Page 92 of Compromise & Consequence
He reached out again, this time curving an arm around her waist to draw her close, urging her to lay down by his side. She did not resist; in fact, she even helped him. He lightly skimmed the tips of his fingers on the lace ribbon that held the front of her nightgown closed. Ever so gently he picked one loose end of the ribbon and tugged. Like petals of a flower awakening to the morning sun, the edges of her gown unfurled. Nudging it open further; he leaned over and kissed the bare skin of her shoulder. Emboldened by the soft sigh that escaped her mouth, he opened her nightgown further, exposing the soft creamy skin of her breasts.
Not wanting to frighten his innocent wife, he first kissed her eyes, her cheek, and the tip of her nose and then pressed his lips against hers. He teased the edges of her mouth, tracing the seam of her lips with his tongue. Without hesitation, she opened and he tentatively slid his tongue into her mouth, deepening the kiss. Small hands crept up over his shoulders and soon, delicate fingers furrowed a tunnel through his sleep-mussed curls.
Curbing his impatience, he retreated from their kissing and gazed down at Elizabeth, her lips glistening from his attentions. Slowly her eyelids drifted open and she smiled.
“I truly hate to ruin this moment, but do you wish to go further? I fully understand if you want to leave and wait until we have a better understanding of ourselves.”
She cupped his cheek.
“I am ready to be your wife in every way.”
“Thank God!”
Together, they removed her nightgown and soon he lavished attention on the part of her body he could only dream about before. With a husky groan, he buried his face in the valley between her breasts, rubbing back and forth before drawing a nipple deep into his mouth. She shuddered at his touch and he smiled around the hardened pebble. After a few minutes, he lifted onto his elbow and drank in the sight of her full breasts swollen from his kisses and dedicated ministrations.
“You have no idea what you do to me. These,” – he punctuated the word with a kiss on the creamy swell of each breast – “have kept me awake and in a state of agony for months.”
“Aunt Frances told me to lower the neckline of my dress to entice your interest. I would hazard to guess she knew what she was talking about.”
“Remind me to thank your aunt on the morrow.”
“Today is the morrow.”
Having had enough conversation, he proceeded to make her his wife complete. Soon her body was tightening around him and with powerful thrusts, he surged into her welcoming heat.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Elizabeth awakened to find herself spooned against William, one large hand cupping her breast while he nuzzled her neck. Soon the nuzzling turned to soft kisses and the evidence of his growing arousal made itself known against her buttocks.
“Are you finally awake, sweetheart?” he whispered between kisses.
“Mm hmmm,” she answered with a languorous stretch and flipped over to face him.
He surprised her by kissing her fully on the mouth. Without warning, shouts were heard in the hallway and the bedchamber door was flung open by none other than the colonel. William sat up and grabbed the counterpane, tossing it over Elizabeth to hide her nakedness.
“Darcy! Elizabeth is gone!” Richard cried out, advancing further in the room, clearly not seeing her, huddled beneath the cover.
“Calm yourself, Richard,” William began.
“Calm! Your wife is not in her bedchamber! We must mount a search, immediately!”
“My wife is not lost, she is here. With me.”
Elizabeth sat up, partially lowered the cover, and smiled at her cousin.
“Good morning, Colonel,” she said as Richard stood open-mouthed.
“Ye, gods. I think I aged at least ten years.” He quickly strode to the door, calling out into the hall. “Stand down. I have found Mrs. Darcy.” He then came back into the room and stopped coldwhen William frowned and challenged his continuing presence. She could see when Richard realized, truly, what had occurred. “Oh… ahh… I have… I will see myself out.”
Sporting an adorable shade of red on his cheeks, he executed a smart military pivot and stepped out of the room, barking orders for everyone to carry on. Mr. and Mrs. Darcy would come down when they were ready.
She averted her eyes when William quit the bed to make sure the door was locked. Although they had made love a few times before falling asleep, she was not used to seeing her husband’s bare form. He stopped to pick up her nightgown and handed it to her before he entered the adjoining wardrobe. He soon reappeared wearing a silk banyan and sat on the edge of the bed.
“Good morning,” he said and kissed her yet again. She could get used to this. “Can I help you get dressed?”
“I will never see the light of day if I agreed to let you near me again.”
“I see no problem with that scenario.”
