Passion and Propriety (Hearts of Honour Book 1) (36 page)

Recognising his mistake, William wondered how he was supposed to see to her pleasure when he was a hair’s breadth from losing control.

“Hannah. I think . . .” He held her away from him and shook his head to clear it. “I think it might be wise if we lie on the bed.”

“As you wish.” Her smile was shy but knowing, and he was pleased to see a return of her confidence, even if it came at his expense. The price was one he was happy to pay.

With minimal awkwardness considering their inexperience, they climbed onto the bed and lay down in one another’s arms. William lay on his left side, and his shoulder hurt, but he needed access to his more dexterous right hand for what he had planned.

For long moments, he gave himself up to the pleasure of kissing his wife. He adored her mouth, drawing the plump lower lip between his own and gently suckling before trading places with the Cupid’s bow upper. All the while, she graced him with the same attention, their mouths moving together in harmony. His enjoyment was so great, his thoughts were quickly reduced to solitary words.

Soft . . . warm . . . perfect.
 

The recesses of her mouth were a treasure trove of taste and sensation. From gentle brushes and soft caresses to a hungry devouring, he couldn’t seem to get enough of kissing her. At the same time, his hands roamed her body with increasing boldness. They smoothed and stroked her back and over the curve of her hips before squeezing her bottom. Her legs moved restlessly, allowing him opportunity to insert his thigh in the space between. He knew now where best to apply pressure—or so he hoped—and was rewarded with the sound of her whimper as he rocked against her. After gently stroking the length of her thigh, he caught hold of her knee and drew it over his hip, increasing the intimacy.

Feeling her heat, William’s head swam, and he struggled to maintain some semblance of control. Focusing on
her
pleasure, though knowing it would increase his torment exponentially, he cupped one of her breasts, delighting in the bounty he had been given. After rubbing his thumb gently over the already erect nipple and feeling it harden further at his touch, he could barely contain his desire to discover her taste.

Hannah’s gasp gave him confidence that she might welcome such an endeavour . . . outlandish though it might be. When she arched her back, pushing against both his hand and thigh, he decided permission had been granted. After trailing his lips along her jaw, he brushed them down the side of her neck, stopping only to nibble along her collarbone before continuing to the swell of her breast. She stilled, her attention no doubt focused on his destination. When he hesitated, she tangled her fingers in the hair at the nape of his neck, urging him onward.

William needed no further encouragement.
 

With soft kisses, he reverently mapped the curve of her breast before allowing himself a taste of her nipple. Hannah’s soft whimper became a cry of what he hoped was pleasure when he ran his tongue over the tight bud. She arched beneath him, her grip on his hair tightening as if she feared he would pull away. Never more eager to oblige her, he drew the entire bud into his mouth and suckled. Her response was everything he had hoped for, though it took him a moment to register as he was somewhat overwhelmed by the assault on his senses.

Fortunately, his new favourite activity—besides kissing her mouth, and joining their bodies—was one that seemed to please his wife very well. Applying all diligence to his task, he continued until she was whimpering and writhing beneath him. Recalling that she had two such destinations, he trailed his mouth across the deep valley between her breasts to shower her other nipple with equal attention.

“Oh, William,” she whispered in between making the most sensual mewling sounds he’d ever heard and
never
imagined would be made in response to his
touch.

Knowing his weakened left arm wouldn’t take the weight of his body indefinitely, he trailed the fingers of his right hand across her belly. When he reached her soft curls, she tensed, her hand dropping to his arm in caution. Lifting his head, he took in her slumberous but now slightly worried gaze.

“It’s all right, sweetheart,” he said. “Trust me. I want to try and make it more than just
pleasant.
”

After a moment’s hesitation where he could practically see her weighing his words in her mind, she nodded. Her breath came in short pants, and her gaze followed the path of his fingers as he delved into the folds hidden beneath her curls. For a few minutes, he indulged himself with stroking softly, entranced by her delicate texture. He’d touched her only fleetingly the night before, but from memory, she seemed a little swollen. His hope was the more aroused she became before he penetrated her, the less discomfort she would suffer.

Renewed in his purpose, he found the place that was apparently the source of a woman’s fulfilment—that’s if he’d interpreted the euphemisms correctly.
If
his newly gained understanding of female anatomy was correct, William questioned the design. The sensitive bud didn’t seem to be in the most ideal location. But any doubts he had over the accuracy of the information were banished at Hannah’s response to his gentle touch.

She shuddered, and her head fell back.

“Don’t stop,” she begged when he hesitated, alerting him to the fact his work was not yet done.

He was more than content to continue. The only problem was the feel of her soft flesh sliding beneath his fingers, and the sound of her cries, were almost enough to send him over the edge.

William wanted to be inside his wife when she found her release, but he wasn’t sure it would be wise. Torn with indecision, he continued to caress her with his right hand while rising up on his knees so he could stroke her astonishingly beautiful breasts with his left, clumsy though it might be. Unable to resist the temptation, he moved to kneel between her thighs. While continuing to stroke her, he urged her knees further apart, aligned their bodies, and pressed forward. There was much less resistance than the first time, but he hesitated when her eyes fluttered open.

“Am I hurting you?”

“A little, but please, don’t stop.”

“Does it feel good?” He needed the reassurance—and the focus—as his own body was flooded with exquisite sensation.

“Oh . . . yes.” She sighed, her hips rising to meet his.

Once William was inside her, he took a moment to catch his breath . . . and strengthen his resolve. Moving gently
in and out, he established a steady rhythm, all the while continuing to tease her with his fingers. The position was a little awkward, but the flush that stole across her skin was more than worth the effort. Mesmerised by the sight, his groans echoed her soft cries. When her velvety walls began to pulse, he suspected she was close to experiencing the bliss she had given him.

The pressure . . . and the pleasure . . . were almost too intense, but he held fast to his mission. After not too many more minutes, her breath hitched and she arched beneath him, the most glorious cry erupting from her lips.

If William had been in any doubt as to what was occurring, the deep rhythmic contractions that squeezed him tightly laid them to rest. Shock waves of pleasure traversed his spine, pooling in his groin and warning him his own climax was imminent. But with Hannah gripping his hips tightly with her knees, he wondered how he could pull out without hurting her.

“Hannah,” he cried when he could wait no longer and knew he must withdraw. To his relief, she let him go, cuddling into his side and murmuring his name while he shuddered and groaned with his own release.

Chapter 29

Wanton

“Does it feel the same for you . . . to
orgasm
?” Hannah whispered into the darkness, the strange word as new to her as the sensations the astonishing event inspired.

Wrapped tightly as she was in William’s arms, his quiet laughter shook them both.

“I guess so, if indescribable bliss comes to mind.”

“It does.” Hannah sighed, enjoying the feel of their bodies pressed close together, limbs entwined. “It’s just a pity we both had to wait so many years to feel it.”

His body tensed at her words, and she rose up on one elbow to look down at him.

“You said you hadn’t lain with anyone before.”

“I haven’t.” He stroked her arm. “It’s just that a man’s body works a little differently than a woman’s. I’ve never been one to indulge excessively, but occasionally a man must find release from the buildup of pressure. It’s a natural occurrence,” he added, sounding defensive.

“Oh, I see,” Hannah murmured when she grasped his meaning. “You can accomplish the same result whilst alone. Does it feel as good?”

“Nowhere near.” He nuzzled her cheek.

“Well, I’m glad.” She lay back down and snuggled into his embrace. “I would hate to be made redundant.”

“That will
never
happen.” William kissed her soundly, and she wondered if he might be planning to prove the veracity of his vow then and there. But after arousing her senses until a pleasurable hum warmed her body, he encouraged her to roll over and wrapped himself around her from behind.

“Sleep, sweetheart,” he murmured against her ear. “This is all still new to you, and you need your rest.”

She wasn’t used to being cosseted, and a protest sprang to her lips, but William silenced her with a yawn. He’d had a tiring day, having spent hours in the saddle riding over the estate with Major Loring. Her answering yawn was welcome, as was the languor that stole all tension from her body as she slipped into the most comfortable of slumbers.

Hannah woke to the feel of her husband’s lips nuzzling at her neck, his hand at her breast, and the insistent pressure of his arousal against her hip. She’d never slept nude before, but being woken in such a manner enlightened her to the benefits.

“William?” she asked drowsily.

“None other.” He chuckled.

“What are you doing?”

“Making love to my beautiful wife . . . as long as you’re not too tired or too sore?”

“I’m perfectly fine,” she said while contemplating his continued insistence she was beautiful
.
It was clearly a falsehood, but when she’d called him on it, he’d just smiled and said, “eye of the beholder” before muttering something about the local gentlemen being idiots. It seemed wrong to allow William to continue in his delusion she was anything other than ordinary, but it was hardly in her best interest to convince him otherwise.

She could only imagine he must see something in her no one else did. He’d certainly uncovered hidden depths she’d not been aware of. In return, Hannah hoped her company was equally beneficial, that perhaps she could convince him he wasn’t nearly as beastly as he thought himself. William was self-conscious about his scars, but they didn’t bother her in the least. She thought him very handsome—
more
so the longer they were together—and not at all fierce or forbidding, regardless of what others might think of him.

“You’re sure you don’t need me to leave you alone this morning?” He lifted his head and captured her sleepy gaze.

“I’m sure.” She wriggled a little, pressing against him. “Don’t leave . . . or stop. I want you to continue.”

“Good.”

He nipped at her shoulder before grazing his teeth along the sensitive curve of her neck, and Hannah modified her assessment. He could be a
little
fierce.

Stretching like a cat, a habit of hers when she first awoke, felt altogether different with her husband’s naked body draped around her. The feel of his warm, smooth skin sliding silkily over hers brought memories of the night before flooding back. Overcome by the most blissful sensations, she had arched her back in a similar fashion at the culmination of their lovemaking. Her suspicion the pleasure caused by William’s kisses and caresses was a prelude to something more had proved correct, but when it occurred, the experience had been awe-inspiring.

“Did you say morning?” she asked. His words had taken a moment to register, and when they did she lifted her head. She was surprised to see slivers of sunlight peeking through the gaps in the curtains as her husband’s increasingly bold caresses brought her more fully awake.

William’s response was to abandon his place nibbing upon her ear. Her pout curved into a smile when he trailed kisses down her chest towards where his fingers were expertly teasing her nipple . . . until she recalled why the time of day mattered. It wasn’t that she minded his attentions—not in the least—but she feared they could be brought to a sudden and embarrassing halt.