The bed creaked beneath their weight. Her heart thundered enough she was surprised he didn’t hear it, as she allowed herself to be guided down onto the patchwork quilt.
His hands moved all over her, and she gasped at how good they felt against her bare flesh. And though the nervous flutter in her belly persisted, there was comfort in the careful way he honored her, his touch painting strokes of affection and reverence.
She found pleasure in the closeness, in the whisper of his breath against her skin, the strength of his arms holding her. It was a different joy than she’d imagined. It was somehow quieter. And while she enjoyed what they did together, a part of her seemed to be watching, searching for the rapture Izzy had spoken of with such fervor.
But as the night deepened, and they lay entwined, she realized that they had crossed a threshold together.
Their breaths mingled in the quiet space, his steady and hers still catching from time to time. Ana lay nestled in the crook of William’s arm, her head resting against the solid rise and fall of his chest.
A soft sigh escaped her as she closed her eyes, the warmth of him seeping into her bones. She had been brave, stepping into the unknown with a man who was kind, whose eyes held stories she longed to hear. He had been so gentle, so patient, as if understanding the weight of her unspoken fears.
But in the depths of her being, a faint echo of longing stirred—a yearning for the elusive magic Izzy had found in the arms of her own husband.
She shifted in his embrace, and he tightened his hold.
As she drifted toward slumber, she found a flicker of hope. Perhaps in time, the pleasure her sister spoke of would find her too. For now, it was enough to feel the steady heartbeat of the man beside her, to know that they were creating a life together.
Ana’s last conscious thought was thinking she must get more details from Izzy about when the magical thing had happened. Making love with William had been sweet, but not quite as magical as she’d hoped. But as she fell asleep, she decided she’d happily do it again, even with no magic. She could tell she’d pleased him, and that mattered.
