“Oh, yes.” Now it was her turn to watch his movements.
He eased his hands along her leg under her gown ever so slowly until her very center pulsed with need. A wave of desire swept over her as he brushed her bare thigh to unhook the garter that held her stockings. Then he slowly rolled the stocking down before slipping it off her foot and repeating the process on her other stocking.
He sat on the edge of the bed and reached again for her foot, kissing the inside of her ankle, her calf, then the sensitive skin near her knee and finally her thigh. His hands continued the erotic path, easily moving the petticoat out of his way until he paused at the top of her thigh.
She could hardly bear the sweet torture as she waited to see if he’d touch her where need pulsed through her.
He shifted to sit beside her. “My sweet Beatrice. I’ve waited so long for you. I would have this night last forever.”
His heartfelt, tender words made her want to cry. But passion—and curiosity—kept her tears at bay. He reached for the neckline of her gown, tugging it down then lowering her shift to reveal her breasts. His thumb teased a nipple and once again, she arched toward him. Only then did she feel the fingers of his other hand tracing circles along her inner thigh, moving higher and higher until they brushed against her curls.
“Daniel.” She ached for him, and at last, he touched her already slick folds. He seemed to know her body better than she did. She had no idea she could feel so much. Need so much.
When he slipped a finger inside her, a moan escaped them both. “Perfect,” he muttered as he repeated the movement.
Her body shifted, meeting the rhythm he set. She didn’t understand the feelings sweeping over her or the pressure that built until she felt as if she might burst.
“I’ve got you, my sweet. Let go. I’ll catch you.”
As if her body only needed his reassurance, the pressure surged, sending points of light pulsing through her. Through the storm, Daniel moved to her side and held her tight, whispering delightful words in her ear. Words of love and encouragement.
“Daniel.” She lifted her head to kiss him as she slowly sank back to earth, her body still humming with pleasure. Then she pulled back. “What of you?” She pressed her hand against the fall of his trousers, enjoying the feel of the hardness there.
He released her with a moan and unfastened them, quickly shedding them.
Her gaze swept over him, marveling at the sight of his naked form. She lifted her gown over her head and tossed it aside then presented her back for him to unlace her stays. Within a few moments, she faced him, sighing at the feel of his warm, bare body against hers.
“You are irresistible.” He pressed kisses along her neck then moved lower still.
When his tongue touched her nipple, she jerked in surprise only to moan as he took the tip into his mouth while his hand roamed the length of her and desire rose within her once again.
She reached down to touch his manhood, shocked at the velvety warmth of it. Nerves kicked in as her mind tried to comprehend how this was going to work. Living in a small village, she’d seen her share of nature and knew how the act was supposed to go. But the size of his staff caused her concern.
Then his kisses along with his fingers performed their magic, and the worry fell away. She ran her hand up and down the length of his rod, only to have him grasp her hand to hold it still.
“What is it?” she asked.
“I need a moment, else making love with you will be over before it truly begins.” He rested his forehead against hers briefly then settled between her legs, the tip of his manhood brushing against her center and causing an ache deep within her.
Slowly, he eased inside her. But her body seemed to resist his entrance. “Daniel?”
“Hold tight, my love. It will only hurt for a moment.”
Before she could ask what he meant, he surged forward, filling her completely. The pain was a shock but quickly faded as her body adjusted to the feel of him.
She waited, wondering why he held so still. “Are you...well?”
He chuckled. “I will be. But I want you to enjoy this too.” Then he slowly withdrew only to ease forward again, his body setting a rhythm not so different than he’d shown her earlier.
“Oh, yes.” She gave in to the feeling, running her hands over those broad shoulders before tangling her fingers in his hair, loving the silky feel of it. Her hips met his again and again as the delicious feeling inside her built.
“Beatrice.” Her name was both a demand and a plea, but for what she wasn’t certain. He braced himself on his elbow then reached between their bodies to touch her very center again.
Sparks flew, small at first, before growing ever stronger until the fire within her roared, demanding release. This time, she flew, loving the feel of Daniel losing that tight control he’d had only minutes ago.
“I love you so much,” he said with a gasp before sinking into her, fully sheathed, one more time.
She held him tight, happiness clogging her throat. “And I love you,” she managed.
“I am the luckiest of men,” he whispered after a long moment. Then he lifted his head to smile down at her. “I can’t wait to continue our life together.”
“Nor can I. From the moment you rescued me, I knew you were a special man. My very own hero.”
“I thought at first you were a ghost. A figure draped in white drifting toward me. But when
