Page 30 of A Raven Reformed

“It doesn’t have to hurt me.” It was hard to pull his mouth away from hers long enough to speak the words he needed to say. “Just try to avoid my left arm.”

She reached for the buttons of his shirt, but he shook his head. “You first, so I can enjoy the sight of your body while you help me with mine.”

She giggled, but quickly stripped out of her clothes. God she was beautiful. Her creamy skin was smooth and warm and her luscious breasts more than filled his palms. He bent and drew one of her swollen nipples into his mouth, teasing it with his tongue.

She gripped his shoulders and groaned his name. If he didn’t stop and get his bloody clothes off, he wasn’t going to make it long enough to even be inside of her. When did he become like a young lad again? It was pathetic. He had no control over himself when it came to Belle.

Michael’s left arm screamed in pain every time he moved it, and getting his clothes off took far too long. When Belle finally freed him from his trousers, she immediately wrapped her fingers around him.

“No, love, I won’t make it if you do that.” He gently pulled her hand away from him. “I need to be inside of you, but you’re going to have to take the reins this time. How do you feel about that?”

Her eyes widened and she nodded quickly. “Yes, just tell me what to do.”

Michael threw back the blankets and laid himself down on his back. “Climb on top of me,” he instructed.

Belle didn’t even hesitate. “Like this?” she asked as she straddled him.

“Yes.” His entire body trembled as she lowered herself down onto him, her heat completely engulfing him. Dear God. Would it always be this way with her? “Now, ride me like your life depends on it.”

He settled his right hand on her hip. After a few repetitions figuring out how best to move her body, she found her rhythm and rode him hard and fast, straight to the finish line.

Jesus.

She was a goddess. Her head thrown back in ecstasy, her breasts bouncing wildly. It was so hard to keep his left arm down and only be able to explore her glorious body with the right, but he did his best. Just as she shouted her pleasure, his orgasm crashed over him, so powerful it was almost painful as he spilled his seed inside of her.

“You, wife, are simply incredible.”

She smiled as she panted over the top of him. “I am. Aren’t I?”

He chuckled. With his good arm, he pulled her down on top of his chest. She tried to roll off, but he held her firm. “Stay.”

“I’ll crush you.”

He shook his head. “I love having your weight on top of me.”

For a long time, they lay in blissfully euphoric silence, Michael rubbing slow circles on Belle’s back. The only indication she was still awake was the occasional sigh or the tickle of her fingertips against his ribs.

“Michael?” Her voice was soft and tentative. “Are you planning to leave me?”

He reached down and pulled the blanket over them. “Not a chance. I’m staying right here in this bed, just as the doctor ordered, and you’re staying with me.”

“I won’t argue with that. I didn’t mean today, though.” To his great disappointment, her warm body slid off him. She sat up, cross-legged, in the middle of the bed, holding his hand in both of hers.

“When the house party is over, are you planning to return to London?”

He hadn’t given it a lot of thought, really. Of course, that had always been his intention. When he’d left for America, he’d planned to marry her and then spend most of his time in Raven Row, returning to Glenwood for visits. But he hadn’t planned on this… on her. He couldn’t imagine being apart from her like that now.

“I don’t know,” he said honestly.

“Well, I’ve been thinking. The day that we visited the Raven’s Den, I saw a whole other kind of contentment in you. You glowed with pride and happiness. I think that’s where you belong.”

Was she sending him away? The thought caused his heart to ache in the strangest way. “Are you unhappy with me?”

“No.” A look of utter confusion settled on her face.

“Why are you wanting to send me away then?”

“That’s not what I meant.” She shook the hand she was holding and rolled her eyes. “What I want is to go with you. I don’t want to be left behind again.”

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