Page 77 of Cherish and the Duke
Having said that, and not certain he had convinced her to simply relax and enjoy the moment, he pressed his lips to the graceful curve of her neck and suckled lightly.
He smiled when she sighed and leaned against him. “That feels good, too.”
Her eyes were closed as she allowed herself to succumb to these new sensations. That she seemed to enjoy them and wantmore was a promising sign. He took his time untying the last of her laces, liking the way she seemed to trust him and respond to his touch.
Her skin was warm and her scent was a delicious mix of floral and fruity. He gave her neck a final, soft kiss as he slipped the gown off her shoulders and allowed it to slide with a silkywhooshonto the carpeted floor. After carefully setting the gown over one of the chairs, he then began to undo her corset. Flames shot through him as he turned her to face him and took in her delectable body that was barely hidden beneath her sheer chemise.
“Don’t, love,” he said when she tried to turn away and cover herself up. “You are beautiful. Let me look at you.”
She nodded and set her hands to her sides, not certain what to do next. “All right.”
The little control he had left disappeared once he took the pins from her hair and watched the mountain of curls tumble down her back in a now-familiar golden cascade.
How had no one claimed her hand in marriage before this?
Not that it mattered, for she was his now, and he meant to introduce her to the pleasures of the bedchamber. More important, he hoped to show her how love between two people could flourish. Everything already felt sweeter to him because they were husband and wife.
He lifted her in his arms and carried her to bed, searing her with his kisses as he set her down in the center of it and removed the last of their clothing with as much prowess as one could muster while in hot, inglorious haste.
Both now bared, he covered her with his big body and began to lightly run his hands along her curves. He started innocently at first, merely running his fingers along her arms and then down her legs. Along her sweet, nicely rounded bottom. But it was not long before he dipped his head and took the tip of herbreast in his mouth to gently suckle it. By the time he moved on to the other, she was breathing heavily and clutching his shoulders.
He slid his hand between her legs, pleased to find her ready for him.
Well, was this not his reputation? He knew how to arouse a woman’s passion. Cherish, although outwardly serene, did feel things strongly. He had little trouble evoking the desired responses from her, and he took delight in watching her changing expressions. Wonder. Shyness. Eagerness. Willingness.
Heat.
She wanted to experience whatever he had in mind for her this wedding night.
He took his time because she was innocent and everything was new to her. Her delicate hands gripped his shoulders as she sighed and purred, and then arched beneath him as he licked and stroked her. She readily took him in when he entered her.
Lord, she was so exquisitely slick and tight.
He took care to be as gentle as possible, but she quickly became accustomed to him and wanted more.
He was already on fire and hot with need.Blessed saints, she felt good.
It did not take long for her to fall into his rhythm and begin to lose herself in the heightened sensations. Soon, restraint and caution fled them both, and flames of passion consumed them.
They shattered together, she soaring and he spilling himself into her with a satisfied growl and a splendid release that felt better than anything he could ever recall. It took a long moment for them to regain their senses amid laughing grunts, joyful groans, and a messy tangle of limbs.
He rested his forehead lightly against hers, satiated and breathing heavily as they simply absorbed each other. Hedrew his head up slightly to watch her still floating amid the pleasurable sensations that were so new to her. Finally, she opened her eyes and smiled at him. “That was very nice.”
He chuckled. “I would say so. How do you feel, love?”
Her smile was radiant. “Very much adored.”
Gawain lifted onto his elbows so as not to crush her. “You are, Cherish. You are.”
He had been with many women, had his pick of the prettiest. But none came close to Cherish. She was a mix of innocence and sensuality. Everything about her stirred him, from the cream of her skin to the rose tips of her breasts. From the lushness of that golden mane atop her head to the triangle of gold between her legs. She was softness and silk.
He meant to roll onto his back, not wanting to keep the bulk of his weight atop her. He was a big man and his muscled body was hard in comparison to her softness. She did not appear to mind his weight at all, and emitted a mew of protest when he started to shift his body. “Cherish, how will you breathe if I stay atop you?”
“I can breathe just fine. This feels so nice. I never knew it could be like this between us.”
He planted a kiss on her forehead, and then did move onto his back, but brought her along with him.
“What we did just now… That was wonderful,” she said, nestling in his arms.
