did not dissuade her from doing it but reminded her of why she was. She cared for her husband. She wanted to please him and love him. She also wanted to share all experienced with him.

  Especially this.

  "I want to be with you in this way." She smiled nervously. "I'm just a little anxious, that's all."

  Kale stared at her for a moment, then he kissed his way up her stomach all the way to her lips. When he situated himself so he was eye to eye with her, he planted a loving peck on her forehead and stared deep into her eyes. With him gazing at her the way he was, she swore she could see his very soul.

  "I love you," Kale said. "I want you to know that."

  Though a thousand voices in her head told her he only said the words to bring her comfort, she could see by the loving sparkle in her husband's eyes that he spoke no lies. Her heart grew warm and tears crawled up her throat. They were not tears of sadness. They were tears of joy.

  "I love you too." She wrapped her arms around her husband's neck and inhaled deeply. She wished she could have breathed him in. "I love you so much."

  Kale held her in his arms for some time. It could have been hours or it could have been minutes. She wasn't sure of which. He was in no hurry, and she was grateful for that. When her husband did pull back just enough to look at her, she nodded, showing him that she was ready for him. Ready for true marriage between them.

  While never breaking her gaze, her husband reached between her legs and inserted his finger into her hole again. This was the first time he fingered her sex while the two of them made eye contact. If her juices had been flowing before, it was nothing compared to now. She could feel her lips drip.

  When Kale pulled his finger out of her, he kissed her deeply, plunging his tongue into her mouth. At first she thought this was a sign of affection, but when she felt his cock's head press against her hole, she realized it was a distraction instead. She gasped in pain against her husband's lips as he increased pressure. It truly was like somebody was impaling her with a sword. She burned on the inside. Half of her wanted to tell him to stop. Yet she bit her tongue, shut her eyes, and endured.

  As Kale pressed against her, he let out a grunt and then pulled out. Though her sex still burned painfully, she was relieved. But she knew the respite would not last long. He had to finish this now, or else it would all be for nothing. She might be too frightened to initiate carnal relations with her husband again. She propped herself up on her elbow, her breathing ragged.

  "Perhaps the position is wrong." She winced.

  "Yes." Kale ran his hand through his sweaty hair. "Spread your legs a little more and lift your hips up."

  Though she would rather clamp her legs shut, she forced herself to spread them. Her husband settled between her thighs again. His cock brushed her inner hip. She expected him to force himself into her immediately, but instead he kissed her gently. He caressed every inch of her skin, whispering calming words and soothing her trembling soul. He settled himself on his elbows so his weight wasn't pressing upon her, then he pulled sweaty hair from her face and nuzzled her. His smell, a masculine musk, permeated her nostrils.

  "It's alright, sweetheart." He ran his fingers through her hair. "Everything will be fine."

  It shocked her how quick her husband's words soothed her heart. She shut her eyes and listened to her spouse repeat the same mantra over and over again. As he petted her forehead, her cheeks, and her shoulder, she began to believe him. What was this but a moment in her life? A painful moment, but it was naught but a moment. Her muscles relaxed beneath his caring fingertips.

  After a few moments of soothing, Kale pushed his cock's head against her hole again. The stretching, burning, too-full sensation crashed over her with a vengeance. She could feel her husband's cock sinking into her, penetrating her. She gasped in pain and wrapped her arms around his sweaty shoulders. While lifting her hips, she buried her face into his arm. The sharp agony increased. She wondered if it could get any worse. Good heavens, Mary was right about this feeling. It's like somebody is ripping me open with a dagger on the inside. Her eyes watered and she sunk her teeth into her bottom lip.

  Kale leaned over her and kissed her ear affectionately. That was the only thing that could have brought her attention away from the pain. "Sweetheart, I'm inside of you. It's done. We're one now."

  She could not manage to speak, but she nodded. She had hoped the word "done" was synonyms with "pain is over," but that was not the case. Her husband moved inside of her for the first time and she wanted to hold him in a death grip to keep him still again. Having his shaft moving inside of her was enough to make her cry.

  But you care for this man, she reminded herself, looking up at her adoring husband. She let out a desperate, shaky breath, grateful that the two of them could be so close.

  ****

  Seeing pain on Camille's face was something Kale could hardly stand. When he first pressed himself against her, he had considered stopping despite her urgings to continue. Now that he was inside his wife and thrust inside of her, the fact that he was experiencing overwhelming pleasure while she was obviously in agony made him overwhelmed with guilt. It felt like a cruel joke to him, making his wife suffer to give him pleasure. He prayed that Mr. Kent was right and that she would come to enjoy mating eventually.

  "Is it getting better?" Kale struggled to speak as he thrust. "How do you feel?"

  A wave of pleasure crashed over him as he thrust into her. More guilt came in response to the pleasure. He gritted his teeth as lustful enjoyment and his own morality did battle.

  His wife opened one eye as if it was too unbearable to open two. "It still stings a little, but it's lessening. I feel you rubbing inside me, but I'm alright."

  As his wife's tightened hole around his cock made him shudder, he had to fight hard to answer her. His brain was beginning to go blank as his balls slapped against her rear.

  "Alright." He groaned. "Almost done. Almost."

  He shut his eyes and gripped his wife's waist. The pleasure built in his balls. His brain went blank. The guilt was losing to his own body's desires. He could hardly remember anything else anymore but his own needs. With a moan, he opened his eyes again and saw that his wife was watching him. Her eyes were not squeezed shut anymore and she was no longer wincing every time he moved. With her skin glistening with sweat and her bosom heaving, she was truly beautiful. And he loved her. He could hardly fathom that the two of them were one at this very moment.

  Unable to contain himself, he thrust into his wife faster and harder, his own orgasm looming on the horizon. He was going to come into her. Fill her. He let out a desperate gasp and reached out to grab a fistful of blankets. For the first time, his cock throbbed and pleasure caused his mind to go deliriously blank. He finished in his wife, filling her up with his seed. Panting and breathless, he remained hunched over her for a moment, unable to contemplate anything else. Being inside of his spouse had felt so good.

  Only when Camille reached out and grabbed his arm did he open his eyes again. The guilt returned with a vengeance when he saw the blood on his shaft as well as on the sheets. It must have hurt her badly. He wished he could have taken her agony onto himself again. It was unfair one partner must suffer so much.

  "Are you alright?" He reached out and touched her hand. "I am so sorry that I hurt you."

  To his immense surprise, she smiled and sat up. She kissed his cheek. "It's over. You and I are truly husband and wife now. I'm yours."
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  Her words had him so overwhelmed that he could not stop himself from embracing her.

  ****

  That night, Camille and her husband lay in bed. Her sex was sore and muscles she didn't even know she had ached. Despite her pains, though, she was grateful that she had consummated her bond with her husband. She had an odd sense of accomplishment. It felt as though she was a woman now; that in becoming one with her husband, she had entered the world of adulthood and left her life as a girl behind her. She smiled and rolled over, then placed her hand on her husband's chest. The two of them had taken a bath together. He smelled of lilacs and good wine.

  "You look happy." Kale kissed her forehead.

  "I am happy." She nuzzled his shoulder.

  "I'm surprised." Kale threaded his fingers through her hair. "I thought you would be upset afterward. It hurt you a lot. I could tell by your expression."

  "Sometimes pain can open the gates to happiness." She hesitated and kissed his chest.

  Like our marriage. My parents hurt us both, but I was never as happy before as I am now. She let out a contented sigh and closed her eyes. Tonight she'd sleep well, even if her husband snored.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The next morning, Kale awoke with a numb arm again. He looked at Camille and saw that she was curled up against him. Her face was ashen and her hair was a massive, untamed bush upon her head. Even then, he found her beautiful. He leaned over and kissed her forehead. She was his whole world now. It was hard to imagine he'd once lived without her. As he sighed and drew her closer to him, she groaned and opened her eyes. Waking her had not been his intention, so he winced.

  "Morning," he said, wondering whether he was about to get in trouble for waking his sleeping bride.

  "Morning." She beamed at him, alleviating all of his worries. "How did you sleep?"

  "Quite well." He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, but it just sprung up again. "The best night's sleep I've ever had."

  He buried his face in his wife's hair and kissed her lovingly.

  "Last night was amazing," he said.

  "It was." She squirmed. "Though I am a little sore."

  For a fleeting moment, he imagined his wife's pained face as he mated with her for the first time. The burning guilt returned. He ran his fingers over his wife's skin and then kissed her cheek. She smiled and shut her eyes. He could tell from her expression she was in sheer ecstasy. As he held onto his spouse, minutes faded away into hours. Still he did not want to leave the warm bed or his wife's comforting arms. It was only when he heard a knock on the door that he was forced to sit up.

  "Sir, is everything alright?" said Mr. Kent. "It's past noon and you have not come down for breakfast."

  His eyes widened. It was past noon already? He could scarcely believe it. Camille must have had a similar thought because she scrambled out of bed.

  "My wife and I lost track of time," said Kale, receiving a rush of pleasure at the word wife. "Tell the cook to prepare us meals. We'll be down shortly."

  "Alright." Footsteps trailed away from the door.

  "I cannot believe we stayed in bed past noon." Camille pulled her nightgown over her head and then tossed it to the floor. "I don't think I've slept this late a day in my life."

  The sight of his wife naked caused heat to fill his pelvis. His shaft plumped. Her skin was a beautiful gold. As she lifted her arms, her nipples became hardened buds because of the cool air. His body urged him to claim her again and he let out a shaky gasp. Mine, a voice said in his head. That woman is all mine. He swallowed. Just because she was his didn't mean that he had to spear her already sore sex. The poor woman had bled because of him last night. He wasn't going to subject her to that again so soon, even though his shaft was causing a tent to form in his pants. He hoped that he calmed down before he reached the dining table, or else the servants would have more to wag their tongues about.

  As Kale took a deep breath, paper crinkled. He didn't turn around to see what it was. Camille tapped him on his shoulder, though, drawing his attention. She clutched an underdress to her bosom with a letter in-hand. She held out the letter to him, her eyes wide. The letter from my father, he thought, aghast. Even touching his father's letter was enough to steal his early morning vigor. It was amazing how something so simple could leave such a bitter taste in his mouth. He sighed.

  "I'm sure it's nothing," Camille said. "Don't worry about it."

  "I know I shouldn't, but…" He fell silent for long enough that his wife had her underdress and corset situated over her bosom before he'd noticed.

  "Help me, please." Camille looked over her shoulder at him. "It's far easier with your assistance."

  "Of course." He placed the letter on the bed and tightened the strings of the corset. The ease of which he accomplished this astounded him. "To think not long ago this task was daunting to me."

  She glanced over her shoulder at him. "Not so long ago, you had a hard time even looking me in the eye."

  As he stepped away from his wife, he frowned. She was right. Things had changed between them so quickly. It amazed him. If only time would fix how much his father intimidated him…He wrung his hands and noted that they were already drenched with sweat.

  "Are you sure everything is alright?" Camille turned and cocked her head. "You're quiet. Does the letter truly frighten you that much?"

  "A little." It unashamed him to admit it. What kind of man was he? "But a wise person once told me to think of the worst thing the letter could say, and I suppose it's not that bad."

  "That person must be very smart."

  He forced a smile on his face. "Undoubtedly."

  She nodded and turned away.

  ****

  As Camille pulled on the top layer of her dress, she gazed at herself in the mirror, frowning. She was not concerned about her looks at the moment. She was concerned about her husband. Whatever confidence had been instilled in him the night before appeared to have been stolen by the sun. She walked over to her table where she kept her brushes and quickly ran a comb through her hair. The combing only caused her already curly hair to become wilder. She gave up and stuck a jeweled pin in the midst of the mess, then turned and extended her arm to her husband. Perhaps hunger was causing his sorrow. Everything always seemed worse when one was hungry, she had come to realize.

  "Let's go down to breakfast," she said. "After some food, I am certain that you will feel refreshed."

  "Yes." He picked up the letter and then intertwined his arm with her own.

  The two of them headed down to the dining room in silence. After she went through the door, she saw that the large table was already burdened with loafs of bread, homemade jams, and freshly churned butter. A bowl full of fruit sat by her plate. She realized the help must have noticed that fresh fruit was her choice in the morning. A smile crossed her face. Perhaps everyone had forgotten about the rumors regarding her and Mr. Kent and had taken a liking to her.

  She dragged her husband to the table and made him sit down. After she took a seat herself, she spooned berries onto her plate and also sliced through a loaf of bread. It was still warm. Her stomach rumbled hungrily. After last night, she was famished. She applied a generous helping of strawberry jam onto her bread and took a bite. Only as sweet fruit tantalized her taste buds did she realize that her husband was not eating. He had not even reached for the jam.

  "If it bothers you so much, you should open the letter," she said.

  Kale nodded and tore it open. Silence fell as he read it. His face remained stoic, leaving her to wonder whether the news was good or bad.

  "Well?" she said, after several moments had passed.

  He did not answer and merely handed her the letter.

  Dear Kale,

  Your mother has informed me that your marriage to Lady Camille is going exquisitely. As you can imagine, I am very relieved. I had my doubts about whether you were capable of marriage. Apparently, you are.

  In honor of this, I wish for you and your wife
to spend a weekend at my estate where I will host a ball in your honor. This ball we be held on September 4th. I trust you will be here.

  Your Father,

  Sir Thomas

  She looked up from the letter, frowning. Well, that isn't so bad. As far as things went, it could have been a lot worse. After all, the man had praised Kale and his capability of marriage. The insinuation that he wasn't competent to begin with had not been kind, but she didn't sense any nasty intentions. Regarding the ball and its fast approaching date, though, she was less surefooted. She wasn't sure about how she felt about going in front of a great deal of people.

  "Well?" She raised an eyebrow at her husband, wanting to know what he thought. "Will we attend or won't we?"

  "Didn't you read the letter?" Kale groaned and put his head on his forearms. "We have no other choice but to attend. My father trusts that we'll be there. That's his way of saying he demands that we go."

  Pursing her lips, she looked down at the fine script. "But you cannot possibly be upset over this letter, can you? The man is throwing us a ball. Most would consider such an action to be pleasing and deserving of gratitude. Balls are expensive. At least, the kind that my family throws."

  "Seeing my father again is the last thing I want." He groaned and threw back his head. "If I never see him again, it would be too soon."

  "I know that you have your disagreements, but I don't think his intentions toward you are all bad." She hesitated. "If he truly disliked you, he would make no effort to govern your affairs at all."