It felt like no time had passed when she heard the door to her room open and close, and she saw him coming towards her in the dim light. She had kept the candle lit by her bed, and the embers were still crackling in the fire. She sat up in bed, her heart already beating fast at the sight of him. He moved to the side of the bed, silently took the covers from her, and helped her to her feet.
“Jane,” he whispered as he took her mouth again.
Just like always, she sank into his kiss, her hands twirling in the hair at the base of his neck. He smelled like herbs and tea and something uniquely him that stirred her desire like nothing else.
He kissed down her neck, whispering, “I love you,” as he did, and then he put his hands to her cheeks and looked down into her eyes.
“I love you too. So very dearly. But Nathaniel, perhaps you should rest,” she told him. “You have had a long day.”
He gave her a rakish grin. It was the same smile that had stirred her heart the first time she saw it.
“If you think, Jane, that I'm going to miss this opportunity to bed you properly, then you are mad. You are here in my house, and I love you. I will not miss this chance. There will be plenty of time to rest later. Unless you are not feeling well?” His eyes widened with worry and concern. “Forgive me, Jane. Your head is still hurting, perhaps? And to think of me selfishly wishing to bed you only the day after your accident.”
All Jane’s limbs melted at once, and she blushed as he continued to stare into her eyes, his gaze so full of love and care.
“I do not mean that. I’m very well. I only wanted to make sure you were well, too.”
His hands gripped her waist firmly and possessively. “You are here. So, I am well.” He smiled, and she kept her eyes on him as he slowly reached for her nightgown and lifted it over her head until he could toss it away to the side, and she was bare before him.
His strong hands glided up over her skin, sliding over the curve of her waist and then up towards her breasts, thumbs brushing over her nipples. He made an appreciative sound in his throat, and he smiled down at her. Butterflies filled her stomach, and she trembled a little with desire and anticipation.
“You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, Jane.”
Jane tugged at his clothing too, pulling at his loose cravat. He helped her with the shirt, pulling it swiftly from his back and tossing it away. Her eyes moved over his skin, and her hands followed. She wanted the chance to explore his body, too. They had not had much time when they’d made love in the study.
“Nor have I ever seen anything like you, Nathaniel. I've never known the desire they write about to be true.”
“You have certainly proved it to me,” he said with a teasing smile.
She let out a little shriek as he lifted her up and laid her back on the bed. She sat up on her elbows and watched when he removed his breeches and smalls. Her breath caught in her chest as she watched him. She had been a little afraid before in the study, but she knew both the pleasure it would give, and the love, and both their hearts. She was not afraid any longer.
He leaned over her, the kiss on her lips was brief as he moved on to her neck and then her breasts, taking one nipple in his mouth, making her arch upward. He then continued his journey down, his hands following the path of his lips, until his lips found their way between her legs.
His palms spread over the soft skin of her thighs as his mouth worshipped her. With even just one swath of his tongue, she was trembling, her fingers reaching out to hold on to something, but he was too far away and she had to grip onto the coverlet.
Sounds of pleasure came from her mouth as she watched his eyes. He stared right at her, as if wanting to see her every reaction. His lips moved, sometimes gentle, sometimes firm, and it didn’t take long for the pleasure to break She cried out, shaking underneath his mouth, but he continued to kiss her there, drawing her pleasure out more and more until he finally lifted, and she reached for him.
“Not fair,” she said, grabbing at his shoulders, making him laugh softly.
The dim firelight and the candlelight danced over his features. She brushed a lock of hair from his forehead, and then, as best she could, she flipped him over until he was on his back, and she straddled him. He looked surprised but not displeased, and his hands rested on her thighs. She moved downward until she could take him in hand.
“You have learned the secrets of me, and I will learn the secrets of you.” She smiled at the lovely look of surprise on his face.
She slowly moved her hand up and down, and then she got into position so that she could press her lips against him. His responding groan was enough to tell her that she was right. She followed his sounds to know her way, eventually sinking her mouth over him, sealing her lips as she licked and sucked along his velvet length.
“Oh, now I will not last if you keep doing that, Jane,” he said breathlessly, and he pulled at her arms to lift her up. “And I have no intention of not giving you as much pleasure as possible tonight.”
He flipped her over and pressed her down into the covers, and she smiled. “We have all night, you know.”
“Mmm,” he said, nuzzling against her neck and then further down towards her breasts. “But I thought I was meant to be resting.”
“Oh, I forgot,” she told him, making him laugh again.
But when he kissed her and settled between her thighs, there was no laughter anymore. This time, when he sank inside her, it was slow and perfect. There was nothing holding them back now. She followed his rhythm, arching her hips up to meet his. He lifted her thigh higher over his hips as he thrust faster and faster, pressing deeper and deeper inside her.
Pleasure swirled in her belly and through every vein as she clutched tighter to him. He kissed at her neck, his movements growing ever frenzied. She could feel the sheen of sweat on both their skin, and her hands moved down to his buttocks.
She gripped them tightly, and he groaned, lifting her hips higher so that he could plunge even deeper. It was then she came, loudly and messily, tears in her eyes. Her arms shook as she tried to control it, but the wave of ecstasy could not be held back. Then she let herself go to it, floating away on a sea of pleasure.
