“I am sorry, Minna,” he whispered, and made to withdraw, but she wrapped her legs around his hips and held on tightly.
“Don’t stop,” she whispered. When he moved inside her again, the pain was gone, and there was only a delightful friction as he thrust again, and a feeling of fullness, as if she had not been complete until he was inside her.
Then, she began to tremble. Something was happening to her, something that felt like climbing towards a peak that shecould not quite reach. She had to reach it, though - she had to see what was on top, and finally she did.
A wave of ecstasy crashed over her, spreading out from her core to every part of her body, making her scream and cling to Gowan so tightly that she would leave bruises on his flesh. She had thought that nothing could be better than what she had experienced when he pleasured her, but this was better - ten times better.
As soon as he was inside Minna, and her warm wet flesh closed around him, Gowan was where he had wanted to be almost since the first time he had seen her. He held back, waiting for her to set the pace, but when he broke the barrier of her maidenhead, he knew they were free.
He would hold the memory of her face in that first moment of ecstasy forever, and as the waves of his own fulfillment rushed over him, he realized that it was the fiercest and best climax he had ever experienced. This was the difference love could make.
Afterwards, Minna tucked her head between his chin and his chest, and as Gowan wrapped his arm around her, she found herself nestled against him, safer and warmer than she had ever been before. It was heavenly.
“I love you, Gowan,” she murmured. “And I will never be tired of saying it.”
Gowan chuckled softly. “You saved me from a life of misery, Minna. I will never stop loving you.”
They were quiet for a moment, but suddenly the peaceful silence was broken by the sound of a loud grumble from Gowan’s stomach.
Minna giggled as she rubbed a hand over it. “We must eat, husband of mine,” she suggested, her eyes twinkling. “How can you make love to your wife if you have no strength?”
“I will find the strength,” he replied with mock ferocity, then laughed and climbed out of bed.
Minna watched the movements of his trim, muscular buttocks with immense pleasure as he walked across the room to pour them both a glass of wine. When he turned around, his member was flaccid, but he saw the disappointment on her face and smiled wickedly.
“Don’t worry,” he chuckled, “He will soon be standing to attention again!”
They ate their fill, and drank until Minna felt a little bit tipsy. She looked up into his face and smiled. “Are you standing to attention?” she murmured softly.
Gowan took her hand and put it on his shaft. “What do you think?” he asked.
Minna had never felt anything quite like the object she was holding. It was firm and almost as hard as leather, but it was as soft as velvet on the surface. As she moved her hand she was amazed to see that Gowan was writhing as if in pain. Immediately she stilled, but he took her hand and moved it back to where it had been.
“Don’t stop, please.” Gowan whispered.
He clasped his hand over hers and showed her how to move it so that she was giving him the most pleasure. As he looked at his wife, seeing the wonder in her face, his orgasm hit him so hard that stars floated in front of his eyes for a moment. He drifted back down to earth then opened his eyes to smile at her.
“Are you all right?” Minna asked anxiously. “Did I hurt you?”
“The only time I have felt better was when I was inside you.” Gowan replied, stroking her hair lovingly. “I am looking forward to a lifetime of this.”
Minna looked into his deep dark eyes and almost wept with the love she was feeling. Her heart could hardly contain it all, and as she laid her head on his chest, she sighed in contentment. This was her place now, nestled against his heart. This was her destiny, where she was meant to be.
Gowan was drowsy, but he did not want to sleep while Minna was awake. This was the first day of their marriage and he did not want to miss any of it, but a moment later, her steady, even breathing told him that Minna had succumbed to sleep before him.
He laughed softly then kissed her forehead just as she sighed and draped one of her legs over his.
“Minna,” he whispered. “Never leave me, for I could not live without you.”
“I never will.” she mumbled.
Then, sated with food and love, their bodies intertwined, they drifted off to sleep.
EPILOGUE
Minna was sleeping soundly, dreaming of a table groaning with cakes of all descriptions, every one more delicious than the last. She was smiling with appreciation as she bit into a strawberry tart, savoring the honeyed sweetness on her tongue as she licked her lips.
“Mmm…” she moaned as the sweetness hit the back of her throat. A moment later she squealed as she was jerked out of bed and lifted into someone's strong arms. In her half-asleep, befuddled state, it took her a moment to realize that they belonged to her husband. She could smell the earthy, leathery scent of him - she would recognise it anywhere, and it stirred her desire as it always did.