Page 77 of The Thorn and the Rose

The look of intense concentration on her face touched him deeply, for she was so determined to please him. She was a quick study too, and his pulse accelerated as she caught on to what made him feel good. His breath hitched as she moved her hand in exactly the right way and… and too much more of this and he’d be in trouble.

Carefully, he eased her hand away, kissing her nose as she shot him an anxious look.

“Relax, love,” he whispered, easing her onto her back. “You can’t do anything wrong, I promise you. I love the feel of your hands on me, but now it’s my turn. You’ll have plenty of other opportunities, I promise you. For the rest of our days, I shall be entirely at your disposal should you wish to practise your skills.”

That made her laugh, which had been his intention, and she was smiling still as he kissed her, slowly and tenderly, his hands caressing her breasts and sliding down her body. She sighed, making soft noises of pleasure that made his blood burn hotter and his patience unravel a little more with every decadent exhalation.

“Thomas,” she whispered, and it seemed right somehow, that she use his given name, for this moment was somehow sacred, serious despite the joy that filled his heart.

He nuzzled at the spot beneath her ear that he had learned she liked and nipped at his earlobe. “Yes, sweetheart? Is there something I can do for you?”

She nodded and touched his mouth with her fingertips, and then touched her breast, circling the taut nipple as his mind whited out.

“With pleasure,” he growled, and fell upon her like a man thirsting for water presented with a sparkling stream. He kissed and nipped at the tightly furled bud and suckled first one and then the other breast until she was breathing hard, and then he pressed a kiss to her mouth.

“Promise you won’t be shocked?” he asked her wickedly, knowing he was teasing her.

“How can I?” she retorted, though laughter danced in her eyes. “I suspect I shall be shocked indeed, but I trust you, so I am entirely in your hands. Make me yours, Thomas.”

He kissed again, touched by her confidence in him, and returned to his pleasurable work, trailing his tongue over the plump mounds of her breasts, and working his way down her body, painting little patterns over her body and pressing kisses over every inch of skin until he reached the apex of her thighs. His tongue laved up and down the crease on either side of the little patch of curls and Rosemarie made a little sound of surprise.

“Sorry,” she said, half laughing, half gasping. “I’m shocked, after all.”

“Hold that thought,” he murmured, and parted the delicate folds between her legs, touching her with his tongue. He grinned as she made a smothered sound from behind the hand that covered her mouth and carried on. She moved, unresisting, as he parted her thighs and settled between them.

His own desire burned hotter and brighter as she allowed him greater access, lifted her hips to press closer to the touch of his mouth and the wet warmth of his tongue as she left any shyness behind and trusted in him, seeking her own pleasure. Gently, he slid a finger inside her, teasing her most private flesh with his tongue as she broke with a cry of surprise. Wanting her to experience every drop of joy to be had, Thomas stayed with her, touching her gently and carefully until her body subsided, spent and boneless in the aftermath.

Feeling rather pleased with himself, Thorn worked his way back up her gloriously curved body, kissing and caressing her until he could look down at her beautiful face.

“Well, wife, how am I doing so far?”

She blinked up at him, her eyes hazy. “Splendid,” she said with a sigh. “Don’t stop.”

He grinned down at her. “Shall I do that again, then?”

“Certainly,” she said dreamily, waving a hand at him. “Whatever you like. I’m at your disposal should you wish to practise your skills.”

Thorn gave a bark of laughter, delighted with her. “I should do just that and keep you waiting for more, you little minx, but I cannot. I shall die of wanting you, else.”

She sighed and reached up, curving her arms around his neck. “I want you too.”

“What do you want?” he asked, watching her closely. “I know Cat had a little talk with you, so you know very well what comes next.”

Rosemarie returned a smug look. “I knew anyway, thank you very much. I have lived in the countryside all my life, remember?”

“Ah, then with all that experience you know very well, and can tell me just what it is you want now,” he said, quirking an eyebrow at her.

Rosemarie’s already flushed cheeks turned a darker pink, but she put up her chin, a challenging glint in her eyes. “I want to be your wife, Thomas. I want you inside me, the two of us joined together.”

The words lit a fire inside him, hotter than he believed possible as love and desire and a possessive need to claim what was his surged through his veins. He moved over her, kissing her passionately, the fire burning higher still as she met his desire with her own heat, pulling him down to her, opening herself to him.

“Marie,” he whispered as her body welcomed him inside. “My own beautiful Rosemarie.”

She sucked in a sharp breath as he thrust inside and Thorn stilled, hating to hurt her but wanting to make sure the pain was over as quickly as he could. He waited, trembling with need until her eyelids flickered open again and she smiled, raising a hand to his cheek.

“Don’t stop.”

With a sigh that was entirely heartfelt, he took her at her word and moved inside her, the sensations beyond anything he had known before, for he had never worked so hard for what he wanted, had never spent so long wanting and waiting and falling deeper in love, and now, she was his.