“Notreally.” She shifted beneath him. She felt full and heavy and heburned inside her and he was deep, so deep. “It feels...strange.Good, but strange.”
He groaned.“Don’t move. I haven’t…it’s been a while. Don’t move.”
She moved herhips, and he growled. Fascinated, she did it again.
“You’re doing it on purpose, aren’t you?”
“Maybe.” She moved again, and then he hit something inside herthat made her see stars. She gasped, her neck arching.
“There?” He pushed, and sensation streaked through her.“There, Sera?”
She couldn’tspeak, she was too full, too full of him, too full ofpleasure.
“There,” he said, and then he thrust again.
She couldn’tthink, she could only hold on to him as he built the pleasureinside her, driving her higher and higher.
He snarled, andthen he pulled out of her. She wailed, wanting him back, but heflipped onto his back, hauling her over him, spreading her thighswide as he brought her to straddle him. He thrust up into her andshe felt him so deep, so thick and deep inside her, and she slammedherself into his thrust, arching her back as his hands covered herbreasts, moulding her flesh, pinching her nipples. Pleasureexploded inside her and she gave a soundless scream, barely hearinghis harsh growl as his hands moved to her hips. He moved her as hewanted, thrusting up into her without rhythm, his lip curled as hegrunted and moaned, wild in his lust, and then he came, his neckarched.
She collapsed onhim, sucking in breath as his chest rose and fell beneatherratically, his hands still cupping her hips. He was still insideher, warm and full and hers.
Against hischest, she closed her eyes. The sound of his heart was strong andsteady, and she felt the whisper of his lips against her temple asshe drifted into sleep.
Chapter Twenty Five
FAINT LIGHT SHONE THROUGH the nursery window, paintingthe tangled bed clothes with pale fingers. Soon, the sun would risein earnest, and brightness would chase the dim from thenursery.
Watching thelight’s progress, Stephen trailed his hand up and down Sera’s arm.Her breath was light and even over his bare chest. She wore herchemise, the skirt bunched up around her thighs and one sleevelessstrap falling off her shoulder. A smile touched his mouth as herecalled her, her cheeks a fiery red as she’d slipped the chemiseover her head even as she insisted it wasn’t a concession tomodesty. He’d wisely kept his mouth shut, his smirk all he neededto inform her he saw right though her protests. She could be sobold, and yet she blushed to sleep naked beside him, even after hehad seen for himself how beautiful she was. He loved that abouther. He loved all her contradictions, and now he would get to enjoyher contradictions for the rest of his life. It hadn’t been hisfirst thought after they had made love, but he knew it now. Theymust marry.
Her skin wassmooth, warm and lovely under his fingers. They would be missed.They had both fallen asleep, and night had turned slowly to day. Itwas still early enough that not even the servants would have risenas yet, and it could well be they would both make it back to theirrespective beds without anyone the wiser. The problem was, he neverwanted to move.
Calmness settledinside him. There was no choice. It had been decided the momenthe’d turned and seen her. She would be his, and he would be hers,and that’s all there was to it. He would have to tell Oliver. Ashead of the family, he was going to have to know.
His fingerspaused. He needed a plan for how to approach this. He had to getOliver to agree, but that was for later. For now, he had Sera inhis arms and daybreak was upon them.
Tracing hisfingers over her temple, he curled her hair behind her ear. “Sera,”he said softly.
She didn’tstir.
“Sera.”
Nothing.
Leaning closer,he brushed his lips over her cheek “Sera.”
“Hmm?” Her lashes fluttered and hazy grey eyes focussed onhim. She smiled sleepily. “Stephen.”
His heartclenched. Brushing his lips over hers, he tried to convey all hefelt, all the desire, all the happiness, all the joy.
That sleepysmile was still on her face when he pulled back. “Good morning,”she said softly.
“Good morning.” Heart full, he watched as she sat up. The bedclothes fell about her waist and, though she’d put her chemise backon, it was so sheer he could see her nipples. His mouthwatered.
Her gaze roamedover him, smile fading as lazy heat filled her eyes. “You are notwearing a shirt.”
“No.” He stretched his arms over his head. Her eyes darkened,tracking his movements avidly. He concealed his smirk. “Likesomething you see?”
Her gaze dartedto his, and he could conceal his smirk no longer. With anexclamation, she hit him on his bicep. Then, her touch gentled asshe traced his bare skin, tracing the muscle. He swallowed hard,his skin tingling everywhere her fingers skimmed. “You didn’t letme explore you.”
