Page 2 of How To Seduce A Wife

She didn’t protest his presence, but she didn’t seem to welcome him, either. With sudden resolve, he grabbed her hands and linked them behind his neck. She could at least hold him while he made love to her, make him feel like more than a beast ravishing an innocent.

Her cold fingers settled against his skin, and he nudged at the entrance to her sex with his cock. She wasn’t wet for him. Did ladies ever get wet with desire? Was that why his father had strayed? He shoved that thought out of his head as he eased his aching cock inside her tight passage. Her fingernails dug into his flesh, and he tried to move more slowly. Was he hurting her? If he asked, he knew she would deny it.

With exquisite care he began to move, tried to keep his weight off her to minimize the effect of his thrusts and save her from his more aggressive instincts. He sensed her move her head to one side and opened his eyes. She was staring over at the fireplace where her book lay. He went still.

“Louisa, am I boring you?”

Her gaze flew back to his and he saw it there, saw the truth. “No, my lord, I...”

He thrust himself deep twice and came fast, the sensation almost as unsatisfying as his own hand. He stayed where he was, braced over her, and waited until she looked at him again.

“Perhaps I should apologize again for distracting you from your book. It is obviously far more important than I am.”

He probably sounded petulant, but her inattention had wounded his manly pride. She bit down on her lip and tried to shake her head.

“I’m sorry, my lord.”

With a groan, he eased out of her but he didn’t leave the bed. “Why is the book more interesting than I am?” He gestured at the marble-covered tome. “Would you prefer the hero of your ridiculous novel to be here in your bed rather than your legal husband?”

She pushed down her nightgown and sat up, her brown eyes glinting with tears. “Perhaps I would. At least he seems to enjoy ravishing the heroine!”

Nicholas stared at her for a long moment. “You wish to be ravished?”

“I wish...” She sighed and looked down at her clenched hands. “I expected...”

“What?” He was determined to have this out now, to have perhaps, the first honest conversation of his married life. “You can tell me.”

She hunched her shoulder at him. “My mother told me I was not to bother you with my feelings or thoughts. She said that men are not interested in such matters.”

“Iam interested.”

“Are you sure?”

“Indeed. Otherwise why else would I still be sitting here asking why you prefer the hero of a gothic novel to a real live man in your bed?”

“My mother also said that men’s feelings are often hurt if a woman criticizes them.”

“That is true, but I am made of sterner stuff. I am quite willing to hear your thoughts on this matter.” He found he was glaring at her, but she didn’t shrink away. “We are bound together for life; don’t you think that a little sincere communication between us might be a good thing?”

“I suppose so.”

“Well?”

She peeked at him from under her long eyelashes. “Are yousurethat you won’t get angry?”

He sketched a cross over his chest. “I swear it. Now tell me what the problem is.”

“I thought that marriage would be more... exciting.”

“I do not excite you?”

“You are all that a gentleman should be. You are kind and pleasant and good natured, but...”

“But what?”

She studied him dubiously. “Yousoundas if you are getting annoyed. Perhaps I should stop.”

He set his jaw and forced a smile. “No, please go on.”

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