“A compliment indeed.” His lips tilted up, but his eyes devoured her as he lowered her chemise and stroked her breasts, feathering his thumbs over her nipples. She had not known her breasts could be so sensitive. Could respond to him so easily. “I want you to enjoy this.”
Henrietta shivered as he took one tightly rolled bud into his mouth, and her hips lifted as if they knew what they wanted to do. As he ministered to her other breast, the throbbing in her mons increased until it was almost painful. She was going to expire before he finished. “I don’t think I can take much more.”
Suddenly he cupped the place between her legs, and his fingers caressed her, one entered her sheath, and her hips rose frantically to meet him. “Let it take you, my love.”
Tremors shook her body, and his mouth covered hers as she cried out. Nothing had ever felt so good, so right. But it wasn’t all. She knew it wasn’t all. He pulled her shift down over her hips, stood, and removed his breeches. The hard ridge sprang free. As large as it looked, Henrietta knew it would fit. But it would also hurt. Her body started to tense, as if fearing an invasion.
Nate kissed her again and concern grew in his eyes. “I will try to make this as painless as possible.”
He moved over her, caressing her as he had before. Slowly her body relaxed, and the now-familiar throbbing started again. This time when her hips rose, she felt his member at her opening, rubbing that sensitive spot.
“Are you ready?” Nate groaned.
“Yes.” She bit her lip to keep from crying out as he tore through her maidenhead and gasped at the pain of him stretching her. He slowly moved back and forth, giving her time to get used to him. Again her hips rose to greet him, and soon tension coiled deep within her.
“Wrap your legs around me if you can.”
Henrietta did as he instructed, and he plunged into her, until she was tumbling through waves of pleasure.
Calling her name, Nate surged into her once more. For a moment she thought he would collapse on top of her, but he rolled onto his back, bringing her with him. “Are you all right?”
“I am perfect. You were perfect.” She had never felt this way before, as if she could not be more in love with him. She now understood why her friends could never explain how it felt to make love to the man one loved. “It hurt a little, but that went away.” She wished they could stay here for hours more, but nearby a door opened and closed. “I believe your valet is up and about.”
He groaned. “We have to get you back to your chamber.”
That meant she would have to dress again. Not perhaps all the way dressed. If she pulled on her gown and spencer, she could carry her hat and gloves, and her maid could get her other clothing later. “As much as I hate to move from this lovely position, I had better go now. I will need help with my gown.”
“You’re right.” He lifted her from him, kissing her as he did. “If we remain here any longer, someone will find us. Stay here for a moment.” He rose and went behind a screen. “Drat. I should have expected there’d be no water.”
That confused her. “Why do you need water?”
“To clean both of us.” He walked out from behind the screen, and she saw blood on his member.
“Oh. I had not thought about that. I will be glad when we are married.” She climbed out of the bed and gathered her stays and chemise. “I’ll send Spyer in to collect the other items while I bathe.”
Nate took his handkerchief out of a pocket in his breeches and gently cleaned her before using it himself.
“Thank you.” She had noticed she was wetter down there than before. It was his seed.
He pulled on his breeches. “It might be better if Styles gathered your garments and brought them to your maid.”
That way no one would see Spyer in the corridor with the clothes. “That is a good idea.”
A few minutes later Henrietta was dressed. She poked her head out of the door and, seeing no one about, rushed down the corridor to her rooms. The first thing she saw was the bathtub full of water.
The second she closed the door behind her, her maid entered the room. “Miss Henrietta, what happened to you?”
A quick glance in the mirror and she saw exactly what Spyer did. If it was not for the fact that Henrietta had no shoes and stockings, and her hair was not falling down in places, she might be able to get away with saying she fell, but that lie was not going to work now. Then again, she was going to be wed in just a few days. “I would prefer not to discuss it. It is private.”
“As you wish.” Spyer nodded sharply. Henrietta sat at the toilet table and her dresser put her hair back up for her bath. “Mr. Styles said that you and his lordship had returned, so I had the water brought up.”
Well, that was one person who appeared to know what had happened. He had probably heard Henrietta and Nate when he was in the other bedchamber. Henrietta fought the rising heat in her face. “Thank you.” She decided it was time to change the subject. “Lord Fotherby and I have decided to go to Paris for our wedding trip. We will leave the day following our marriage.”
“Oh, my lady!” Her dresser smiled broadly. “That is excellent. If you like, I will show you the best places to shop.” Spyer tapped her cheek. “I had better look at what you will need.”
That would take her mind off Henrietta’s appearance. The next time. If there was a next time before her wedding, she would take down her hair.
* * *
