“Your body is beautiful, but mine is—”
She stopped him again. “I am the one who will be looking at you. If I have a problem with your body, I shall let you know. And you know I will tell you, because I do not have the sense to keep my mouth shut or keep my opinions to myself.”
He laughed. “All right, Miss Temple of Virtue. You win—clothes come off. Time to dismantle your prim walls.”
And his own prison walls.
“Long past time for every wall to come down,” she muttered. “I’ll be thirty soon and still a virgin.”
“Well, I’ll be taking care of that tonight,” he said, placing a gentle kiss on her neck as he came up behind her and helped her to undress.
He needed to be gentle, for her shoulder was delicate and not nearly healed. This was another concern he had, the need to be achingly gentle while claiming her.
He meant to give her pleasure, not pain.
The challenge was easily met, for he had spent years engaging in shallow encounters, fulfilling his urges amidshadowed alcoves and behind bushes or up against walls. If he needed contortions to keep from hurting Ailis, he was able and ready.
His worries melted away as they stood before each other completely unclothed. Ailis was not shy about standing naked before him, no doubt because she trusted him and already felt so bonded to him.
She had a beautiful body, full breasts and long, slender legs, a body that brought an ache to his heart because he was gazing upon loveliness while she had to look at him.
And yet she truly did not seem to care that his body was marred.
After giving her the chance to react to his body, which she did with unabashed warmth and interest, he lifted her in his arms and carried her to bed. He settled her atop the mattress and stretched out beside her.
Her body was creamy and soft, her skin silken to the touch. Her breasts were ample and firm, so sweet to the taste. He lingered on them, suckling and teasing, taking his time while Ailis responded to these new sensations of pleasure. Although inexperienced, she was no shy maiden and readily accepted the press of his body on hers, the touch of his mouth upon her flesh, and the intimate way he tasted her and brought her to pleasure for her first time.
She responded with innocent wonder and did not hold back the passion he knew lay hidden within. Her soft moans and the way she arched beneath him, the need with which she clutched him and the breathy whisper of his name, almost sent him over the edge along with her.
But he took his time, caressing and arousing Ailis to ready her for him. She opened to him and bestowed her full trust as he filled her and thrust into her tightness. But this was more than amere claiming of her body. It was a matter of claiming her heart, binding them to form something powerful and eternal.
He understood it now, this raw, primordial need to mate with her and protect her. To embody her in his soul.
“Jonas,” she said in an urgent, breathless moan, “I feel…”
“I know, love. Just let yourself go.” His own breaths were hot and ragged as he thrust with greater urgency and neared his own release.
Pleasuring her was the priority, however. It would always be.
He took the time to watch her glorious body respond to his touch, watching the lick of her lips, her heaving breaths, and the way her body moved with his as he aroused her.
She took it all in with typical Ailis enthusiasm and sentiment, tookhimin, and cast him a smile as bright as a moonbeam as she tumbled over the edge of desire once more.
Her eyes were closed and her mouth slightly open, ready to be kissed again.
So, he kissed her and told her that he loved her.
For he did love her and always would.
She circled her arms around his neck and held on as though afraid she might float away.
He joined her in his release, in a sweat and well satisfied as he spilled himself into her. This feeling was powerful and more satisfying than anything he had ever felt in his life. But this was the magic of Ailis, this ability to open his heart, to touch it and caress it, to soothe his pain.
He felt only the pleasure of having her beside him now.
Getting her comfortably settled against him took a little doing, because there was simply no way of avoiding the discomfort to her injured shoulder.
He eased it as best he could, adding a pillow under her arm to lend it support throughout the night. He knew Ailis would nevercomplain, so it was up to him to make certain to take care of her. Was this not part of his wedding vows?
