Dear God in Heaven.“It’s a bit different,” he muttered, desperately trying to maintain control as she wrapped her slender fingers around his shaft. “I have a more of a…hard limit.”
Her eyes darted to his as she stroked firmly, her eyes shining with determination. Alex saw stars. He wrapped his palm around her hand to still her. “My sweet, you’re asking a lot of me. I don’t want to lose myself with you.”
Fern released him, nudging his shoulders until he rolled to his back. She threw one knee overtop him to straddle his thighs, watching him curiously. “It seems unfair, doesn’t it?”
He held her hips, trying not to grip too tightly as she wrapped her fingers around him once more. “Many things in life are unfair,” he replied, unable to think of anything more profound to say as all of his blood rushed to his throbbing cock.
Considering her position with her brow furrowed, Fern shifted experimentally. “Last night, we were like this, only reversed,” she observed. “If we were to…it should be possible…”
“Fern,” he said, raising one eyebrow, suddenly wary. “What are you thinking?”
She did not respond, but lifted on her knees and positioned herself over his erection. “Will you help me?”
Blinking back disbelief, Alex held his arousal in place as she lowered herself, inch by glorious inch, onto him. He clenched his teeth and threw his head back, releasing a growl from deep in his chest. When he opened his eyes, he saw her stunned expression, her eyes dark and hooded with desire, her mouth opened, lips flushed and swollen. She gripped him internally, surrounding him with velvety heat until she rested on him, his cock fully seated.
Fern’s amazed gaze met his, then a slow smile spread over her lips. “We fit perfectly,” she remarked, as though making a scientific observation.
“We do,” he said, shifting his position and causing her eyelids to flutter. “We seem to be perfectly suited.”
Fern responded to his movement with her own, adjusting and writhing overtop him until she found a rhythm. Alex held firm, letting her discover what satisfied her, eager to watch her come apart with pleasure.
Within moments she was riding him. Alex met her movements with deep thrusts, feeling the intense pressure building in the base of his spine. Gritting his teeth, he strained for control, wanting to stretch the moment for as long as possible.
He took her hand and moved it between them, touching the place where they were joined. “Perfect,” he whispered as he urged her to stroke her center of nerves, then held her hips and guided her into rhythm.
Fern threw her head back with abandon. Alex marveled at the bounce of her breasts, the deep pink of her taut nipples, her flushed cheeks and swollen lips, her hair wild and loose. “Perfect,” he repeated as his pleasure raced towards its peak.
Fern fell forward with a gasp, gripping his shoulders and driving her hips onto him, taking him as deep as possible as she crumbled around him. He lifted her hips and withdrew quickly, thrusting once, twice more, into his fist before his climax overtook him, leaving him shattered and broken, heaving for breath as she collapsed onto his chest.
The first light of dawn broke through the lavender haze, spreading its soft orange and pink fingers over the pair as they struggled to regain their composure. Swifts and swallows called to each other from the trees surrounding them as the meadow came to life.
After cleaning them both with the now-ruined handkerchief, Alex rolled and covered Fern again, not wanting to relinquish his hold on her. “We can’t stay here much longer,” Fern whispered, breaking the golden silence of the moment. “We’ll be seen.”
Wordlessly Alex helped her to her feet, retrieving her robe before donning his drawers and trousers. He waited until they were both fully dressed and gathered the blankets before he spoke again. “Send word as soon as your father returns and I will call on him immediately.”
Fern stiffened, then nodded as she turned away. “Of course,” she said, her voice low. “You’ll forgive me if I’m not there when you call.”
Alex tilted his head in confusion. “Why wouldn’t you be there?”
She turned swiftly, her eyes glistening. “Don’t be cruel, Alex. Don’t make me watch while you—” She stopped and shook her head with vigor.
“You can’t possibly think I will continue with your sister after this? I want to be with you, Fern!”
“You can’t, it won’t work!” Her fists clenched at her side. “We were meant for one night, it’s too complicated now.”
“It’s not enough reason to go through with a charade,” Alex replied, straining to keep his tone even. “I can’t be with Rose, not anymore. I wantyou,no one else will ever be enough.”
“Then what will happen to your recommendation?” Fern retorted. “Your dream, your future, you’ll lose it all.”
“Dreams change,” he said, taking her hands. “I can’t imagine my future without you.”
Fern shuddered, and he drew her close, wishing he could remove all anxiety from her life, protect her from everything causing her harm. “I’m not certain I can do this.”
“Let me, then,” Alex said, stroking her hair and bringing her to arm’s length so he could look at her directly. “Let me speak with your father. I’ll make it right, I swear.”
She pressed her lips together into a thin line. “He should be back today, after luncheon.”
“You can expect me then.” Leaning forward, Alex pressed his lips to her forehead and pulled her into an embrace. “I’ll talk to your father, and we can tell Rose together.” He stroked his hand up and down her back. “I will be by your side the entire time. They love you, and I love you. We will get through this.”
