Page 66 of The Duke's Inconvenient Bride
She rolled her eyes. “So I told you.”
“No. Now, you’re really ready. Your body is prepared to accept me. Just keep breathing, and try not to become rigid.”
She flopped onto the pillow, closed her eyes, and focused on remaining as languid as possible while the head of his cock notched against her and pushed. She gasped as it entered an inch at a time, and immediately stiffened, but then reminded herself to breathe.
Having him inside her was a strange sensation. She felt oddly full. It wasn’t bad, and definitely not as painful as he and her mother had led her to believe, but she wasn’t sure whether she liked it either. Finally, he was fully seated within her and lowered himself onto his forearms on either side of her face.
He kissed her. “Thank you. You took me so well.”
Warmth seeped into her chest at the praise. She was pleased to have made him happy. She stayed still, waiting for her body to adjust. He gave her time, but when she began to squirm beneath him, he drew out and thrust back into her.
“Oh!”
Her eyes widened, and her mouth fell open as he bumped against her nubbin. He eased out and then in, and sparks sizzled through her insides.
“Oh, that’s divine.” She wrapped her lower legs around his thighs to make sure he kept hitting the spot that felt so good.
Vaughan’s gaze burned into her. “That’s it, sweetheart. Take what you need.”
“I need more.” She arched her body toward him, begging. “Please, Vaughan.”
His cock throbbed inside her.
“Say my name again,” he demanded.
“Vaughan,” she breathed, loving the way his muscles contracted and his control faltered.
Had she done that? Could she drive this man as crazy as he made her?
“Vaughan, I need you.” She buried her face in the side of his neck, knowing that she was behaving like a wanton, but it was the first time anyone had looked at her as if she was the answer to everything, and she never wanted it to end.
Each glide of his hard shaft pushed her closer and closer to the edge. She clutched his back, glorying in the firmness of him that was so unlike herself.
When he captured her lips in a steamy kiss, she shattered. Pleasure exploded through her, and she cried out his name as she spiraled into bliss.
A moment later, he tensed and groaned, pulsing inside her as he joined her in oblivion.
Emma held him close, snuggled against his muscular body as she slowly came back to herself. She sighed contentedly and kissed his shoulder. She’d happily stay in his embrace forever if she could. But the moment her lips touched his skin, he stiffened.
He drew away, creating space between them, and the slight sheen of sweat on her stomach and chest rapidly cooled. She shivered and reached for him, but he moved further back.
Her insides shriveled up. Not again. What had she done wrong now?
“Is everything all right?” she asked apprehensively.
“Completely.” He leaned forward and kissed her forehead, and for a few seconds, she thought everything would be fine, but then he pulled away again. “Thank you for performing your duty. I’ll take you to your bed now.”
Her eyebrows furrowed, and she drew her knees to her chest. “But I thought—”
“You must be tired,” he continued, ignoring her. “You should sleep.”
She got off the bed and clutched her flimsy nightgown to herself, covering what little nakedness she could. Why had he turned so cold and formal when they’d been anything but only minutes earlier?
“I’m not tired.” She could perceive when she wasn’t wanted, though, even if she was unsure of the reason why, so she hurried to open the adjoining door.
“Goodnight, Emma,” he called after her.
She didn’t reply. She feared that if she tried, her choked-up voice would give her away. Instead, she gently closed the door, crawled into her own bed, the smell of oranges following her, and wondered what on earth had just happened.
