Page 15 of The Lady’s Great Escape

She’d come here with a purpose. A plan. And he would help her see it through.

Having never laid with a virgin before, Kit was concerned for Selene. He, of course, had heard stories of virgins experiencing some bit of pain during the act the first time, but hearing such a thing and causing it were two very different things.

Had the lady said no or even so much as shied away, he might have gladly ended the evening and taken his discomfort elsewhere, but Selene was looking him over eagerly and was now reaching out to touch him.

She was not a young girl. She was a woman. He would trust her to know what she wanted. If she had the courage to come to this party tonight and claim a private room to meet with a man, he felt sure she had considered everything and still wanted to go through with her plan.

He would respect her choice.

As if on instinct, she wrapped her fingers around him, causing him to lose his breath. Her hand, so much smaller and softer than his, sent his blood rushing to fill her grip.

“How?”

“Lie back and I’ll take care of everything. There might be a bit of pain, but I understand it’s better after a short while.”

She nodded, no doubt she’d heard the same from her mother or a sister or friend. She laid back on the bed and watched him as he reached for his coat and extracted the folded vellum.

Her brows creased and he offered an explanation before she even asked.

“It’s a sheath. It protects us both from future responsibilities.” He meant a pregnancy. But it also protected against disease. He would not allow memories of his sea-faring uncle to intrude on this moment. But those recollections had served to keep him safe through his days of debauchery. Watching someone waste away from syphilis was an enlightening and terrifying experience for a young man.

He shivered as he covered himself. He had nothing to worry over tonight in that regard. Virgins didn’t spread such suffering.

He smiled as he positioned himself between her legs. After testing her readiness, he pressed forward just a little and waited.

She nodded and he moved a little more and more still, until finally he had breached her completely and she was lifting her body in time with his, welcoming him deeper with each thrust.

“More,” she said as she had before. The command in her voice set his blood on fire.

Despite her inexperience, she was brave enough to voice her desires. There was nothing more stimulating than a woman uninhibited enough to declare what she wanted.

“You are incredible. Perfect,” he praised her with the simple truth. Never had he had such a responsive lover. One that seemed to know exactly what to do to fit them together as closely as possible.

The way she seemed to reach into his very soul and stir his desires had him kissing her again. Offering her everything. Their fingers intertwined and he couldn’t help but feel their lives were connecting as well.

This would never be enough. This one night.

The tingling in his spine alerted him to the threat of his release. He either needed to slow down to make the moment last or speed on to his peak. There would be no in between.

Before he could react, Selene threw back her head and cried out as her inner walls clamped around him.

The choice was taken from him when her legs tightened around his waist, fixing him to her. A few more thrusts and he spent into the sheath while buried deep in her body.

He managed to shift off of her so not to crush the poor woman with his weight but could go no farther. He rested his head over her heart listening to the rapid beat. It was maybe the most wonderous sound he’d ever heard.

Her fingers played through his hair and he felt… cherished. Her other hand stroked his back. It had been so long since another person had held him and offered comfort.

He couldn’t get enough.

“That was amazing,” she said, her voice still breathy. “I can’t even… I never imagined… It was so very… amazing.”

He couldn’t argue. “It was.”

“Merci,” she whispered.

He couldn’t help but chuckle. “It is I who should be thanking you for this very great honor.”

“Is it always like that? I mean with other people?”

He sat up to look at her wishing again he could see the features of her face without the mask. “I can’t say what it would be like for you with other men, but for me. No. Never so consuming as that was.”

She nodded. “Oui. That is an apt description. Consommant,” she repeated in French.

“And amazing,” he reminded her playfully.

She laughed and the sound reminded him of Celia. Not that Celia was one to laugh overly much, but he had made it his life’s work and had earned some mirth from her on occasion.

Perhaps it wasn’t the laugh so much as the way he felt when hearing it. Like when he was with Celia, he felt comfortable with Selene. He wanted to know more about her. But instead, she said, “We should get dressed.”

And his heart lurched in his chest.