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After that first part, when she came to him for a second try, she hadn’t seemed frightened or upset. Hadn’t cried or resisted him. Hell, she’d even asked him if he’d found the experience to be satisfactory, melting his heart in the process.
She might be a gentle person, but she was brave. If he understood one thing about his wife, it was that she had the heart of a lioness.
The sudden insight into what kind of mother Gina would be caused him to smile in the dark. He had made the right choice in her, for sure. This he knew without a doubt.
Jeremy also knew he hadn’t done his best work tonight, and he felt bad about that. At one point though, he thought he sensed her thrusting against him, seeking to take him deeper. He would do better for her next time. He would show her pleasure if it killed him. Jeremy realized his desire had simply overtaken him and he’d become lost in the need to release before he could stop himself.
It had been challenging to hold back the urge to fuck with abandon. But he’d done that at least. Jeremy understood that Gina was incapable of tolerating such treatment from him. And even though he knew regret that he wouldn’t be able to have that experience with her, the need to protect her and be a gentle lover was overriding. Gina’s well-being was more important than how he preferred to fuck.
The thought of that depraved beast ravaging her, shattering her innocence, stealing her peace, was too awful to imagine and keep his wits. One thing was certain though, when the time was right, and the opportunity presented, that foul bastard would be dispatched straight to hell, and Jeremy would enjoy doing it. No question at all.
Chapter Eighteen
Trip no further, pretty sweeting;
Journeys end in lovers meeting…
—William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night (1601)
Georgina woke alone in the very early hours just before dawn. She knew he was gone because the delicious warmth of his body was missing against her skin. She couldn’t smell him either. His unique scent was already familiar to her and comforting.
The feeling of abandonment threatened to overwhelm and the urge to cry rushed up her throat, followed quickly by disgust at herself. She was sick of crying. It seemed like that was all she did around him. It was time to grow up and stop behaving like a child. She blinked in the dark.
He’d left though, and that didn’t make it any easier, especially after he’d told her he wanted to sleep with her the whole night. She wanted his arms back around her, protecting her, caressing her. In Jeremy’s arms she felt very safe. Where was he? Why did he leave the bed? She tried to hold down the nasty, clinging doubt.
Remembering back to earlier, she’d called upon calm and serenity to cloak her as she prepared to do her duty to her good husband. She knew Jeremy cared for her by the way he spoke to her and treated her. She also knew he was gentle and kind, telling herself she could get through it, for him.
But what a revelation! The marriage bed was nothing like what she had imagined. She’d found him to be a careful lover, tender and sweet. When he’d put himself inside her, she had wanted it. In fact, every part of the experience had been welcome.
She felt empowered to be able to give him pleasure. Even though she knew it was a wife’s obligation, it had been wonderful to grant fulfillment to him. Was he disappointed because she wasn’t a virgin? she wondered. Where could he have gone? Should she go looking for him?
She sat up in the bed, pulling the blanket along to cover her bare skin. “Jeremy?” she called out softly.
“Sorry for waking you, sweetheart.” His voice returned to her from across the room. He was kneeling naked beside the fireplace. “The fire was low and needed stirring. I can’t have my bride awakening to a cold room on her first night at Hallborough.”
“Oh…” Relief flooded her. He hadn’t left her after all. She propped herself onto her side, taking in his splendid form, backlit from the flames. He was the epitome of male beauty, she thought, watching him boldly, feeling no small amount of pride and appreciation for the rippled chest, sculpted arms, and muscular legs. It felt a reward to know he was now her husband.
Standing slowly, he walked toward her, comfortable in his nudity, his heavy sex swelling before her eyes. Jeremy was a large man all over, his burgeoning shaft no exception.
“I thought you had left to sleep…elsewhere.” Her voice came out more tremulous than she would have liked.
“I told you I’d sleep next to you, that I’d want you close so I could reach out and find you,” he responded firmly.
She nodded back at him.
“Do you want me to sleep elsewhere, Gina?” She could sense a hint of frustration in his tone.
“No!” She reached out a hand, urging him to come to her.
“What do you see when you look at me right now?”
“I—I see that you are…beautiful. To me you are a beautiful man, and I think you are wanting me again.”
“You’re right about that, my Gina. I have to be honest. You deserve as much. If I get back into bed, with you looking at me like you are right now, I cannot help—” He put his hand on his sex and stroked it. “I want to be inside you, as deep as I can go. I want that badly, but not if I frighten you.”
Dear Christ! His frank words sent a thrill straight to her core. She wanted him. Shaking her head, she insisted, “You’re good—good for me, never frightening. Come back to bed.” She lifted the covers, exposing her own nakedness.
He made a sound, a cry of sorts, before veritably leaping into the bed, his strong arms enfolding, drawing her breasts tightly against the hard, pulsing muscles of his chest. His skin was chilled though, from being up tending the fire, exposed and bare.
