The pain was sharp, intense, quick. She bit her lip to keep from crying out as he stared down on her, his arms quaking now.
“I’m all right,” she assured him.
She thought he might have nodded, and then he was rocking against her, with long powerful strokes. Fast. Furious.
He emitted a deep-throated growl, threw his head back. His body jerked, stiffened, thrust once more. Then he stilled, breathing harshly, staring at her as though he didn’t quite know who she was.
She couldn’t stop herself from reaching up and gently combing the damp locks of hair from his brow. His breathing began to even out, his eyes never straying from hers.
“I was supposed to leave you,” he said, his voice hoarse as though he’d been screaming.
“Pardon?”
“I was supposed to spill my seed in my hand, not in you.”
“The next time then.”
He released what sounded like a weary burst of laughter. “You want a next time.”
She smiled at him. “Yes, I rather think I do.”
He bent his arms, and managed, without his body touching hers, to give her a quick kiss on the lips. Then he was easing off of her.
“Are you leaving?” she asked.
“Not yet. Wait here.”
As though she had a choice, as though she weren’t lethargic and her limbs were naught but jelly. She studied him as he walked over to the basin stand. She liked the shape of his buttocks, the way the muscles flexed with his movements. She was a mistress now. She could probably enjoy the male form without feeling guilty about it. It was her job.
He washed up, then returned to her with washrag in hand. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he began to gently swipe at the inside of her thighs.
“There’s not as much blood as I thought there would be,” he said.
“Am I your first virgin?”
He lifted his gaze to her, and for the span of a heartbeat, he appeared younger than he usually did. He nodded, before returning to his task. “Did it hurt very badly?”
“It wasn’t too awful.”
“It won’t always hurt.”
“The pain was worth it for what came before.”
He gave her a small smile and she wanted to keep it there forever. “You liked that?” he asked.
She nodded. “Yes, I did rather. You’re more skilled than the hounds.”
He stared at her for moment, his brow furrowed, and then he laughed. A deep rich sound. It didn’t last long, but it lasted long enough for her to fall in love with it.
“I should bloody well hope so.”
She gnawed on her lower lip, trying to decide if she should say the words aloud. She mentally flipped a coin. It didn’t work as well as flipping a solid one, but she wanted him to know. “I’m glad it was you.”
He went totally still, studying her as though she’d spoken gibberish.
“My first.”
She watched his throat muscles work as he swallowed, his Adam’s apple slide up and down. Standing, he brought the sheets and covers over her, before skimming his thumb along her chin. “Sleep well.”
