Page 99 of A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Heirs

Tenderness in his gaze mixed with passion as the circle of blue expanded, leaving only a small rim around the black of his pupil. “I do. And because I do, I really should leave now and save the rest for our wedding night.”

After another deep kiss, Victor started to rise from the bed, but Juliana grabbed his arm. “I don’t want to wait. I want to assure you that I will marry you.”

He turned back toward her. “I trust you, Juliana. You don’t have to prove anything to me.”

Concern crinkled the corners of his eyes, and she loved him all the more for it. But it was more than wanting to prove her commitment, she truly wanted to make love with him. “And I trust you. Please, don’t stop. I want you, Victor.”

Long moments stretched between them as he gazed down at her, then with a quick nod, he rose from the bed and removed his trousers.

Goodness!Her breath caught and heat flared in her cheeks. None of her fantasies had prepared her for the reality of him.

He gave her a sly grin. “If you’re used to horses, I’m not nearly as impressive.”

She laughed, the sound echoing through the room, and he climbed up next to her and placed an index finger on her lips.

“Shush. Someone will hear us.” His grin widened. “But I hope you weren’t laughing at me.”

“Never. You are magnificent.” She pulled him down for a lingering kiss. “Now, where were we?”

Where,indeed?When Victor cradled and tilted Juliana’s head to the perfect angle for the kiss, his body pulsed with energy. The way she responded to him, her trust, her belief inhim, had each nerve ending sizzling with life. Every point of contact between them created a thrum of awareness. Sweet and slightly spicy, the warm scent of her skin wrapped around him like a promise. He could so easily get caught up in his own desires.

Yet he paused, thinking of her. “I understand there will be some initial pain, but only the first time, and I will do my best to be gentle and make it enjoyable for you.”

She threaded her fingers through his hair. “I trust you.”

Her skin felt like silk as he traced his hands over the expanse of her abdomen and cupped her breast. Her nails raked against his scalp, the sensation generating gooseflesh along his arms.

“Open for me, tesoro mio.” The words fitting, she was his treasure more precious than gold. He nudged her legs apart, and she complied, instinctively bending them at the knees. As he positioned himself at her entrance, he whispered, “Ti adoro. I adore you, Juliana. Only you. Never doubt it.” With excruciating slowness, he pushed forward as her body yielded to his. God, she welcomed him so exquisitely, every inch of her drawing him in, testing his control to its limits. But he needed to go slow, to be careful for her.

As he met resistance, he gritted his teeth and prepared for the moment he dreaded. His voice a gravelly rasp of need, he said, “Wrap your legs around me, amore mio.”

When she did, and he pressed forward, she sucked in a breath, the moment he breached her maidenhead clear from the wince of pain on her face.

He stilled. His arms shook, and his heart hammered in his chest as need built to a crescendo. Every muscle in his body screamed for release, but he held still, anchored by the sight of her beneath him. It broke his heart to know he’d hurt her. “Is the pain—very bad?” He choked on the question, not sure he wanted the answer.

“Not t-terribly bad.” But the crack in her voice belied her words.

“I won’t move until you tell me.” God knows how he would manage, but he would. For her.

Her eyes shimmered, and a tear pooled in the corners.

“Oh, God. It’s horrible, isn’t it? I’m so sorry, Juliana.”

She shook her head. “It’s not pain—it’s that I love you so much my heart can’t contain it.”

And as he gazed down at her, he saw the love in her eyes. He heard it in her words. Felt it as she stilled his shaking arms with her soft touch. Tasted it in the sweetness of her kisses. Even the air between them—thick with heat and longing—was scented with her desire. Every sense evidenced her love for him.

She lovedhim! Not his name or future, but the man he tried so hard to be. Who he uniquely was.

The realization overwhelmed him.

She was his, and he was hers. They were one. Not only in that precious, glorious moment, but for the rest of their lives.

He would wait forever if he had to; Juliana was worth it.

Luckily for him, forever wasn’t necessary.

“I’m better now if you want to move.”

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