She broke, she saw stars, and he filled her in a single thrust.
So full. At first, she felt as though it was too much—it didn’t hurt, precisely, but the pressure of being so full overwhelmed her senses. All she could do was gasp and moan and grip at him as he held solid above her.
“It’s all right,” he reassured gently. “I have you.”
Her back bowed, and a bicep hooked under her spine, holding her until the tremors subsided and pleasure loosened its brilliant hold upon her.
Only then did he begin to move.
Carefully, at first. He withdrew scarcely an inch before easing into her again, watching her all the while. She felt the slow intrusion everywhere, even in the tips of her fingers, yet he kept her poised at the delicate boundary between fullness and pain—as though her body were an instrument whose limits he understood by instinct.
Watching her face for guidance, he rocked into her, his thrusts gaining in strength as she recovered. His movements were barely restrained, as though he had slipped his leash, and it was all he could do to keep himself from expelling himself in her immediately.
Isadora wound her arms around his neck and held on, knowing,somehow, that it was all she could do, and that he needed nomore from her. The more time passed, the easier the movements became, and she could hardly remember how tight the first thrust had been.
At the last second, he withdrew and pressed himself against her stomach. She felt warm liquid there, and glanced down at his spend. From what she understood, which was very little, the man habitually released his spend inside the woman.
But Nicholas leaned forward as though this was perfectly ordinary and kissed her forehead. Obviously, he was not thinking too much about it.
And so Isadora let it go.
“Are you going to send me away?” she whispered.
A drowsy chuckle stirred in his chest. “Do you wish me to?”
“No,” she said too quickly.
“Then stay.”
She privately rejoiced at the simple invitation, so much more than she had expected to receive. He briefly rose to find a damp cloth to wipe her down, and then he returned to lie beside her, curling one arm over her shoulder.
This was her first time lying in the arms of a man. Of course, all of it was new for her, but afterwards—this sense of safety and security that came from being encompassed in his embrace…Thatwas wholly unexpected.
If there had been any hope for her heart, it was long gone. Nicholas had it all, every part, and all she could pray was that he handled it with care.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Isadora tried her very best not to glance at Nicholas too many times over breakfast. Every few seconds, it felt as though her gaze rebounded back to him, ensconced in front of his paper the way he always was. They had woken together, and he had kissed her before sending her away to her rooms to dress.
And now they ate breakfast together the way they did every morning, as though nothing of consequence had happened. How could he behave so calmly when it felt as though her very veins were fizzing? As though with one look or harsh word, he could cast her into despair?
The door opened, and Sophia hurried into the room, dressed in a cream dress with purple ribbons. “Good morning, slugabeds!” the girl said cheerily. “Are you looking forward to today?”
“Today?” Isadora glanced at Nicholas, who set down his broadsheets, confused. “What’s today?”
“The fair!” Sophia enunciated the words as though Isadora was being foolish. “Did Papa not tell you?”
“Ohdear,is it Tuesday already…” he said with a sheepish grimace. “I may have promised Sophia we would visit the village fair. I trust you have made no other plans.”
“None that can’t be adjusted,” Isadora laughed, newfound joy lifting her spirits. “To think, the great duke attending a fair.”
“Fairs are fun places,” Sophia explained sagely, eyes glowing. “Everyoneshould be allowed to attend.”
Nicholas arched a brow at Isadora. “Did you hear that?”
“Idid. Consider my baseless assumptions well and truly corrected, then.” Isadora smiled down at the little girl. Truly, it was incredible to think that this was her life now.
This was her family, her day, her future.
