“Don’t … please don’t … look at me John, concentrate on me…”
This time his words were shouted, the anguish palpable, and Grace feared they would be heard by other residents of the inn. She couldn’t leave Nicholas to deal with this alone.
Silently, she climbed out of bed and pulled on her robe. Taking a candle, she opened the door between their two bedchambers and spied the thrashing man asleep on the bed. Placing the candle on a small table to the side of the bed, she leaned forward and touched her husband’s damp forehead. He moaned low in his throat, and she wished she could take the pain away. Instead, she helped him disentangle his legs from the sheets that trapped him.
She’d never before seen his naked form, but now was not thetime to study it as she stroked his brow, ever mindful of his fists as they clenched in the bed.
“Dear God, don’t let him die. Please don’t let him die.”
His heartrending cries broke her heart. “Nicholas,” she said softly, her fingers running down the length of his face. “Nicholas, wake up. It’s just a dream.”
When his eyes did flutter open, they were unfocused and glazed over. Grace kept her touch light as she watched him come out of his nightmare. “Grace?” he whispered raggedly, his eyes focusing finally on her face.
“I’m here,” she whispered, resting her hand against his chest. His heart was beating rapidly under his skin.
She expected him to immediately dismiss her, but instead he lifted his hand and touched her cheek almost wonderingly. “Perhapsyouare my grace,” he murmured softly before suddenly pulling her down to lie almost on top of him. She squeaked in surprise but had no time to pull away as his mouth claimed hers in a soul-searching kiss. With a small moan, she surrendered, wrapping her arms around his neck as his hands stroked her back and sides with an urgent hunger. Desire was roaring through him like wildfire as he flipped her over onto her back, their mouths still locked in a scorching kiss.
His mouth seemed to devour hers, and Grace returned his kisses with the same fervour, her hands roaming almost impatiently over the strong planes of his chest. His body was still hot, the muscles of his chest hard and ridged, with a small sprinkling of hairs that led down to the mysterious shadowy area between his legs. His lips slid along her jaw line and down her neck as his fingers worked at the laces holding her shift together, finally parting the thin material and exposing her breasts to his questing hand.
Returning his mouth to hers with a small groan, he rubbed her nipple between his fingers, feeling it peakagainst his palm. Tearing his mouth away he bent his head to the hardened bud and carefully took it between his lips. Gasping at the flood of sensations that slammed between her legs, Grace arched her back and ran her fingers through his black hair, holding his head to her in helpless desire. He lavished the same attention on her other breast until Grace was mewling and panting restlessly, her body instinctively thrusting up to meet his.
Slowly, without taking his attention from her breasts, Nicholas slid his hand down her inner thigh. Grace was so lost in sensation, she had no thought until his fingers found her centre. Gasping, her eyes flew open just before he covered her mouth with his, kissing her with raw dizzying hunger until she surrendered, her legs opening as his fingers worked over the aching core of her, a pressure building unlike any other she’d ever felt.
“Yes,” he breathed against her cheek. “That’s it, Grace.”
She cried out as her body jerked, an explosion of warmth spreading out over her limbs. Whatever Nicholas had just done, it felt wonderful.
Grace pressed her forehead against Nicholas’s shoulder, her body quaking. “Is that it?”
His body shook with laughter. “No, my Duchess, that’s not it.”
Oh my.
“Do you wish me to continue?” Grace stared in languid wonder up at her husband. Although his voice was rough with passion, there seemed a calmness about him that had not been there before.
“Yes,” she whispered breathlessly. “Please continue.”
Grace grasped at his strong shoulders as he rose above her. She felt him nudge her legs apart feeling a sudden hardness press against her entrance. Her eyes fluttered open as she felt that same hardness begin to push into her carefully. Staring fearfully up into his face, she hardly recognized his features harsh withpassion. “Don’t be afraid, Grace,” he whispered huskily. “The discomfort will last but a moment.” Quickly he plunged deep inside her, breaching her maidenhead. Grace cried out in shock, attempting to pull away.
Holding her tightly to him, Nicholas trembled with the effort of remaining still. Stroking her hair, he soothed his wife as he would an unbroken colt, then began placing soft quick kisses over her face as he felt her start to relax. Slowly, he began to move, sliding partially in and out of her incredible warmth, his face tense with the strain of holding himself back. Gradually, she began to meet him, thrust for thrust until she was arching her hips towards him, her cries encouraging him to finally plunge his full length deep inside her.
Grace felt the throbbing pleasure build and build until it erupted in an explosion that tore a loud cry from her throat. Nicholas took her mouth with his, kissing her almost desperately as he gave one last thrust and joined her in sweet oblivion.
There was no more guessing. She was his wife in every sense of the word.
∞∞∞
Fearing he might crush her, Nicholas rolled onto his side, taking Grace with him. When he finally managed to get his breath back, he glanced down at his wife, marvelling at the feel of her in his arms. His injuries were throbbing from exertion, but for the first time, the realisation actually made him smile. It was a good pain.
They lay in silence for a while, Grace revelling in the feeling of being in her husband’s arms. For the first time, she felt like a proper wife. Idly, she traced the scars on his chest, then cursed herself as he stiffened and drew in his breath.
“Forgive me,” she said softly. “I have no wish to cause you more pain. I simply wish to understand.” She did notremove her hand but held her breath, waiting to see what her husband would do.
Nicholas shuddered again under her touch but didn’t move away, and Grace gradually loosened her breath, snuggling up closer as the cold began to seep in after their exertions.
Glancing down at her, Nicholas reached to pull the covers over them both. “Do you require a bed warmer?” Grace smiled against his shoulder. “My thanks for your concern husband, but I already have one.” She felt rather than heard him chuckle, and the knowledge that her stubborn, handsome husband had a lighter side to him filled her with joy and bode well for their future together. Perhaps even now she was with child.
If only he would let her into his torment and tell her about his nightmares. However, she didn’t want to spoil the moment with her questions, so she contented herself by simply stroking her hand lightly over the healed wounds on his chest.
