Page 59 of Earl of Excess
“The rest of the day and the night are ours to spend at our leisure—until hunger persuades us to gain sustenance. What better way could there be to spend our time?” His breath gently fanned her ears.
He gently slipped her sleeves from her arms, exposing her breast. “Allow me to warm you, wife.”
“Matthew,” she murmured, wrapping her hands around his neck and pulling him closer.
Matthew reveled in the feel of her hands gently touching his neck and combing through his hair. His head dipped, and with his teeth, he pulled the shoulders of her chemise away from her, freeing both breasts. Bethany moved her head back and gave a guttural hum as he gently pulled one breast into his mouth, licking and suckling before moving to the next one to give it equal measure. Lifting his head, he moved to her mouth, kissing and nibbling her lower lip as his hand worked her moist folds. “I want you,” he whispered against the lobes of her ear, sending prickles across her shoulders and into the base of her skull.
*
Bethany had neverexperienced such delight coming from her body. Delicious waves of feeling throbbed through her arms and legs, pooling in her core. She gasped, unable to comprehend what she wanted, only feeling an uncontrollable wave of desire. Pulling his head back to her breasts, she reveled in the warm wetness of his mouth. He wet his fingers and touched her nipples, blowing softly to pebble them beneath his touch.
“My insides feel tingly,” she gasped, trying to explain her insatiable desire.
“I want to please you, first,” he breathed in her ear. “However, my desire to join with you is almost intolerable,” he whispered. Lifting himself, he adjusted himself over her, with his fingers probing her moist core.
Bethany inhaled as her body both convulsed and craved his attentions. His lips covered hers and their tongues swirled with tides of desire covering the insides of their mouths between heated breaths. She squeezed her eyes closed and clung to the sensation of being detached from her body.
“I think you are ready,” he said between pants. “My love, I will take my time, but you will feel a slight pain. I promise it will get better,” he exhaled, his words enunciated slowly between heated breaths.
“Yes,” she said, unsure of what pain he spoke.
He entered her and stopped, causing a piercing pain that lasted for only an instant. She struggled to get her breath before he began once more, moving slowly, inciting her own body to respond to each of his movements until their bodies exploded together.
“I love you, Matthew.” The words burst from her lips.
He rolled off her and they laid side by side, panting. Bethany pulled his arm over her head and curled herself against his side, softly running her fingertips over the puckered flesh of the wound that had brought them together. “I had never imagined making love could be so wonderful.”
Matthew raised up on his elbow and stared into her deep green eyes. “I never thought to marry until I realized that I could never be whole without you by my side. I love you, my dearest wife,” he said with a ravenous look in his eyes. “There will be much to look forward to, including this night, which is still young.”
They made love again until they succumbed to exhaustion. Bethany tucked her body into the curve of his and closed her eyes, falling asleep at last.
Epilogue
The morning of
December 31, 1816
Kent, England
After almost ayear at sea and several days traveling in a carriage across England, Matthew, Bethany, and Dandie were but hours from their home. Their voyage home had turned into a disaster, but thankfully, everyone was safe.
“The carriage is ready, darling,” Matthew said, pointing to the black-lacquered carriage that had just pulled up to the inn. “We should be home in a few hours. Normally we might have pushed through, but in your condition, I felt it best to stop.”
Bethany smiled and held out her hand for her husband to help her into the carriage. They had spent a day in London to find suitable clothing. Thankfully, the small modiste’s shop and the tailor across the street had assisted. Bethany was almost four months pregnant. Not only would she be meeting his family and friends for the first time, but she would meet themenceinte.
For the first few months of her pregnancy, she had feared she would give birth on the island. Thankfully, England would be the baby’s birthplace.
“Thank you, Matthew.” She patted her lap. “Dandie, jump up here, girl. You can curl against me and share the heat.” The dog gave her a smile and jumped up on the bench next to her.
Matthew jumped in and sat next to her. “I thought you might like to stretch your legs,” he said, grinning. “Dandie will not need the leg space.”
“And I am looking forward to my beautiful wife sleeping in a soft bed for as long as she wants.”
“Mmm... that would be good,” she said dreamily as she laid her head against his shoulder. She reached into her pelisse and her gloved hand found the smooth white crystal Aunt Theo had given her. It had worked its magic, although not as she would have imagined. They were all safe.
“I find myself nervous, now that we are this close to your home,” she said. “You sent a letter to Mr. Sinclair and to Grandmère, right?”
“I did. Do not worry. Sinclair would have gotten word of our rescue,” he replied, distractedly glancing out the window.
