Nine
Tristan felt Emmeline’s pulse beneath his thumb, a delicate flutter against his skin that spoke volumes in its silent language.The gentle patter of rain enveloped them in a shield of privacy, drowning out the noises of the outside world and emphasizing the closeness they shared under the protective canopy of the oak tree.
Tristan stepped forward, minimizing the gap further, skirting the edges of propriety with a practiced grace.
“My darling Emmeline,” he said, each syllable weighted with a significance that sent shivers down her spine, “might I be so bold as to suggest that our acquaintance has reached a...deeper level?”
“Such suggestions are dangerous, my lord,” she replied, her voice a mere whisper.
“Perhaps,” he acknowledged, a playful twinkle dancing in his eye.“But danger has always had its allure, has it not?”
“Only for those reckless enough to court it,” she said, meeting his challenge with her own brand of wit.
“Then consider me a willing suitor to peril, especially when the reward is time spent with you.”The corners of his mouth turned up ever so slightly.He moved closer still, his heart pounded, and he felt a sudden surge of heat course through his veins.His body was on high alert, his senses heightened to the point of acuteness as he stood so close to Emmeline.
She smelled divine - like freshly picked lavender and soft spring rain.Her eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint that hinted at their shared understanding of the forbidden territory they were treading upon.As she leaned closer to him, her lips parting slightly, anticipation written all over her face, he could scarcely control himself.
“My sweet Emmeline,” he breathed out, his voice deep and husky.He trailed his fingertips down the delicate curve of her cheek before gently touching her lips with his thumb.She trembled beneath his touch, and he wondered if she felt the same stirrings of desire that consumed him.
Her eyes fluttered closed as she savored the contact, her lips parting slightly to invite more.The moment hung suspended in time.The sounds of wind through leaves and pattering rain faded into the background, replaced by the thunderous beat of his heart and the hushed rustle of her dress brushing against his breeches.Slowly, oh-so-slowly, he angled his head toward hers until their lips were but a whisper apart.Emmeline’s eyes locked onto his.Her pupils dilated with desire, and a soft moan escaped from her throat as he brushed their lips together.
The contact sent shivers down his spine.With a tender fervor, he deepened the kiss, coaxing her lower lip between his teeth gently before tracing its contours with his tongue.She made a small sound of surrender before opening up to him fully, her hands finding purchase on his shoulders as she clung to him.
Their bodies pressed together, as if they had always fit this way, their hearts pounding in time with the rhythm of the rain.Tristan’s hands found their way to her hips, securing her against him as he deepened the kiss further, exploring every curve and contour of her mouth with growing hunger.
They lost themselves in each other’s embrace, oblivious to the rain-soaked world beyond their private oasis.His world narrowed down to this stolen moment with his betrothed, a woman who he was fast discovering was so much more than he could have ever imagined.
As the intensity of their kiss grew, Tristan could feel a sense of urgency building within him.He wanted to claim her as his own, to make her understand she belonged to him.His hands moved from her hips to cradle her face.The taste of her lips was intoxicating, and he drowned in the sweet sensation.
He felt a pull, an instinctual need to protect and cherish this woman in his arms.His heart pounded in his chest as he broke away from the kiss, looking into her eyes with an intensity that left them both breathless.
“Emmeline,” he breathed, “I...,” but he was at a loss for words to describe the intensity of emotions that coursed through him in that moment.
“I know,” she whispered, her cheeks a vivid shade of crimson, but her eyes blazing with a fire that mirrored his own.She bit her lower lip, a gesture that set his heart aflame once more.
In that instant, Tristan knew that their relationship was on the cusp of something monumental - something that defied the constraints of duty or convention; something altogether more dangerous and infinitely sweeter.
He kissed her deep and claiming as he slid his hand under her skirts, searching until he found the dampness that awaited him between her thighs.She offered little resistance against his experienced touch as he stroked her folds and circled the tiny bundle of nerves.Emmeline moaned, leaning her head back and pressing herself against his palm.He held her firmly against him as she gave over to the pleasure coursing through her—an anchor in the maelstrom of pleasure he unleashed.He traced circles around her swollen bud before dipping a finger inside to thrust and tease.
“Tristan… I…”
“Come apart for me, darling.Give yourself over to the sensations,” he said, as he increased his efforts.She clung tighter to him, nails digging into his shoulders as wave after wave of pleasure washed over her.
Tristan held Emmeline close as she came down from her climax, his lips pressed against hers in a gentle, lingering kiss.He could feel her body trembling in his arms as he rubbed small circles on her back.
"Are you okay?"he whispered against her lips, his voice filled with concern.
Emmeline nodded, still too breathless to speak.She leaned her forehead against his chest and closed her eyes, taking deep breaths to calm herself.He smiled softly, reveling in the intimacy of their connection.
After a few moments, she pulled back and looked up at him with a shy smile."I've never...," she started but blushed furiously before finishing her sentence.
Tristan chuckled and brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear."You have never what?"
She looked away for a moment before meeting his gaze again."I have never felt like this before," she admitted, her cheeks still flushed pink.
Tristan's heart skipped a beat at her admission.He had known from the beginning that there was something special about Emmeline—something that set her apart from any woman he had ever known.And he could feel himself falling deeper under her spell.
"I know," he said softly as he cupped her face in his hands."And I promise you, my dear, this is only the beginning."
