Page 26 of Yule Be Mine

Subtly, Penelope leaned into him, her tongue moving in little circles, just as his had done.

Elated that she no longer seemed afraid of the sensation, Yule gave her time, hoping against hope she’d experiment a bit before he took the lead again. That patience was rewarded when she slipped her tongue into his mouth, making him groan with the pleasure of it. His member was now making itself known, but he could take care of that later. He wanted to savor everything Penelope devised to do to him. God knew they’d have to get inventive if he couldn’t find a way to make Mrs. St. Claire agree to a much shorter engagement.

Emboldened, perhaps by his groan, Penelope chased his tongue around and around, pressing more insistently with her hands against his shoulders. In response, he slipped his arms around her, pulling her to his chest until her breasts were pressed snugly against him. Exquisite torture, but oh so delicious at the same time.

She strained against him, her tongue stilled, but her body urging itself toward him. Her hands slid up around his neck so that she lay on top of him—all of her atop him.

For once, he thanked God for women’s fashions that encased them in a cage crinoline, else Penelope would be able to feel every inch of the desire she’d instilled in him. His cock was fighting to free itself from his pants. Well, that was a battle it must lose today, for certain. And every other day until he could marry Penelope.

Almost hesitantly, she broke the kiss and looked deep into his eyes. “That time was much better than the first.”

Yule groaned. She would be the death of him.

“Did I hurt you?” Her worried frown had returned, even more charming now.

“No, sweetheart. Why would you think that?”

“You moaned just now, and earlier as well. I thought, perhaps, I’d done something wrong and it had hurt you.” She tried to rise off him, but he held her tight to him.

“Not at all. You have given me pleasure is all.”

“Kissing makes you groan with pleasure?” She shook her head. “That doesn’t make any sense, Yule.”

“Then tell me how our kissing this time made you feel? You said it was much better. That must mean you took some pleasure in it?” He was certain if he could get her to understand the world of pleasure that awaited her in the marriage bed, she’d be a willing accomplice in trying to hurry the wedding date.

“Well, yes, it wasn’t quite so strange this time. And lying down on top of you like this makes me feel…tingly inside.” Her whole face turned bright red, and she cast her gaze downward, unable to look him in the face anymore.

“Tingly, how?”

Again she tried to sit up, and Yule let her go, hoping to encourage her to explain.

“I can’t explain it exactly.” She cut her eyes at him. “I don’t think it’s proper for me to be talking about such things.”

“I’m going to be your husband soon, Penelope. You can tell me anything. And I can tell you.” If he wanted an ally, he had to take the chance. “Kissing you and having you lie on top of me like that made me feel tingly as well.”

“Really?” Her eyes flew open wide.

“Yes. And more than tingly.” He grasped her hand and pressed it to his trousers, where she couldn’t help but feel his rampant cockstand. “Very much aroused.”

Her mouth flew open, and he thought for a moment she might scream. Instead, her face turned indignant, brows straight, eyes staring at him as she tried to remove her hand. “Yule! What are you doing? Stop that!”

“I only wanted you to see what you do to me, Penelope. What power you hold over me.”

“What do you mean?” Suspicion was there, but curiosity as well.

“The tingles you felt will get stronger as we become more intimate.” He cocked his head. Their engagement might have been too recent for her mother to have given her instructions. “Has your mother talked to you yet about what married couples do?”

“No, Mama hasn’t.” Penelope waited, looked away. “But my sister Charlotte told me some things just now as I was dressing to come out with you.”

“Your sister?” Yule was shocked to his boots. “But your sister isn’t married yet, is she?”

“No, she’s not. But she has been talking to several matrons since we returned from Ireland, and they told her quite a few…things that married couples are allowed to do.” Penelope sighed. “I don’t think they meant any harm, Yule. We are both going to be married soon. Why must such things be kept such a secret?”

“That’s just the way Society is, my dear. Young ladies are supposed to remain ignorant of the more intimate side of married life until they are about to embark on matrimony. So please don’t tell anyone else you know about such things. At least, not until we are closer to our wedding date. So perhaps your sister shouldn’t converse with these ladies anymore. Nor should you, if you have been introduced to them.”

“I have, Yule. But I’m afraid it’s going to be rather difficult not to converse with them.” Penelope’s mouth twitched.

“Why is that?” Surely Penelope could refrain from speaking to these ladies. “Not that you have to give them the cut-direct, but simply eschew their company, my dear.”