The Gentleman's Daughter

by Bianca M. Schwarz

  Henry smiled at her studying him. He took her hands gently once more and put them on his chest this time. “I would love for you to touch me.”

  Her hands trembled where he had placed them, but she took a deep breath and spread them wide to brush them over his pebbled nipples like he had done to hers earlier.

  “Mmm, that feels amazing,” he hummed.

  Isabella let her hands wander where her eyes admired, over his pectorals and shoulders, and down his arms. When she reached his hands, he captured hers and brought them to his lips one by one, never breaking eye contact. “Turn around, love, so I can unlace you.”

  This time Isabella did not swallow or lower her eyes to hide her nerves; she held his gaze as she turned. Her pupils were enlarged, the first sign of arousal and a reward for his efforts. He brushed her luscious dark hair over her shoulder, then trailed his fingertips over her shoulder blades down to where the laces of her stays were tucked in, and pulled them free. While loosening the corset, he kissed her again, sliding his tongue against hers with all the fervor of his love.

  Now that Isabella had had time to get used to the sensation of Henry’s tongue against hers, she relished it. It felt loving, but it also stirred something primal in her, something she had never felt before. The feeling of Henry’s bare skin against hers fanned that flame even higher. The corset slid to the floor, leaving her in nothing but her short chemise. She turned to him and he lifted the garment over her head.

  Isabella stood before Henry as naked as the day she was born except for her shoes and stockings and marveled at how natural it felt to be with him like this. She was still shy, a blush creeping from her chest upward, but Henry smiled lovingly and enfolded her in his arms. The skin-on-skin contact created a closeness Isabella had never experienced with anybody before, and she began to trail her fingertips over his shoulders and down his back. At the small of his back, she laid her hands flat against the warmth of his skin and hugged him. She hadn’t anticipated the move would press her breasts against his smooth chest, and the lovely pressure made a little moan rise in her throat. But the hard length of his member, although encased in his pants, still made her nervous, and so she moved her hips back while hiding her face in his neck.

  Henry kissed her brow. “Remember what I said earlier: just because I’m excited doesn’t mean I will fall on you like a wild beast.” He let his hands roam down Isabella’s back over the curve of her bottom, and gently brought her back into contact with his lower body and his manhood. “I love the way your body feels next to mine.”

  The words were whispered into her ear, sending pleasurable shivers down her spine. She hummed her agreement into his neck and let herself sink further into the embrace, but whispered, “Please don’t be impatient with me.”

  “Never, my love. I only want you to get used to how our bodies feel together. My breeches will stay on until you tell me you are ready for me.”

  Isabella was grateful to know the last step would be up to her, too, and finally allowed herself to relax. They stayed like that for a while, swaying back and forth in tiny increments and simply enjoying the feel of each other.

  Eventually Henry stepped back to lift her onto his bed. He sank to one knee to pull off her buckled shoes and neatly roll down her stockings, giving every inch of skin he revealed his full attention. Where his gaze caressed, his fingers and lips followed. Her smell, her taste, the smoothness of her skin, drove Henry half mad with want. Still, he kept a tight rein on his passion. Once she was divested of every last stitch of clothing, he smiled up at her and motioned for her to scoot into the middle of the bed, then followed her up. She was spectacular: her breasts firm and full, her belly flat, her limbs long and lean. She didn’t have the rounded softness so in vogue in the salons of London and Brighton, but rather the healthy, nubile body of a woman who was not afraid to exert herself. Henry found her physique utterly desirable, just like he found her sense of purpose attractive, even provocative.

  Isabella smiled, lay back, and raised her arms to welcome him back into them, warming Henry’s heart and assuring him she was ready to be touched. He took the time to pull all her hair out from beneath her and fanned it out around her head; such a lovely contrast against the white bed linens. Her blue-green eyes were dreamy with desire, her skin glowing with health where the sun had kissed it, and milky smooth where it had been covered by clothing. He brushed his lips against hers, enticing her into another deep kiss, but leaving enough space between them to caress her breasts and run his hands all over her alluring body.

  Henry imbued every touch, every kiss, every caress with the love he felt for Isabella. He let her feel every ounce of gentleness and care he possessed and felt her enjoyment blossom. Her breath deepened, and the blush of arousal spread over her lovely breasts as he kissed his way from her mouth down her neck to the pebbled peaks. His tongue brushed over her deliciously hard nipples before he suckled them deep into his mouth, as his hands traveled down her stomach, over her hips to her inner thighs. Isabella’s reactions to his touch were so full of wide-eyed innocence, he felt certain she had not yet discovered the joys of self-pleasuring.

  Spreading her thighs gently so he could reach the apex, he brought his lips back to her mouth to reassure her with a kiss, then asked, “May I?”

  She nodded just before a startled moan broke from her when he first brushed his fingers against the lips of her sex.

  “Let yourself sink into the feeling. Let go of everything you think it should be and just feel what is: my hand on your sex, caressing you, bringing you pleasure.”

  Isabella had heard women whisper behind their fans about the pleasure a man’s hands could give, and had envied them because she had thought herself unable to experience those pleasures. But now her whole body tingled, her back arched to encourage Henry to suckle her breasts, and she was breathless with anticipation, wondering what his hand between her thighs would do next. The fluttering in her belly was no longer anything to do with nerves; instead it was a growing need for something just out of reach, an event she knew instinctively would change everything. She did not yet know what it was, only that she wanted Henry to give it to her.

  When Henry first parted her thighs and touched her there, she could barely stand it, the feeling was so intense. But his words guided her into relaxing into the sensation. His fingers gently parted her folds and found some moisture there, allowing them to glide easily back and forth. He stroked from a spot hidden deep within her folds that seemed to be the center of the tingling sensation, to her opening now throbbing with a feeling she could only describe as hunger. When his fingers circled around her opening she wished for them to push inside, and when one of his digits finally did, there was such a feeling of rightness about it, she let out a long moan of carnal longing.

  When Henry heard that moan, elicited by sliding half the length of his index finger into her sheath, he could barely contain himself. She was coated in her arousal, primed and ready to receive him; he wouldn’t hurt her if he slipped off his pants and pushed inside her. But if he did, he would destroy the trust they had built between them. Henry held her tight for a moment while he called his body to order, then threaded one of his arms under her shoulders and held her close. With her face buried in his neck, Henry used his other hand to pleasure her. His index finger set up a gentle rhythm sliding in and out of her, and his thumb stroked tantalizing little circles around her clitoris, flicking directly over it after every rotation.

  Before long, Isabella could barely draw breath, the feelings Henry stirred in her were so intense. Her whole being seemed to race toward some kind of precipice, but instead of using her muscles to get there, all her focus was on Henry’s finger brushing over that magical spot. She wanted to urge him to rub it faster or harder, but seemed to have lost the power of speech, so she had to surrender herself to the tingling numbness until she went rigid with tension. Just when she thought it impossible to take any more of his teasing, Henry ground his thumb more forcefully into
that magic spot and she felt herself liquefy into a starburst of bliss. Isabella cried out her orgasm into Henry’s neck, even bit into his collarbone in the heat of her passion.

  Henry grinned at her savagery and welcomed the pain; it helped him control his now near-overwhelming urges. His cock throbbed relentlessly behind his placket, but the only relief he allowed himself was to press his arousal against her thigh. He kept up his caresses until every last orgasmic spasm had wrecked her body and she rested limp and spent in his arms. Stroking his hand up her belly and over her breast to her shoulder, he lay back and settled her onto his chest to rest. She had come beautifully, proving once and for all she was far from frigid, and Henry felt a pride he had never known before at the accomplishment.

  An indescribable peace had come over Isabella in the aftermath of her first orgasm. Her body felt boneless as she rested in Henry’s protective arms, and she hummed her contentment as he stroked her hair, her shoulder, her hand on his chest. Slowly she floated back to earth and became aware that loving as his touch was, it still held tension, and when she opened her eyes, she was confronted with the straining bulge in his pants. She knew it was unfair; Henry had just proved she could feel pleasure. She also knew he wouldn’t hurt her, or force her in any way. He most likely deserved a reward for his patience with her. But all of a sudden it became imperative to know she could indeed leave without allowing him to take his pleasure with her. She lifted her head and met his gaze. “I think I want to go to my room.”

  It was impossible for Henry not to be disappointed, but he recognized her statement as the test it surely was.

  “I’ll miss you, but if you think you will sleep better in your room, then by all means, my love.” He kissed her forehead and then her lips to show her he understood and didn’t hold it against her.

  Isabella kissed him in farewell, scooted off the bed, and slipped her chemise on. Then she balled up the rest of her clothes and left the room with one last smile.

  PROPPED ON HIS ELBOW, HENRY watched her go. Once he heard the door to her room close, he stood to pour himself a brandy. He drained the glass and sighed deeply. He had to give her time.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  IN THE BEAUTIFUL CHAMBER HENRY HAD FUR-nished for her, Isabella stood in the center, listening to the house and the city beyond. The door behind her was open, but Henry did not follow her. Again he was true to his word, and all she wanted was to be back in his arms.

  Being alone was all wrong!

  Dropping her bundle of clothes, she turned on her heels and hurried back to Henry.

  HENRY’S HEART SKIPPED A BEAT when he heard the door open. He turned to meet Isabella’s tentative smile, her eyes shining with what he hoped was love.

  “I don’t want to sleep alone. After all, my mother may well arrive in town tomorrow.” A deep blush heated her cheeks, underlining the subtext of her statement. Henry was next to her in two long steps, kissing her tenderly, caressing her face, and making her feel as if she were the most precious thing in the world.

  “Sleep in my arms, my darling. Be mine tonight.”

  She nodded, but Henry could see her swallow and soothed her with gentle hands. “My promise still stands. I won’t enter you until you tell me you are ready.”

  His breath smelled of brandy, and she could see the spirits sparkle in his eyes. However, there was love reflected in them, too, and his hands and lips were gentle. “Yes, Henry, I’ll be yours tonight.”

  Henry kissed her again, deeper this time, holding her close as she sank into him and stroked her tongue against his. He lifted the shift over her head, once again leaving her completely naked. To his surprise, Isabella reached for the buttons on his placket. He helped her without breaking their kiss, and pulled her back into his arms as soon as there was no stitch of clothing left between them. He lifted her so she knelt right on the edge of the bed, and feeling her skin next to his from their thighs to their necks was simply glorious.

  Kissing his way to that magical spot just behind her ear, he whispered, “I love you, Isabella Chancellor, body and soul.”

  The warmth of his skin all along her front, his arms encircling her, his hands and breath caressing her, all combined to create a sense of well-being in Isabella she hadn’t thought possible. Even Henry’s erect penis nestled against her mount didn’t unnerve her; on the contrary, it added to her arousal. Henry being so excited by her nearness flattered her, and his consideration endeared him to her. Presently, he lifted her with one arm to scoot her into the middle of the bed and laid her down. He opened her legs so he could kneel between them and devoured her with his eyes as he stroked his hands over her body with long, smooth movements, further heightening her sense of well-being. But no matter how much she liked his hands on her, his looking right at her open sex felt less comfortable. She tried to cover it with her hands, but when his eyes pleaded with her to let him see, she let her hands fall away.

  Henry could barely contain his pride in her. “Thank you, my brave darling.” He ran his long fingers through the curls between her legs and stroked one between the lips of her sex. “You are beautiful here too.” Henry collected some of her sweet-smelling moisture on his finger and sucked it off. “You taste good, as well.”

  Isabella gasped, blushing furiously at the intense carnality. Laying a calming hand between her breasts, Henry soothed, “Easy, my love. I will kiss you there sometime soon, but since it makes you uncomfortable, we won’t do that tonight. You will like it, though, I promise. It’s another way to give you pleasure.”

  Isabella was shocked by his words. It had never occurred to her he might want to kiss her there. Nevertheless, his words and the thought were so arousing, things inside her seemed to liquefy, and her breathing grew heavy.

  Her lips opened in obvious invitation and Henry entwined their tongues in a lush kiss, then trailed his lips down to her nipples as he settled in, lying half on top of her, his left arm threaded under her shoulder and his cock excitedly nudging against her upper thigh. He could hear her breath changing, see the passion rising in her, and couldn’t remember ever being this affected by a woman. He laved her nipples with his tongue and then sucked them into his mouth one by one, eliciting a pleasured moan. His hand returned to gently stroke her sex, wanting to give her everything he was capable of giving.

  Grabbing fistfuls of the sheets beneath her, Isabella lifted her hips a little. Everything in her hummed with anticipation, and she hoped fervently Henry would bring her pleasure like he had done earlier. Only this time she wanted his member inside her, not just his finger; she now knew that to be the ultimate goal. It was also her biggest fear, but it was a fear she meant to face this night.

  Henry’s fingers on her sex, stroking back and forth over that magical spot, made her feel she was racing toward a precipice again. Every time he passed over her clitoris, she seemed to climb higher on the mountain of desire. Isabella’s breath escaped her in long drawn-out sighs of pleasure. And then he started to dip his finger into her entrance, and that hunger came over her again.

  “Henry, I’m ready, I think.”

  He let his index finger sink deep inside of her drenched sheath, drawing a moan from her, and raised himself over her.

  “You are, my love.” The words, whispered into her ear, made Isabella tingle with need.

  Henry kissed her neck, sliding his shaft through her folds to coat himself in her delicious wetness, and pushed halfway in. But as he did, Isabella let out a cry that sounded like all the air had been forced from her lungs. Henry stopped immediately and searched her face to determine what was wrong. Her eyes were wide, her pupils huge with arousal, and her expression not pained exactly, but stunned.

  “Did I hurt you?”

  Isabella at first didn’t realize he had spoken. She was too busy feeling all the amazingly wonderful, primal things having Henry inside her made her feel. She loosened her grip on the sheets to stroke his face and shook her head almost desperately, afraid he would stop now.

&
nbsp; “No! No, you didn’t hurt me. You just seem to have displaced all the air from my lungs.”

  Henry chuckled at her reaction and nudged a little deeper, making her gasp again. “And I’m only halfway in.”

  He brushed the hair off her dampening brow and pushed in deeper still. This time he swallowed her gasp with his kiss.

  Isabella held on to his shoulders now, doing her best to open herself wide enough to accommodate him. Evidently Henry’s member was big, or at least it felt that way to her. It amazed her that what he was doing didn’t hurt, but it truly did not. So she relaxed into the experience, and then Henry’s fingers found that magic spot again, and the tingling sensation took hold of her entire body.

  “Wrap your legs around my hips.”

  Isabella heard his voice as if in a dream, but lifted her legs and slung them around his middle. That seemed to open her wide enough to take all of him. He began to move in and out in smooth strokes, driving not only the air from her lungs, but all thought from her mind. She was nothing but carnal pleasure, and then the tingling turned into waves of ecstasy, utterly consuming her. She heard herself cry out in helpless surrender, felt her sex clench around him, and knew she would be forever changed.

  Henry felt, heard, and watched her orgasm and let himself fall over the edge just as she started to calm down. He poured all the love he felt for this woman into her, and it turned the simple sexual act into a profound experience. Hope, love, and pride mingled as he kissed her through the aftershocks and then settled her into his arms to sleep.