She sucked in her breath and swallowed hard. Her pulse raced until she felt precariously light-headed.
He smiled and kissed her, moving those firm, warm lips over hers. When he drew away, he said, “Worry not, Eveline. I’ll not do anything to harm or frighten you. ’Tis all night we have, and all night I plan to enjoy. There is no rush in our first time as man and wife. I would have you remember this occasion just as I will long commit it to memory.”
With that, he stood once more and began lighting other candles, placing them strategically around the room until the entire chamber was aglow with warm candlelight. He took a moment to tend the fire, adding wood until the flames licked high.
Then he returned to the bed where she sat and once again offered his hand. He pulled her upward to stand beside him and he took her place, sitting on the edge of the bed with her standing before him.
With gentle hands, he began to peel away the overtunic, leaving her in the green underdress. She trembled, but she realized that it wasn’t in fear. Nay, it was anticipation that had overtaken her and had left her shaking like a leaf in front of her husband.
He didn’t just rip her clothing from her. He seemed quite content to slowly rid her of the dress she’d so painstakingly fretted over just hours before.
She sucked in a breath when he began to ease it down her body and then he let it go, allowing it to fall at her feet. In a few more moments, he’d divested her of her undergarments and she stood completely nude as he leaned back to gaze upon her body.
“Beautiful.”
The one word said so much more. His gaze, the way he looked at her, the appreciation in his eyes and the way the muscles in his arms tightened. She was suddenly impatient to see him and to look upon him as he was looking upon her.
“Come to me.”
She took a nervous step forward, and then his arms came around her, pulling her between his legs. He pressed his lips between the valley of her br**sts and kissed right over her heart.
His hands smoothed down her bare back and down to her bu**ocks and then back up again. He turned his face up to capture her gaze, and then his hands tangled in her hair, pulling her down so she met his lips once more.
The kisses were less patient this time. Hot and demanding. Breathless. He was more forceful, his body tense against hers. She could feel the power emanating from him, knew that he could crush her with the slightest effort.
But he was exquisitely gentle with her. He treated her like she was a precious object he was afraid to break. She moaned softly into his mouth and relaxed against him, allowing some of the coiled tension to leave her body.
After a moment he broke from her mouth, but kept his lips on her flesh as he kissed a line down her neck and then to her br**sts. When his mouth closed around one nipple, her knees buckled and he caught her to him to prevent her from falling.
It was like nothing she’d ever felt before. It was frightening for its sheer intensity. Streaks of pleasure bolted through her body. Her br**sts throbbed and ached. Her groin ached.
A pulse began between her legs that was uncomfortable because she didn’t know how to assuage it. She twisted restlessly, becoming more agitated by the moment.
He gave her other breast equal measure, lapping the tip with his rough tongue and then suckling it into his mouth. All the while, his hands roamed over her body, caressing, petting, becoming more intimate.
Palm down, he pressed his hand flat against her belly and then glided lower to her pelvis. Shocked at his daring, but eagerly anticipating the results of his bold touches, she held her breath when his fingers carefully delved into the nest of hair at her apex.
When his fingers stroked over the part of her that was throbbing, she flinched, not because he’d brought her displeasure, but because her reaction was uncontrollable.
He sucked strongly at her nipple as his fingers grew bolder, sliding deeper into sensitive flesh. She gasped as her sense of urgency mounted. Her body began to tighten unbearably. Pleasure built and built until she was baffled as to what she should do.
Her toes curled against the hard floor. Her hands flew to his shoulders, seeking purchase, something to hold on to before she lost all strength in her legs.
And then his finger slid inside her body, carefully probing as his thumb worked over the aching flesh above her entrance. It was too much for her to bear.
She closed her eyes as the chamber began to swirl around her. Spots flashed in her vision and she let out a cry that vibrated up her throat. She thought it must be loud because of the sensation it caused her.
The next thing she knew she was cuddled on Graeme’s lap and he was stroking her body as he kissed her forehead. He was still fully clothed, which she thought was vastly unfair, and she was completely limp, no strength left in her shaking limbs.
She moved, tilting her head up so she could see his face. “What happened?”
He smiled and kissed the tip of her nose. “You found your woman’s release.”
It seemed such a nondescript term for what she’d experienced.
“It felt more like heaven,” she breathed.
His smile broadened. Then she glanced down and frowned, her nose wrinkling. “You still have all your clothing on.”
His eyebrows went up. “You object?”
“Aye, I do. I’d like to sit on the bed as you did and watch as you disrobe.”
His eyes blazed and she found herself abruptly put aside as he stood. She stared up at him openmouthed as he loomed over the bed.
“Then, my lady, I’ll certainly grant your wish.”
CHAPTER 26
Graeme could barely contain his eagerness as he stood before Eveline, preparing to disrobe. God’s teeth, but he didn’t want to frighten the lass and it was taking all his restraint not to tear off his clothing and then slide between her legs.