He kissed down over her slightly rounded stomach before moving between her legs. The moment he touched his tongue to the pearl hiding in her dark curls, her fingers gripped his head, and she moaned. It was a damned good thing they weren’t aboard a ship where everyone could hear them. He kept his tone low and soothing. “That’s right. Let me love you.”
Eugénie’s hips pushed up. Her musk swirled around him. She squirmed and tossed. When he entered her with his finger, her sheath clamped tightly around him, and she cried out. “Good. That’s good, sweetheart.”
When she was as wet and prepared as he could make her, Will moved over Eugénie, rubbing his member against her labia before slowly entering her. She gasped, and he took her mouth in a hard kiss, trying to stop her from thinking about the pain. Her maidenhead gave way easily, but she was so very tight, and he needed to ensure she had some pleasure from her first time. “Easy now, my darling.”
God, he hated hurting her. It was as if someone had stabbed a sword into his gut and twisted. Stroking her hair, he wished he’d had the forethought to take it out of the braid. He pressed kisses over her lips and face. “Are you all right, my love?”
For a long moment, Eugénie lay so still beneath him he was concerned.
“I think so,” she finally responded.
“Talk to me.” He prayed she didn’t hate what he’d done.
“It feels strange to have you inside me.” Her beautiful eyes met his and she smiled. “I like it.”
He let his breath out. “You’ll like it more the next time. I promise.”
“I suppose,” she said dubiously, “that is the way of it. What do we do now?”
Will wanted to laugh with joy. “We’re not done yet. You let me know when I can move again.”
Eugénie tilted her hips toward William, and he responded by pressing in. It was like a dance in a way. One with very intimate steps. “I am ready.”
“Put your legs around me.”
He showed her how and they moved together again. He kissed her neck, and rubbed one breast with his palm. The throbbing need she’d felt earlier returned and intensified. Slowly he withdrew, then entered her more fully. She met him, needing him deeper. When he withdrew and entered her again, she welcomed his hard warmth. Soon hot waves spread through her and a quaking started, until it exploded. Their bodies were slick with sweat, and she clung to him as he pressed deeper, until he was hers and she was his. William called her name, then his mouth claimed hers, and he shuddered.
This was nothing like Maman had told her to expect.
“Eugénie, my precious love, are you all right?”
The flame from the candle flickered. His chest pounded against hers, and a peace she’d never felt before stole over her. This was how it was supposed to be. “William, I’m in heaven.”
His head tilted toward her. “I’m there with you. Eugénie, I love you.”
She reached up, touching her lips to his. “And I love you, but it is very hot.”
“It is.” He rolled off her, allowing a cooling breeze to caress their bodies before he wiped her nether parts with the towel.
When he took it away, there was blood. At least the whole house and her mother wouldn’t know that she and William had anticipated their wedding vows. “You were right.”
“Not from experience, I assure you.”
“Non?”She hadn’t wanted to think about the other women he’d been with, but . . .
“No. I’ve never”—he paused—“taken a virgin. That is the right of a husband.”
The mattress dipped as he threw the cloth on the floor and blew out the light. When he lay back down, she rolled against him. Eugénie’s heart lightened. “There are many who do not think as you do.”
“Too many.” His hand found hers. “My mother and the wives of several of my friends are involved in foundling homes.”
They lay without even a sheet covering their nakedness, allowing their bodies to cool. She should probably be embarrassed, yet it was comfortable, and he really couldn’t see her. “When I was very young, there was a maid who was with child. She let me feel the baby when it moved. The next day, she was gone.”
William’s voice was gruff. “My uncle?”
“Non. It was a long time before Maman married Papa. When my other father was alive.”
“We should sleep.” William wrapped his arm around her. “In England I would have tucked you into me and held you all night long.”
