Page 32 of The Ruin of Miss Amelia Burrowes

“Open your legs, love.” He shifted his weight, and she complied, tensing as he positioned himself against her most intimate place. “I’ll be quick about it, I promise. And the hurt doesn’t last long, I’m told.”

She nodded, hoping that was true. Then his mouth was on hers once more, filling her senses with his vital presence, focusing her attention on him alone. Sliding her arms around his broad shoulders, she pulled him to her as he suddenly thrust forward.

Amelia tensed as the flash of pain—no worse than if she’d cut herself with a paring knife out in the garden—gave way to a peculiar burning sensation, followed by the even stranger feeling of Nathan filling her up. He broke the kiss, gasping for breath, and groaned as though he’d been the one hurt instead of her. She looked at him with some concern. “Are you all right?”

“Yes,” he ground out between clenched teeth. “I need…a moment.” His labored breathing continued until Amelia began to fear something was truly wrong. Then his furrowed brow cleared as his face relaxed. “I am fine now, my dear. I feared I would not be able to control myself. I’ve been longing for this moment for weeks now.” He peered down at her, his expression full of tenderness. “In truth, for years. I wish to make it the most memorable of both our lives, but some urges are so primal I feared my baser instincts would overwhelm my true intentions.” He kissed her again, a fleeting kiss that was sweeter than before. “But I have calmed myself sufficiently that we can proceed.”

“What do we do now?” Amelia’s mother had given her a basic understanding of the marriage act, so she’d known this much at least. Mama had, however, been much vaguer about what happened after the initial pain was over. And it had subsided, thank goodness, perhaps because her concern for Nathan had proved a distraction. At least she was glad that part was past them.

He smiled down at her and kissed her lips. “Now we love one another, Amelia. Stay just as you are.”

That was easy enough. Melded together as they were, she didn’t think she could go anywhere else.

After another lingering kiss, he moved his hips, pulling backward until she believed he would leave her then plunging inward again, leaving her gasping.

“Does that feel good?” He peered down at her. “Or are you still hurting, my love?”

Amelia shook her head. “No, not hurt, just surprised.”

“Let’s see if I can make you feel good again.” Gently, he withdrew and thrust forward, over and over, until Amelia caught a rhythm to his actions. Now there was no trace of pain, the wonder of his nearness, the utter joy of knowing they would be together for the rest of their lives, made Amelia bold. The next time he thrust into her, she lifted her hips, meeting him again and again until that peculiar feeling began to grow inside her once more. That spiraling sensation that had overwhelmed her when Nathan had touched her there before.

Suddenly, Nathan grunted and quickened his pace. His hand strayed to the nub he’d caressed before, stroking it around and around…

“Nathan? Oh, Nathan!” With a suddenness that shocked her, Amelia shattered around him, waves of the most intense pleasure hurtling her higher than before. Moaning at the top of her voice, she clutched him to her even as he thrust once more and bellowed her name. The moment froze in time for her, the incredible pleasure entwined with the look of awe on Nathan’s face as he strained into her one last time, sending a flood of warmth throughout her nether regions.

He slumped on top of her, panting, his weight seemingly heavier than before but no less pleasant. Then he rolled off her, disconnecting them, and her sense of loss was unexpectedly profound. But he pulled her to his chest, wrapping his strong arms around her, cradling her as their breathing slowed.

“You are the most incredible woman, Amelia,” Nathan murmured in her ear. “An innocent one moment, and a wanton vixen the next.” He nuzzled her neck, and more tingles shot through her body. “I do hope you were pleased with your first taste of married life.”

“More pleased than I could have imagined, my love.” She snuggled against him, feeling more beloved and cherished than ever before in her life.

“That is what I hoped you’d say, sweetheart.” His hand strayed down her breast, his touch hardening her nipples in an instant. “Because I wondered if I could interest you in a second taste?”

****

Candlelight glowed all about Amelia’s chamber, giving the very air a softness and beauty she’d never noticed before. Perhaps everything would seem different now. The man lying next to her—stretched out on his back, one arm flung over his head—had changed her life in so many ways, nothing would ever be the same. She rolled onto her side once more, eager just to watch him sleep. His face in repose gave no indication of the strength, the tenderness, the passion he had given her, and brought out of her in return.

They’d made love three times, each somewhat different yet gloriously the same. And it had left her so exhausted she should’ve been sleeping right alongside him, yet she’d never been so wide awake in her life, so aware of every part of her body, for he seemed to have touched every inch. Would it be wrong of her to wake him up so he could touch her again? If she was shameless, she didn’t care. She was making up for lost time.

“Didn’t you get any sleep?” Nathan’s eyes were open, his gaze sleepily trained on her. A lazy smile touched his lips, so slight he might indeed be returning to his slumber.

“A little. I couldn’t seem to stay asleep.” Afraid she’d wake up in her bed at home from a dream too good to be true. “I hope I didn’t awaken you.”

Nathan rolled up on his side to face her, his hand straying out to tug at her disheveled hair. “Not at all. I’ve only dozed a bit myself.” His smile broadened. “Too pleasantly engaged to want to sleep.”

Her cheeks heated as she remembered the intimacies they’d shared, although they’d done nothing to be ashamed about.

“I assume you are a little sore?”

She nodded, her face aflame now.

“I am sorry for it.” His gentle voice soothed her embarrassment. “Although I’m grateful I was the one to introduce you to these particular pleasures.” He kissed her fingers, sending warmth straight to her soul. “I promise you, the soreness will fade shortly. It’s only the first time that hurts so.” He smiled and pulled her over to him. “Although repetition may indeed play a part in that as well. If you wish, we can say you are indisposed and choose to remain here in your chamber today.”

That might be very nice. A day in which to simply stay in bed and… Do what they, in fact, had been doing. “But wouldn’t people assume then that we were…”

“I believe they would indeed suspect how we are passing the time.”

“Oh, dear.” Amelia sat up. “That will never do. They cannot think that we are here, in this bed—”