Page 8 of An Earl, His Valet, & Their Wife

Katherine almost giggled at her mother’s slack-jawed expression. Yet moments later, the marchioness bobbed another curtsy and departed the room.

Now she was alone with her husband. On their wedding night. Soon, she would learn the secrets of pleasure.

Both excited and nervous, Katherine clasped her hands. Should she just disrobe? Perform some sort of sensual dance? Kneel at his feet? Frustratingly, her mother’s eye-wateringly frank speech had not included the starting point.

“Well,” she began, feeling flustered again. “Here we are, my lord.”

“Michael,” he replied gently. “Are you too tired? We don’t have to do this if you are.”

Was that…faint hope on his face? Surely not. He hadn’t had time to tire of her.

Be a countess in public and a mistress in the bedchamber.

The words echoed in her ears. Indeed, her new husband needed to know she would be an eager student.

With great determination, Katherine strolled over to the bed and perched on the end. First, she loosened her dressing gown and let the silky fabric slip from her shoulders, revealing the lacy nightgown. Then she arched her back until the lace pulled taut across her breasts.

Thankfully, Michael followed her over and leaned against the bedpost. “Pretty,” he said, his voice hoarse.

“Kiss me,” she replied boldly.

Bending down, her husband cupped her cheek before brushing his lips across hers. Back and forth. Carefully. Delicately. As though she were made of the finest crystal.

Inwardly frowning, Katherine tilted her head, attempting to press closer. This was nice, but where was the passion? The lewd, scandalous acts that would make her wail like a banshee? Impatient for more, she pushed on his wrist so his hand dropped to her left breast. At the warm pressure, her nipple began to tingle, and Katherine instinctively rubbed the tender peak against his palm.

Oh. That felt good!

Moaning softly, she pressed her right breast against his hand until he abruptly pulled away. Would he kiss her nipples now? She certainly wanted that. They were taut and aching.

“Get into bed, please, Katherine.”

Eagerly, she scrambled farther up and hauled back the quilt. This was it! “Shall I remove my nightgown?”

Michael smiled. “No need. But I do have oil to assist. If you could lie down and hold the fabric up for me?”

Blast it. Not exactly the words of a lover about to provoke banshee wailing. What was she doing wrong?

“Uh…certainly,” she replied, both confused and disappointed. “Is there something I should do to you? An act you like? I’m quite willing to learn.”

Her husband smiled again, but this time it looked strained. “Just part your thighs, please. Oil helps ease the way.”

More confused and disappointed than ever, Katherine did as she was bid. The first touch of cool oil to delicate flesh made her jump, but soon his gentle stroking had her hips circling, craving more pressure at a particular spot that was throbbing.

“Ooooh,” she gasped. “Lovely.”

However, instead of more stroking, his finger delved down to penetrate her channel, smoothing more oil around and inside.

“I’m going to take you now,” said Michael unsteadily, perspiration dotting his temples as he shrugged off his robe and lifted his nightshirt to reveal a rather splendid cock jutting out from a nest of coarse brown hair at his groin. “You know what that means?”

“Yes,” she stuttered, fascinated by his shaft. “Mother explained.”

But before she could ask to touch it, he fitted the swollen head to her channel and began pushing it inside.

Katherine winced at the unpleasant pinching stretch, her eyes watering. What the devil was going on? She might banshee wail, but it certainly wouldn’t be an orgasm!

And yet…with each of her husband’s thrusts and withdrawals, the initial discomfort was turning into a nice sensation of fullness. Her hips started lifting to meet him, her inner muscles clamping around his cock.

Michael swore and shuddered violently as he plunged deep and released his seed. Then he collapsed on her chest, panting, before withdrawing and swiftly rolling away as though she’d just announced she had the plague.