Page 31 of The Ruin of Miss Amelia Burrowes

Chapter 13

Amelia didn’t know if all brides were this eager for their husband’s touch—surely some were afraid or dismayed at the thought of the intimacies of the marriage bed. Had this been Mr. Burke, God knew she would’ve had little to be happy about at this moment. But pressed against Nathan as she now was, her body warm and tingly at every point he touched, she could not remember a moment of her life when she’d been happier. She ran her hand down the smooth skin of his arm, and he draped it over her, reaching down to stroke her bottom in return.

Gasping, Amelia stared into his eyes, which had turned from cool gray to deepest black as his mouth descended once more onto hers. Lord, but she loved his kisses. Without hesitation, she opened her lips, welcoming his tongue with unabashed joy. His ministrations set her pulse to racing, her blood heating, her need for this man soaring as never before.

She moaned as he continued to stroke her derriere, pressing her against the hard part of him that prodded her stomach insistently, exciting her to be even more bold. With abandon, Amelia slid her arm over his waist, and down to his round buttocks to mimic his actions.

“Ummm.” Nathan’s reaction was swift and surprising. He rolled them so she was suddenly underneath him, his considerable weight pressing her into the mattress in a very pleasing and unexpectedly erotic manner. Her other arm suddenly freed, she swept it up his back, reveling in the smooth play of muscles. “You are a very wicked woman, Amelia,” he broke the kiss to say, before nuzzling her neck just beneath her ear.

“I am?” The brush of his tongue on her flesh just there set her to trembling all over.

“Yes, for your every touch inflames me to the point I can scarcely restrain myself.” His lips continued to stray down her neck, each flick of his tongue bringing forth goose flesh all over her body.

“Why restrain yourself, my love?” she whispered in his ear. “I freely give you my body that we may become as one.”

Nathan growled, stopping his descent at the little notch at the top of her chest. “I know, sweetheart, but this is your first time. I must have some self-control if I am to make this as pleasurable for you as I possibly can.”

“But it’s already pleasurable.” Much more of these delightful feelings and she might die.

“My love, we’ve only just begun.” He lowered his head, but instead of returning to her neck, his lips fastened on the tip of her breast.

Amelia sucked in a breath, a streak of fire shooting from the place his mouth had claimed all the way to her nether regions. She shuddered as he laved her flesh then moaned deeply when he wrapped his lips around her nipple, furling it into a tight nub. Her body throbbed each time he sucked, her legs moving restlessly. Her head lolled back on the pillow. “Oh, Nathan.”

Her breathy voice must have spurred him on, for he slid his lips down her stomach, dipping his tongue into the crevice of her navel, making her shiver, then down lower. And lower still. Amelia’s head came up when he reached the thatch of curls that covered her most intimate place. Never had she, in all her most private musings about this night, imagined this happening.

Her body tensed, and Nathan raised his face to her, his eyes large and dark. “Do you trust me, Amelia?”

Wordlessly, she nodded.

“Then lie back down. This will not hurt.”

Trembling, Amelia did as he asked, every inch of her on edge.

Scattering kisses everywhere, Nathan’s lips brushed through her curls, each caress drawing forth a moan from her. At last, he settled on a particular spot, more sensitive than any other. His tongue swirled around it, and Amelia’s cries deepened even as her hips rose.

“Easy, love.” He lowered his head once more, tenderly massaging her aching flesh, as his hand slipped between her thighs.

Past embarrassment, Amelia lay back, willing herself to simply relax and revel in every moment of this most exquisite sensation. When his finger slipped just inside her, however, Amelia gasped anew, not only in surprise but pain. “Ow.”

“Did that hurt?” Nathan stared at her, his gaze not leaving her face.

“Just a little.”

“And this?” He dipped his finger in again, and once more, the twinge of pain caught her unexpectedly.

“Yes. But you said it wouldn’t hurt.”

“Now I know your body better, it won’t.” He withdrew his hand and lowered his mouth to her once more, stroking the sensitive spot, tickling it, kneading it delicately until Amelia thought her whole body would go up in flames. A strange sensation began to grow deep inside her, spiraling as his tongue danced across her until she spun upward, out of control, her body exploding from within with wave after wave of the most incredible pleasure she’d ever felt.

After what seemed an eternity of this bliss, Amelia slumped against the mattress, her eyes staring at the underside of the blue silk canopy, heart racing, trying to understand what had just happened.

Nathan threw himself down next to her, his body still tense. At least some parts of it were. “Did you enjoy that, sweetheart?”

“Yeeessss.” Amelia closed her eyes, wanting to purr with contentment. She’d never have dreamed how wonderful Nathan could make her feel. “Oh, Nathan.” She snuggled up to him. “I have never felt such an extraordinary thing in my life.”

“And there is more to come as well, love.” He rolled her onto her back and, without pause, moved over top of her so his hips straddled hers, his member long and hot against her.

Amelia’s eyes flew open, that hard presence reminding her that, much as she’d enjoyed the encounter just past, the next one would likely not be so agreeable. She tried to smile bravely at him, steeling herself.