“How are you?”
That was an interesting question. Her sheath throbbed a bit, but the pain was lessening. Soon all she would feel was him. In her and around her. This was what it meant to be one. “Full.” She wrapped her legs around him as Andrew began thrusting forward again. Soon pleasure spiraled through her, and her sheath clenched around him. He covered her lips with his, swallowing her cry, then shuddered and groaned.
“Cicely, my love, my wife.”
For the first time she truly felt married, part of a new family. “Andrew, I love you.”
He kissed her tenderly. “As I love you, now and forever.”
Chapter 26
Eugénie glanced at Will, sighed, and gave her head a slight shake as Mrs. Whitecliff’s friends and their daughters fawned over him. At first Eugénie hadn’t understood why he’d joined the ladies, then she saw Andrew and Cicely sneak away. Apparently it was now Will who needed rescuing. Goodness, if it was this bad here, how much worse would it be in England?
She slid her arm in his. “If you’ll excuse us, ladies, I must borrow my husband.”
“Oh, so sorry, my lady,” a woman with improbable blond curls said.
“We didn’t mean to take up so much of his time,” another woman in a purple bonnet added.
One of the younger women tittered. Really, you’d think they would have some sense of pride. The women curtseyed, and Eugénie almost returned the gesture, then remembered to incline her head graciously as she gave a light tug on William’s arm.
“Ladies, my wife calls.” He slipped his arm around her as they headed to the salon. “Thank you,” he said in a low, heartfelt tone. “When I couldn’t use the excuses I normally do, I found myself stuck.”
“Oh, so you do know how to extricate yourself.” Eugénie hadn’t meant to sound like a shrew, but . . .
She felt rather than saw him smile. Of course he’d think it was funny.
“Oho, my lady. I didn’t know you had a jealous streak.”
“I don’t.” Drat the man. “It is only that I . . . well . . .”
He swung her around, kissing her soundly. “I promise you’ll never have cause to worry. Drag me away from as many women as you please.”
Warmth crept into her face. “I did notdragyou away.”
“Non?”He raked the pads of his thumbs over her nipples. “I plan on dragging you to our cabin and showing you how attached I am to you.”
Eugénie’s blood raced, and her throat dried. Dear Lord, William was wicked. “Attached?”
“Joined, shall we say?” His tone gave her no doubt of his meaning.
“I think that’s an excellent idea.”
“Good.” He swung her into his arms, turned sideways, and walked down the passageway to the cabins.
When they entered what had been her stateroom alone, William slid her down the length of his hard body, letting her feel his need. He shrugged out of his coat, untied his cravat, and toed off his shoes. It was still day-light and this was the first time she’d have a good look at him. Unable to help herself, Eugénie licked her lips.
The beast chuckled. “That is exactly the reaction I want from you. Would you like to help?”
Hands trembling, she reached up to unfasten his shirt. This was ridiculous. She’d lain with him three times already. Finally the button came undone. “I don’t know what is wrong with me.”
His eyes simmered as he gazed at her. “Desire combined with inexperience. Don’t let it worry you, my love. Take all the time you need.”
Taking a breath, she went to work on the rest of the buttons on his shirt and waistcoat. When his garments were lying on the floor, Eugénie stared at her husband. The curls covering his chest were lighter than she’d thought. She ran her palms over his hard muscles, and William groaned. Encouraged, she allowed her fingers to travel down to his breeches, tracing the width of his taut stomach to the buttons on his fall. His breathing quickened as she undid first one then the others, exposing his already rigid shaft.
Before she could touch it, William pulled his breeches and his stockings down, kicking them aside.
He turned her around. “Now it’s your turn.”
