I pulled back to look at Sebastian, raising my hands to his face. Under my palms, the prickle of his regrowth scratched at my skin. My shivers waned. I became acutely aware of the press of my breasts against his chest and the rigid protrusion now tucked between my thighs. Gently squeezing my legs together, I tilted my head and found his lips with mine.
I love you. More than anything in this world.
He folded me into the cocoon of his strong arms. Where our mouths touched, a delicious sensation spread. Then Sebastian’s lips parted mine. Shocked, I broke the kiss to peer in his eyes. He watched me with a lascivious stare before leaning down to take my mouth once more. I opened, hesitantly at first, but when his tongue caressed mine he had me begging for more. He took me to a place where impossibilities became reality.
I had imagined this moment ever since I’d watched him take Admiral for a swim. At the age of thirteen, he had awoken a need in me of which I had no comprehension until Marybeth and Uncle Tobias had enlightened me.
And in all honesty, three years ago, I had not been ready for it. I still was not completely certain. But if this was the only chance I would have to explore the physicality of my love for him, I would take it.
Lowering until he was pressed against the juncture of my thighs, I hooked my arms around his neck and planted a kiss to his breastbone.
His ribcage surged and he moved his hands until they gripped my hips, holding me still. “What are we doing, Emmeline?”
Bending one leg, I curled it around his waist. My pulse quickened, suddenly completely unsure if he would accept my offering. Again, I planted a kiss to his chest, waiting for his approval.
“Why?” he questioned.
Rejection gripped me by the throat. I let my leg slip, but he pulled it back up, bringing the other side around to settle me in place. His hard length caressed my folds.
“Why did you race off on Miss Modesty? And why did you come so far?”
He pushed my hips back and forth, slick flesh dragging against slick flesh. My centre tightened in response while my head fell back. Sebastian dragged his lips down my neck.
“Why?” He spoke against my breast.
“Why are you talking?” I cupped my hands around his ears to bring him closer.
He laughed, kissing my nipple. “I fear that you raced off because you were out of sorts. I worry that you have not yet recovered and perhaps might be trying to distract yourself with me.”
“It is true that you are a distraction. However, I find that in this moment I have extraordinary focus and it is entirely on every place where your body touches mine. Nevertheless, I do wish you would employ your mouth in a more productive pursuit than conversation.”
“As you wish.” His tongue circled my nipple before he enclosed it with his lips and sucked.
“Ah,” I cried.
He repeated the move on the other side. I instinctively dug my heels into his buttocks; the friction between us was delightfully addictive. I didn’t stop. Each drag seemed to cause my belly to clench. My legs, my buttocks, my body followed suit.
“Are you certain you want to give me this honour?” His gaze probed somewhere deeper than the surface.
“Yes.”
Reaching between us, he positioned the tip of his penis at my opening. As he pushed forward, he covered my mouth with his. He used gentle thrusts at first, stretching me slowly. I tried not to tense against the pressure. It hurt for only a few seconds before the pleasure started to build. The river flowed around us, adding even more sensation and gifting us with buoyancy to ease the strain on our muscles. It gave me the feeling that I was floating higher and higher and higher until I might disappear into the clouds.
Quite suddenly, a great wave of ecstasy crashed over my body. I could not refrain from crying out in repeated whimpers until the tide finally ebbed.
“Oh, goodness.” I struggled to catch my breath.
“That was incredible.” His eyes roamed my face, awestruck. “I’ve heard the men talking about it late at night. Now I have seen what it looks like and it is truly beautiful. You are beautiful.”
“Did you feel the same?”
He shook his head, smiling.
My face fell. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No, Emmeline.”
“Then why?”
“I think I need to get out of this cold water.”
“Oh.” I started to unwrap myself, but he held me still, shaking his head.
His legs moved us to the shore, hands cupped around my behind as he lifted us out of the water. Once we reached the grass, he kneeled. Finding his shirt, he placed it over my shoulders to ward off the chill of the breeze on my damp skin. We remained connected as he rested on his knees with me straddling him, holding him in an embrace.
He put his lips to my ear and whispered, “Ride.”
My body flared to life again. I knew how to ride. Planting my feet flat on the ground, I gripped the nape of his neck in both hands and let my thighs do the work.
He said I was beautiful.
He was utterly resplendent.
How could I ever have imagined leaving him?
Now that I had unlocked the gates to pleasure beyond anything I had dreamed, I found the idea of shutting them again inconceivable. His hands roamed my skin, his lips following the trail. I shivered at the tingles he evoked. Our gazes held each other, silently communicating the love building between us.
Beneath me, he stiffened. He dug his fingers into my hips and yanked
