Page 62 of The Duke and the Hellion Bride

As she rambled, Magnus crossed the room. And as she rambled, he reached her, taking her hand in both of his. The feel of his hands around her own was comfort and protection personified, and it did much to still her racing heart.

“Diana...” He held her eyes as he held her hands. “There is no need to panic.”

“I did not say I was --”

“Or worry.” His smile was soft; the light in the fireplace cast his face in shadow, but his eyes burned with compassion. “I am here for you. You must know that. And I will do everything I can to make this as comfortable for you as possible.”

“Re -- really?”

His smile grew. “And I think you will surprise yourself.”

“How so?”

“It is not as complicated as you think. And I often find that if my partner is confident and I am willing, then it is a perfectly natural thing. Like breathing.”

She snorted. “I doubt that very much --”

Magnus stepped into her and kissed her on the lips before she had a chance to finish her thought. The effect was immediate, calming her while at the same time lighting that fire of excitement that raged whenever she felt his touch. The kiss was gentle at first, designed to ease her into the situation, and before Diana knew it, she had forgotten her worries because this did indeed feel natural.

The kiss increased in passion then. His hands took the side of her face, holding it close as his tongue pried apart her mouth and began to explore her. She moaned as he bit her lips, and she moaned again as he pulled back and began to kiss up her neck.

On instinct, her hands moved to his jacket, and she helped him remove it. Then came his waistcoat and his shirt. She did not think. She did not consider if it was right or not. As his kissed her on the mouth and neck and face and everywhere he could, the desire that rose inside of her demanded her actions and she heeded their call.

Soon, he was leading her toward the bed. And soon he was helping her from her dress. It was complicated, and they were forced to break apart. He stood behind her, undoing the laces, kissing her neck and then her shoulders as the dress fell from her frame. And then he stayed behind her, his hands wrapping her breasts and squeezing them as he sucked her neck and pressed himself against her buttocks.

“We are going to be gentle this first time,” Magnus whispered into her ear; his breath was warm, and it made her hair stand up on end. “And if at any time you need me to stop, you need only to ask.”

“I trust you,” she said, knowing it to be true.

Magnus turned her back around. Before kissing her again, he looked down at her. His green eyes, in the darkness, drank her in hungrily. But it was more than that. It was done to let her know that he could see her there, that he recognized her for what she was, that this went beyond pure love making.

A single finger found its ways under her chin. He smiled as she leaned into him. They began to kiss again, more fiery than before, more passionate. This time too, she knew it would not stop.

Magnus stepped into her and lay her down on the bed. She scrambled back but his arm was under her, lifting her in the air and carrying her until she lay with her head on the pillows. Diana was naked, she had not even realized that she was, but he was on her, spreading her legs with his own, kissing her all the while, his hands moving down her thighs and stroking her skin softly.

She expected him to enter her then and there, but he did no such thing.

Rather, he kissed down her chest. Soft, wet kisses. Each sent a prickle across her chest and body. Further down he moved, toward her navel, onto her thighs where he licked and sucked gently. His fingers traced her lips, testing her wetness as her legs began to shake. Then the tips of his fingers found her womanhood, stroking softly over her bud like a flower he was trying to make bloom. She gasped and tried to sit up, but he pushed her back down.

“Trust me,” he said, looking up at her just the once before then diving between her thighs.

“Oh... Oh... Mag – yes!”

It was even better than the last time. She was expecting it, was why. The way he licked and sucked. The way he built momentum to the rhythm of her breathing. His fingers inside of her, pressing against her walls, all the while that tongue of his dancing between her lips as he brought her closer and closer to explosion.

Her body writhed and she never wanted it to end. Her body spasmed and she tried to keep it under control. Her body jolted and she cried out, legs snapping together around Magnus’ head. This was it... it was happening again...

“Magnus... I am... I’m about to... please, do not stop --”

And that was when Magnus stopped.

“What are you doing?!” She sat up, breathless, staring at him in shock, unable to believe that he would do this. “Why did you stop?”

“Stop?” He frowned playfully. “Diana, I am only just getting started.”

He climbed from the bed and shuffled from his pants. As he did, his manhood sprang free, gloriously erect. She eyed it with hunger, lips salivating, wanting it in her mouth as if her life depended on it. About to climb to her knees and do just that, Magnus was back on the bed, straddling her, his lips finding her mouth and kissing her.

He forced her back down as his knees spread her legs apart. Then his hands moved under her knees, bending her legs up just a little. He pulled back, kissing her neck and then breasts.

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