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“That did hurt!”

His eyes were full of concern. “I’m sorry,” he said, rubbing the back of his hand against her cheek. “I am sorry. But it will not pain you for long.”

Indeed, it did not.

She clenched against him and nearly laughed at the expression on his face. Lance looked as if he were in pain. But she was no fool. Idalia knew he restrained himself—something he need not do any longer.

“The pain. ’Tis subsiding.”

She smiled at his obvious relief.

“’Tis pleasant enough,” she said.

Although it wasn’t exactly what she’d expected, she savored the closeness to him.

His knowing look put a bigger smile on her face. “There’s more?” she guessed.

Lance began to move. “Aye. There’s more.”

Slowly at first, the muscles in his arms straining as he kept himself lifted above her, Lance pulled himself out.

And then he pushed back in a bit more quickly, his grin unlike any she’d seen before.

“Oh!” she gasped. “That’s more than pleasant.”

In response, Lance reached between them, somehow holding himself up with one arm, and Idalia was lost.

She met his movements, pressing herself into his fingers. Into him.

With each thrust, she felt his desperation. His love. She’d lost more than her maidenhood this night.

She’d lost the self-doubt that had made her feel she didn’t deserve to be cherished in the way she cherished other people.

“We will never be apart again,” she said, Lance never taking his eyes from her.

“Never,” he agreed.

“I am so close to . . . something.”

“Coming. You can say it.”

He circled his hips, his thumb pressing against her.

“You can say anything to me, Idalia.”

He thrust hard then, and she was lost. When he moved his hand back to the bed, Idalia reveled in the sensation of being trapped between his two massive arms.

Every muscle clenched together. Her legs, her buttocks. So tight, even her eyes squeezed shut. She made a sound that was hard to believe came from her lips.

And there it was.

Idalia opened her eyes, wanting to see him, and stared at his face. Mouth open, head back, he found his pleasure too.

In her.

It was the most glorious, most powerful feeling in the world. She would hold him to his promise to ensure it happened often.

Collapsing on her, Lance kissed her lips and then her neck.