Page 59 of A Deal with the Earl (Necessary Arrangements 1)

“What?” Robert looked at his furious wife’s face, realizing that perhaps he had misread her. Was she jealous of him? Did she want him in her bed? He couldn’t understand when that had happened and how he had missed it. He placed a hand under her chin and tilted her face up.

She looked up at him, tears running down her cheeks.

“Don’t cry,” he whispered. “I hadn’t been unfaithful to you, I promise. I don’t even have a mistress anymore. I ended it with her.” Julie nodded and bit her lip to stop it from quivering. He gave her a soft kiss to stop the trembling.

“I don’t know what I should do or how to act,” she breathed. “I thought you would just—” she shrugged lightly.

Robert had no idea what she was trying to say. All he wanted was to soothe her worries and to stop her distress. His gaze locked on her lips, then traveled over her feminine form. His body reacted immediately to the soft mounds of her breasts, to the shape of her curves, even though they were hidden beneath a hideous nightdress. He cuddled her cheek in his hand and gave her another gentle kiss on her lips.

She closed her eyes as if waiting for more. Robert smiled and kissed her again, slower this time. Julie ran her hands up his chest tentatively at first but became bolder as he kissed her intently, licking at her closed lips, pinching them with his own. Robert took her hands, resting on his collarbones, and placed them behind his neck, drawing her closer, bringing her body flush with his. His groin hardened even more in reaction to her soft body pressed to his. He parted her lips with his and licked at her slowly, sensually, tasting her. The way he wanted to for a long time, ever since they struck their bargain. Julie molded her body to his, clutching at the nape of his neck as if trying to draw him closer. She still didn’t answer his kisses but opened her lips apart to give him better access to her mouth. His body rejoiced at the closeness, at the realization that she didn’t freeze or recoil from him.

He ran a soothing hand up and down her spine, still kissing her slowly. One of his hands went to the nape of her neck, tangled in her hair, massaging her scalp. He heard her moan lightly, and he drew her even closer into him, rubbed her pelvis against his groin, making sure she knew exactly what kind of effect she had on him. She stiffened then but didn’t move her body away from his. She didn’t take her hands away either.

He drew away slightly and slowly undid the sash on her dressing gown. Then nudged the gown off her shoulders, and it collected in a heap at her feet.

“Go lie on the bed,” he whispered to her and went to extinguish the lights.

He saw as she hastily scrambled to the bed and burrowed under the covers. He undressed quickly and went to lie beside her. The only light from a smoldering fire in the hearth was enough to clearly make out the horrified features of her face. She lay still on her back as if afraid to move. He turned to her and placed his hand on her abdomen, caressing her with his thumb through the covers. She looked up at him, a frightened look in her eyes.

But he was determined to not let that stop him this time. She obviously wasn’t opposed to having him in her bed, so he’d seduce her, whatever it took.

“You don’t have to be afraid of me,” he whispered as he tucked a loose tendril from her face.

He moved half on top of her as she nodded and kissed her soundly on her lips. His hand moved down to the skirt of her chemise; he bunched it in his hand and drew it up to her waist. He slowly untied her drawers while still distracting her with his mouth. He broke the kiss, moved the drawers down to her ankles, then took them off and placed them beside the bed. Julie instantly lowered her chemise to cover the patch of hair between her legs.

“You know I’ll still need to bare it,” he said with a rueful smile.

“I know—just, not like that. I don’t want you looking—and touching—there.” Julie was as red as a beetroot.

Robert raised his brows, “Not touching? How do you suppose it will work then?”

“Not—not with your hand—” Julie looked away, looking mortified. Robert stifled a chuckle.

She seemed nervous and frantic, so he decided not to argue with her. He placed himself on top of her again. Positioning his cock between her legs, his head rubbing at her center through her chemise. He heard her suck in her breath, whether in anticipation or in fear, he didn’t know and didn’t want to guess. He kissed her chin, her neck and ran his hand soothingly up her sides.

“Relax,” he whispered in her ear.

“Can you just—do it?” she asked, biting her lip. “I am too nervous to—” she looked away, looking embarrassed, the heat creeping up her neck.

He remembered Gabriel’s words about the proper ladies and their lack of enthusiasm in bed. He sighed and propped himself up on his elbows.

“I can’t just do it, Julie. If I don’t prepare you, it is going to hurt, and I have no intention of hurting you.”

“Won’t it hurt, anyway?” she asked worriedly.

Robert raised his brow. “Julie,” he said, looking at her quizzically. “You do know what’s going to happen, don’t you?” he asked, a suspicion smoldering in his mind.

“Of course, I—yes,” Julie answered uncertainly.

“Right.” Robert scrubbed his face with his hand. “Have you done it before?” he asked directly.

Julie just blinked up at him.

“You are a virgin,” he said with such wonder he believed it translated to his voice.

Julie frowned at him and bit on her lower lip. She did that a lot, he noticed. He leaned over her and freed her lower lip by pulling on it with his own.

He was an idiot. Of course, she was a virgin. He let his jealousy and speculation get the better of him before. But that explained everything. Her timidity and unwillingness to go to bed with him, her reactions to his aggressive kisses. At least he hoped that was the reason. He realized that in this case, he’d need more patience to make her feel relaxed. He had no experience in bedding a virgin, and he heard horror stories about the pain and the blood and the women screaming. Robert almost laughed at his thoughts. Surely it wouldn’t be that bad. He decided to keep to her wishes as much as he could, for now, the last thing he wanted was to frighten her again.

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